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Arizona Diamondbacks surging as they battle for a wild card spot

The D-Backs have surging after losing 9 in a row to start August

Sports

5 must-try local Phoenix ice cream shops

Here are the tastiest spots to grab a frozen treat, according to Axios Phoenix readers.

Food and Drink

Arizona History: Why tubers throw marshmallows in the Salt River and why they must stop

The marshmallow fight tradition dates back at least two decades.

Things to Do

How "golden handcuffs" locked up Phoenix's housing market

Roughly 67% of Arizona homeowners with mortgages have a rate below 4%.

Real Estate

These Valley cities will pay you to get rid of your lawn

Households that replace their grass with rock or desert plants can get as much as $5,000.

News

Some Valley cities are increasing incentives to entice homeowners to ditch grass and water-guzzling landscaping.Why it matters: The Colorado River basin remains in the midst of a massive, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="climate change-driven drought" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/05/30/climate-southwest-drought-wildfires" data-vars-content-id="4c779779-8e62-408b-8cf9-54a4e75b121a" data-vars-headline="These Valley cities will pay you to get rid of your lawn" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/05/30/climate-southwest-drought-wildfires" target="_self">climate change-driven drought</a>, and Arizona is on the hook to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="conserve hundreds of thousands of acre feet of water" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/08/15/arizona-conserve-water-colorado-river-cuts-2024" data-vars-content-id="4c779779-8e62-408b-8cf9-54a4e75b121a" data-vars-headline="These Valley cities will pay you to get rid of your lawn" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/08/15/arizona-conserve-water-colorado-river-cuts-2024" target="_self">conserve hundreds of thousands of acre feet of water</a> this year and in the years ahead.

Illustration of a watering can pouring dollar bills.

Phoenix conducts a controlled burn at Tres Rios Wetlands

If you see a large plume of smoke in the Valley Tuesday, fear not: It's a scheduled controlled burn.

If you see a large plume of smoke in the southwest Valley on Tuesday, fear not: It&#x27;s a scheduled controlled burn at Tres Rios Wetlands.What&#x27;s happening: Phoenix and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management plan to begin the burn at 8am, and it&#x27;s expected to continue throughout the day. The schedule could change depending on weather conditions, per the city.

Mesa electric vehicle charging company offers fast $1 charges

Nxu wants to revolutionize charging infrastructure for private and commercial electrical vehicles.

A Mesa company called Nxu (pronounced &quot;new&quot;) wants to revolutionize charging infrastructure for private and commercial electrical vehicles, and it&#x27;s inviting Arizona drivers to test out the product.State of play: Nxu&#x27;s charging system works with all Combined Charging System-compatible electric vehicles and has a 700-kilowatt charging rate, meaning it can charge as quickly as a vehicle allows.

An electrical vehicle charger outside an office building.

The best time to see changing leaves in Arizona this fall

Mountainous areas in northern and southern Arizona have stunning fall foliage.

Saturday marks the first day of fall. Though with temperatures still lingering around 100℉ in the Valley, it might not feel like it.Yes, but: In the higher elevations of northern Arizona, there&#x27;s a telltale sign that autumn is on its way: Changing leaves.

600 people use new Arizona cooling centers in first two weeks

They opened on Aug. 12, more than half-way through Phoenix's extreme heat season.

In the first two weeks of operation, just fewer than 600 people used the new cooling centers established by Gov. Katie Hobbs&#x27; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="extreme heat emergency declaration last month" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/08/11/arizona-governor-extreme-heat-declaration-emergency" data-vars-content-id="0292e755-4f81-4c09-8eca-5889d3b8155e" data-vars-headline="600 people use new Arizona cooling centers in first two weeks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/08/11/arizona-governor-extreme-heat-declaration-emergency" target="_self">extreme heat emergency declaration last month</a>, according to data obtained by Axios Phoenix.Why it matters: The cooling centers, which are available on weekends and stay open later than most other Valley centers, have provided life-saving respite to unhoused people and those without working air conditioning.

How water-loving mosquitoes thrive in metro Phoenix

ASU opened a $2.5 million lab where researchers work with live mosquitoes.

Climate

Mosquitoes need water to breed, making Arizona&#x27;s dry climate an unlikely place for them to enjoy.<ul><li>Yes, but: Anyone who lives here will tell you that&#x27;s not stopped the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pesky insects" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/22/mosquito-days-worse-climate-change" data-vars-content-id="c6a36eb1-1760-49d9-9fd2-f5b097ca1ffa" data-vars-headline="How water-loving mosquitoes thrive in metro Phoenix" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/22/mosquito-days-worse-climate-change" target="_self">pesky insects</a> from finding ways to survive — and thrive — in the Valley.</li></ul>

Hurricane Hilary could bring rainfall and cooler temps to the Valley

High temperatures are forecast under 100° for the first time since June 13.

Phoenix finally snapped its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rainless streak" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/07/26/phoenix-heat-wave-record-breaking-temperatures-rain" data-vars-content-id="026d5cbc-2689-4a48-9236-7dfed0af4dd6" data-vars-headline="Hurricane Hilary could bring rainfall and cooler temps to the Valley" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/07/26/phoenix-heat-wave-record-breaking-temperatures-rain" target="_self">rainless streak</a> , with high temperatures under 100° for the first time since June 13.

