James Galvin : “Phoenix News June 7-9: Top Stories”

PHOENIX — Over the weekend, the Valley saw a range of impactful news stories, from a Tucson woman sentenced for trafficking fentanyl to a tragic crash in Queen Creek involving a drunk driver. Here is a closer look at some of the major events that unfolded in the region.

Tucson woman receives 60-month sentence for trafficking over 450,000 fentanyl-laced pills

On Tuesday, a 30-year-old woman from Tucson, Alegria Pompeya Mendoza-Castro, was handed a 5-year prison term for her involvement in trafficking approximately 453,000 fentanyl-laced pills and one kilogram of fentanyl powder. Mendoza-Castro had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl back in November 2023.

Bank of America campus near Sky Harbor airport sold to Texas buyer for $44.3 million

A significant transaction took place as a five-building office campus, fully leased to Bank of America, was sold to PHX West LLC for $44.3 million. The campus, located at Sky Harbor Center in Phoenix, spans 534,849 square feet and has been occupied by Bank of America since 1989. The deal was brokered by Cushman & Wakefield.

BLM approves amendment for target shooting in Sonoran Desert National Monument

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has given the green light to an amendment that allows for dispersed recreational target shooting in the Sonoran Desert National Monument Resource Management Plan. This move designates 5,295 acres of the monument for recreational target shooting, while restricting it on the remaining 480,496 acres to safeguard human safety and vital resources.

Tragic crash in Queen Creek claims life of 4-year-old in collision with drunk driver

A heart-wrenching incident unfolded in Queen Creek as a 4-year-old girl lost her life in a collision involving a drunk driver. The crash occurred when the vehicle carrying the young victim, along with an adult and another child, was rear-ended by the intoxicated suspect at a high speed of nearly 60 mph at the intersection of Power Road and Hunt Highway. While the adult and the other child sustained minor injuries, the 4-year-old succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital.

Fatal crash at Picacho Peak State Park claims life of pilot

A tragic incident occurred at Picacho Peak State Park as a small aircraft crashed near the summit, leading to the death of the pilot, identified as 68-year-old James Galvin of Oro Valley. The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call from a witness to the crash, confirming that Galvin was the sole occupant of the aircraft and was pronounced dead at the crash site.