New State Laws Take Effect

Dozens of laws from the 2026 legislative session took effect Saturday, reshaping rules for Arizona drivers, homeowners, and protesters.

Among the new laws:

• A squatter removal measure requires courts to develop a faster process for removing unauthorized occupants from residential properties.

• Most in-person filings with county recorders now require photo identification.

• Blocking someone’s entry to a house of worship, or deliberately disrupting a service, is now a Class 1 misdemeanor.

• Repeat distracted drivers face steeper fines, and motorcyclists who illegally split lanes now face misdemeanor reckless driving charges. Lane filtering by motorcyclists remains legal at speeds of 15 mph or under while in stopped traffic on roads with posted speeds of 45 mph or less.

• Homeowners associations can no longer ban backyard umbrellas, pergolas, or shade sails, though they may still set reasonable rules on size and placement.

Ballot Measure Seeks More Classroom Spending

Arizona voters will decide in November on Proposition 320, which would require larger school districts to spend at least 60% of their budgets on classroom instruction.

The state’s auditor general says districts now spend an average of 52% on instruction.

The spending mandate would apply to districts with 7,500 or more students or districts in counties with populations of 500,000 or more. Districts under the 60% mark would have to raise instructional spending by half a percentage point each year or lose Classroom Site Fund money.

Republican lawmakers referred the measure to the ballot on a party-line vote. Opponents counter that the definition of direct instructional expense remains vague.

  Cardinals’ Win Shifts Expectations

The Arizona Cardinals’ 26-14 road win over the Los Angeles Chargers was widely regarded as the biggest Week 1 upset in the NFL since 2018.

Mike LaFleur became the first full-time Cardinals coach to win his debut since Don Coryell in 1973. Owner Michael Bidwill handed him a game ball.

In the locker room, LaFleur told players everyone had earned a game ball, then warned that humility is a day away. Arizona hosts reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle on Sunday.

Arizona entered the Chargers game as an 8.5-point underdog. Jacoby Brissett completed 27 of 37 passes for 277 yards, and Trey McBride caught nine for 95 yards and a touchdown.

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➤ Phoenix: Police said they’re searching for two people who spray-painted the new Charlie Kirk statue at Turning Point USA headquarters. (More)

➤ San Luis: An Arizona Department of Corrections worker was arrested on suspicion of running logistics for the Sinaloa Cartel near the port of entry, with Mexican agents saying they found firearms and ammunition during a search of her vehicle. (More)

➤ Flagstaff: Voters will decide on Proposition 404, a local half-cent sales tax funding 77 public safety positions, and Proposition 405, a $40 million local public safety bond. (More)

➤ Grand Canyon Village: Crews are still searching for Timothy Smith, 53, of Wyoming, swept away by floodwaters in the national park on Aug. 29. (More)

➤ Statewide: More than 30,000 refugees and other legally present immigrants could lose Medicaid coverage in October under new federal eligibility rules. (More)

➤ Glendale: Three Cactus High School JROTC students were hospitalized after air conditioning failed on a charter bus returning from northern Arizona. All are expected to recover fully. (More)

➤ Gilbert: The town broke ground on the Vaughn Avenue Connector, a voter-approved bond project adding a new access point to the Heritage District. (More)

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➤ Arizona State football travels to London for Saturday’s Union Jack Classic against Kansas at Wembley Stadium, the first FBS game played in Britain. The game kicks off at 9 a.m. on FS1. (More)

➤ Ja’Kobi Lane made his NFL debut Sunday with the Baltimore Ravens, honoring a late teammate from Red Mountain High School in Mesa. (More)

➤ Phoenix Rising FC remains outside a USL playoff position, struggling to gain ground despite a five-match unbeaten streak. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | Soccer

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➤ Cyclic Materials opened its first commercial-scale U.S. plant in Mesa, recovering rare earth magnets from electronics, hard drives, and medical equipment to supply local industries. (More)

➤ Diversified Partners plans to break ground on a $70 million mixed-use lakefront destination at McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale, with the first phase possibly finished next fall. (More)

➤ Two Chandler teenagers built Rapid Window Cleaning into a working business before either was old enough to drive. (More)

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➤ A group of neighbors in Gilbert pulled a soaking wet emu from a canal after the bird took an unexpected swim. (More)

➤ A documentary premiering Sept. 25 at AMC theaters in Ahwatukee and elsewhere revisits the still-unsolved 2004 case of an armored courier gunned down outside the Ahwatukee theater. (More)

➤ A 1940 Western that lost money for its studio helped establish the state as a destination for Western moviemaking for decades afterward. (More)

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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. 

➤ These 10 ways to save money could put thousands back in your pocket. (Hear List)

➤ Owning a car now costs thousands a year beyond the loan payment, and one expense is climbing fastest. (Hear Details)

➤ Celine Dion returned to the stage after years of silence forced by an incurable neurological disorder. (Listen Now)

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