Rain with a saguaro cactus in the foregound.

Phoenix experienced its hottest and driest summer on record

Phoenix Sky Harbor recorded 31 straight days of at least 110 degrees.

Phoenix experienced its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hottest summer on record" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/07/26/phoenix-heat-wave-record-breaking-temperatures-rain" data-vars-content-id="8437cbd1-0f1f-40d6-8030-26968bd92990" data-vars-headline="Phoenix experienced its hottest and driest summer on record" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/07/26/phoenix-heat-wave-record-breaking-temperatures-rain" target="_self">hottest summer on record</a> with an average temperature of 97 degrees — more than 3 degrees warmer than the 30-year average between 1991 and 2020, per an analysis of NOAA data.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Human-caused climate change" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/25/heat-waves-climate-change" data-vars-content-id="8437cbd1-0f1f-40d6-8030-26968bd92990" data-vars-headline="Phoenix experienced its hottest and driest summer on record" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/25/heat-waves-climate-change" target="_self">Human-caused climate change</a> is expected to continue raising summer temperatures, and the Valley has demonstrated it&#x27;s not prepared to shield its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most vulnerable residents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/07/14/extreme-heat-homeless-elderly-phoenix-heat-wave" data-vars-content-id="8437cbd1-0f1f-40d6-8030-26968bd92990" data-vars-headline="Phoenix experienced its hottest and driest summer on record" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/07/14/extreme-heat-homeless-elderly-phoenix-heat-wave" target="_self">most vulnerable residents</a> from deadly heat.

A map showing where summer 2023 was among the warmest on record.

A massive 2011 dust storm popularized the word "haboob" in Arizona

Not all dust storms are haboobs, which are typically characterized by large walls of dust

Huge dust storms have long been a fact of life here in the Valley, and you&#x27;ve probably wondered why seemingly everyone started calling them &quot;haboobs&quot; one day.Context: Haboob is an Arabic word that originated to describe the massive dust storms seen in Sudan and are common throughout the region.

A huge wall of dust envelops a city during a storm. 

New program takes the work — and smell — out of food recycling

The in-home Mill recycler grinds food scraps overnight into odorless powder.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="R. City" data-vars-click-url="https://recycledcity.com/" data-vars-content-id="99cfd2ad-3d76-4c69-84b9-f9f6339dc0b3" data-vars-headline="New program takes the work — and smell — out of food recycling" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://recycledcity.com/" target="_blank">R. City</a>, a south Phoenix farm that grows produce with compost, is using a new recycling technology to make it easier for residents to keep food scraps out of landfills.Why it matters: Food waste drives climate change. It caused 58% of methane emissions from U.S. municipal landfills, per a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new EPA report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.epa.gov/land-research/quantifying-methane-emissions-landfilled-food-waste" data-vars-content-id="99cfd2ad-3d76-4c69-84b9-f9f6339dc0b3" data-vars-headline="New program takes the work — and smell — out of food recycling" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.epa.gov/land-research/quantifying-methane-emissions-landfilled-food-waste" target="_blank">new EPA report</a>.

Nearly half of Phoenix-area residents live on a "heat island"

Heat islands can make cities less livable and increase heat-related health complications.

Forty-five percent of metro Phoenix residents live in an area where the &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="urban heat island" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/21/cities-urban-heat-islands-heat-wave-roads-surfaces" data-vars-content-id="87aaa93e-dea7-43b6-b429-a57db7b69105" data-vars-headline="Nearly half of Phoenix-area residents live on a &quot;heat island&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/21/cities-urban-heat-islands-heat-wave-roads-surfaces" target="_self">urban heat island</a>&quot; effect raises temperatures by 8 degrees or more, per a new analysis by nonprofit climate research group Climate Central.Driving the news: The analysis comes as Maricopa County has reported 59 heat-associated deaths this summer and the county medical examiner is investigating another 345 suspected heat deaths.

Illustration of a man leaning against a traffic post on a sidewalk with a light beaming down

Shift to electric vehicles is revving up in Phoenix

Electric vehicle registration growth shows the EV movement is gaining ground.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Electric vehicles" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/energy-environment/electric-vehicles" data-vars-content-id="43db24b5-27cd-43b2-896b-3fbfb1529a7f" data-vars-headline="Shift to electric vehicles is revving up in Phoenix" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/energy-environment/electric-vehicles" target="_self">Electric vehicles</a> accounted for 9.2% of monthly new vehicle registrations in the Phoenix area this January, up from 3.3% a year earlier, Axios&#x27; Joann Muller reports.Why it matters: Months of staggered growth show the EV transition is gaining momentum in Phoenix and local drivers are proving to be <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="leaders in the shift toward EVs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2022/06/28/phoenix-wants-more-electric-vehicles-2030" data-vars-content-id="43db24b5-27cd-43b2-896b-3fbfb1529a7f" data-vars-headline="Shift to electric vehicles is revving up in Phoenix" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2022/06/28/phoenix-wants-more-electric-vehicles-2030" target="_self">leaders in the shift toward EVs</a>.

Climate 🌿