Heavy Rain Causes Water Rescues, Power Outages

Phoenix firefighters rescued six people from four cars stuck in a flooded wash near 40th Street and Camelback Road on Friday evening.

Crews were called around 6:30 p.m. and, with water nearly up to the windows, used a “shallow water entry” technique to reach the cars. All six were evaluated, and none needed a hospital.

Scottsdale firefighters handled five water rescues of their own after heavy storms flooded local washes.

Parts of Paradise Valley got 2 to 3 inches of rain in three hours, and more than 5,000 Valley residents lost power by 8 p.m. About 1,000 APS customers were still in the dark an hour later, and Sky Harbor logged nearly 800 flight delays for the day.

Hobbs Declares Emergency after Tornadoes

Gov. Katie Hobbs declared a state of emergency Friday for Navajo and Coconino counties, directing $200,000 toward recovery from the Oct. 20-22 tornadoes and flooding.

The worst of three confirmed tornadoes tore more than 9 miles through Heber-Overgaard with winds up to 110 mph, knocking thousands of trees down, some onto homes and cars. One man was hurt riding his bike home with groceries.

Hobbs initially held off until Republican state Rep. Walt Blackman, whose district includes Heber-Overgaard, urged her to reconsider, writing that “an initial response is not the same as long-term recovery.” Hobbs has said counties must first ask the state for a declaration.

A Hobbs aide said the flooding in the northern part of the state doesn’t meet the bar for federal aid, though tribal nations can ask FEMA directly. Forecasters had warned another round of storms could bring more flooding to the Four Corners region this weekend.

Feds Probe Arizona Voter Registration Groups

Federal prosecutors in Arizona opened a case and called in the FBI Friday over claims that three groups registered noncitizens to vote, four days before Election Day.

The groups are Worker Power, Stand Indivisible Arizona, and When We Count, a Democratic National Committee registration program. Prosecutors also asked Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, and Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap, a Republican, to recheck registrations the groups submitted.

In letters to both, U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine wrote that the groups and their workers “may have violated” a state law against knowingly registering ineligible voters. No charges have been filed.

The case stems from an Oct. 22 undercover video in which a man posing as a felon or noncitizen asks about registering, but it shows no one being registered. The DNC called the claims “fabricated,” and former Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell, a Republican, warned the late timing could confuse voters.

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➤ Guadalupe: Maricopa County sheriff’s deputies are investigating a “suspicious death” after first responders were called near Avenida del Yaqui and Calle Guadalupe around 3 a.m. Saturday. Avenida del Yaqui was closed while detectives worked the scene. (More)

➤ Nogales: The City Council unanimously approved a proclamation backing South32’s Hermosa mine near Patagonia and its federally approved power line. A federal judge will soon hear a request to pause the mine’s work on federal land. (See Details)

➤ Scottsdale: A house fire possibly sparked by lightning sent a woman to the hospital and closed part of Shea Boulevard Friday night. (More)

➤ Bullhead City: Crews will resurface, patch, and restripe streets the week of Nov. 2, closing some roads daily from about 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Chaparral Golf & Country Club reopens Nov. 11, when veterans golf free. (See Details)

➤ Pima County: County supervisors unanimously adopted a three-year economic development plan Tuesday with 31 recommendations and seven target industries, now including tourism. The last plan brought more than $3.6 billion in investment and about 3,000 construction jobs. (More)

➤ Lake Powell: Fall rains raised the reservoir about 12 feet after Four Corners storms sent five times the normal October flow down the San Juan River. Winter snowpack in the Rockies will decide whether the gains last. (Learn More)

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➤ No. 22 Arizona fell 34-26 at No. 13 Texas Tech, snapping a five-game winning streak. Noah Fifita threw for 417 yards, but the Wildcats lost freshman receiver R.J. Mosley to what appeared to be a serious left leg injury. (More)

➤ Arizona State erased a 14-point deficit but lost 27-20 at No. 8 BYU. Jake Fette threw two third-quarter touchdown passes in his first career start. (More)

➤ The Arizona Cardinals will face the Dallas Cowboys today in the NFL’s early window of games, hoping to extend their recent dominance over Dallas—entering the game as winners of nine of their 10 over Dallas. (More)

➤ The Arizona Diamondbacks are bringing in former San Diego Padres bullpen coach Ben Fritz as the team’s next pitching coach. (More)

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

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➤ A Willcox orchard keeps growing pumpkins even as Arizona harvests fewer acres of the crop. Apple Annie’s Orchard plants in July, waters through drip lines buried under the soil, and benefits from cooler weather at 4,182 feet. (See Pumpkins)

➤ Valley mosquitoes are on the rise after recent rain hatched eggs that can sit dormant for years. Maricopa County Vector Control recommends rinsing out planters and buckets and wearing repellent. Hatching season winds down around Thanksgiving. (More)

➤ Tucson’s Asian Night Market returns to Kino Sports Complex from 6 to 10 p.m. Nov. 28, adding a $15 early-entry pass and a $20 chef-served food flight. Tickets are $10, and kids 12 and under get in free. (See Details)

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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. 

➤ Halloween came with curfews and extra cops as towns braced for a repeat of last year’s teenage mayhem. (Hear More)

➤ Scientists uncovered secrets of Mars’ ancient, watery past inside a rose-colored meteorite found in the Sahara Desert. (Listen Now)

➤ Art experts revealed how beginners could start collecting valuable artwork without spending a fortune. (Podcast Available)

Have you been to Boyce Thompson Arboretum in the fall?

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Have you ever visited the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center?

1. Never heard of it: 48%
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4. Yes: 8%

What is the oldest and largest botanical garden in Arizona?

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