Happy Tuesday! Another scorcher awaits.

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high of 107.

🎧 Sounds like: "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies.

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Today's newsletter is 785 words — a 3-minute read.

Irked by the droves of political signs around Scottsdale? You're not alone — and the City Council wants to do something about it.

Why it matters: The signs, some for candidates who are no longer in the running, aren't just an eyesore. They can block drivers' sight lines at intersections, obstruct pedestrian routes and become roadside hazards, and when campaigns leave signs up past the legal deadlines, city workers have to clean up the mess.

By the numbers: Code enforcement inspectors removed over 2,600 political signs this election cycle as of Aug. 25, the police department tells me.

• The 15-day grace period to remove signs following the July primaries ended on Aug. 5.

Zoom in: A crowded Council race — with eight candidates on the primary ballot — helped drive the surge in signs, according to Council member Jan Dubauskas.

• Vice Mayor Maryann McAllen noted that commercial signs — from window washing to concrete services — also tend to proliferate during election season, making the streetscape look extra messy.

State of play: During a meeting last month, the Council directed the city to investigate what Scottsdale can legally do about political signs.

Between the lines: Sign fatigue is spilling beyond City Hall. In a recent Scottsdale Reddit thread, residents piled on complaints, with one poster saying the signs "drive me crazy when you can't see at an intersection to make a turn."

Flashback: In 2007, Scottsdale adopted a resolution prohibiting all signs in public rights-of-way to reduce visual clutter but a 2011 state law restricted cities from enforcing such rules against political signs during election season.

The bottom line: The primaries may be over, but apparently not everyone got the memo.

Dive deeper

Political sign nuisance aside, we have something to smile about: We're the third-happiest city in the country according to a recent survey.

The big picture: Our year-round sunshine, accessibility to parks and trails, low crime rates and high household incomes are contributing factors to our top ranking.

• Most residents report good health and physical activity, and nearly two-thirds of households earn more than $75,000.

The other side: We scored the lowest on the list for long work hours.

How it works: The WalletHub study ranked more than 180 of the largest U.S. cities on a range of metrics, including socioeconomics, job satisfaction, recreation options and resident mental health.

Flashback: This same study ranked Scottsdale 8th last year.

📣 Tell us: Why do you think Scottsdale is one of the happiest cities? Reply to this email.

Dive deeper

🧵 Western Spirit Museum opened a new exhibit over the weekend with seven modern textile works created by Navajo artists on display. $28 for adults; free for kids. (Western Spirit)

One person was killed and another critically injured in a shooting outside two Old Town nightclubs early Sunday. Police arrested a 22-year-old man who faces second-degree murder and aggravated assault charges. (Fox 10 Phoenix)

📚 Scottsdale Unified is weighing three scenarios that would shutter Laguna Elementary and either Redfield, Desert Canyon Elementary or Copper Ridge K-8 amid declining enrollment, rising costs and underused campuses. The board will discuss options today and hold a public hearing on Sept. 22. (ABC15)

🧘 Beyond Yoga's first Arizona store opens Thursday at Kierland Commons near Scottsdale Road and Greenway Parkway. (KTAR News)

I've been eyeing Outcast Doughnuts since it opened a drive-thru location down the street from my house.

The intrigue: Its new fall menu promised pumpkin pie in donut form, so I had to try it.

The verdict: Worth the wait!

The latest: Outcast is known for its flaky croissant-dough donuts and rolled out several fall specials.

Winners: The Oh My Gourd! donut is basically pumpkin pie in donut form, stuffed with pumpkin spice cream, rolled in pie crumbs and topped with white chocolate cream.

• Want to go full pumpkin? Pair it with the Pump'd Up latte. It's got house-made pumpkin pie syrup, whipped cream, pie crumble and salted pumpkin spice.

Nice perk: Every day after 2pm, you can grab a free donut with your coffee.

If you go: 6am-8pm Monday-Saturday and until 6am-3pm Sunday. 2955 N Hayden Road

What we're watching: Outcast previously closed its outposts in downtown Mesa and Gilbert, but now it plans to open back up in both areas next year.

Tell a friend

🧘🏽‍♀️ I'm starting the week with a Black Swan Yoga class and good intentions.

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Thanks to Astrid Galván for editing this newsletter.