Wednesday, October 1, 2025

College Rankings, Furry Shopper, and Flooding Update

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

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

October marks the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with a Phoenix nonprofit offering free mammograms for qualifying women. Get the details in Around Arizona.

Did you know that the team that makes The Arizona Flyover also produces a national publication called The Flyover? Click here to subscribe and stay up to date with the latest national headlines—without the bias of legacy media outlets.

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Glendale Honors Al McCoy

The city of Glendale dedicated a park and basketball court to honor Phoenix Suns broadcasting icon Al McCoy, who died last year at age 91.

The city unveiled Al McCoy Memorial Park near where McCoy lived for five decades, and renamed its basketball court the SHAZAM! court in a nod to one of his signature phrases.

Suns analyst and former player Eddie Johnson said at the dedication, "To carry on Al's legacy through a basketball court and in the neighborhood he loved so much, it doesn't get any better."

McCoy worked as a Suns broadcaster for 51 years.

College Rankings Out

Arizona State University surpassed the University of Arizona in the latest U.S. News & World Report college rankings.

Nationally, ASU climbed to 117th, while UA fell 18 spots to 127th. Northern Arizona University ranked 242nd.

Smaller schools also earned recognition, including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, which took the top spot among regional colleges in the West.

The rankings—popular among students making college choices—are based on 17 factors, including student outcomes and peer assessments. You can see the full rankings here.

Bear Cub Goes Grocery Shopping

A bear cub paid a visit to a Fry's grocery store in Oro Valley on Monday, dashing past registers and into the produce section, as captured on video by a wildlife photographer.

Wildlife officials reported that they are tracking multiple bears in the Tucson area, possibly the result of drier-than-normal conditions limiting natural food sources.

The encounter at Fry's followed a bear sighting days earlier near Painted Sky Elementary School in Oro Valley, prompting a shelter-in-place order and advisory to bring pets indoors.

You can find tips for dealing with bear encounters here.

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➤ Flagstaff: The Flagstaff Unified School District reported losing $580,000 as a result of an unspecified cybercrime. (More)

➤ Globe: City officials held a news conference to discuss the deadly weekend flooding, response efforts, and ongoing recovery operations. (Watch)

➤ Tucson: The city suspended its requirement for a permit to distribute food and beverages in city parks, under pressure from aid groups. A health department permit is still required in many cases. (Details)

➤ Prescott: A 91-year-old veteran who suffered frostbite after wandering from a Prescott assisted-living facility in 2023 is back in the news amid ongoing scrutiny of care home supervision. (Watch)

➤ Phoenix: The nonprofit Check for a Lump offers free mammograms and follow-up care to qualifying women for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (Details)

➤ Page: Horseshoe Bend will close to the public for trail maintenance and debris removal from Nov. 3 through Nov. 6. (Photo)

➤ The advisory panel aiming to bring NHL hockey back to Arizona outlined plans to secure stable ownership, identify a stadium site, and sustain statewide interest in the sport. (More)

➤ The Arizona Diamondbacks will retain manager Torey Lovullo. Owner Ken Kendrick attributed the team's disappointing season to a lack of talent and injuries. (More)

➤ Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson missed Monday's practice, while rookie cornerback Will Johnson returned. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: WNBA | MLB | NHL | Soccer | NFL

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➤ Starbucks employees and supporters in Tucson rallied Monday, calling for better pay, hours, and job security. (Watch)

➤ A group of Patagonia residents raised concerns over South32's proposed Hermosa Mine during a public hearing on the state's revised air quality permit. (Watch)

➤ Salt & Straw will open its second Phoenix Valley location on Friday, bringing its inventive ice cream flavors to Tempe's Novus Place entertainment district. (More)

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➤ Williams Field High School in Gilbert opened its new training area for its criminal justice programs, featuring a surveillance and dispatch room, a blood spatter lab, and two mock jail cells. (Watch)

➤ Gaslight Theatre hosted the premiere of the documentary Joe Cooper: The Funniest Man in Tucson, celebrating the actor's nearly four-decade career on stage. (More)

➤ Isabel's South of the Border Restaurant won best overall salsa for the fourth straight year at Safford's NatureSweet SalsaFest, also earning best green salsa and best presentation. (Photos)

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➤ Harvard scientists just uncovered shocking evidence: the same bacteria that eats holes in your teeth was found inside the brains of 97% of patients with total memory loss. If your gums are this unusual shade of red, you may be at serious risk of dementia. Could you be affected? Watch this short video now: If Your Gums Look Like This, You're at Risk of Memory Loss.

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Tow Truck Scheme, AI Chief, and the Super Hornet

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 2000, the U.S. Air Force activated Buckley Air Force Base, making it the first newly designated Air Force base since 1988.

A supersonic fighter jet from Top Gun: Maverick and a real-life Polar Express train ride share the spotlight in Et Cetera. Find the details below, and test your film knowledge with today's Trivia.

Gen Z men are leading a surprising revival in Christianity, now attending church more than women their age for the first time in decades. Some even compare the movement to the spiritual revivals of the 1970s. Host Ayla Brown breaks it down on today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast. Watch here.

Did you know that the team that makes The Colorado Flyover also produces a national publication called The Flyover? Click here to subscribe and stay up to date with the latest national headlines—without the bias of legacy media outlets.

