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2026 Arizona State Fair: Prices, parking, deals and more

The fair runs Thursdays through Sundays until Nov. 1.

Things to Do

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Arizona State Fair" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2024/09/20/arizona-state-fair-2024-prices-parking-concerts-rides" data-vars-content-id="0c6d8031-f2eb-4f7d-8a7f-9a493bb5f1a5" data-vars-headline="2026 Arizona State Fair: Prices, parking, deals and more" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2024/09/20/arizona-state-fair-2024-prices-parking-concerts-rides" target="_self">Arizona State Fair</a> opened Thursday and continues through Nov. 1.<ul><li>Here&#x27;s what you need to know to make the most of it.</li></ul>

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One Camelback is officially open for business

One Camelback&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="seven-year development saga" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/03/04/one-camelback-bmo-harris-bank-building-construction-underway" data-vars-content-id="8722dbed-b8ca-4001-9e17-e114085c9a40" data-vars-headline="One Camelback is officially open for business" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/03/04/one-camelback-bmo-harris-bank-building-construction-underway" target="_self">seven-year development saga</a> is officially over and the luxury apartment building&#x27;s first tenants have moved in. Why it matters: The shuttered BMO Harris Bank building was an eyesore for years, standing in disrepair on some of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="central Phoenix&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/07/30/the-whitney-central-phoenix-high-rise-mixed-use-arts-district" data-vars-content-id="8722dbed-b8ca-4001-9e17-e114085c9a40" data-vars-headline="One Camelback is officially open for business" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/07/30/the-whitney-central-phoenix-high-rise-mixed-use-arts-district" target="_self">central Phoenix&#x27;s</a> most prime real estate.

Phoenix's revamped First Friday is kicking off slowly

The city has had many inquiries but only one application in the program's first three weeks.

Only one business submitted an application for Phoenix&#x27;s new vendor program for this month&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="First Friday," data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/08/phoenix-city-council-vendor-permits-first-fridays-roosevelt-row" data-vars-content-id="315de8a5-c300-446b-bd62-c270a08a4440" data-vars-headline="Phoenix&#x27;s revamped First Friday is kicking off slowly" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/08/phoenix-city-council-vendor-permits-first-fridays-roosevelt-row" target="_self">First Friday,</a> per the city.Why it matters: It&#x27;s been five months since the city and organizers <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ended the street closures and roadside vendor stalls" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/05/01/roosevelt-row-reckoning-first-friday-changes" data-vars-content-id="315de8a5-c300-446b-bd62-c270a08a4440" data-vars-headline="Phoenix&#x27;s revamped First Friday is kicking off slowly" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/05/01/roosevelt-row-reckoning-first-friday-changes" target="_self">ended the street closures and roadside vendor stalls</a> that had long been hallmarks of First Friday, in response to a string of &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ugly" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DXNQd_LEkvo/?img_index=1" data-vars-content-id="315de8a5-c300-446b-bd62-c270a08a4440" data-vars-headline="Phoenix&#x27;s revamped First Friday is kicking off slowly" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DXNQd_LEkvo/?img_index=1" target="_blank">ugly</a>&quot; and violent incidents.

Scoop: ASU restores Obama's name to financial aid program 

The removal of Obama's name came as universities navigate the Trump administration's attempts to reshape higher education.

Arizona State University&#x27;s decision to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pull former President Obama&#x27;s name from a student financial aid program" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/23/arizona-state-university-rename-obama-financial-aid-program" data-vars-content-id="12e5f08e-44bf-4157-9f76-837f6d8e4c5a" data-vars-headline="Scoop: ASU restores Obama&#x27;s name to financial aid program " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/23/arizona-state-university-rename-obama-financial-aid-program" target="_self">pull former President Obama&#x27;s name from a student financial aid program</a> appears to have been short-lived.State of play: The ASU Promise Plus program, which the university&#x27;s website on Tuesday said &quot;was previously known as the Obama Scholars Program,&quot; is now again <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="described online" data-vars-click-url="https://tuition.asu.edu/special-financial-assistance-programs-arizona-residents#webspark-anchor-link--514" data-vars-content-id="12e5f08e-44bf-4157-9f76-837f6d8e4c5a" data-vars-headline="Scoop: ASU restores Obama&#x27;s name to financial aid program " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://tuition.asu.edu/special-financial-assistance-programs-arizona-residents#webspark-anchor-link--514" target="_blank">described online</a> as the President Barack Obama Scholars Program.

Scoop: ASU program is no longer named after Obama

The change comes as ASU and other universities are trying to navigate the contentious political climate.

