The fight against fentanyl; water storage in AZ | Newsmaker

In this episode of John Hook's Newsmaker, we're talking with Josephine Dunn. She's the mother who lost her daughter, Ashley, following a fentanyl overdose in 2021. Ashley's legacy lives on in an act signed by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs named the "Ashley Dunn Act." Her mother talks about the fentanyl crisis and how she continues to fight for change. In the second segment, John Hook chats with SRP water expert, Charlie Ester, about the water crisis in Arizona and the pioneers who helped create water storage infrastructure.

Fentanyl cases spiking in Rocky Mountain states

DEA agents and authorities across Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Montana are seeing a spike in fentanyl seizures where in the past these spikes were just seen in major cities like Los Angeles and Phoenix.

Arizona receives part of $1 billion opioid settlement

The opioid crisis in Arizona has been devastating but organizations and municipalities fighting the crisis just scored a big win. FOX 10's Brian Webb has more on what the crisis has done and how the money will be divvied.

Ashley Dunn Bill honors fentanyl trafficking victim

The Ashley Dunn Bill, which mandates minimum prison sentences for fentanyl dealers, is named after a 26-year-old woman from Prescott who overdosed on a pill laced with fentanyl. Her family is celebrating the passing of the law but still mourning the loss of their daughter. FOX 10's Lindsey Ragas has more.

1,500 pounds of fentanyl seized in last 6 months

The Arizona Department of Public Safety says troopers have recovered more than 1,500 pounds of fentanyl and other drugs in the last six months. This includes a seizure from last week when troopers found nearly 29 pounds of fentanyl pills, 165 pounds of methamphetamine, 2 pounds of heroin, a pound of cocaine, five guns and more than $20,000 in cash.

AZ asks Congress to pay for border fentanyl scanners

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes sent a letter to lawmakers on Capitol Hills requesting they approve funding for scanners that detect fentanyl. Mayes says more than half of all fentanyl seized in the United States was confiscated in Arizona.

California seizes record 62,000 pounds of fentanyl

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Tuesday that operations supported by the California National Guard have resulted in the record seizure of 62,224 pounds of fentanyl in 2023, valued at about $649 million. 

Over 500K fentanyl pills seized in Arizona

Over half a million fentanyl pills are off the streets after officials made a large drug bust. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced the drug seizure, saying it happened during an investigation between Tempe Police and the Phoenix DEA. Special agents confiscated 525,000 fentanyl pills and more than $66,000.

Fentanyl seized during Eloy traffic stop: DPS

Troopers seized more than 200 pounds of fentanyl during a traffic stop along Interstate 10 in Eloy, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said. DPS says the drugs were hidden inside duffel bags in a truck, which was headed for Phoenix.