Tomorrow is National Public Lands Day, which means free entry to national parks.

There are three national parks in Arizona—Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Saguaro—but lots more if you count national monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, etc.

Tomorrow is a great day to visit the Grand Canyon if you want to save some money on admission. (Pexels)

If you want to celebrate public lands even more, you can join a litter pickup tomorrow at 9 a.m. on the Vermilion View Trail in Page. 

If you can’t make it out to a national park this weekend, there’s a ton of other stuff going on:

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

Across the country, the future of local news is uncertain. But here at The Copper Courier, we’re staying focused—on you.

Our goal for our fall fundraising campaign is to raise $4,000 by Sept. 30 to keep this kind of coverage strong in Arizona. We’re about 70% of the way there, so we could still use your help! 

Thank you for your support, neighbor.

Antonio Rodriguez gets his COVID-19 booster shot from medical assistant Jessica Lopez during a clinic at Promise Arizona’s office in Phoenix on Jan. 26, 2022. (USA TODAY Network)

by USA Today via Reuters Connect 

With a standing prescription from the Arizona Department of Health Services, pharmacists in the state now have the green light to give updated COVID-19 vaccines without requiring a prescription.

The standing prescription came about as a result of an executive order issued Sept. 11 by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, who said she wanted to broaden access to the new vaccines after the FDA narrowed the definition of who would be eligible for them.

That means Arizonans, regardless of age or health status, should be able to get their updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2025-26 season at pharmacies without needing a prescription, and both government and commercial health insurance plans will likely pay for it.

Scheduling portals at major pharmacies may take some time to catch up with the changes, but Arizonans scheduling an appointment through a portal can say “yes” to their eligibility status for the COVID-19 vaccine because of the standing prescription order.

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. 

The days are shorter and the wind is crisper. This can only mean one thing: It’s time to welcome the fall in Phoenix with hayrides, pumpkin patches, and more. 

🌱 Our correspondent Brey visited Pueblo, a locally owned plant store in downtown Phoenix.

🏹 Our correspondent Fabiola tried out some classes that the Arizona Wildlife Federation offers to help women learn outdoor skills.

🗳️ Democrat Adelita Grijalva won the special election in southern Arizona to replace her father in Congress.

🍄‍🟫 What is foraging? Not just a fairy tale fantasy. Here’s how to get started in Arizona.

📦 Time to move? Here’s how to find your next rental in Phoenix.

🌉 This thousand-foot bridge is Arizona’s longest. Have you driven on it?

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Jessica Swarner with stories from the AP, Sahara Sajjadi, and Teresa K. Traverse. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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