Thursday, October 1, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1891, the University of Arizona welcomed its first students. This photo shows the school’s first building, Old Main.

Where would you retire if the numbers made the decision instead of your gut? A new ranking scored 182 American cities on everything from taxes to golf to healthcare, and Arizona lands one of the biggest surprises. Ayla counts down the 10 best places to retire in America on today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast. Where does Arizona’s famous desert golf haven finish? Is winning quality of life enough to take the national crown? And what’s the one catch that could keep retirees away? Tune in here!

When it comes to peptides, there are more options than ever, and figuring out what actually makes sense for you can feel like guesswork. Today’s sponsor, The Pep Report, takes a different approach: start with your DNA and use your genetics to help narrow down the options.

Court Upholds Dark Money Law

A federal appeals court on Wednesday rejected a challenge to Arizona’s Voters’ Right to Know Act, the 2022 law requiring groups to reveal the sources of big political donations.

In a 2-1 ruling, Judges Gabriel Sanchez and Johnnie Rawlinson found the law, known as Proposition 211, doesn’t chill free speech or freedom of association.

The law requires groups spending more than $50,000 on a statewide race, or $25,000 on others, to name donors giving at least $5,000. Voters approved it with 72% support.

The Arizona Supreme Court upheld the law in June while letting challengers pursue narrower claims.

Monsoon Season Gives Way to Mountain Snow

Arizona’s monsoon season ended Wednesday after late-September storms pushed Phoenix to about 2.5 inches of rain, just above its normal season total of 2.43 inches.

In the north, storms left 2 inches of snow at the Arizona Snowbowl on the San Francisco Peaks, and the ski area said it could open days or weeks before its scheduled Nov. 20 start.

Snowbowl marketing manager Angie Grubb said some forecasters expect one of the biggest winters for the area since 1950. The resort received 155 inches last season, below its 260-inch average.

Meanwhile, Maricopa County’s Heat Relief Network closed Wednesday after a summer in which the county reported a sharp uptick in heat deaths.

Artist Wins Genius Grant

The MacArthur Foundation named Flagstaff public artist Chip Thomas one of 20 MacArthur Fellows for 2026, awarding each an $800,000 no-strings-attached grant over five years.

Thomas, 69, installs large black-and-white photo murals of Diné people on abandoned buildings, grain silos, and roadside structures across the Navajo Nation.

He spent 36 years as a physician at the Inscription House Health Center on the Navajo Nation, where much of his art stands.

His work has highlighted missing and murdered Indigenous people and abandoned uranium mines. In 2012, he founded the Painted Desert Project, bringing street artists to the Navajo Nation.

Flying together with our sponsor

Before You Spend Money on Peptides, See What Your DNA Says

Peptides have become one of the biggest topics of conversation in anti-aging, longevity, weight loss, recovery, and muscle growth. But here’s the problem: the same peptide may not work the same way for everyone.

The Pep Report analyzes more than 710,000 genetic markers and compares them against published research to help identify which peptides and nutraceuticals your biology may support.

And because your DNA doesn’t change, you only need to test it once. A simple cheek swab gives you genetic information you can reference as you explore different options, rather than spending money blindly and hoping something works.

The Flyover readers automatically get 10% off, no code needed. See which peptides match your DNA.

➤ Tucson: Real estate agent Layne Lundeen, who was restrained with duct tape after allegedly biting and headbutting passengers on an American Airlines flight last month, told a Maryland court commissioner he doesn’t remember the outburst. (More)

➤ Statewide: A public records request revealed long waits, technical failures, and patient harm reports in WISeR, a Medicare pilot program in Arizona and five other states that uses AI technology. (More)

➤ Statewide: Files copied by hackers who breached the state court system included more than 150,000 foster care review reports dating to 2010. An employee had clicked a phishing link. (More)

➤ Goodyear: Bees at a home stung three people Tuesday, one of whom was hospitalized with more than 100 stings. Firefighters sprayed foam on the hive. (More)

➤ Mesa: Echoes Church bought the vacant three-story former Macy’s at Superstition Springs Center for $5 million, with plans to make it the congregation’s permanent home. (More)

➤ Flagstaff: A judge sentenced a former Northern Arizona University fraternity member to 60 days in jail for hazing tied to the alcohol-poisoning death of student Colin Martinez in January. (More)

➤ Pima County: The sheriff’s department said a ransom text that surfaced Monday in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance is not credible. (More)

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

➤ Arizona’s Democrat U.S. senators split over the Protect College Sports Act, with Mark Kelly opposed and Ruben Gallego in support. The measure passed 77-22 and awaits House review. (More)

➤ Arizona State placed head hockey coach Greg Powers on paid leave days after players and Matthew Mayich’s family called for coaches to step aside during the investigation into Mayich’s Aug. 20 workout collapse. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs, led by Scottsdale-raised Auston Matthews, held team-bonding practices in Tempe and visited a hospitalized Mayich and his family. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NHL | WNBA | Soccer

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Skip the guesswork. The Hume Body Pod gives you real fat, muscle, and metabolism numbers in seconds. No gym, no lab, no nonsense. Right now Flyover readers get 50% off with code LOOT50. If you’re serious about getting healthier, this is the tool that actually tracks it.

➤ Scottsdale-based De Rito Partners paid $67.4 million for 130 acres at Interstate 17 and Carefree Highway in Halo Vista, with plans to develop an 11-lot auto mall near TSMC’s north Phoenix campus. (More)

➤ James Campbell, CEO of Scottsdale-based Axim Fringe Solutions Group, pleaded guilty to embezzling about $9 million from federal contractor employees and spending part of the money on hunting trips, jewelry, and gambling. (More)

➤ Glendale approved a developer’s plan to turn a long-vacant building near Desert Diamond Casino into a 400-unit senior community with memory care and assisted living. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The IRS loves when you pass down cash to your kids or grandkids. Bank accounts and brokerage statements are reported. Easy to track. Easy to tax. But certain gold coins are classified as non-reportable under IRS rules — no tax forms, no CPAs, nobody notified when you sell. These assets sit outside the banking system. Yet… you can buy them using your retirement account, tax-deferred and penalty-free. The Quiet Wealth Playbook reveals which coins qualify and how to get started.

Flying together with our sponsor

One Test. 710,000+ Genetic Markers.

Instead of relying entirely on trial and error, The Pep Report gives you a more personalized place to start. Your DNA sample is collected with a simple at-home cheek swab, then analyzed to provide insights based on your unique genetics.

If you’re already researching peptides, or simply curious about what your genetics may reveal, this could help you ask better questions before deciding what to try.

The Flyover readers get 10% off automatically. Get your pep report here.

➤ Everything inside an $11.5 million Arcadia mansion is up for grabs in a massive estate sale ahead of a major remodel. (More)

➤ The new Center for Heat Preparedness at Arizona State University held its first symposium, focused on how extreme heat affects public health, energy, infrastructure, and the economy. (More)

➤ Marana’s newly widened Twin Peaks Road received its first storm test during a grand opening celebration Tuesday, where officials also revealed Serpentina as the name of the giant rattlesnake sculpture watching over the roadway. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Statins May Be Helping… and Hurting. Statins are meant to protect your heart — but they can also block something your body desperately needs. CoQ10 fuels every cell, from your brain to your muscles. As you age, or if you take statins, your CoQ10 levels can plummet up to 40% — leaving you tired, foggy, and drained. Click here to discover the right form of CoQ10 you need to support you today. Learn more