🌱 Death Of Two Phoenix Officers + Fentanyl Pill Seizures In Jail

Good morning, everybody. It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in town today.

But first, today's weather:

Some sun, then clouds. High: 65 Low: 48.

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Here are the top three stories in Phoenix today:

1. The Phoenix Police Department is mourning the deaths of two officers. On Feb. 5, officer John Wing of the Phoenix Police Department passed away by suicide, according to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office, leaving behind a wife and six children. Then on Feb. 8, the department announced the death of officer Ben Denham, who was assigned to the Airport Bureau as a K-9 officer. GoFundMe campaigns have been set up to support each officer's family. The campaign for Wing's family can be found here, and Denham's can be found here. (FOX 10 News Phoenix)
2. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has reported five incidents of fentanyl pill seizures from newly booked inmates at the Transfer and Release facility, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO). Nearly 500 pills were confiscated over several days, with the largest seizure being 200 pills found in a female inmate's body during a search. In the most recent incident on Feb. 12, an inmate was busted for attempting to hide 200 pills in his MCSO-issued socks. (FOX 10 News Phoenix)
3. Tonight (Feb. 17), a section of eastbound I-10 in Arizona will close for 24 hours beginning at 10 p.m. to facilitate bridge, overhead signs, and barrier work for the I-10 Broadway Curve improvement project. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, the closure will affect several ramps, including the HOV ramps in both directions connecting I-10 and U.S. 60. Drivers are advised to use alternate routes and detours to access I-10 beyond the closure, while west valley drivers can use Loop 202 to connect with I-10 south of Chandler Boulevard. (Subscription: Daily Independent)

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Today in Phoenix:

• Free Disney, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Anime & Marvel Art Expo At Phoenix Convention Center South Building (5:00 PM)
• Where Music Lives Group Exhibit Opening Reception At Herberger Theater Center (6:00 PM)
• Electric Lotus At Sutra Studios (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• In 2022, Arizona had the sixth lowest average composite ACT score across the nation, with a score of 18.4 out of a possible 36. (24/7 Wall St. - Phoenix)
• Looking for some fun this weekend? Here's what's going on this weekend around Phoenix, including the Arizona Strong Beer Festival, a Mardi Gras Jazz Brunch, and more. (Phoenix New Times)
• Noel Gallagher and Garbage will stop by Phoenix's Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre (formerly Ak-Chin Pavilion) on Jun. 11! Tickets go on sale today (Feb. 17) at 10 a.m. (KTAR.com)

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Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (February 21)
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• Free Zoom meeting about female divorce attorneys in Mesa (February 24)
• Free Zoom meeting about divorce lawyers in Glendale, AZ (February 27)
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You're all caught up for today. I'll see you around!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.