Cheers Mesa! We're back, helping you stay up to date with what's happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Sunset Market and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. AZ Horror Fest 2026 (signalsaz.com) — Horror fans in Mesa can jump-start Halloween this weekend at AZ Horror Fest 2026, running October 2–4 at the DoubleTree Hilton on West Holmes Avenue with free parking. Expect celebrity signings from ALIENS, Buffy, Predator and more, plus artists, photo-ops, karaoke, costume contests, and a free kids' trick-or-treat event, with children 12 and under admitted free with a paid adult.
2. Dead toddler's bruised body alarmed doctors. Mesa man now jailed (sacbee.com) — Mesa residents should know that a 23-year-old local man has been jailed on suspicion of first-degree murder and felony child abuse after a 2-year-old boy died following a 4 a.m. emergency call near Brown Road and Mesa Drive. Doctors alerted police to suspicious bruising, and after an autopsy, detectives secured homicide charges, with the suspect now held on a $1.5 million bond in Phoenix.
3. Man sentenced for dealing fentanyl that led to Mesa father's death: MCAO (fox10phoenix.com) — A Mesa family is seeing some closure after a dealer received a 20-year prison sentence for a fentanyl sale that led to a local father's death. Prosecutors say the man admitted manslaughter, and a co-defendant tied to the transaction is scheduled for trial in October.
4. Rival gang dispute led to Mesa shooting that injured 4, police say (sacbee.com) — Mesa residents are learning more about a gang-related shooting near McKellips Road and Center Street that wounded three men and a 14-year-old girl. Police say two 19-year-old Mesa men targeted a rival gang member for allegedly contacting authorities, and both now face high bonds and multiple felony charges in Maricopa County court.
5. Maricopa County's Heat Relief Network closes as Valley records alarming rise in heat deaths (abc15.com) — From a Mesa dateline, county officials confirm the Heat Relief Network is shutting down for the season even as heat-related deaths across Maricopa County surge. With hundreds of cases under investigation and many deaths happening indoors, the closure and uncertain funding raise concerns about how well future summers will protect vulnerable Valley residents.
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Ok Mesa! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
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