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.
Arizona
2026 MLB Draft: Arizona likely to be minimally impacted after down season
Unlike other major pro sports in the United States, Major League Baseball’s annual draft is hardly must-see television. With 20 rounds of picks—it used to be 50—and very few of them household names, only true baseball diehards closely pay attention beyond the first handful of selections.
For college baseball fans, though, the MLB Draft can bring about some stress and uncertainty since both incoming freshmen and existing veterans are eligible to be selected. The best college juniors and seniors are sure to get drafted and sign, while top recruits may be lured into starting their pro careers early via a hefty signing bonus.
Last year the UA saw nine members of the 2025 squad, which reached the College World Series, get drafted and sign. One of its prep signees also took the money rather than come to Tucson.
The 2026 draft, which begins Saturday and finishes Sunday, won’t be nearly as impactful to Arizona’s roster. Only one current Wildcat with eligibility remaining is assured of being drafted: junior right-handed pitcher Owen Kramkowski.
Kramkowski, who struggled in the spring after a breakout 2025 season, is ranked as the 205th-best draft prospect by Baseball America and No. 245 by MLB.com. That would put him in the range of the 6th or 7th round to get selected, though he could go earlier. All indications are Kramkowski will sign.
Beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess. No other current or future Wildcats are among BA’s Top 500.
Among Arizona’s outgoing seniors, the top candidate to get drafted is left-handed pitcher Patrick Morris, who is currently playing the MLB Draft League. Infielders Tyler Bickers and Maddox Mihalakis could also get picked late or sign as an undrafted free agent.
Draft-eligible juniors other than Kramkowski include lefty Maclain Roberts, catcher Beau Sylvester and outfielders Andrew Cain and Easton Breyfogle. A couple of Arizona’s 2027 newcomers, such as junior college righty Collin Cobb, prep infielder Ayden Deome and catcher Francisco Rivero, are also at risk of getting picked.
Arizona has had 293 players drafted in its history and has had at least two taken every year since 2011.
The first four rounds of the 2026 MLB Draft are Saturday, with NBC airing the first 10 picks starting at 10 a.m. PT before the broadcast switches to MLB Network and later MLB.com. Rounds 5-20 are Sunday on MLB.com starting at 8:30 a.m. PT.
Arizona
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Arizona
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