Saturday, October 31, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1881, five days after the O.K. Corral gunfight, a suspected assassin knocked on Virgil Earp’s Tombstone door. James Earp answered instead, the man fled, and the family moved into the Cosmopolitan Hotel.

It’s not just Halloween, today marks the end of Bat Week—an international celebration of bats at an appropriate time of year. See how ASU researchers are shedding some light on how bats developed such cool skills in Et Cetera.

The toilet gets scrubbed every week. So why do scientists say it’s one of the cleanest spots in the house? Today, we count down the seven biggest germ hotspots in the average home. Which refrigerator drawer tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria? What morning ritual grows mold in half of homes? Why would a microbiologist rather make a sandwich next to the toilet than in most kitchens? Amy has the answers on today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, Fisher Investments, is offering a guide for tips and advice on creating a retirement strategy that’s cohesive, current, and aligned with your full financial picture.

Lightning Injures 4 School Employees

Four employees at El Mirage Elementary School were hospitalized after lightning struck near the school bus drop-off area Friday morning.

Police got the call just after 8:30 a.m., and all four adults were conscious when responders arrived. Officers first reported that lightning hit the four directly, but later determined they were close enough to feel its impact.

El Mirage Fire Capt. Joseph Rivera said one woman was holding an umbrella when the bolt landed nearby, and she reported pain in both arms. Firefighters said the umbrella may have drawn the strike.

A teacher named Alexis said she rushed frightened students inside while trying to stay calm for them. “I was terrified for them,” she said.

Storms Ground Flights, More Rain Coming

Rain and low clouds grounded arriving flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor twice Friday morning as the first of two storm systems swept across Arizona.

Phoenix, parts of Pinal County, and Yavapai and Gila counties sat under a flood watch Friday, as forecasters warned of up to an inch of rain, damaging winds, and hail.

Early trick-or-treaters have the best shot at staying dry Saturday, before steady rain moves in after 8 p.m. and most of Arizona falls under a flood watch through Sunday night. Parts of the Valley could get 2 inches of rain Sunday, on ground already soaked from Friday.

Down south, Tucson’s flood watch runs Saturday evening through late Sunday night, with up to an inch possible in the valleys and 2 inches or more in the mountains. Drier weather returns Monday.

Arizona Gets $5.9 Million from GM

General Motors will pay $220 million to settle claims that it secretly sold drivers’ data to companies that passed it along to insurers, and Arizona’s share is $5.9 million.

From 2016 to 2024, GM’s Smart Driver program tracked millions of drivers’ speeding, hard braking, and trip times, often after dealership staff allegedly accepted the terms on behalf of customers without asking. Data brokers resold the information to insurers, some of which used it to raise rates.

“Drivers were enrolled in data tracking without their knowledge,” Attorney General Kris Mayes said. GM didn’t admit wrongdoing and ended the program after The New York Times reported on it.

GM must now get drivers’ clear permission before collecting or sharing their driving data, and must delete it on request. Whether any of Arizona’s share reaches drivers isn’t yet known, though a separate class action is pending on customers’ behalf.

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When to Retire: A Quick and Easy Guide

A successful retirement strategy should account for more than individual investments. Your goals, health, spending needs, family and other accounts all influence when you may be able to retire and how much you may need. For investors with $1 million or more, bringing those pieces together can be especially important. When to Retire: A Quick and Easy Planning Guide explores how to balance short-term volatility against long-term growth needs, prepare for inflation, generate investment income, schedule withdrawals and keep your retirement plan current.

Download the guide for tips and advice on creating a strategy that’s cohesive, current and aligned with your full financial picture. Then schedule a conversation with a financial professional to discuss ways to bring your retirement plan to life.

➤ Northern Arizona: Arizona Public Service is donating $250,000 to the Hopi Tribe and Navajo Nation to help families recover from last week’s flooding in the Four Corners region. (See Details)

➤ Buckeye: Police arrested 23-year-old Zarian Dyer accused of arranging online for a stranger to attack his fiancée at her home on Oct. 16. She fought the intruder off. Dyer faces conspiracy, aggravated assault, and kidnapping charges. (More)

➤ Anthem: At least one person died in a two-car crash Friday morning on northbound I-17 just north of Daisy Mountain Drive. The Arizona Department of Transportation said the collision blocked the left two lanes. (More)

➤ Tonopah: Seventy sirens within 10 miles of the Palo Verde nuclear plant were set to sound twice Friday for the plant’s required yearly emergency test. The nation’s second-largest nuclear plant powers more than 4 million homes and businesses. (More)

➤ North Phoenix: One person died in a shooting Thursday near 11th Street and Hatcher Road, and police are investigating. (Watch Report)

➤ Tucson: The search continues for a missing 12-year-old boy last seen in Tucson. (See Search)

The Arizona Flyover exists to call things what they are, fairly and objectively. We keep the spin out and trust you with the facts. So today we’re asking: if news that calls things what they are is something you want to see thrive, will you stand behind it? Support the news in plain words. Free, every morning. Will you make a generous donation to support The Arizona Flyover?
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➤ Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark will leave the job after leading the expansion that brought Arizona and Arizona State into the conference. He’ll stay through at least January 2027, then announce a new venture outside of college sports. (Read Statement)

➤ The Arizona Cardinals ruled out linemen Walter Nolen III and Jon Gaines II for Sunday’s game against Dallas. Both have ankle injuries and will miss a second straight game. Running back Jeremiyah Love is set to return. (More)

➤ The Phoenix Suns opened NBA Cup group play at home against Denver Friday. Fans were able to view Mortgage Matchup Center’s new LED screen when arriving downtown. At 226 feet wide, it’s the largest on any NBA or WNBA arena. (Tour Arena)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | NHL | NBA | Soccer | Golf

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More accounts, managers and investment choices do not always add up to a cohesive wealth strategy—especially when you’re considering when to retire. Investors with $1M+ may benefit from considering how each decision fits their goals, time frame and full financial picture.

When to Retire: A Quick and Easy Planning Guide examines risk, inflation, withdrawals and your investment income sources. Download the guide and schedule a conversation with a financial professional to talk about your plan.

➤ ASU researchers helped produce the largest combined study of bat genomes and fossils ever, redrawing the bat family tree just in time for Bat Week. Bats make up 1 in 5 mammal species, and Arizona has 20-some kinds. (More)

➤ Eleven bear cubs arrived underweight at a north Scottsdale wildlife center, and eight are back in the wild thanks to a partnership with Arizona Game and Fish. The Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center offers tours, including a visit with two brother mountain lions. (Watch Report)

➤ The Nash jazz club in downtown Phoenix turns 14 with three nights of music Nov. 6-8. Club namesake Lewis Nash, one of jazz’s most recorded drummers, plays Friday and Saturday, and a Sunday jam session pairs emerging players with pros. (See Lineup)

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

➤ What are the seven dirtiest things in your home? Hint: the toilet doesn’t make the list. (Hear List)

➤ Election season may take a measurable toll on your heart, researchers say, no matter which party wins. (Listen Now)

➤ New research is challenging centuries of scholarly doubt over a nearly 2,000-year-old non-Christian account of Jesus. (Podcast Available)