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Explaining Tempe's tax-increasing Proposition 424

The measure would bump Tempe's sales tax by half a percentage point.

Election

Tempe voters will decide a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heated local issue" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/25/tempe-weighs-municipal-alpr-camera-ban-flock" data-vars-content-id="12a40211-dde3-4b17-b346-409a082215f3" data-vars-headline="Explaining Tempe&#x27;s tax-increasing Proposition 424" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/25/tempe-weighs-municipal-alpr-camera-ban-flock" target="_self">heated local issue</a> this cycle — a sales tax increase.Why it matters: Approving Proposition 424 would boost the city&#x27;s sales tax 0.5 points to 2.3% — the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="highest of any East Valley city" data-vars-click-url="https://azdor.gov/sites/default/files/document/TPT_RATETABLE_01012026.pdf" data-vars-content-id="12a40211-dde3-4b17-b346-409a082215f3" data-vars-headline="Explaining Tempe&#x27;s tax-increasing Proposition 424" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://azdor.gov/sites/default/files/document/TPT_RATETABLE_01012026.pdf" target="_blank">highest of any East Valley city</a> but still lower than that of Phoenix.

Former Suns owners sues ex-business partners 

Sarver alleges a "corporate maneuver" unfairly deprived him of his contractual rights.

News

Former Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Robert Sarver is suing his ex-real estate business partners, alleging that they unfairly pushed him out of their business ventures.Why it matters: The lawsuit is the latest fallout from Sarver&#x27;s polarizing tenure as Suns owner — and the controversies that brought it to an end.

Perfectly flaky: Get your croissant fix here

We tried three pastries at a beloved Scottsdale bakery

Craving a piece of France here in the Valley? We&#x27;ve got three recommendations for you.Driving the news: This summer, locals went crazy over Gilbert&#x27;s Sablé Boulangerie, known for customers lining up around the block — an unusual sight for the suburb.

Savannah Bananas returning to Phoenix in 2027

The lottery for Savannah Bananas tickets is open through Oct. 31.

Things to Do

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Savannah Bananas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/10/12/the-savannah-bananas-are-coming-to-the-valley" data-vars-content-id="d5b27cae-30ba-403f-8775-9af58113e6be" data-vars-headline="Savannah Bananas returning to Phoenix in 2027" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/10/12/the-savannah-bananas-are-coming-to-the-valley" target="_self">Savannah Bananas</a> are coming back to the Valley next year. State of play: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Banana Ball" data-vars-click-url="https://bananaball.com/" data-vars-content-id="d5b27cae-30ba-403f-8775-9af58113e6be" data-vars-headline="Savannah Bananas returning to Phoenix in 2027" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bananaball.com/" target="_blank">Banana Ball</a> league announced its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2027 schedule" data-vars-click-url="https://bananaball.com/schedule/" data-vars-content-id="d5b27cae-30ba-403f-8775-9af58113e6be" data-vars-headline="Savannah Bananas returning to Phoenix in 2027" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bananaball.com/schedule/" target="_blank">2027 schedule</a>, which includes a pair of games in Phoenix.

Suns and Mercury plan new $60M downtown Phoenix YMCA

The historic downtown Phoenix YMCA building that opened in the 1950s closed last month.

The Phoenix Suns and Mercury plan to help build a $60 million YMCA building in downtown Phoenix, replacing the historic facility that closed last month. Why it matters: The Lincoln Family Downtown YMCA was a community institution and its closure <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="displaced hundreds of low-income residents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/metro-phoenix/2026/09/30/residents-look-for-housing-as-downtown-phoenix-ymca-closes/92029021007/" data-vars-content-id="7364e624-d3d5-4f40-85b9-389c7840d5f4" data-vars-headline="Suns and Mercury plan new $60M downtown Phoenix YMCA" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/metro-phoenix/2026/09/30/residents-look-for-housing-as-downtown-phoenix-ymca-closes/92029021007/" target="_blank">displaced hundreds of low-income residents</a>.

The 2028 Olympic torch relay likely to stop in Phoenix

For the first time, the Olympic flame will visit all 50 states.

Sports

The 2028 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Olympics" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/18/artificial-intelligence-2026-olympics-replays" data-vars-content-id="6df5e7fe-8428-4a62-ab2c-9cad6e886b22" data-vars-headline="The 2028 Olympic torch relay likely to stop in Phoenix" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/18/artificial-intelligence-2026-olympics-replays" target="_self">Olympics</a> will take place in Los Angeles, but the Olympic flame likely will make a stop in Phoenix on the way to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Games" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/world/paris-olympics" data-vars-content-id="6df5e7fe-8428-4a62-ab2c-9cad6e886b22" data-vars-headline="The 2028 Olympic torch relay likely to stop in Phoenix" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/world/paris-olympics" target="_self">the Games</a>.Why it matters: The stopover will give the Valley a taste of Olympic fever even though Arizona is not hosting the competition.

Why football matters in the Maricopa Community College District race

Four Maricopa County community colleges eliminated their football programs in 2018.

