🌱 Three Plead Guilty To Providing Weapons + Phoenix Inflation Rates

Good morning, Phoenix. I'm here in your inbox this warm morning to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, today's weather:

Plenty of sunshine. High: 100 Low: 73.

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Here are the top three stories today in Phoenix:

1. Three individuals have pleaded guilty to providing firearms to the man accused of shooting Phoenix police officer Tyler Moldovan; however, none of them supplied the weapon used in the attack. Erika La Rae Williams admitted to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm for her son, who later shot Officer Moldovan with a different pistol. Dwayne Keith Anderson assisted Essa Williams in obtaining a gun without a background check, but the weapon found in his possession was not used in the shooting. Alice Berdicchia confessed to bringing a Glock pistol to her boyfriend, knowing he was a convicted felon, although it was not the firearm used in the officer's shooting. (Arizona's Family)
2. Despite experiencing its lowest level of inflation in 18 months, Phoenix's inflation rate continues to outpace the national rate, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data shows that from April 2022 to April 2023, consumer prices in the Phoenix metro area rose by 7.4 percent, marking the smallest annual increase since October 2021. In comparison, the national annual inflation rate for May was 4 percent, the lowest it has been in over two years. While there is some relief on the inflation front, experts anticipate higher-than-average inflation to persist until the next recession, and the Federal Reserve may take further action to control it. (KTAR.com)
3. A Mexican national, 39-year-old Manual Ochoa-Vasquez, has been sentenced to 96 months in prison for his involvement in smuggling thousands of individuals from the U.S.-Mexico border to the Phoenix area. Ochoa-Vasquez pleaded guilty to charges of transporting illegal aliens for profit and money laundering. The investigation uncovered a primary stash house where 54 undocumented non-citizens were found, and it was revealed that the individuals were detained until their smuggling fees were paid. (KTAR.com)

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Today in Phoenix:

Wednesday, June 14

• Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night At Simple Machine Brewing (6:30 PM)
• Women Across The World At North Valley Regional Library (5:30 PM)

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From my notebook:

• The Phoenix Fire Department is hiring Emergency Dispatchers. If you're ready to answer the call to a new career, apply by clicking here (Job ID: 50338) by Wednesday, Jun. 21. (Phoenix Fire Department via Facebook)
• A police officer from nearby Tempe, Officer Candace Kanavel, has won the title of Miss Arizona USA! (Arizona's Family)
• Are you in the market for a new home? There are plenty of homes for sale in the Phoenix area, including a stunning 1,461 sq. ft., two-bedroom, three-bathroom home on N 12th Street for $559,000. (Phoenix Patch)

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Featured events:

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all tomorrow morning 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