🌱 Traffic Stop Turns Drug Bust + Pedal Haus' Devil Ride Awareness

Hello, hello! It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Phoenix Patch newsletter — here to tell you all the most important things happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

Warm; breezy in the afternoon. High: 103 Low: 72.

From our sponsor:

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Here are the top three stories today in Phoenix:

1. An Arizona Department of Public Safety Trooper conducted a regular traffic stop this past Friday when he noticed signs of criminal behavior, upon searching the vehicle he found more than 200 pounds of fentanyl pills and almost 10 pounds of cocaine. The trooper initiated the traffic stop on I-19 near Amado, it appears that the drugs were being smuggled from Sonora, Mexico into Phoenix. 27-year-old Fernando Alfonso-Fernandez was arrested and charged with possession, transportation, and sale of narcotic drugs and has been booked into nearby Pima County Jail. After collecting everything it is estimated the contraband has a street value of $3.1 million. (KTAR.com)
2. Down the road in Tempe, cyclists gathered on Saturday morning to participate in Pedal Haus' Devil Ride bringing awareness to cyclists' safety and sharing the road with these riders, especially with the warmer weather here. The event lived up to its name as Saturday was the first triple-digit temperature day in June, riders took extra precautions not over-exerting themselves and utilizing the hydration pop-ups set up. Proceeds from the ride went to the Rob Dollar Foundation named after a man who was tragically killed in 2017 after a drunk driver hit him while biking in South Mountain. (ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix)
3. Over the weekend, a major car accident occurred in west Phoenix, resulting in one fatality and injuries to nine individuals of varying severity. The incident took place on Saturday afternoon, when a car made an unsafe attempt to pass another vehicle, leading to a pile-up of northbound vehicles and the at-fault driver's vehicle crossing into oncoming southbound traffic. Impairment and speed are believed to have played a role in the accident, although no arrests have been made. Nearby residents acted heroically to rescue as many victims as possible, but sadly, one woman lost her life while the remaining nine have been hospitalized, with expectations of their recovery. (FOX 10 News Phoenix)

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Today in Phoenix:

• Shanti Portal: Central Flow At Sutra Studios (6:00 PM)
• Exhale: Pranayama Meditation At Sutra Studios (7:30 PM)
• Char’s Has the Blues At Chars LIVE (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• This weekend the Phoenix Fire Department joined District five Councilwoman Betty Guardado in celebrating the grand opening of the Mariposa Splash Pad. In addition to all the fun that the splash pad bought to the community on day one, this was also a great opportunity to connect with the community and give out some great information on water safety. (Phoenix Fire Department via Facebook)
• Now is your chance to win big as the Arizona Humane Society's 50/50 is officially back. The last winner brought $24,000 home and the other half went to saving the lives of pets in need, a win for all involved in the cause. (Arizona Humane Society via Facebook)
• June is National Healthy Homes Month and the city of Phoenix wants to join in emphasizing the importance of taking care of your home for your safety. You can improve air quality, prevent exposure to health hazards, and reduce the risk of energy by taking extra steps to make sure your home is in good shape. (City of Phoenix, AZ USA via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Faceless Digital — (Visit website)

Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (June 6)
• Estate Planning Seminar on June 6th and 8th at Ahwatukee Community Center (June 6)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Monday. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— 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.