River Rules Take Effect

New federal rules for managing the Colorado River took effect Thursday, with Arizona’s water deliveries from Lake Mead set to change starting Jan. 1.

Arizona, California, and Nevada are still finalizing a deal to spread out the expected cutbacks, which will fall mostly on Arizona.

In other water news, Amazon pledged $20 million to launch a coalition aiming to raise $100 million over two years for basin water projects, including $2.4 million for irrigation technology on tribal farmland in Arizona.

In Chino Valley, where some wells have gone dry, residents are relying on water haulers that cost $110 to $125 per 2,000 gallons.

Tempe Restaurant Tops Yelp U.S. List

Yelp named Filthy Animal in Tempe the best new restaurant in the U.S., with Society Swan in Scottsdale listed No. 14.

The jungle-themed Filthy Animal, led by Pretty Decent Concepts founder Teddy Myers, centers its dining room on a wood-fired cooking pit and a life-size stuffed jaguar. Executive chef Rene Vargas offers a global menu, featuring dishes such as beef tartare and grilled oysters with gochujang butter.

PHOENIX magazine also named Filthy Animal the Valley’s best new restaurant of 2025.

Society Swan, a Fox Restaurant Concepts brand at Scottsdale Fashion Square, pairs French classics with American favorites such as steak frites.

Arizona’s Long History in Focus

A roundup of historic sites shows Arizona’s history stretches back centuries, long before joining the Union in 1912 as the 48th state.

The oldest church, Mission San Xavier del Bac, was founded in 1692, with construction on its church building completed in 1797.

Closer to statehood, the Strawberry Schoolhouse in Strawberry was built in 1884 and is the state’s oldest still-standing school building.

Right after statehood, the El Rio Theatre in Springerville opened in 1915 and is now the oldest Arizona movie theater still in operation.

Tucson is Arizona’s oldest incorporated city, formed in 1877. Prescott, founded in 1864 as the territorial capital, and Tombstone also rank among the state’s oldest cities.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Marana: Management & Training Corp. signed a contract with ICE to reopen the town’s former state prison as an immigration detention center with up to 775 beds. (More)

➤ Tucson: The University of Arizona is stepping up research on prevention and responses to New World screwworm after the flesh-eating parasite was detected in New Mexico. (More)

➤ Duncan: Late monsoon storms pushed the Gila River to at least 16 feet, flooding roads and briefly closing U.S. 70, the Greenlee County sheriff said. (Watch)

➤ Yuma: Tierra Mesa residents said their water bills have doubled or tripled, with one reaching $398, after state regulators approved a major rate hike for Cactus State Utility Operating Company. (More)

➤ Grand Canyon: The National Park Service released an updated schedule on temporary and seasonal closures at the park, including a pair of North Rim road closures from Oct. 15-Nov. 3 for repair work. (More)

➤ Arivaca: The Resting Horse Ranch provides sanctuary for 13 senior horses, each with its own personality and needs. (More)

Enjoy reading The Arizona Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.

➤ The U.S. men’s soccer team will face Mexico at 7 p.m. Saturday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, the teams’ first meeting since the 2025 Gold Cup final won by Mexico 2-1. (More)

➤ Longtime Arizona Cardinals radio voice Dave Pasch reflected on his career with the team as he transitions to calling NFL games with Kurt Warner and Jason Kelce. (More)

➤ Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia said forward Miles Bridges was the team’s top offseason target. “He’s athletic, he’s tough, he rebounds. He guards the other team’s best player,” Ishbia said. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NCAAF | MLB | NHL | WNBA | Soccer | Golf

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The Real Reason Skin Starts To Thin After 50 (It’s Not What You Think). Remember when bruises faded fast and skin bounced back? New research shows a particular deficiency impacts strength and dark spots too—and you don’t have to accept paper-thin, discolored skin as the “new normal.” Unfortunately, most people don’t know that thinning, aging skin is often caused by this. Learn More

➤ Gilbert continues to invest in downtown growth as its Heritage District draws visitors. Last year, about 575,000 people visited the district’s fall Harvest event. (More)

➤ Arizona Land Consulting CEO Anita Verma-Lallian plans a 1,350-acre Tonopah complex with what could be the nation’s largest film studio, plus a data center drawing a gigawatt of power. (More)

➤ Dozens of Holtzman Construction customers and subcontractors said they were left with unfinished work, including a customer who says she paid more than $400,000 on a project that’s less than a third done. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Stay fresh wherever life takes you with the BumBum Portable Bidet. Compact and travel-friendly, it delivers a gentle water cleanse without relying on rough toilet paper or irritating wipes. Its rechargeable design and simple operation make cleaner bathroom breaks easy at home, work, while traveling, or anywhere you need them.  (LEARN MORE)

Flying together with our sponsor

Pack 3X More in Any Bag. Checked bags cost money and time. Aerless compression bags let you fit 3X more into a single carry-on, with a pocket-sized rechargeable pump that removes excess air in seconds. Over 1 million travelers use it, backed by 50,000+ five-star reviews. (Click here)

➤ Valley painter Tina Roy captures the state’s landscapes during monsoon storms, which she sees as a metaphor for life. Her latest show opens this weekend in Palm Springs. (More)

➤ Arizona Opera brings its 55th-season opener, Scalia/Ginsburg, to Tucson this weekend, part of a lineup of operas of varying lengths and subjects aimed at a range of audiences. (More)

➤ Scouting America honored community leaders and actor Bob Odenkirk at its 27th annual Good Scout Awards luncheon at the Sheraton Tucson Hotel and Suites. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Keep food fresher and cut down on waste with SealPro, the compact cordless vacuum sealer. It seals food in under five seconds, works with reusable bags and containers, and helps food stay fresh up to five times longer. Rechargeable and drawer-friendly, SealPro brings powerful vacuum sealing anywhere.

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. 

➤ Congress has passed a bill renaming Social Security terms that lawmakers say confuse the millions who retire every year. (Hear Details)

➤ New reporting reveals why body fat is so essential, raising the question of what the right amount is. (Listen Now)

➤ Federal health officials are putting $10 million on the line to revive the Presidential Fitness Test, which researchers say could backfire. (Full Story)

How would you rate Arizona’s restaurant scene?

1. Nation’s best
2. Up-and-coming
3. A little lacking  Reply and tell us!

Previous Results:

How are you enjoying the first cool days of fall?

1. Getting outdoors: 67%
2. Breaking out fall clothes: 17%
3. Patio dining: 8%
4. Not ready for summer’s end: 8%

Which Arizona village is believed to date to around 1100?

Show me the answer