Happy Monday! We hope you had a great weekend.

🌧️ Today's weather: Chance of showers and thunderstorms early, then slighter chance of the same later in the day, high of 101.

🎂 Happy birthday to our members Michael Blishak and Don Jensen!

Today's newsletter is 761 words — a 3-minute read.

American colleges are largely failing to create a healthy free speech climate on campus, but Arizona's universities have some of the nation's best scores, according to a new national ranking.

By the numbers: The rankings found an average overall score of 61.36 — the highest recorded in seven years, according to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).

• That still amounts to a D- on the report's grading scale.
• 140 schools received passing grades, whereas 121 out of the 261 schools ranked in the report received an F for their free speech climate.
• Only 24 schools received a C or better.

Zoom in: Arizona's three public universities were among the 12 schools that scored a C-, and the state's average score for its schools was second only to New Hampshire.

• University of Arizona (27) led, followed by Arizona State University (29) and Northern Arizona University (32).
• Of the six categories used for scoring, Arizona's best grade was a C+ for disruptive conduct — how acceptable students think it is to disrupt a campus speaker.
• FIRE logged no free speech controversies at the three Arizona schools last year.

Yes, but: Arizona received F grades for administrative support — students' belief in the administration's support for free speech and willingness to support their rights in a controversy — and tolerance of controversial speakers, which was the only grade to get worse this year.

• 73% of Arizona students surveyed still said it's acceptable to shout down someone to prevent them from speaking on campus, at least in rare cases.
• 47% say they've self-censored at least once or twice a month.
• And 30% said that at least in rare cases it's acceptable to use violence to stop someone from speaking on campus.

Zoom out: The University of Chicago tops the list for the third time in seven years, followed by Claremont McKenna College, Georgia Tech, Michigan Tech and Vanderbilt.

• New York University ranks last, behind the University of Washington, Texas State, Northeastern and Rutgers.

Speak your mind

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Why it matters: Membership helps support the local reporting that keeps you informed about the people, decisions and stories shaping where you live.

💙 Become an Axios Phoenix member today and help our newsroom keep delivering journalism built for your community.

Thanks for reading — and for supporting local news.

Postino is teaming up with Boston-based Grillo's Pickles on a limited-time pickle-packed dish.

Why it matters: It's just another reason to swing by the wine-and-snacks spot this fall.

What to try: The hot pickle dip, available Thursday though Oct. 28, blends whipped Philadelphia cream cheese, tangy labneh yogurt, garlic, fresh dill and Grillo's pickle brine.

• The dip is topped with Grillo's signature Hot Dill Pickles and served with house chips, radish, cucumbers and carrots.
• Pair it with Mother Block Orange Wine or Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA.

Bonus: Some locations, including Postino Annex in Tempe, will host a sampling event with custom stickers noon-2pm Oct. 3.

• Other participating markets include Denver, Nashville, South Raleigh and Austin.

If you go: Daily happy hour until 5pm for $6 wine and beer pitchers.

It's a big dill

🏈 The Cardinals upset the Chargers with a 26-14 victory to open their 2026 season. (AZCentral)

🚨 A Charlie Kirk statue outside of Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix was vandalized just days after it was unveiled. (ABC15)

👨‍⚖️ A federal judge rejected Maricopa County's request to free the sheriff's office from independent oversight, though he was open to lifting some requirements placed on the agency. (Phoenix New Times)

❎ Two allegedly "sham" Green Party candidates, running for governor and secretary of state, are suing to prevent the Clean Elections Commission from clawing back taxpayer-funded campaign cash. (Arizona Mirror)

Welcome to another edition of "Where in the Valley?"

How it works: We show you something cool. You tell us where it is.

• The first reader who names the spot gets a shoutout in the newsletter.

You tell us: Where in the Valley can you find this ode to pets?

Catch up quick: Congratulations to Manjula V., the first reader to give us the correct location for our last "Where in the Valley?" photo.

• The sculpture is at the Hayden Ferry Lakeside business park at Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway.

🎟️ Jeremy finally found his old ticket from the time he visited the World Trade Center observation deck. It's dated Aug. 7, 2001.

👎 Zach is already out of his NFL survivor league, which will teach him to doubt the Cardinals again.

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This newsletter was edited by Astrid Galván.