TUCSON — On Monday, Arizona Corporation Commissioner Lea Márquez Peterson issued a letter calling for an emergency meeting of Arizona’s public utility commissioners to discuss rolling blackouts in California as the state experiences record high temperatures and insufficient energy supplies. On August 16, California’s independent grid operator asked Californians to set their air conditioner thermostats to hotter temperatures and not use major appliances between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. in hopes that enough energy could be conserved to avoid rolling blackouts. Unfortunately, California’s requested energy restrictions did not work and nearly two million people lost power over a four hour…

Grand Canyon National Park has received confirmation that a bat collected at the Whitmore Helipad, located along the Colorado River near river mile 187 on August 6, has tested positive for rabies. The rabies positive bat did not come in contact with any visitors. In recent months, wildlife managers have reported an increase in human-bat interactions. Individuals who have had physical contact with a bat are advised to seek medical attention and be assessed for appropriate medical treatment. Rabies is a serious disease that can kill both animals and humans. Humans can contract rabies through contact with an infected animal’s…