🌱 TikTok Ban On Government Devices + Clearing Phoenix's 'The Zone'

Hello, Phoenix! I'm back in your inbox this morning with your fresh edition of the Phoenix Patch newsletter. Let's get this Thursday started off right with a quick guide to the most important things happening around town.

But first, today's weather:

Plenty of sun. High: 89 Low: 66.

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Here are the top three stories in Phoenix today:

1. On Wednesday, Maricopa County leaders unanimously voted to ban TikTok on government-owned devices due to concerns over the app's potential to collect and share county data with the Chinese government. The ban, which takes effect immediately, is aimed at protecting the privacy and security of county data. Maricopa County is the first county in Arizona to implement such a ban, following a similar executive order by the state's Democratic Governor, Katie Hobbs, last month. (Arizona's Family)
2. The City of Phoenix has started clearing the seven-block-long homeless encampment known as "The Zone," located just west of downtown. While upwards of 1,000 people live there, the number has declined significantly following a court order earlier this year to remove the encampment. The city plans to close off the area block by block as part of its coordinated cleanup plan which it has until Jul. 10 to complete, although it intends to file an appeal asking for more time. (ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix)
3. A man suspected of starting several fires in downtown Phoenix was arrested by the police on Wednesday morning. The unidentified man was found near 1st Avenue and Lincoln Street holding a sharp object to his wrist and had self-inflicted cuts to his arm when he was detained by officers. The suspect was taken to the hospital and authorities are investigating the cause of the fires. (12news.com KPNX)

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Today in Phoenix:

• Live and Local! Featuring Live Acoustic Music By Russell Alan At AC Hotel by Marriott Phoenix Biltmore (8:00 PM)
• Private Lives By Noël Coward At Herberger Theater Center (8:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Phoenix has been ranked No. 10 in best-paying summer jobs for teens, according to a study by Cool Jobs! (Arizona Big Media)
• Looking for a spot to celebrate Mom on Sunday? These 10 Phoenix restaurants are celebrating Mother's Day with brunch and dinner specials. (Phoenix New Times)
• Are you looking to shop locally? On Saturday, May 20 and Jun. 24, from 10:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m., the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown is partnering with The Merchantile of Scottsdale to host a Pop-Up shop at Carcara! The event will feature a curated selection of vendors selling everything from home goods to beauty products, apparel, jewelry, and more. (Downtown Phoenix, AZ via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• Free Zoom Meeting about female divorce lawyer in Mesa, AZ (May 15)
• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (May 16)
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• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (May 16)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (May 19)
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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with 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.