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This photo provided by KOSU shows Hodokii Johnson, Muscogee and descendant of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, holding the hand of Kristin Gentry, Choctaw, as they hand poke three brown lines on each finger on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (Sarah Liese/KOSU via AP)

From salmonberry harvests to traditional tattoos, Native American culture is spotlighted in November

November marks the start of National Native American Heritage Month. It's a time to celebrate the diverse histories and cultures of hundreds of tribal communities across the U.S. In Alaska, a family …
Friday’s showers could produce localized rainfall totals of one to two inches, with rainfall rates reaching one to two inches per hour in stronger storms. A second weather system is expected to bring another round of widespread rain Saturday night through Sunday, with additional totals of one to two inches possible across the watch area.

Scottsdale urges residents to prepare for heavy rain, flood risk

Scottsdale residents are encouraged to prepare for additional rain and possible flooding as two weather systems move through the Phoenix area Oct. 30 and Nov. 1. The National Weather Service has …
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved a contractor for an animal shelter in the West Valley in its consent agenda on Oct. 21.

Board of Supervisors approves contractor for West Valley animal shelter

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved a contractor for an animal shelter in the West Valley in its consent agenda on Oct. 21.
The Arizona Court of Appeals ruled Scottsdale can continue collecting a 0.15% sales tax to pay for improvements to the city’s parks and preserve.

Scottsdale wins lawsuit over Prop. 490

The current parks and preserve tax can stay on the books ... at least for now. The Arizona Court of Appeals denied a claim Oct. 27 saying voters did not pass the tax, known as Proposition 490, …
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Todd Rundgren brings Damned If I Do Tour to Phoenix

Singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Todd Rundgren will perform at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix on Nov. 12 as part of his expanded 2026 Damned If I Do Tour.
POLICE

Mesa overnight shooting injures 2

Two people were injured around midnight Oct. 30 in a shooting near Sossaman and Elliot roads, police said Friday. A person of interest is in custody, and police said the shooting appears to be …
Munich is the third-most populated city in Germany.
Travel

Lufthansa to start nonstop flights between Phoenix and Munich next year

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport last week announced the start of a new international route. German airline Lufthansa will start nonstop service between Sky Harbor and Franz Josef …
VALLEY TRAVEL

Weather permitting: Weekend road work planned on Loops 101, 202, 303

Rain could affect the Valley freeway work that state transportation officials have planned for the weekend. The National Weather Service forecasts rain for Friday, Saturday night and Sunday. …
HonorHealth CEO Todd LaPorte will receive Scottsdale Leadership’s Drinkwater Leadership Award Dec. 11.
NEIGHBORS

Scottsdale Leadership honors local leaders

Scottsdale Leadership will celebrate the winners of this year’s Spirit of the Community Awards 11 a.m., Dec. 11 at the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort, 7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Road., according to a …
Arizona among four states receiving additional research as colleges confront financial pressures and student retention challenges.
Education Solutions

Latino college students value degrees but struggle to finish, survey finds

Arizona among four states receiving additional research as colleges confront financial pressures and student retention challenges.
Williams Field High School hosts an annual trunk-or-treat event to support to its
Education

Political costumes draw complaints at East Valley high school event

Williams Field High School reviews complaints over political costumes and student group participation at a trunk-or-treat event in Gilbert.
UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) and South Carolina center Madina Okot (11) battle for a tip-off of a semifinal game between UCLA and South Carolina, Friday, April 3 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.
College Women's Basketball

Women’s Final Four generated $71.5M in economic impact for Arizona, ASU study finds

Nearly seven months after the final buzzer sounded on the first Women’s Final Four in Arizona, the state is revealing the economic scoreboard from the weekend of games. The Women’s Final …
Amir Eylon, president and CEO of Longwoods International, speaks to  a crowd of about 500 people at Experience Scottsdale’s annual meeting Oct. 29.
COMMUNITY NEWS

Tourism brought $3.7 billion to Scottsdale in 2025

Tourism continues to be a crucial part of Scottsdale’s economy. It contributed $3.7 billion to the coffers in 2025, supporting more than 29,000 jobs and contributing $78.7 million in city tax …
All five candidates at a Phoenix City Council District 4 forum supported ending the reverse lanes on Seventh Avenue and Seventh Street, sometimes called
Phoenix Elections