If you love saving money on big sales but hate hunting for bargains, today's sponsor, Brad’s Deals, makes Amazon Prime Big Deal Days effortless with expert-curated picks delivered straight to you.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Tow Truck Driver Stole Nearly 50 Cars

A Castle Rock tow truck driver who pleaded guilty to stealing nearly 50 vehicles in an auto theft scheme spanning the Denver metro was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Monday.

According to prosecutors, Brian Chacon, 34, owner of Eagle Wing Towing in Aurora, used his tow truck to steal unoccupied, often broken-down vehicles, then sold them to salvage yards using forged ownership documents.

Of the more than 80 cars sold in the scheme, 48 were confirmed stolen. To sell them without raising suspicion, Chacon "exploited a loophole in Colorado law," prosecutors said.

Investigators also found child sexual abuse material in Chacon's possession. Charges related to the material were dropped as part of a plea deal.

Vizguerra's Attorneys Seek Release

Attorneys for Jeanette Vizguerra, an immigrant rights activist held at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Aurora, filed a new motion Monday seeking her release.

Vizguerra entered the country illegally in 1997. Since then, she's contested a long-standing deportation order and garnered national attention, including recognition from Time magazine.

ICE detained Vizguerra on March 17. Because she's been held over 180 days, the government is required to justify her continued detention, her legal team said.

Vizguerra's attorneys are seeking a bond hearing, which could allow for her release. They expect a response to the filing within three weeks.

Warm, Dry Start to October

Colorado will be mostly sunny, dry, and warmer than normal to start October, with highs in the 70s and 80s through the workweek.

Today through Friday, temperatures will stay about 7 to 10 degrees above average. Highs along the Front Range and on the Eastern Plains will reach the low 80s today.

A cold front will move in Saturday, bringing cooler, more seasonal temperatures and a chance for scattered showers.

Colder fall weather could be on the horizon, with Denver's average first freeze falling on Oct. 7—less than a week away.

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➤ Denver: The city's chief information officer, Suma Nallapati, will take on an expanded role as chief AI and information officer—part of Denver's push to become "the nation's most forward-thinking AI city," Mayor Mike Johnston announced Monday. (See Details)

➤ Fort Collins Rescue Mission broke ground last week on a new $27.5 million, 250-bed homeless resolution center, months after a fire severely damaged the existing men's shelter. (More)

➤ Pueblo County: Authorities arrested a suspect in the 2022 murder of Steven Robinson, whose remains were found buried in a shallow grave near Avondale. (See Details)

➤ Capitol: State election officials rejected the House District 14 GOP vacancy committee's replacement for former Rep. Rose Pugliese, ruling the vote violated state law. (See Details)

➤ Weld County: The Colorado Attorney General's office asked to be involved in the case of Ephriam Debisa, also listed as Debisa Ephriam, who is at the center of a controversy over state competency law. (See Details)

➤ Westminster: Police took a teenager into custody after he allegedly brought a handgun to Mountain Range High School's campus after school hours. (More)

➤ Grand Junction: A local nonprofit supporting veterans and trauma survivors says it lost $20,000 to a roofing contractor suspected in at least a dozen similar scams on the Western Slope. (See Details)

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➤ Colorado State football coach Jay Norvell will stop calling offensive plays for the Rams after a brutal 1-3 start to the season. Associate head coach Matt Mumme will now take over playcalling for an offense that currently ranks 126th in the country in scoring. (More)

➤ Nikola Jokić declined to answer whether he'll sign a contract extension with the Nuggets next summer, but he told the media that he plans "to be a Nugget forever." (More)

➤ The Denver Broncos outgained the Bengals by 353 yards on Monday night—the largest margin in any NFL game this season. The previous high was 249 yards, set by the Bills in Week 2. (More)

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

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➤ A $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles ended yesterday. Colorado drivers can still claim a $3,500 state credit for new EVs. (See Details)

➤ The town of Rifle has the highest entry-level luxury home prices in the country, with listings for the costliest 10% of homes starting at over $16 million, according to a new report. (See Details)

➤ A state program providing tax credits to businesses in economically distressed areas now excludes downtown Grand Junction, frustrating local business owners. (More)

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➤ Why Buffett's Limitations Are Your Opportunity. Warren Buffett can't touch small-cap stocks, creating lucrative opportunities for you. We've identified five stellar small-cap companies uniquely positioned to deliver impressive returns. Turn Buffett's blind spot into your profitable advantage. Claim your free report here!

(By clicking this link, you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. You can opt out at any time. Privacy Policy)

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➤ The F-18 Super Hornet, one of the supersonic fighter jets featured in Top Gun: Maverick, made a stop at Centennial Airport over the weekend. (See Video)

➤ Now is the ideal time for a cheap fall vacation, according to a Denver-based travel content creator. (See Tips)

➤ Tickets are now on sale for the Polar Express Train Ride, a seasonal attraction at the Colorado Rail Museum. The ride features a three-part theatrical show with singing, hot chocolate, and Santa. (See Details)

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➤ Harvard scientists just uncovered shocking evidence: the same bacteria that eat holes in your teeth were found inside the brains of 97% of patients with total memory loss. If your gums are this unusual shade of red, you may be at serious risk of dementia. Could you be affected? Watch this short video now: If Your Gums Look Like This, You're at Risk of Memory Loss.