The Obama Scholars Program at Arizona State University is now called ASU Promise Plus, according to the university&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="webpage on special financial assistance programs" data-vars-click-url="https://tuition.asu.edu/special-financial-assistance-programs-arizona-residents#webspark-anchor-link--1298" data-vars-content-id="60d952b6-1d21-4872-a9c8-e26fd168e350" data-vars-headline="Scoop: ASU program is no longer named after Obama" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://tuition.asu.edu/special-financial-assistance-programs-arizona-residents#webspark-anchor-link--1298" target="_blank">webpage on special financial assistance programs</a> for state residents.The big picture: The change comes as ASU and other universities are navigating the contentious political climate of the Trump administration, which has sought to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="exert pressure on the higher education system." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/21/trump-higher-ed-shakeup-colleges-fall-semester" data-vars-content-id="60d952b6-1d21-4872-a9c8-e26fd168e350" data-vars-headline="Scoop: ASU program is no longer named after Obama" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/21/trump-higher-ed-shakeup-colleges-fall-semester" target="_self">exert pressure on the higher education system.</a>

Arizona universities fare well in campus free speech rankings

As U.S. colleges struggled with free speech rights, Arizona largely bucked the trend.

American colleges are largely failing to create a healthy <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="free speech" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/08/24/fiu-students-ice-free-speech-aclu-florida" data-vars-content-id="911fb35b-1dbc-4aea-8362-cb773224fbf1" data-vars-headline="Arizona universities fare well in campus free speech rankings" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/08/24/fiu-students-ice-free-speech-aclu-florida" target="_self">free speech</a> climate on campus, but Arizona&#x27;s universities have some of the nation&#x27;s best scores, according to a new national ranking.Why it matters: Students are self-censoring at high rates amid intense <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="political pressure" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/21/trump-higher-ed-shakeup-colleges-fall-semester" data-vars-content-id="911fb35b-1dbc-4aea-8362-cb773224fbf1" data-vars-headline="Arizona universities fare well in campus free speech rankings" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/21/trump-higher-ed-shakeup-colleges-fall-semester" target="_self">political pressure</a> from the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="911fb35b-1dbc-4aea-8362-cb773224fbf1" data-vars-headline="Arizona universities fare well in campus free speech rankings" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">Trump</a> administration and efforts by some universities to change policies in response.

Arizona universities face declining enrollment

International student restrictions and a "demographic cliff" are hurting college enrollment.

Universities across the U.S. are feeling the pinch from enrollment declines, and Arizona hasn&#x27;t been immune.Why it matters: Lower enrollment means fewer graduates for the job market and the loss of a major revenue source that international students bring.

GCU is launching a new law school

GCU's College of Law will be Arizona's third ABA-accredited law school after ASU and U of A.

Grand Canyon University is moving forward with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="plans to open a new law school" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/05/05/grand-canyon-university-college-of-law-dean" data-vars-content-id="847bf815-36f5-496b-8779-f21bc64f9a20" data-vars-headline="GCU is launching a new law school" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/05/05/grand-canyon-university-college-of-law-dean" target="_self">plans to open a new law school</a>.Why it matters: Arizona State University and the University of Arizona have the only two <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="American Bar Association-accredited law schools" data-vars-click-url="https://www.americanbar.org/groups/center-pro-bono/resources/directory_of_law_school_public_interest_pro_bono_programs/schools_by_state/" data-vars-content-id="847bf815-36f5-496b-8779-f21bc64f9a20" data-vars-headline="GCU is launching a new law school" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.americanbar.org/groups/center-pro-bono/resources/directory_of_law_school_public_interest_pro_bono_programs/schools_by_state/" target="_blank">American Bar Association-accredited law schools</a> in the state, and ASU is the only option in the Valley for aspiring lawyers.

Arizona vaccine exemptions hit record high amid measles outbreak

More than 10% of kindergarteners obtained a vaccine exemption last year.

