🌱 Teenager Kidnapped In Home Invasion + Severe Strep On The Rise

Hi all. I'm back with your fresh copy of the Phoenix Daily. Let's get this day started off right with a quick dive into the most important things going on around town.

But first, today's weather:

Plenty of sun. High: 65 Low: 40.

Here are the top three stories today in Phoenix:

1. The Phoenix Children's Hospital has reported a rise in invasive group A strep infections since November. Invasive group A strep infections can be more severe than regular strep throat. According to Dr. Wassim Ballan, Division Chief of Infectious Diseases at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, “It sometimes causes sepsis, it causes necrotizing fasciitis, which is the flesh-eating disease, it can cause bone infections, severe lung infections, and pneumonia.” (KJZZ)
2. In a Monday morning home invasion, a man was shot and 17-year-old Jesse Camacho was kidnapped. The man who was shot is said to have been sleeping inside the home. Police are looking for two armed suspects driving a dark-colored sedan. (ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix)
3. An 11-year-old boy is in critical condition after being hit by a car and trapped underneath the wreckage. Phoenix police believe that the boy was playing with a toy when a car backed over him. Firefighters were able to extricate the boy from under the vehicle. (ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix)

Patch deals of the day:

If you need a last-minute gift and don't want to brave the crowds, here's something to consider. These limited-time offers — hand-selected by the Patch Deals team — can be purchased instantly. You can then let the recipient know what's headed their way and skip the whole wrapping presents fiasco altogether.

* $100 Restaurant.com eGift Card (89% off) — Pay just $11 and get $100 to spend at participating local restaurants.

* Sam's Club 1-Year Membership (50% off) — Save on groceries, kitchen supplies, electronics and more — plus save up to 60 percent on hotel accommodations around the world.

* Skoove Premium Piano Lessons (87% off) — Get a lifetime subscription on interactive piano and keyboard lessons for beginners, intermediate and advanced players.

(Patch may earn a commission on purchases. All deals are as of publication and could change.)

Today in and around Phoenix:

• Menorah Lighting At Westgate, Glendale (6:00 PM)
• Winter Solstice Yoga At Sutra Studios (6:00 PM)
• Ballet Arizona’s "The Nutcracker" At Symphony Hall (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• There are many places in Metro Phoenix serving brunch and dinner on Christmas Eve and Day. You can get two courses at Adams Table, seasonal cocktails at Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails, or four courses at Fat Ox. (Phoenix New Times)
• Looking for a new home? There are a handful of new houses available in and around Phoenix. (Phoenix Patch)
• Hance Park in downtown Phoenix will host free Super Bowl concerts on Feb. 9 and Feb. 10. The performance will feature Jimmy Eat World and Lee Brice. (Arizona's Family)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Our World Energy — (Visit website)
• 9 Cent Color Copies — (Visit Website)
• Phoenix Online Media — (Visit website)
• Faceless Digital — (Visit website)
• Jensen Family Law in Glendale AZ — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• Free Zoom meeting about female divorce lawyers around Mesa, AZ (December 24)
• Online webinar with our specialist on divorce lawyer in Glendale, AZ (December 25)
• Add your event

Housing:

• NEWLY LISTED Amazing senior living community in Tucson! (Details)
• Add your listing

That's it for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander, now living in New York. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.