Good morning, Mesa.

Raffle tickets for a gingerbread village on display at Encore at Eastmark will be sold from Nov.

15 to Dec. 6 to raise funds for buying books for a hospice children’s library in Rock Hill—honoring U.S. Navy veteran Klaus Schmolke, the official Santa—while the clubhouse at 5620 S. Encore is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for viewing. The drawing for the display will be held Dec. 13 during the Encore Santa Breakfast.

CenturyLink said its copper thefts surged to over 170 incidents since the start of 2024 and cost the company more than $900,000—thieves removed wires and melted plastic to expose copper for resale, disrupting cellphone and internet service in some areas.

Arizona Department of Education is urging the state board to remove all language on diversity, equity and inclusion from teaching standards or risk losing federal funds.

Staff will present its case to the board Monday—focusing on terms like 'equitably' and 'responsiveness' to cultural backgrounds.

Residents in metro Phoenix remain confused about recycling rules even though common items like paper, plastic, glass and aluminum go in curbside bins.

Officials from Phoenix and Tempe urged residents to use online resources for proper disposal (such as soft plastics and batteries) to avoid contamination (guidelines vary by city).

On Friday night, lawmakers met with dozens of foster care teens at Jacob’s Mission Community Center Congregate Care Coalition to discuss safety issues, runaways, and mental health struggles in group homes — State Reps Khyl Powell, Walter Blackman, Lisa Fink, and State Senator David Farnsworth listened to the teens' concerns and proposals for change.

Officials said more than 887,000 Arizonans will not receive November SNAP benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The Arizona Department of Economic Security remains open for applications & directs recipients to local food banks if they need help.

A report says the 10-year team-up between the University of Arizona and Banner Health has produced $59 billion in economic output, created thousands of jobs, and trained nearly 1,900 doctors.

Leaders at a downtown Phoenix event yesterday said the team-up will keep growing the state’s healthcare workforce—addressing rising care needs.

On Friday Night Fever Week Nine, local high school teams competed in many games as Mesa beat Perry 24-17, AZ Lutheran defeated Scottsdale Christian 35-21, Hamilton won 28-12 over Basha, Horizon edged Desert Mountain 35-22, ALA Gilbert North outscored Campo Verde 42-13, McClintock beat Dobson 42-22, Maryvale won 49-18 over Carl Hayden, and Verrado pulled a 62-38 win over Tolleson — each score adding to an intense season race.

Mesa Networking Event

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. — The HUB Grill and Bar — $25 drop-in fee — A purposeful networking opportunity for entrepreneurs, business owners, and influencers seeking meaningful connections.

Jim Bob's Burger Pop-Up

All day — Worth Takeaway — Varied prices — Enjoy delicious burgers and unique merch all Halloween weekend!

Demun Jones Meet and Greet

6:00 – 6:30 p.m. — The Rosetta Room — Free autographed merch included — Hang out with Demun, snap a pic, and enjoy exclusive merchandise.

Mesa Networking Event

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. — The HUB Grill and Bar — $25 drop-in fee — Network with entrepreneurs to amplify your influence and grow your business.

TRSH Concert

6-9 p.m. — The Underground — Tickets starting at $70 — Experience an unforgettable event with TRSH performing live in Mesa.

Forward! To the Moon Planetarium Show

5-10 p.m. — Mesa Community College Planetarium — Reserved tickets required — Experience a captivating planetarium show exploring lunar adventures at Astronomy Night.

Mesa Night Market

4-9 p.m. — AZ International Marketplace — Free entry — Explore a vibrant showcase of local food and anime vendors at this diverse Asian food festival.

The Jins Live Performance

7-8:30 p.m. — The Underground — Tickets from $95 — Experience an unforgettable live music event with The Jins at The Underground in Mesa.

Dixon Dallas Concert

7:30-10:30 p.m. — The Rosetta Room — Ticket prices vary — Experience the captivating sounds of emerging country artist Dixon Dallas in an intimate setting.

Mesa Networking

11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. — The HUB Grill and Bar — $25 drop-in donation — Connect with entrepreneurs and influencers to foster meaningful collaborations and business growth.