Your daily dose of what matters in Maricopa County — from local news and community updates to feel-good stories and public safety alerts. Whether it’s happenings in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, or beyond, we keep you in the know with friendly, fast, and trustworthy reporting. Catch up in under 5 minutes with our podcast and newsletter built for busy Arizonans who care about their neighbors and love where they live.
A mother and daughters survive a random knife attack in Mesa while flash flood warnings activate across Cave Creek and Carefree. Plus, fallen Timber Mesa firefighters honored, Ed Sheeran announces State Farm Stadium tour, and Phoenix’s controversial city manager vote splits council. Get your Friday morning Maricopa County news update. TapYourNews.com
A deadly crash shuts down Central and McDowell, and a Phoenix father pleads for seat belt safety after losing his two sons and their grandfather in an I-10 wreck. Plus: the Arizona State Fair is about to kick off, downtown Phoenix lights up for El Grito, and Tempe preps for the Extra Innings Festival with Luke Bryan and Kane Brown.
Stay safe, stay neighborly — and don’t miss today’s dad joke at the end.
Good morning, Maricopa County — here’s what’s happening today: Phoenix police investigate the death of a child in south Phoenix, two Timber Mesa firefighters are killed in a head-on crash, and a Mesa house party ends in tragedy. We’ll also cover the fiery Phoenix light rail crash, sentencing in a Chandler hostage case, and the heroic Good Samaritan rescue at Hell’s Gate. Plus, your full weather forecast, a Steveism, and today’s dad joke to start your day with a smile.
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Today’s headlines bring both weight and warmth. Charlie Kirk’s body returns home to Phoenix with Vice President JD Vance escorting the casket. In lighter news, Queen Creek’s Garlic Festival kicks off, and AZCentral highlights a full lineup of fall events across the Valley. Plus, we take a drone’s-eye look at Papago Park and share a tribute climb honoring 9/11 heroes in Tempe.
And yes, your daily dad joke is waiting at the end.
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Tempe is seeing a rare use of Arizona’s new fentanyl law: a 28-year-old alleged dealer has been charged after a fatal overdose. Local officials say it’s only the second case of its kind in the county — part of a tougher push to hold dealers accountable when their drugs kill.
Meanwhile, the Valley is mourning. Vigils and memorials have sprung up across Phoenix after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA. Whether you agreed with him or not, the outpouring of grief shows just how deeply his death is being felt here at home.
On the lighter side, Tempe’s Innings Festival just dropped a blockbuster lineup for 2026, Phoenix grocery stores are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with fresh tortillas, and we’ll close with today’s fresh dad joke.
It’s Wednesday, September 10th in Maricopa County. Today’s stories include the Phoenix celebrity chef facing the death penalty, a firefighter’s sacrifice on the Dragon Bravo Fire, and a county crackdown on unlicensed taco stands. We’ll also preview the Innings Festival 2026 lineup, spotlight Phoenix students reading to therapy dogs, and celebrate local chef Yotaka Martin being named one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs. Plus, stick around for a fresh dad joke to start your day with a smile. Visit TapYourNews.com to sign up for email notifications when new episodes drop.
It’s Tuesday, September 9th — your five-minute Maricopa County update. Today: officials seize 7,000 pounds of unsafe meat, firefighters deliver a baby on I-10, and a Mesa dance crew stars in a national campaign. We’ll also cover a fallen firefighter at the Dragon Bravo Fire, a police-involved shooting in the West Valley, and Suns fans gearing up for training camp. Stay tuned through the end for your daily dad joke — a quick smile before you head out. Visit TapYourNews.com to sign up for email notifications when new episodes drop.