🌱 Bird Flu At Phoenix Zoo + La Catrina Pageant + Undercover Operation

Morning, neighbors! It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Phoenix Daily. Keep reading for everything you need to know about what's going on around town.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 80 Low: 56.

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Here are the top three stories today in Phoenix:

1. The Phoenix Zoo has confirmed that 14 of its pelicans have died due to avian influenza, also known as the bird flu. According to zoo officials, the affected pelicans all were housed on the Children's Zoo lake; the rest of the birds have not shown signs of illness at this time. As a precaution, the zoo has closed its Tropical Flights Aviary as well as its behind-the-scenes flamingo tours until further notice. (ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix)
2. On Oct. 29, local pin-up group Las Muñecas de Phoenix will host its third annual La Catrina pageant. The entire community is invited to learn about and take part in this Día de los Muertos celebration, which will showcase the unique and elegant catrina makeup style with a pin-up twist. For this year's event, Las Muñecas de Phoenix is partnering with local nonprofit Bearded Villains Phoenix to raise funds for the Phoenix Children's Hospital. (The Arizona Republic)
3. Over a dozen suspects have been arrested in an undercover operation targeting sex crimes and human trafficking across the state. The Phoenix Police Department and other agencies partnered for "Operation Tangled Web," during which undercover detectives placed ads on websites "commonly sought out by suspects seeking illegal sex acts." The 16 suspects who sought sex acts from minors were subsequently identified and arrested. (FOX 10 News Phoenix)

Patch deals of the day:

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(Patch may earn a commission on purchases. All deals are as of publication and could change.)

Today in Phoenix:

• Fall Festival At Bostrom High School (3:30 PM)
• Hiring Event At Madison School District Office (5:00 PM)
• St. Mary's Food Bank Food Distribution At Crockett Elementary School (5:00 PM)
• Climate Conversations - Atascosa Borderlands: Visual Storytelling Along The Arizona-Sonora Border At Arizona Humanities (6:00 PM)
• Día De Los Muertos Storytelling With Zarco Guerrero At Burton Barr Central Library – Pulliam Auditorium (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The next Formal Phoenix City Council Meeting is today (Wednesday, Oct. 26) at 2:30 p.m. Visit Facebook or click here to learn how you can participate in the meeting virtually or in person. (City of Phoenix, AZ USA via Facebook)
• Looking to add a furry friend to your family? Consider Gertrude the German Shepherd, Chewy the Chow Chow mix, or any of the other adoptable pets in Phoenix area shelters awaiting their forever homes. (Phoenix Patch)
• Get all your tricks and treats with this year's upcoming Halloween parties in the Phoenix metro. (Phoenix New Times)

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Events:

• Free Zoom meeting about skilled divorce attorneys in Glendale (October 27)
• Social Security Seminar (November 1)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander, now living in New York. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.