1. On January 7, 1913, Arizona became the 48th state to join the United States of America. This was after years of lobbying and political maneuvering, and it came after a contentious period of debate and negotiation over issues like water rights and land ownership.

2. In 1931, the Arizona State Legislature designated the saguaro cactus as the official state symbol. This majestic cactus is found throughout Arizona and is an important part of the state's identity and culture.

3. On January 7, 1957, the Nogales Grand Jury indicted 49 people on charges of smuggling marijuana across the Mexican border. The case was one of many that highlighted the ongoing problem of drug trafficking and border security, a problem that still exists to this day.

4. In 1978, the Supreme Court of Arizona ruled in favor of a group of college students who had sued the University of Arizona over a ban on political speech and activities on campus. The ruling was seen as an important victory for free speech and campus activism.

5. On January 7, 1999, the Arizona Diamondbacks signed Randy Johnson to a four-year, $52.4 million contract, making him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history at the time. Johnson went on to have incredible success with the Diamondbacks, including winning the Cy Young Award four times and leading the team to a World Series championship in 2001.