Education

Vaccination rates among kindergartners in Arizona decreased during the 2025–2026 school year for all tracked <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="vaccines" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/11/trump-vaccines-midterms-measles-order" data-vars-content-id="7ab35596-56e3-4727-9cba-d5ae945ae1d3" data-vars-headline="Arizona vaccine exemptions hit record high amid measles outbreak" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/11/trump-vaccines-midterms-measles-order" target="_self">vaccines</a>, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reported" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cdc.gov/schoolvaxview/data/index.html" data-vars-content-id="7ab35596-56e3-4727-9cba-d5ae945ae1d3" data-vars-headline="Arizona vaccine exemptions hit record high amid measles outbreak" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cdc.gov/schoolvaxview/data/index.html" target="_blank">reported</a> on Monday, while vaccine exemptions rose to their highest rate since at least 2012.Why it matters: The drop-off coincided with continued efforts by the Trump administration to make controversial <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="vaccine policy changes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/26/mmr-mmrv-vaccine-shot-schedule-cdc-trump" data-vars-content-id="7ab35596-56e3-4727-9cba-d5ae945ae1d3" data-vars-headline="Arizona vaccine exemptions hit record high amid measles outbreak" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/26/mmr-mmrv-vaccine-shot-schedule-cdc-trump" target="_self">vaccine policy changes</a> and with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="measles cases" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/22/measles-cases-surge-past-last-year" data-vars-content-id="7ab35596-56e3-4727-9cba-d5ae945ae1d3" data-vars-headline="Arizona vaccine exemptions hit record high amid measles outbreak" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/22/measles-cases-surge-past-last-year" target="_self">measles cases</a> in Arizona hitting levels not seen in at least two decades.

From Axios Phoenix to News21

Jessica Boehm is now leading the student news program where she was once a fellow.

Jessica Boehm is gone from Axios Phoenix but hasn&#x27;t gone far — she&#x27;s at ASU, leading the news program she credits for helping to launch her career.Why it matters: Jessica was a part of your lives for more than four years, and we know many of you were wondering where she went.

How phone bans help Arizona schools (and how they don't)

Student well-being also appears to improve the longer the rules remain in place.

Schools across the U.S., <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="including in Arizona" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2024/10/04/arizona-schools-classroom-cellphone-bans" data-vars-content-id="8d8d860d-7fdf-4215-95c0-0329d4c8e243" data-vars-headline="How phone bans help Arizona schools (and how they don&#x27;t)" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2024/10/04/arizona-schools-classroom-cellphone-bans" target="_self">including in Arizona</a>, are cracking down on student <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cellphone use" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/30/no-screen-school-technology-parents-ai" data-vars-content-id="8d8d860d-7fdf-4215-95c0-0329d4c8e243" data-vars-headline="How phone bans help Arizona schools (and how they don&#x27;t)" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/30/no-screen-school-technology-parents-ai" target="_self">cellphone use</a>. But a new study finds the restrictions bring mixed results.The big picture: Schools that require students to lock away their phones during class have seen phone use decline substantially, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="study" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w35132/w35132.pdf" data-vars-content-id="8d8d860d-7fdf-4215-95c0-0329d4c8e243" data-vars-headline="How phone bans help Arizona schools (and how they don&#x27;t)" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w35132/w35132.pdf" target="_blank">study</a> shared by the National Bureau of Economic Research in April.

Budget cuts eliminate Arizona education programs

Several education and workforce programs lost funding in the final budget deal.

A lot&#x27;s been made about the tax cuts in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="freshly signed state budget" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/06/10/bipartisan-budget-governor-hobbs-republican-legislators-tax-cuts-data-centers" data-vars-content-id="0e37d138-ada1-4207-a90a-e73a02cef254" data-vars-headline="Budget cuts eliminate Arizona education programs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/06/10/bipartisan-budget-governor-hobbs-republican-legislators-tax-cuts-data-centers" target="_self">freshly signed state budget</a> — but they came at the cost of government programs that quietly lost funding in the final deal.Why it matters: Education and workforce initiatives were among the hardest hit, which <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="advocates warned" data-vars-click-url="https://educationforwardarizona.org/we-are-getting-the-outcomes-we-invest-in/" data-vars-content-id="0e37d138-ada1-4207-a90a-e73a02cef254" data-vars-headline="Budget cuts eliminate Arizona education programs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://educationforwardarizona.org/we-are-getting-the-outcomes-we-invest-in/" target="_blank">advocates warned</a> would have long-term impacts on the state.

Maricopa Community Colleges expands low-cost bachelor's degrees

New degree programs could help fill Arizona workforce gaps.

Arizonans will soon have more bachelor&#x27;s degree options through Maricopa Community Colleges, at a fraction of the price of a traditional university.Why it matters: The total cost of a four-year degree through Maricopa Community Colleges can run as little as $15,000. At Arizona&#x27;s universities, the in-state tuition price tag is closer to $50,000.

Education 📚

Scoop: ASU restores Obama's name to financial aid program

Scoop: ASU program is no longer named after Obama

Arizona universities fare well in campus free speech rankings

Arizona universities face declining enrollment

GCU is launching a new law school