Arizona

Bird flu found in Arizona milk suggests another spillover from birds to cows

Published

1 year ago

February 14, 2025

Bird flu found in Arizona milk suggests another spillover from birds to cows

It appears that there may have been another spillover of H5N1 bird flu virus from wild birds into dairy cattle. The Arizona Department of Agriculture announced Friday that it had found the virus in milk from a herd of cows in Maricopa County, which contains the state capital, Phoenix.

This is the first detection of H5N1 in dairy cows in Arizona, making it the 17th state in which affected cows have been found. Nearly 970 herds have tested positive since the outbreak was first identified in late March 2024.

The Arizona detection occurred as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Milk Testing Strategy, which samples bulk milk looking for presence of H5N1 viruses. Last week, USDA and Nevada’s Department of Agriculture announced a detection there of H5N1 in dairy herds.

Since it was first discovered that bird flu viruses were infecting cows and spreading among herds, it was thought that all of the detections were connected — that there had been a single jump of the H5N1 virus into cows, in either late 2023 or early 2024, likely in Texas. That assessment was based on ongoing analysis of the genetic sequences of the viruses, which belong to a family of H5N1 known as clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype B3.13.

But the discovery of the virus in milk from Nevada herds in early January — results that were only released last week — showed that a different version of the virus was responsible for those infections. That virus belonged to the same clade, but was of the D1.1 genotype, a version of the virus responsible for a severe infection of a teenager in British Columbia, Canada, in November, and the death of a person who owned a backyard poultry flock in Louisiana in January.

The virus isolated from the milk of the Arizona herd was also a D1.1 virus, but apparently a different version of it.

“This detection of avian influenza is consistent with a D1.1 genotype and unrelated to the recent Nevada detection of this virus,” the Arizona statement said. “This D1.1 genotype bears no features that would make it more likely to infect humans.”

When the Nevada detection was made public, flu scientists warned that more spillovers into cows were likely, given how prevalent H5N1 is in wild birds across the country. But Arizona’s announcement still came as a surprise.

“I definitely thought there would be more jumps found through milk testing. But I have to confess I did not think it would happen quite so fast, nor in my own backyard as I looked north, over Maricopa County, to what’s happening in Nevada!” Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona, told STAT by text.

Prior to the outbreak in cows, the United States had only ever detected one human H5N1 infection, in an individual who was involved in culling infected poultry in Colorado. That infection occurred in 2022.

But over the past year, there have been 68 confirmed human cases, and a number more where state laboratories have seen a positive result but additional testing done at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could not confirm the case, often because of low levels of viral material or degradation of the sample during transport. The majority of these cases have occurred in people with direct contact with dairy cows or poultry flocks, which are also susceptible to contracting the virus from wild birds.

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Arizona

8 best menus to try during Arizona Spring Restaurant Week 2026

Published

3 hours ago

May 12, 2026

Press Room

8 best menus to try during Arizona Spring Restaurant Week 2026

Restaurant Week is returning to Arizona, which means its time to try something new at some of the best locally-owned restaurants in the state for lower-than-usual prices.

Spring Restaurant Week lasts from May 15-24, and will return in the fall from September 18-27. During those weeks, three-course prix fixe menus are available at over 200 local restaurants for $33, $44 or $55.

Reservations are not required at most establishments to enjoy the Restaurant Week menus, but they are highly encouraged.

With so many to choose from, we combed through the offerings to find the stand out deals. Many of the participating restaurants have appeared on The Arizona Republic’s list of 100 essential restaurants. Others have received numerous national awards and recognitions, including several James Beard Foundation Awards semifinalists.

Here are 8 of the best menus to try during Arizona Spring Restaurant Week 2026.

Beginner’s Luck

When Beginner’s Luck opened in Old Town Scottsdale in December 2023, The Republic’s Bahar Anooshahr fell in love with chef Bernie Kantak’s brunch. The restaurant later earned him a spot on the semifinalist list for Best Chef — Southwest for the James Beard Foundation Awards in 2025.

Beginner’s Luck’s $55 Restaurant Week menu includes roasted corn and green chile chowder, pork belly, pan roasted Norwegian salmon, mole rojo short rib and blueberry bread pudding. Many options are gluten-free.

Details: 7240 E. Main St., Suite C100, Scottsdale. 480-571-0416, beginnersluckaz.com.

Cocina Chiwas

Multiple-time James Beard Award semifinalists and culinary power couple Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin opened Cocina Chiwas at Culdesac Tempe in 2023 as an upscale sister restaurant to their original Tacos Chiwas restaurants.

Cocina Chiwas’ $44 Restaurant Week menu includes ceviche, ribeye tacos, mole and pastel de elote. For an additional $14, guests can try the Roxxstar cocktail made with vodka, Cocchi Rosa, watermelon, lemon juice, yuzu and orange bitters.

Details: 2001 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe. 480-916-3690, cocinachiwasaz.com.

Espiritu

Espiritu is a chef-driven Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar from the teams behind Bacanora and Tacos Chiwas. It was named one of the best new restaurants in the U.S. in 2022, the year it opened in downtown Mesa.

Espiritu’s $55 Restaurant Week menu includes birria dumplings, K4 flat iron steak, pan seared red drum filet, vegan potato tacos and chile chocolate truffle.