Candidates at Phoenix District 4 forum all support removing 'suicide lanes'

Transportation was a key talking point in a virtual forum for candidates of Phoenix City Council’s District 4 representative. The topic was a central topic in three of the five questions …
Peoria Unified governing board member Melissa Ewing has sent a cease-and-desist letter to fellow board members Heather Rooks and Janelle Bowles.
election 2026

Peoria Unified board member issues cease-and-desist letter

Peoria Unified governing board member Melissa Ewing has sent a cease-and-desist letter to one of her election opponents, Heather Rooks, as well as Janelle Bowles, both of whom are fellow board members.
Arizona State guard Jaddan Simmons (2) during a game against Minnesota on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, in Tempe.
College basketball

Phoenix Public Library offers free tickets to ASU women’s basketball home games

Phoenix Public Library has partnered with Sun Devil Women’s Basketball to offer library patrons two free tickets to each eligible home game during the 2026–27 season. The program begins with …
The state's largest Christmas tree goes up in 2024 at the Outlets North Phoenix in Anthem. This year's Christmas tree will be arriving Nov. 5 at Outlets North Phoenix.
HOLIDAY EVENT

State’s largest Christmas tree to arrive in Anthem Nov. 5

Arizona’s tallest fresh cut Christmas Tree will be arriving in Anthem on Nov. 5.
Elections officials process mail-in ballots prior to first day of tabulation in Maricopa County, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at the Maricopa County Recorder's Office in Phoenix. Opponents of Proposition 144 believe if the measure passes and the Legislature fails to act on it, it could ban mail-in voting in Arizona.
Election 2026

Prop 144 opponents say lack of Legislature action could kill Arizona mail-in voting

PHOENIX — Arizonans could wind up entirely losing the right to vote by mail if Proposition 144 passes. All it could take is for lawmakers to do nothing. A key provision in the ballot …
Past SRP/Child Crisis Arizona pool fence recipients
SPONSORED CONTENT

Child Crisis Arizona Installs 18 Free Pool Fences for Valley Families

A pool fence can mean the difference between a child’s safety and a preventable tragedy. This year, Child Crisis Arizona helped 18 Valley families protect their young children from the dangers of …
Andy Biggs (left) and John Giles (right) are both Latter-day Saints members but sit on opposing sides of the leading races in Arizona’s upcoming election.
Election 2026

Hobbs choice in Giles aimed to appeal to Mormons conflicted about the Republican Party

PHOENIX – Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have long been staunch Republicans, but this year’s Arizona governor’s race highlights a minority group of churchgoers who …
The 2026 Women’s Final Four at Mortgage Matchup Center in April was the second most watched Final Four in NCAA history. It also set an all-time attendance record for all associated events and boasted the third-most attendance for the games.
Sports

Phoenix out of running for men’s Final Four host sites, but can land women's games

PHOENIX – The NCAA has announced possible locations for the men’s and women’s Final Four basketball tournaments from 2032 to 2036, and the Valley is in the running for only one of them. …
New research identifies workforce shortages in healthcare and semiconductor manufacturing as Arizona works toward its 2030 education attainment goal.
Education Solutions

Arizona could gain $11B by increasing education after high school

New research identifies workforce shortages in healthcare and semiconductor manufacturing as Arizona works toward its 2030 education attainment goal.
FILE - Labor leader and co-founder of United Farm Workers Dolores Huerta listens to President Barack Obama speak during an appearance at Del Sol High School to talk about immigration reform Friday, Nov. 21, 2014, in Las Vegas. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Worker rights pioneer Dolores Huerta wanted others to feel seen

Dolores Huerta fought for causes even in her golden years, when many others would be enjoying retirement. The labor rights pioneer died Wednesday from cancer at age 96. She lived up to her famous …
Chelsey Faggiano, economic development project manager for the city of Chandler, speaks to the City Council at a study session earlier this month about a contract to help bring more young professionals and families to the city.
local economy

City, school districts invest in drawing young families to East Valley

A year ago, the Chandler City Council was all-in and its largest local school district was almost all-in on a combined contract. On Oct. 15, Council finally picked a vendor to execute that …
FILE - A Kalshi advertisement is displayed at Oracle Park during a baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Utah charges Kalshi and its founders, escalating a fight over who can regulate prediction markets

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Utah on Wednesday filed criminal charges against prediction market operator Kalshi and two of its executives, months after a federal judge rejected Kalshi's effort to prevent …
Arizona Water

Arizona files to join Nevada's lawsuit against federal government over Colorado River water rights

A view of the Hoover Dam at Lake Mead, along the Colorado River.

