State Glance
Mexico seizes 31 lbs. of highly potent drug fentanyl near U.S.
MEXICO CITY — Mexican authorities have seized a large amount of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl along with other drugs hidden in a car near the U.S. border.
The National Security Commission says the vehicle was searched on a highway between the Gulf of California and San Luis Rio Colorado, which is home to a border crossing with southwest Arizona.
A statement Monday says the bust included 31 pounds (14 kilograms) of fentanyl, which can be fatal in doses of just a few milligrams.
By comparison a seizure last month of 4.5 pounds (2 kilograms) of fentanyl in Columbus, Ohio, was said by prosecutors to be enough to kill the entire population of the city of 860,000 people.
Meth, cocaine and heroin were also seized from the car. Three people were detained.
Democrat Jim Moss drops out of Arizona U.S. Senate race
PHOENIX — One of four Democrats running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by retiring Republican Jeff Flake says he’s pulling the plug on his campaign.
Businessman and former public school teacher Jim Moss of Globe announced Monday that he was dropping out. His campaign says the reasons are both “personal and practical.”
The announcement comes six weeks after U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema said she would run for the seat. That put a big-name Democrat with more than $4 million in the bank up against Moss and two other lesserknown candidates in next year’s primary.
Phoenix activist Deedra Abboud and Sierra Vista attorney Chris Russell also have filed to run in the Democratic primary.
Man lying on tracks is fatally struck by train in Flagstaff
FLAGSTAFF — Authorities say a man is dead after being struck by a passing train in Flagstaff and it appears he was on the railroad tracks intentionally.
Flagstaff police have identified the man as 39-year-old Kanosh Smith.
They say he was a Flagstaff resident.
Officers responded to the scene about 10 a.m. Saturday.
Police say Smith was laying in the fetal position on the tracks as the train approached. The engineer sounded the horn and Smith reportedly raised his head and one arm before being hit by the train.
Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police identify stabbing suspect who was fatally shot
PHOENIX — Authorities have identified a man who they say was fatally shot by a Phoenix police officer after the suspect stabbed the driver of a bus and a passenger.
Police say 27-year-old Humberto Edwards died in Saturday’s shooting.
Investigators say Edwards boarded the Valley Metro bus armed with knives. Once the attack started, the driver stopped the bus and, along with the passengers, fled.
Police say Edwards tried to get into occupied vehicles in a bid to get away. They say an off-duty police sergeant noticed Edwards’ suspicious actions, exited his vehicle, drew a handgun and identified himself as an officer. Police say the sergeant fired his gun after Edwards refused to his commands and continued toward him.
The victims suffered injuries that weren’t life-threatening.