Football has become a campaign issue in the race for the Maricopa County Community College District as a slate of candidates campaigns on bringing back programs that were eliminated nearly a decade ago.Why it matters: Supporters of community college football are passionate about the benefits they believe it has for the players, but it&#x27;s also a cost-intensive program that would require considerable resources from MCCCD, which oversees 10 community colleges in the county.

D-Backs eliminated from playoff contention on season's final day

A late-season win streak got the D-Backs close to the playoffs but it wasn't close enough.

The Diamondbacks got tantalizingly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="close to the playoffs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/22/diamondbacks-playoffs-torey-lovullo" data-vars-content-id="9431061e-5be8-4b10-b77f-0373c8ed9f03" data-vars-headline="D-Backs eliminated from playoff contention on season&#x27;s final day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/22/diamondbacks-playoffs-torey-lovullo" target="_self">close to the playoffs</a> — but it wasn&#x27;t quite enough.State of play: The D-Backs narrowly missed out on the National League&#x27;s final wild-card spot, keeping them out of the postseason for the third consecutive year.

The Diamondbacks enter their final week with a lot on the line

A playoff spot and manager Torey Lovullo's job may hang in the balance.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Diamondbacks" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/01/diamondbacks-chase-field-lease" data-vars-content-id="a0b686ce-f94c-45cc-9c9d-109d876a01f0" data-vars-headline="The Diamondbacks enter their final week with a lot on the line" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/01/diamondbacks-chase-field-lease" target="_self">Diamondbacks</a> still have a shot at making the playoffs as they enter the final week of the season, but they&#x27;ll need a lot of help to secure their first <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="postseason berth" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/07/17/arizona-diamondbacks-wild-card-race-all-star-break" data-vars-content-id="a0b686ce-f94c-45cc-9c9d-109d876a01f0" data-vars-headline="The Diamondbacks enter their final week with a lot on the line" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/07/17/arizona-diamondbacks-wild-card-race-all-star-break" target="_self">postseason berth</a> since 2023.Why it matters: A lot rides on Arizona&#x27;s final six games — possibly including the fates of manager Torey Lovullo and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="general manager Mike Hazen" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/08/04/d-backs-made-small-deadline-splash" data-vars-content-id="a0b686ce-f94c-45cc-9c9d-109d876a01f0" data-vars-headline="The Diamondbacks enter their final week with a lot on the line" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/08/04/d-backs-made-small-deadline-splash" target="_self">general manager Mike Hazen</a>.

Underdog Cards look to improve after last season's struggles

The Cards are underdogs in every game as they look to bounce back from last year's troubles.

The Arizona Cardinals are hoping there&#x27;s nowhere to go but up as they try to bounce back from a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="historically bad 2025 season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/01/05/arizona-cardinals-jonathan-gannon-fired-third-season" data-vars-content-id="79bd40ed-d150-45c8-af58-454fc076b7e7" data-vars-headline="Underdog Cards look to improve after last season&#x27;s struggles" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/01/05/arizona-cardinals-jonathan-gannon-fired-third-season" target="_self">historically bad 2025 season</a>.Why it matters: Cardinals fans are used to struggles, but even by the franchise&#x27;s often-low standards, last season was a mess.

New-look Sun Devils aim to surprise after a wave of departures

Kenny Dillingham is hoping a rapidly rebuilt roster can contend.

The Sun Devils find themselves in a familiar position heading into the 2026 season — overlooked and hoping to prove people wrong.Catch up quick: ASU put quite the target on its back two years ago, when second-year coach Kenny Dillingham and transfers Sam Leavitt and Cam Skattebo led the squad <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="to a Big 12 title" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2024/11/25/asu-s-big-12-championship-dreams" data-vars-content-id="c471c49f-e162-4b8c-8aab-15793b2c6e8e" data-vars-headline="New-look Sun Devils aim to surprise after a wave of departures" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2024/11/25/asu-s-big-12-championship-dreams" target="_self">to a Big 12 title</a> and a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="spot in the College Football Playoff" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/01/02/asu-peach-bowl-skattebo-dillingham" data-vars-content-id="c471c49f-e162-4b8c-8aab-15793b2c6e8e" data-vars-headline="New-look Sun Devils aim to surprise after a wave of departures" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/01/02/asu-peach-bowl-skattebo-dillingham" target="_self">spot in the College Football Playoff</a>.

Wildcats look to build on last year's success

UofA is hyping quarterback Noah Fifita as a Heisman contender in his final season.

The Arizona Wildcats have a lot of success to build on after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="surprising the Big 12 last season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/12/08/asu-and-uofa-bowl-game-matchups-set" data-vars-content-id="563b98c0-7acf-4c4d-a884-e55bed0aa5c6" data-vars-headline="Wildcats look to build on last year&#x27;s success" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/12/08/asu-and-uofa-bowl-game-matchups-set" target="_self">surprising the Big 12 last season</a>.Why it matters: Back-to-back successful seasons would be a sign of a football program on the rise.

Sports 🏅

Suns and Mercury plan new $60M downtown Phoenix YMCA

Savannah Bananas returning to Phoenix in 2027

Former Suns owners sues ex-business partners

The 2028 Olympic torch relay likely to stop in Phoenix

Why football matters in the Maricopa Community College District race