We took a look at the stories that mattered most to our readers. To curate this list, we looked at the top 10 most read stories of the year. 

1. CAFFEINE CRASH

February

In a shocking twist, Dutch Bros Coffee decided against opening a second location in Maricopa — just after announcing its corporate move from Grants Pass, Ore., to Phoenix. 

The company had filed paperwork in July 2023 for a new drive-thru at Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway and Stonegate Road, but after months of silence, it confirmed it would no longer pursue the project, leaving coffee lovers in the area without a favorite caffeine fix. 

Maricopa’s existing Dutch Bros store opened in 2019. 

2. COACH OF THE YEAR 

June

Ryan Portee, a former football coach at Desert Sunrise High School, was arrested after InMaricopa publicized video footage of a disturbing road rage incident in May. Portee, 50, had threatened to kill 21-year-old Jordin Amato at the intersection of Porter and Honeycutt Roads. 

Portee had a history of traffic violations across multiple states, including DUI, reckless driving and other dangerous offenses. This latest incident led to his termination from both Desert Sunrise and Sequoia Pathway Academy, where he had been a coach and physical education teacher. He faces charges of threatening and intimidating, along with disorderly conduct. 

3. DEADLIEST CATCH 

June

Leanne Lemman, 45, was already in hot water for stealing from her ex-employer when things took a tragic turn. While on the run from the local police in Payson, she ran a red light and killed 69-year-old Mark Alexander, who was riding his bicycle. Though initially released by police, Lemman’s connection to several fraud charges across the state caught up with her. Now arrested on multiple felony counts, she faces up to 93 years in prison — and more charges could be on the way. 

The Casa Grande Police Department had been tracking Lemman, a one-time Rancho Mirage resident, for months after she is said to have gone on a self-indulgent shopping spree using stolen credit card details from her ex-boss. From Botox to pedicures, Lemman left a trail of financial ruin and legal problems. As creditors and investigators closed in, Lemman’s evasion efforts seemed endless — until her fatal driving incident in Payson. 

Lemman is accused of a series of fraudulent activities, including theft and forgery, linked to multiple cities in Arizona. After spending weeks evading arrest, she is still being held in the Pinal County jail on a $20,000 bond. 

4. VAPID TRANSIT

November

The Pinal Regional Transportation Authority announced it was suspending operations after nearly a decade of failed efforts. With improvements to State Route 347 now deemed “unfeasible,” the board decided it was time to hit pause.  

The agency’s plan had been heavily reliant on a sales tax approved by voters in 2017, which was ultimately struck down by the Arizona Supreme Court, leaving $90 million in limbo.  

While no staff were laid off, funding and future projects are now nonexistent, although a half-cent local sales tax is being explored as a new solution. 

5. HIGHS AND LOWE’S 

January

Lowe’s Home Improvement confirmed Maricopa would start seeing more than just the usual desert landscape when Thompson Thrift began construction on a 130,000-square-foot hardware superstore. The Indianapolis developer, which finalized a $9.25 million land purchase last summer through its Phoenix office, is setting up shop at the South Bridge Marketplace. 

Currently under construction are a 30,000-square-foot garden center, retail and restaurant spaces, catering to Maricopa’s growing demand for goods and services. 

The developer is no stranger to the area — back in 2019, it completed the Sonoran Creek Marketplace with big-name tenants like Sprouts Farmers Market and Marshalls. Now, it’s bringing more shopping options to a city hungry for retail. Plans for the project include an Aldi supermarket and additional storefronts in phase two, expected this year. 

6. TEEN SUICIDE September

September

Zack Born, a 19-year-old who struggled with autism, depression and burn scars from a traumatic fire, died by suicide. Zack donated his organs, including his kidneys, liver and heart valves, to help others. His mother, Patty Born, a psychiatric nurse, was using her grief to raise awareness about depression, bullying and organ donation, urging parents to have difficult conversations with their children. 

Zack, who had recently obtained his driver’s license, had a history of struggles, including being bullied at work at a local hamburger joint and feeling isolated because of his autism. Patty reflected on her son’s kindness and his battle with chronic depression, urging people to treat others with compassion. She also shared the emotional toll of Zack’s bullying at the fast-food restaurant, where he was reportedly treated harshly by managers, contributing to his mental health decline. 

Patty’s grief has turned into a call for societal change, focusing on kindness, better treatment of those who are different, and the importance of mental health resources. She hopes her son’s life — and death — can be lessons for others, urging parents to help their children navigate depression and reach out when needed. 

