Artificial intelligence, Amazon and big-box stores. It’s competition enough to drive your average small, local business out of Maricopa. But there are still “AI-proof” small businesses that cannot be pirated by the big names. That’s according to a February survey of 3,000 Arizona employees by web experts at HostingAdvice in Gainesville, Fla., ranking Arizonans’ dream jobs in the age of AI. “The surge of AI presents as much an opportunity as it does a challenge,” Christina Lewis, technical writer for HostingAdvice, said in an email to InMaricopa. “Our survey has revealed that the entrepreneuri ..read more

A single-stop intersection in the Villages at Rancho El Dorado neighborhood will welcome two more stop signs next week.  The intersection at Butterfield Parkway and West Edison Road has a single stop sign for eastbound travelers, but will be converted into a three-way stop on May 15. “The decision to make the change comes as that area sees more traffic,” city spokesperson Monica Williams said. “By converting the intersection to a three-way stop, there will be less stoppage time for the traffic on Edison, resulting in less of a backup in the area.”  She said safety at the intersectio ..read more

Maricopa City Council members unanimously approved the 2025 fiscal year’s tentative budget during Tuesday night’s meeting. Councilmember Vincent Manfredi was absent. Books still balanced Chief Financial Officer Matthew Kozlowski presented the tentative budget, showing the city’s growth through a series of bar graphs and numbers. This included a steady three-year increase in the city’s revenue and expenditures. The budgeted operating revenue is expected to reach $98.49 million this year, a $7.14 million increase from the 2024 budget. The city’s revenue has grown by nearly $21 million ..read more

Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board members last night postponed action on setting a Nov. 5 bond election. The reason: a lack of information and a bond-sale dollar amount to share with district voters. “We thought we were going to approve the intent [to set an election date], and then have a series of meetings over the next few weeks,” school board President Robert Downey said after the meeting. He added he thought the board needed more information before calling a bond election. Downey said he and other board members wanted to better explain to voters where the money will go for ..read more

Wildland fire crews are seeing progress fighting the “Flying Bucket Fire.” The wildfire 15 miles southwest of Maricopa is now 50% contained despite growing toward Hidden Valley, according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. The department also issued a correction last night, stating the blaze has consumed 2,795 acres instead of the 4,100 acres previously reported. This was due to “more accurate [aerial] mapping,” according to a tweet from AZDFFM. While what sparked the wildfire has yet to be determined, AZDFFM spokesperson Tiffany Davila confirmed some kind of gunfire i ..read more

Dayv Morgan  Through the death of a family member or a friend, you’ve just inherited a home. And now, you want to sell it and collect the proceeds. Sounds like a pretty simple process, right? Not exactly. Any potential windfall may have to wait as the home goes through probate, the process by which a court manages the estate of a deceased individual by selling off real estate and other property to settle debts. The remaining funds go to inheritors. Probate is easier if the decedent has a will. If not, all decisions are made by a court, making the process lengthier and more expensive. Unl ..read more

A man who built a drinking hovel behind the Tractor Supply store just off Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway was arrested in a pile of trash Sunday night, cops say.  Maricopa police arrested 40-year-old Christopher M. Nyseth on charges of criminal littering and second-degree trespass, according to a probable cause statement.  The man’s sister dialed 9-1-1 requesting a welfare check on her brother, saying he got drunk and then sped off to the livestock store at 17590 Shea Way. She told police Nyseth usually spends his nights drinking inside a fenced-off area on the property.  Cops arr ..read more

It’s official, Maricopa: you now have a permanent location to get a plate of bulgogi in town. Asian Seoul’s Copa Kitchen hosted the grand opening of its brick-and-mortar restaurant at 20924 N. John Wayne Pkwy., Ste. D7, to a packed dining room this evening. Although the restaurant held a soft opening April 12, the menu was limited and owner Charlotte Stessel did not make any big announcements at the time. “It is chaos, but I think overall everything has been great,” she said about the opening. “We’re just trying to get everyone served and we’re having a good time.” Stessel opened the Asian fu ..read more

Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board members tonight will consider placing a special bond election on the Nov. 5 ballot to meet the district’s future growth needs. The bond shouldn’t affect the taxpayer’s pocketbook, said MUSD spokesperson Mishell Terry. Voter approval would allow MUSD governing board to sell school improvement bonds, which would be paid back by existing property tax revenues. “This bond is important for addressing our district’s growth,” she said. “If the board approves the resolution, it would allow us to build schools, expand existing ones and invest in workfor ..read more

A wildfire burning 15 miles southwest of Maricopa has doubled in size. The Flying Bucket Fire has consumed nearly 4,100 acres of desert land in unincorporated Maricopa as of this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Crews first responded to the blaze around 2:30 p.m. Monday and by that evening, it grew to 669 acres. The next morning, the fire increased to 2,000 acres of desert near Flying Bucket Ranch Airport, according to the Arizona Interagency Wildfire Prevention. Around 100 personnel from regional and federal fire departments have responded to the ..read more