Details: 123 Main St., Mesa. 480-272-6825, espiritumesa.com.

First & Last

First & Last is a contemporary neighborhood restaurant. Their sandwiches are Instagram-famous and got the stamp of approval from The Republic. The whole menu focuses on fresh, seasonal ingredients.

First & Last’s $55 Restaurant Week menu includes roasted beet salad, Hiramasa crudo, bacon sourdough bolognese, grilled chicken piccata and pistachio tiramisu. The menu also includes recommended optional wine pairings for each course.

Details: 1001 N. Third Ave., Suite 1, Phoenix. 602-975-8297, firstandlastphx.com.

Indibar

Indibar was named one of USA Today’s Restaurants of the Year in 2025 for its fine dining twist on traditional Indian cuisine. It was also a semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in 2026.

Indibar’s $55 Restaurant Week menu includes avocado papdi chaat, paneer tikka, achari broccoli, crab curry with mango and dried chilies, veg korma and rasmali tres leches.

Details: 6208 N. Scottsdale Road, Paradise Valley. 480-219-9774, theindibar.com.

Latha

Latha is a pan-African restaurant led by Evelia Davis and chef Digby Stridiron in downtown Phoenix’s Heritage Square. The restaurant pulls inspiration from the entire Black diaspora, from Africa to the Caribbean to the American South.

Latha’s $55 Restaurant Week menu includes whipped goat cheese, Griot wings, dayboat moqueca, pineapple piri piri chicken, oxtail barbacoa and southern poundcake.

Details: 628 E. Adams St., Phoenix. 480-640-6183, lathaphx.com.

Tarbell’s

Tarbell’s is celebrity chef Mark Tarbell’s namesake restaurant and magnum opus. Described as a “neighborhood restaurant for the nation,” Tarbell’s has received numerous accolades since opening in 1994.

Tarbell’s $55 Restaurant Week menu options include a shrimp ceviche tostada, endive salad with tomato caper vinaigrette, pan seared chicken, beef rillette, charred tomato risotto, chocolate cake or whipped lemon curd and berries.

Details: 3213 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-955-8100, tarbells.com.

Warren’s Supper Club

Larry Warren White and Rasheeda White, the owners of Monroe’s Hot Chicken, Lo Lo’s Chicken & Waffles and Brunch and Sip, opened Warren’s Supper Club in 2025. Larry “Lo-Lo” is the grandson of beloved Phoenix restaurateur Mrs. White, the owner of Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Cafe.

Warren’s Supper Club’s $55 Restaurant Week menu options include lobster deviled eggs, charbroiled oysters, apple and walnut salad, wild mushroom campanelle, baby back Korean sticky ribs, blackened salmon and a half smoked chicken.

Details: 1040 N. 54th St., Chandler. 480-753-1040, warrenssupperclub.com.

Reach the reporter at eddie.fontanez@azcentral.com. Follow @ERFontanez on Instagram.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

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Arizona

Arizona Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #40: 5/11 @ Rangers

Published

15 hours ago

May 11, 2026

Press Room

Arizona Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #40: 5/11 @ Rangers

Any time we go to Globe Field, memories immediately go back to the 2023 World Series, when we faced the Texas Rangers in this ballpark. It’s interesting to note that neither team has made it back to the postseason since then. Indeed, at least the D-backs have come close: the Rangers failed to post a winning record in 2024 or 2025, missing out on the playoffs by eight and six games respectively. The two sides have similar records right now as well, with Texas’s 19-21 a mere half a game behind Arizona’s 19-20. However, in the mediocre AL West, that’s good enough for the Rangers to be in second, two games back of… the Athletics? Wait, what?

Yeah, the last time before this year the A’s had sole possession of first was June 19, 2021 – y’know, back when they were in a different city, and weren’t embarrassed to name it. But, then, the AL as a whole is strikingly mediocre, with only three teams above .500: the Yankees, Rays and A’s. It’s because just four teams have winning records in interleague play, and none of those are better than 5-4. Right now, the National League is 25 games above .500 in interleague play, at 315-290. Texas are 7-8, taking two of three from the Cubs, Phillies and Pirates, but losing to the Dodgers and getting swept by the Reds (y’know back when they didn’t suck).

Last time the Diamondbacks were here was in August last season, and we took two out of three. We lost the opening game on a walkoff, 7-6, but rebounded to take the next two contests, by margins of 3-2 and 6-4. Andrew Saalfrank got the save in the final game. How long ago that all seems. We’ll see if Michael Soroka can keep the sterling streak of starts going. He was certainly a hard-luck loser last time, allowing just the one run over 6.1 innings. But that was enough in a 1-0 loss. In his last three start, the D-backs have scored a total of two runs, so hopefully he gets a bit more support tonight.

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Arizona

Where to watch Arizona Diamondbacks vs Texas Rangers: TV channel, start time, streaming for May 11

Published

1 day ago

May 11, 2026

Press Room

Where to watch Arizona Diamondbacks vs Texas Rangers: TV channel, start time, streaming for May 11

Baseball is back and finding what channel your favorite team is playing on has become a little bit more confusing since MLB announced plans to produce and distribute broadcasts for nearly a third of the league.

We’re here to help. Here’s everything you need to know Monday as the Arizona Diamondbacks visit the Texas Rangers.

See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.