This weekend, I’m using our fall leaves guide to hopefully find some stunning red trees on a hike up north. The yellow ones are easy to find, but I definitely see red less often, so fingers crossed! I’ll let you know what I find. 

Even if I don’t get my red leaves, I’m so excited to be outside for a day and breathe in some mountain air. It really does wonders for my brain and body. 

We’ve got a long list of things happening this weekend, so I’ll jump into it: 

What are you up to this weekend? Let me know at responses@coppercourier.com!

A newsletter for Phoenix renters, written by someone who’s lived it—me! Rent Check PHX gives you news, resources, and real renter stories from across the Valley every other Wednesday.

A road sign notifies drivers of the closure of Montezuma Castle National Monument in Camp Verde, Ariz., on Oct. 1, 2025. (Photo by Sydney Lovan/Cronkite News)

by Gabrielle Wallace

💬 “This is not fair to the citizens of the United States. Whatever is going on in the government, they need to change their way of running the country.”

— Yasmeen Mustafa, tourist turned away from Montezuma Castle

Yasmeen Mustafa approached the locked gates at Montezuma Castle National Monument and let out a deep, frustrated sigh as it dawned on her that the monument—and other national parks—would have closures after the government shutdown began Wednesday.

That day marked the first day of her 10-day “dream trip” throughout the Southwest. 

Dozens of other hikers and tourists like Mustafa were turned away Wednesday morning by a “park closed until further notice” sign and gated-off entryways.

Other than the rangers at the monument, updates were hard to come by for confused sightseers. According to the Department of the Interior website, due to the federal shutdown, there would be no updates there, and employees would not be able to respond to questions until funding is secured.

Here are the best corn mazes you can find around metro Phoenix and beyond to get in the Halloween spirit.

Looking for a unique way to get into scary season? Consider taking the Four Peaks Haunted Brewery Tour at its Tempe location.

These websites and Facebook groups are a good place to start when looking for a new place in Phoenix. 

🚨 ICE detained a Yuma barber, who was seeking asylum in the US, while he was giving a haircut. 

🗣️ Advocates for disability services are urging Gov. Hobbs to find a way to pause or delay cuts to the Division of Developmental Disabilities.

🏀 Watch the moment the Phoenix Mercury secured their spot in the WNBA Finals. 

🎵 Beloved local indie group The Format reunited for their first show in Arizona in nearly two decades. 

🍪 Our correspondent Brey visited an LGBTQ, woman-owned dessert stand in Phoenix that combines warm cookies with cold ice cream. 

👻 This metro Phoenix haunted house has a scary new setup. Take a look inside.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Jessica Swarner with stories from Gabrielle Wallace, Tufan Neupane, Sam Cohen, and Nick Karmia. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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