by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 18, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Pittsburgh-based autonomous trucking company Aurora Innovation Inc. has officially opened a terminal in Phoenix, marking a significant step in the company’s efforts to expand its commercial footprint beyond Texas.
The newly operational site supports driverless freight runs, including nighttime operations, and is part of Aurora’s strategy to scale its autonomous vehicle network across the southwestern United States. The company confirmed that the Phoenix terminal opened in June and is already servicing commercial routes for two of its key partners: Hirschbach Motor Lines and Werner Enterprises.
This development follows Aurora’s earlier announcement, reported last fall, that it would extend its existing autonomous freight corridor — which previously connected Fort Worth and El Paso — to include Phoenix. The move marks Aurora’s first expansion outside of Texas and signals growing confidence in its driverless trucking technology.
While Aurora declined to provide the terminal’s exact location, a company spokesperson said it is situated a few miles from the Loop 202 and Interstate 10 interchange in Phoenix — a strategic logistics hub for commercial transport. Details on staffing at the terminal, including how many employees are currently working on site or whether they are permanently based in Arizona, were not disclosed.
The expansion comes as Aurora and its competitors in the self-driving freight sector race to commercialize their technology at scale. With rising demand for long-haul freight solutions and persistent driver shortages, autonomous trucking is increasingly being positioned as a critical innovation in the logistics industry.
Aurora has not yet announced additional expansion locations, but its continued growth outside of Texas suggests a broader national rollout may be on the horizon.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 17, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Main Street confidence ticked upward in July, with the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rising 1.7 points to 100.3, edging above its long-term average for the first time in months. The lift was driven largely by more owners reporting better business conditions and viewing it as a good time to expand.
The latest figures, however, paint a mixed picture. While sentiment improved, NFIB’s Uncertainty Index climbed eight points to 97, and labor quality has re-emerged as the top challenge, cited by 21% of owners, the highest share since early spring.
Survey results show growing confidence in day-to-day operations. Thirteen percent of owners rated their business health as “excellent,” up five points from June, and 52% said it was “good,” up three points. Reports of “fair” or “poor” conditions declined. Owners’ outlook on the economy also improved: the net share expecting better business conditions jumped 14 points to 36%, well above historical norms. Sixteen percent said it is a good time to expand, up from 11% last month.
Even with the improved outlook, sales remain a point of concern. Eleven percent named poor sales as their most pressing problem — the highest since February 2021. Inflation worries held steady at 11%, the lowest level since September 2021, though 28% plan to raise prices in the months ahead, a sign that cost pressures persist.
Worker shortages remain acute. Thirty-three percent of owners reported job openings they could not fill, the lowest since December 2020 but still well above average. Of those hiring, 84% said they had few or no qualified applicants. Plans to boost pay are cooling: 27% reported raising compensation in July, down six points, and 17% plan to do so in the next three months. Labor costs were named the top concern by 9% of respondents.
Capital investment showed modest improvement. Fifty-five percent of owners reported spending in the past six months, with the largest share buying new equipment. Still, plans for future capital outlays remain below long-term averages. Borrowing conditions are relatively stable, with only 4% saying their last loan was harder to get. Interest rate concerns remain low, though 25% of owners borrow regularly — a historically small share.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 16, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
The Arizona Senate Health & Human Services Committee will hold a special hearing on Medicaid fraud this coming Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the Arizona State Senate, following weeks of mounting concern over waste and abuse in the state’s healthcare system.
Committee Chairwoman Carine Werner (R-LD4) will lead the session, which will examine allegations of systemic fraud within the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). Reports have tied the abuse largely to Residential Treatment Facilities—often called “sober living homes”—where patients were allegedly exploited in schemes designed to maximize profits rather than provide care.
One of the most prominent cases involves Farukh Jara Ali, the Pakistan-based owner of ProMD, who was indicted for submitting more than $650 million in fraudulent Medicaid claims. Investigators allege that some facilities bribed individuals to attend certain programs, then billed Medicaid for unnecessary—or entirely unprovided—services.
“This isn’t just about money,” Werner said. “It’s about ensuring our healthcare system isn’t exploited at the expense of people who truly need help.”
Arizona was among several states targeted in a recent nationwide healthcare fraud “takedown” that led to charges against more than 300 individuals. The estimated loss to Arizona alone exceeds $650 million.
The Aug. 18 hearing will bring together lawmakers, health officials, and other stakeholders to review the breakdowns that allowed the fraud to occur and consider policy reforms aimed at tightening oversight and accountability within AHCCCS. The session is open to the public.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 15, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Scottsdale residents attending Monday’s City Council work study session will encounter a new layer of security at City Hall, the first council meeting since the summer recess.
The changes, implemented in July, require all visitors to pass through walk-through metal detectors or handheld screening devices, and have their bags checked at designated entry points. Signage directs guests to approved entrances and exits, where security personnel are stationed to assist and conduct screenings.
The security upgrades mirror measures rolled out earlier at Scottsdale’s One Civic Center, part of an effort city officials say is designed to enhance safety for employees, residents, and other visitors.
Under Arizona law (A.R.S. § 13-3102 A), weapons are prohibited inside City Hall. A secure lockbox is available at the entrance for the temporary storage of legal weapons.
City officials chose the summer for the rollout to coincide with a typically lighter meeting schedule, giving visitors and staff time to adjust before busier months ahead. Monday’s meeting will focus on WestWorld-related matters, but for those planning to attend, the city advises arriving early to allow extra time for the new security process.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 12, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Lucid Group, the electric vehicle startup known for its luxury Air sedan, disappointed investors after missing second-quarter earnings expectations and trimming its production forecast for 2025.
The company reported $259.4 million in revenue for the quarter ending June 30, falling short of Bloomberg’s $262.4 million consensus estimate. While that figure marked an improvement over the $200.6 million recorded a year ago, Lucid posted a larger-than-expected adjusted loss of $0.24 per share and an adjusted EBITDA loss of $632.1 million.
Gross margins fell by 21%, which Lucid attributed to tariffs. The company ended the quarter with $4.86 billion in liquidity, a closely watched metric as it continues to burn cash. Production guidance for 2025 was revised to between 18,000 and 20,000 vehicles, down from the 20,000-target set earlier this year. In the April–June period, Lucid produced 3,863 vehicles and delivered 3,309, bringing its first-half totals to 6,075 units produced and 6,418 delivered.
For much of its short history, Lucid’s lineup consisted solely of the Air sedan. The automaker has recently begun ramping up production of the Gravity SUV, though early output has been modest. Fewer than 1,000 units were built in the first quarter, most of which went to Saudi Arabia, home to Lucid’s largest investor, the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
In 2016, the Arizona State government made a deal with Lucid to open operations in Arizona. At that time, the Arizona Republic reported that the company could receive as much as $46.5 million in taxpayer subsidies over time. The company’s primary manufacturing facility remains in Casa Grande, Arizona.
In July, Lucid announced a partnership with Uber to supply 20,000 battery-electric vehicles for a planned robotaxi service over the next five years.
Lucid’s near-term sales outlook also faces headwinds from the expected expiration of the U.S. federal $7,500 EV tax credit on Sept. 30. To bolster its stock price, the company plans a 1-for-10 reverse stock split, which would lift shares to roughly $10 based on current valuations and help avoid the risk of trading below $1. Shares of Lucid (LCID) fell nearly 2% following the earnings announcement.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