7. FOUGHT THE LAW

October

Maricopa police released video footage from a fatal crash that occurred seven months earlier. Demetrius Catus, a 29-year-old motorcyclist, was being chased by Sgt. Michael Ewald when he crashed at the intersection of John Wayne and Alterra Parkways. Catus was reportedly traveling at nearly triple the speed limit, wobbling on his Kawasaki Sport bike before losing control and suffering fatal injuries. 

The pursuit started after Ewald spotted Catus speeding at 80 miles per hour in a 35 zone. The motorcyclist briefly stopped at Honeycutt Avenue but then sped off, reaching speeds of 100 miles per hour. The chase ended tragically when Catus failed to navigate a curve, crashing into the intersection and dying from a massive head injury. Dashcam and bodycam footage show the aftermath, with Ewald reporting Catus’ broken neck and faint pulse. 

While toxicology reports are still pending, records show Catus had a history of DUI charges. The ongoing investigation is being handled by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Vehicular Crimes Unit. 

8. THROWN FOR A LOOP

November

The City of Maricopa unveiled a feasibility study for the first phase of the Green Road loop. The plan is to reduce congestion on State Route 347, which currently handles over 11,000 vehicles a day. The new route would run along the city’s west side, providing an alternative for travelers and opening new opportunities for business and development in the area. 

This proposed bypass would stretch across the Gila River Indian Community, transforming the landscape with new roads, sidewalks and landscaping. According to the consultants, the project could generate new revenue streams and jobs. At full build-out, the road would feature two lanes in each direction, making the dream of avoiding John Wayne Parkway a reality. 

While the road’s economic potential is clear, the real question remains: Will it actually make traffic less of a headache or just add a few more? Regardless, the new road would offer the Gila River Indian Community a chance to cash in on the traffic. 

9. MURDER IN THE MEADOWS 

November

Police were dispatched to the 45000 block of Dirk Street just before 7:15 p.m. one Friday night where they found an injured 16-year-old, Esteban Valenzuela, who was transported to a Valley hospital for treatment. Later, Maricopa Police Department confirmed the boy had been shot. Police closed Dancer Lane between Dirk Street and Guilder Avenue so the department’s crime scene unit could take over. 

At a vigil three days later, Valenzuela’s mother, a single mom of five, called him her protector and a “go-getter” with “a lot of heart.” 

The following night, two 15-year-olds — a boy and a girl — were arrested during a SWAT raid of a Villages home and a “high-risk” traffic stop at the Sonoran Creek Marketplace in connection with the homicide. In December, a third child — a boy, 16 — was also jailed in the case. At the time of publication, the names and nature of the charges were being withheld by MPD. 

10. TRAGEDY ON RIGGS ROAD 

December

Rush hour traffic should’ve died down by 7:30 p.m. one Monday when a 4-mile stretch of Riggs Road was closed between Interstate 10 and State Route 347 due to what Gila River Police Department called a “serious collision.” 

The police told InMaricopa a motorcyclist had died in the crash and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed it was 38-year-old Dustin Michael Tappe, a Maricopa Meadows resident, beloved husband and father of seven. 

His widow, Melody Rose Tappe, had loved Dustin since he was 11 years old. Melody said her soulmate “was the most incredible man and even better father.” In the days and weeks following the fatal crash, she desperately sought answers about what happened to the man she said was an adroit motorcyclist. “He was coming home to me and our babies!” Melody pleaded. “Everything in me says something isn’t right here.” 

Honorable mention 

SURREAL ESTATE 

June

Forget the cookie-cutter homes you’ll find in most subdivisions. Maricopa’s unincorporated areas are home to some seriously quirky digs that will make you question what “normal” really means. From a beach-inspired hillside retreat to a pyramid-shaped home that looks like it’s straight out of an Egyptian fantasy, these properties break every rule in the book.  

One standout was a four-bedroom, beachy abode in Thunderbird Farms, complete with ocean-inspired decor and a backyard pool (at the time of publication, it was for sale for $800,000). Meanwhile, the Hidden Valley pyramid home, with its stained-glass windows and unique wooden interiors, definitely looks like it was designed for a totally different climate.  

For those into more offbeat designs, there’s the Dorito-shaped A-frame cabin and a startlingly yellow house that screams “look at me.” Whether it’s the funky exterior or the strange history, these homes prove Maricopa isn’t for the faint of heart when it comes to real estate.