Coolidge Daily Brief: February 8, 2026
Coolidge, AZ — February 8, 2026 — Police probe machete shooting, freeway work slows weekend drives, and a local college leader earns national honors.
Coolidge Daily Brief: Sunday, February 8, 2026
Officer-involved shooting under review
An outside investigative team is reviewing a deadly encounter after a Coolidge police officer shot a man outside the police station Thursday night.
Police say the officer responded around 7:45 p.m. to a domestic disturbance in front of headquarters and confronted a 54-year-old man armed with a machete. According to initial reports, the man refused repeated commands to drop the weapon before he was shot and later died. No officers were hurt, and police say there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Freeway work may slow weekend trips
Drivers from Coolidge heading into the Phoenix area should expect major construction on Loop 202 and Loop 101 through the weekend.
Westbound Loop 202 between Loop 101 and Interstate 10 in Chandler is closed from late Friday into Saturday afternoon, and eastbound Loop 202 between I-10 and Loop 101 is closed from late Saturday into Sunday afternoon. A ramp from eastbound Loop 101 to southbound State Route 51 is also shut for part of the weekend, so travelers are urged to allow extra time and watch for detours.
College president earns national honor
Central Arizona College president Dr. Jackie Elliott has been named a recipient of the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction, a national recognition for community college leaders who strongly support student success and honors programs.
With CAC’s Signal Peak campus just west of Coolidge, the award brings a local spotlight to efforts to expand scholarships, strengthen academics and keep more Pinal County students on track to complete degrees.
On the civic calendar
The City of Coolidge council is scheduled to hold its next regular meeting on Monday, February 9, at 7 p.m. in the council chamber at 911 S. Arizona Boulevard. Agendas and backup materials are posted on the city website for residents who want to track decisions on growth, roads and public safety.