The Arizona Department of Water Resources on Friday announced it is filing a motion to intervene in Nevada's lawsuit against the federal government over rights to the Colorado River. The Lower …

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Calendar of events
Data Driven
Arizona ranks near the bottom nationally in per-student education spending, while just over half of school districts’ operating budgets go directly toward classroom instruction.
Phoenix is one of the nation’s stronger markets for small-business expansion, but Tucson is facing a more challenging economic outlook, according to a new study comparing 56 major U.S. metropolitan areas.
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Valley & Arizona Sports Coverage
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Valley business

East Valley city council OKs plan for long-vacant corner

This diagram shows where landscaping would be planted around most of the planned smaller buildings in the Sun Village Fair shopping center at Alma School and Warner roads. A development plan that allows additional retail-pad buildings in the redeveloped shopping center was approved by the Chandler City Council at its Oct. 15 meeting.

When a hearing was held in September on a complicated commercial redevelopment proposal, one Chandler Planning and Zoning commissioner asked what happened to including housing in a mixed-use plan. …

Scottsdale-based construction company launches new outreach, giving program

A.R. Mays employees are seen at a recent Child Crisis Arizona Lunch for Love event. A.R. Mays Cares launched with a $200,000 commitment to Child Crisis Arizona over the next five years.

Scottsdale-based A.R. Mays Construction announced the launch of a new outreach and charitable giving program on Tuesday in a release.

Neighbors

Scottsdale resident Q&A: Karen Cahn

Karen Cahn.

In an effort to create a stronger community, the Daily Independent is asking residents to share a little about themselves with some standard questions. Here are Karen Cahn’s answers: Name: …

Golfers raise funds for Rosendin Foundation

Over 100 golfers participated in the fifth annual Rosendin Foundation Golf Tournament and Auction, Oct. 20.

Talking Stick Golf Club hosted 140 golfers in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community for the fifth annual Rosendin Foundation Golf Tournament and Auction, Oct. 20, to raise money for the …

Things to do

Frank Turner brings farewell-to-touring celebration to Phoenix

Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls performs on day two of Riot Fest on Sept. 16, 2023, at Douglass Park in Chicago.

British singer-songwriter Frank Turner will perform at The Van Buren in Phoenix on March 24, 2027, as part of his Last Evenings Tour, a 45-date international run preceding an indefinite break from touring.

Innings Festival announces lineup for 2027

Festival goers take in the Innings Festival at Tempe Beach Park on Feb. 27, 2022, in Tempe.

The Innings Festival returns to Tempe Beach Park with headliners Pitbull, Alanis Morissette and The Strokes to perform Feb. 26-28.  This is the 4th annual festival marking the beginning of …

Obituaries & Memorials: Remembering your loved ones

Janet Louise (Pfander) Barker

Janet Barker, age 91, passed on October 11, 2026, in Mesa, Arizona. Memorial service in Thornton, CO. on November 21st.
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Mimi Michelle Ohms

Mimi Michelle Ohms passed away on May 4, 2026, following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born September 15, 1949, in Palo Alto, California. She attended Woodside High School and …
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Phillip Felker

Phillip Felker, 87, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, peacefully transitioned from this life to the next October 2025 after bravely facing a lengthy illness. Born in Logansport, Indiana, …
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Barry Stephen Kirschner

Our lives are quieter now, but richer for having known Barry Kirschner, who died in his sleep at the age of 71, on August 19th, 2026. He was born March 19th, 1955 at Turner AFB in Albany, Georgia. …
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Charles Edward Bobbitt, Jr.

Charles “Charlie” Edward Bobbitt, Jr., died June 1, 2026, at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona. Born August 23, 1948, in Rainelle, West Virginia, Charlie was the son of Charles and Val-Gene …
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