Good morning, Maricopa.

Volunteers with St. Vincent de Paul are preparing to serve free Thanksgiving meals for low-income and unhoused individuals this week — about 60 volunteers will help prepare roughly 5,000 meals across four dining rooms in the Valley.

Maricopa residents planning for Thanksgiving can explore Latin-inspired recipes that offer turkey marinated with mojo cubano and Salvadoreno-style, along with creative sides like mashed yucca and Cuban mac and cheese—adding a distinct twist to the traditional dinner on November 27.

The Desert Botanical Garden is hosting its annual Las Noches de Las Luminarias event starting November 28, where visitors will enjoy lights, cultural music and dance, and holiday treats.

The weekend-only celebration runs through December 30 — members get discounted tickets while general admission is available for adults and children.

Bartlett Lake near Tonto National Forest will see its water level rise Monday afternoon when Salt River Project releases about 7.5 gallons per second of water from Horseshoe Dam—an action planned to manage storage after heavy rains.

The water release, coordinated with Tonto National Forest staff and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, will be repeated over the next few weeks.

ADOT said there will be no construction closures on state highways from Wednesday afternoon to Monday morning for Thanksgiving weekend, though drivers will face heavier and slower traffic on busy routes including I-17 north of Phoenix.

Flex lanes between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point will remain open—drivers are advised to allow extra travel time.

Gov. Katie Hobbs has chosen the Hualapai tribe to supply the Capitol Christmas tree from their large reservation in northwest Arizona—continuing a holiday tradition that began with the White Mountain Apache in 2023.

The tribe will bless the tree before trucking it over 200 miles to the state Capitol in Phoenix for display by early December.

Maricopa County’s Vector Control Division said it received more than 6,000 complaints about mosquito bites this season—up from around 1,000 last year—and noted the surge came after recent rains increased breeding areas.

The American Red Cross warned Maricopa residents to take extra care during the holiday season after it noted a 20% increase in home fires, urging people to use space heaters and candles safely and avoid loose clothing while cooking — and it is partnering with local groups for free smoke alarm installations. Residents are encouraged to follow safety tips to help prevent fires around their heating and cooking areas.

Michael Wilson has become the Cardinals' top receiver by catching 25 passes for 303 yards in two games after Marvin Harrison Jr. missed playing due to an appendectomy—boosting his target share to 32.4 percent.

Coach Jonathan Gannon said Kyler Murray is rehabbing and may return in Week 14 while the team continues with its current staff.