USA TODAY Sports’ Mackenzie Salmon highlights a few must-see games on the 2024 NFL schedule.
Sports Seriously
Details of former Arizona Cardinals star safety Adrian Wilson’s arrest on June 1 describe Wilson as unstable after a domestic disturbance at the Wilson family home early that morning.
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Wilson, 44, had been the Carolina Panthers’ vice president of player personnel until recently, when it was reported by the Charlotte Observer that the former five-time Pro Bowler and Cardinals Ring of Honor inductee was no longer employed by the NFL team. He was in Scottsdale on June 1 when police came to his house and took him into custody on charges of assault with reckless intent to injure, criminal property damage and disorderly conduct-disruptive behavior.
The official Scottsdale Police Department incident report, obtained Wednesday by The Arizona Republic, said police responded to a call from the Wilson family home after Wilson’s daughter called for help, telling a dispatcher that her father “had yelled at her mom, threw multiple objects around, took a gun out of a safe, and drove off after saying he was going to kill himself in the desert.”
The Wilson family met police at a precinct, where family members described Wilson’s angry behavior. According to report details, he’d put his hands around the neck of his wife and broken things in the room, upset over his wife having left him separation papers for him to sign.
Wilson, who was a scout and also worked in the Cardinals’ front office before taking the Carolina job in early 2023, had gone to live in North Carolina while his family stayed behind in Arizona. Wilson’s wife said she’d hired a private investigator to look into her husband being unfaithful, and Adrian Wilson “just lost it from there” after he’d seen the separation papers.
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Wilson took a handgun out of a safe as the argument became physical, and his wife was able to get herself and her children out of the house.
Wilson threatened suicide to his mother, he admitted in an interview with police. He admitted to breaking objects in the house, and that it was depressing being away from family for 14 months. He also denied becoming physical with his wife, despite her report saying that Wilson had placed his hands around her neck.
At 6:33 a.m. on June 1, Wilson was informed of the charges against him and taken into custody. He complied with officers without incident.
Later that morning, Wilson was released. ESPN reported that he’d posted bail.
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Wilson is due for a virtual court appearance on July 16.
Arizona remains one of the fastest-growing states in the country, but new migration data suggests that growth is starting to level out.
According to the latest numbers from U-Haul, Arizona ranked number seven nationwide for growth in 2025. While that is down one spot from the year before, it marks the sixth consecutive year the state has remained in the top ten.
The rankings are based on more than 2.5 million one-way moving transactions for the Arizona-based company.
What stands out in the data is how close those numbers are.
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In 2025, 50.3% of U-Haul’s one-way moves came into Arizona, while 49.7% moved out. In practical terms, that means for nearly every family moving into the state, there is another one packing up and leaving.
That does not mean Arizona is losing population. However, it does suggest the margin of growth is getting thinner than it has been in recent years.
Even with that shift, the greater Phoenix metro area continues to be a major driver of growth. Phoenix ranked fifth nationwide among U.S. metro areas, fueled by job creation and new housing across the Valley.
U-Haul leaders point to continued development tied to major employers, including chip manufacturing and data centers, as well as ongoing residential construction, as reasons Phoenix remains a top destination.
Experts who study migration trends say when in-migration and out-migration numbers get this close, it can be a sign that affordability pressures are starting to play a role, especially when it comes to housing.
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The latest data does not point to a mass exodus, but it does show Arizona entering a period of transition, balancing opportunity and growth with affordability concerns.
The 2026 Arizona Legacy Races in Buckeye, Ariz., are ringing in a new year for futurity horses December 30 – January 6, at the Buckeye Equestrian & Events Center. Formerly known as the MVP Futurity and Greg Olson Futurity, these two races have been a staple in many professional trainers’ schedules for decades. This year, the two events boast $22,000 in added money.
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Futurity
Linzie Lindsey and Fame Dancin Yola claimed the Round 1 win with a 17.577 for $1,959. Barbara Merrill rode TKW Eye Am Tess to the 2D win.
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After finishing out of the 1D money in Round 1, Loralee Ward and Dark Honey ran the fastest time of the futurity with a 17.030 to claim the Round 2 win. The duo also earned the Futurity Reserve Championship for $1,652.
Lindsey and Fame Dancin Yola finished second in Round 2 with a 17.164, adding $1,603 to their futurity earnings and claiming the Futurity Championship for another $2,019.
Jenna Duhon and PMC AintSheBeautiful earned the Round 2 2D win. In the 2D Average, it was Estella Martin and Quanahs Kingdom claiming the win.
Derby
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Round 1 of a very tough Derby went to Jana Bean and Feature This Goodbye with a 17.268. 2025 futurity standout Blissful Version and Lora Nichols finished second in Round 1 with a 17.282, won Round 2 with a 17.032, and claimed the Average win.
“Buddy” and Nichols were in contention for the highest money-earning futurity horse of the previous season, before the cancellation of the last two major events of the season due to EHV-1. By $7 million sire Winners Version, Buddy banked over $300,000 in his futurity year.
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Big Paydays
Megan McLeod-Sprague and Jagger | Fernando Sam-Sin/@fsamsin
Megan McLeod-Sprague and Seis Corona (“Jagger”) were hot off the 2025 National Finals Rodeo. The duo won the Roohide Hot Rod with a 17.004 for $1,368. They also earned the Friday Open 1D win for $1,083.
With the first 16-second run of the weekend, Sherry Cervi and MP Meter My Fame won the Saturday Open 1D with a 16.969.
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Rita Cheeney and HP Dash Ta Fairfax ran the only other sub-17-second run of the weekend, with a 16.996 that took the top spot in Sunday’s Open 1D.
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Nichols and Buddy doubled down on their derby earnings, placing deep in the Open 1D both days, as well as the Roohide Hot Rod, and Big Time Boss.
Youth competitor Tabitha Dyal also had an outstanding weekend, earning Open 1D money Friday, Saturday, and Sunday aboard Slym Shady. She swept the Youth 1D on Slym Shady and earned Open 1D, Open 2D, and Youth 1D checks on Promise Me Fame Guys and Smooth Operraider. Dyal wrapped up her weekend with several checks in the Big Time Boss.
Authorities say a prominent California agriculture heir is accused of traveling to Arizona to kill his estranged wife amid a bitter divorce, a case now drawing national attention for its cross-state trail and high-profile ties.
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