Arizona
Arizona has more UFO sightings than most of the US. See the rankings
Congress scraps provision to declassify information about UFOs, aliens
Congress tried to pass provisions in the NDAA that would have released government secrets about aliens, but only approved a reduced version.
Straight Arrow News
Arizona is known to be a UFO hotspot, and a new interactive map showing it as one of the states with most UFO sightings confirms it.
UFOs have been part of the state’s folktales for a long time, with some of the most infamous ones making headlines and video highlights across the nation. The map from the National UFO Reporting Center, which allows people to explore when and where people report UFO sightings shows these events are a common thing in the state.
Arizona appears to have the fourth most reported UFO sightings of all Arizona states, according to the map.
By clicking on the dots on the map, people can see a description of the reported sightings in that location. The green dots are recent reports. Most of the reports come from the United States, as that is where the reporting center is based.
“UFOs are seen literally everywhere, and that the distribution of sighting reports closely matches the distribution of the population,” the organization said in a news release announcing the new map.
The reporting center said it plans to add new features to the new map in the future to improve user experience.
State breakdown of UFO sightings
- Alaska: 642
- Alabama: 1,403
- Arkansas: 1,289
- Arizona: 4,981
- California: 16,238
- Colorado: 3,281
- Connecticut: 2,033
- Delaware: 419
- Florida: 8,303
- Georgia: 2,730
- Hawaii: 672
- Iowa: 1,225
- Idaho: 1,357
- Illinois: 4,298
- Indiana: 2,732
- Kansas: 1,191
- Kentucky: 1,689
- Louisiana: 1,127
- Massachusetts: 2,709
- Maryland: 1,856
- Maine: 1,189
- Michigan: 3,668
- Minnesota: 2,111
- Missouri: 2,813
- Mississippi: 788
- Montana: 1,004
- North Carolina: 3,679
- North Dakota: 277
- Nebraska: 701
- New Hampshire: 1,196
- New Jersey: 2,894
- New Mexico: 1,672
- Nevada: 1,703
- New York: 5,900
- Ohio: 4,466
- Oklahoma: 1,501
- Oregon: 3,561
- Pennsylvania: 5,047
- Rhode Island: 599
- South Carolina: 2,246
- South Dakota: 396
- Tennessee: 2,315
- Texas: 6,202
- Utah: 1,528
- Virginia: 2,705
- Vermont: 610
- Washington: 7,230
- Wisconsin: 2,453
- West Virginia: 907
- Wyoming: 416
- Unspecified: 115
Phoenix Lights: The Valley’s most famous UFO story
Metro Phoenix’s most famous UFO story
On March 13, 1997, what is considered to be Arizona’s most infamous UFO story happened.
On a mild springlike evening the string of amber orbs appeared as if by magic, a celestial sleight of hand that would in the coming weeks make headlines across the nation.
Although little more than an atmospheric curiosity at the time, the hovering and evenly spaced balls of light would soon become known as the Phoenix Lights.
Those who accepted the explanation that it was military flares dismissed the controversy with logical precision, while people who saw it as an otherworldly encounter claimed the truth has been shrouded in lies and disinformation.
In the ensuing years, the Phoenix Lights would change outlooks, minds and even a few lives. What hasn’t changed is the mystery that still hovers.
Lynne Kitei, a Phoenix resident, could barely believe what she saw when she witnessed and recorded the lights, six evenly spaced orbs moving in a direct line over Phoenix.
Kitei, who worked as a physician at the Arizona Heart Institute, dedicated herself to investigating the phenomenon after this experience and eventually resigned from her medical career to devote herself to researching and discussing the Phoenix Lights full-time.
Over seven years, Kitei compiled extensive notes and interviews, eventually publishing a book detailing her findings. Yet, she didn’t find a definitive answer to the lights’ origin other than educated speculation.
“It’s never been about me; it’s about the data,” Kitei said. “To present it I had to come forward, to tell people what I know.”
The sighting, witnessed by hundreds if not thousands, prompted widespread speculation and media attention. Even government officials became involved, though their responses ranged from ridicule to dismissal.
While the military eventually attributed the lights to flares dropped during training exercises, some remain skeptical of this explanation, including Kitei and other experts who analyzed the footage. The enduring mystery of the Phoenix Lights continues to intrigue and divide opinions, leaving questions unanswered about what truly occurred that night.
Former Republic reporter Scott Craven contributed to this article.
PHOENIX — The number of legal challenges to detentions in Arizona and nationwide has grown to record highs.
Immigration Attorney Hugo Balderas Ibarra said when someone is picked up by ICE, typical bond hearings are “pretty much out the window.”
“These policies that the administration is implementing violate the due process, violate fifth amendment,” Balderas Ibarra said.
This has led attorneys representing detained individuals to file what’s known as a habeas corpus petition.
“A habeas corpus petition is something in federal court that says the federal government is detaining me or confining me somewhere without basis in law,” New Frontier Immigration Law founder Hillary Walsh said.
Walsh said she filed three petitions on Friday alone.
“One of these is for an 18-year-old kid who has no criminal history,” Walsh said. “He came here to seek asylum a few years ago, and went through the whole process legally, asked at the border, did everything right, and now he’s detained.”
Data by TRAC shows the surge in the federal filings alleging illegal detention over the past year.
From 105 nationally in March 2025, to 9,059 the same month this year.
In Arizona, more than 1,100 cases have been filed between October and March, according to TRAC.
“A lot more people who are being detained, but we also have a whole other layer to the process for getting them out if they’re eligible for bond, and so that clogs up the whole federal court system,” Walsh said.
As the Iowa State Cyclones continue to reflect on what was a strong season, one of their top players from last year is in the portal and is the best player available.
After deciding to come back to college a couple of days ago, Milan Momcilovic is now the best player in the portal and has a number of suitors looking to bring him in. Due to the large amount of money that he is expected to get, it would be a complete shock if he came back to Iowa State at this point. However, where he goes could have an impact on the program.
Last season, the junior had a breakout year and emerged as one of the best shooters in the country. While there is still work to be done to translate his game to the next level, he is an impact player in college basketball.
However, where he might go is the big decision everyone is waiting to see. Currently, it appears to be a three-horse race between the Arizona Wildcats, Kentucky Wildcats, and the Louisville Cardinals. Of the three, the Cyclones certainly don’t want to see him go to one of those schools.
Momcilovic Choosing Arizona Would Be a Tough Blow
If the star shooter for the Cyclones were to choose the Wildcats, it would be a tough blow for Iowa State. While the Cyclones had a great season this year, it was Arizona that was a thorn in their side.
The Wildcats were able to beat them both in their regular-season matchup and then again in the Big 12 tournament. The game in the Big 12 was an absolute thriller and went right down to the wire.
While Iowa State might have lost, it was Momcilovic who had a fantastic game in the showdown. Now, as the talented sharpshooter mulls his decision on where to play next year, seeing him go to Arizona would be a tough blow for the Cyclones.
This was a team that beat them twice last year, and taking one of their best players would likely result in the Wildcats being considered a better team heading into next season as well.
While Iowa State did a great job in the transfer portal and has some young talent coming back, losing the best three-point shooter in the country is a big blow. Furthermore, since Kentucky and Louisville aren’t in the Big 12, seeing Momcilovic join one of those squads wouldn’t sting or have an impact on the Cyclones nearly as much.
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