HISTORY
THIS MONTH IN HISTORY For these and other historical stories, visit InMaricopa.com.
5 years ago Construction was underway on what would become Desert Sunrise High School, Maricopa Unified School District’s second high school campus. Crews began grading the site and preparing foundations, while district leaders celebrated an $18 million boost in state funding that helped accelerate the project. The campus would ultimately open in 2022, expanding educational
10 years ago
15 years ago
20 years ago
A trial date was set in the high- profile killings of Thunderbird Farms residents Michael and Tina Careccia, whose disappearance and deaths shocked the Maricopa community in 2015. Prosecutors were seeking the death penalty against Jose Valenzuela, who was accused of fatally shooting the couple and burying their bodies near his family’s home. The case remained one of the most closely watched criminal proceedings in Maricopa’s history.
One of Maricopa’s last independent video rental stores closed its doors. DVD and Game Depot owner Allen Ingersoll blamed a combination of changing technology, customer turnover and challenges facing small businesses. The closure came as services like Netflix and Redbox were transforming how Americans rented movies and video games.
Legacy Traditional School announced plans to become Maricopa’s first charter school, offering families an alternative to traditional public education. Before its local campus was completed, the school operated from a temporary site in Tempe and provided free transportation for Maricopa students. School leaders said early enrollment would help shape the size and scope of the future campus, which opened the following year.
opportunities for Maricopa’s growing student population.
Innovative cancer care starts with the heart , not the head. At Cancer & Blood Specialists of Arizona , we provide diagnostic imaging and medical oncology services for a truly comprehensive approach. With compassionate care that centers around you, every interaction is focused on your experience and well-being.
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Providing enhanced services such as bispecific therapies.
Carlos E. Arce-Lara, MD
CancerBloodSpecialistsAZ.com
InMaricopa.com | July 2026
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