In this issue of Gilbert Local Pulse

🌤️ Gilbert, AZ Local Weather

 📅 Gilbert, AZ and Surrounding Area Events

 😈 Mesa teacher on leave after allegedly dressing as devil and hailing Satan to students

 😭Queen Creek boy dies after violent attack at party

 👮Valley mother detained for leaving disabled son in car overnight post-party, according to records

 👩‍💼BBB taps Paradise Valley resident chief financial officer

 🧁Cupcakesters opens location at Gilbert's SanTan Village

 🍨Crispý Cone will bring sweet treats to Gilbert

 📖Higley schools get nearly straight A's from state

🖊️Gilbert Public Schools' grades from state improve overall

 🤰Physicians Can Challenge Genetic-Abnormality Abortion Ban, Court Rules

🕵️US Marshals releases its first report on shootings by officers

 🏈The semis are set for the 1st-ever AIA girls flag football playoffs

 🏈Arizona State finds out its opponents for inaugural football season in Big 12

Upcoming Events in Gilbert and Surrounding Areas

November 2nd

• ART ON THE AVENUE

• Fountain Hills Farmers Market

• Enchant Christmas

• FREE Comedy Show in Gilbert (National Touring Comedian and Friends Show)- Reservation Required

• Unlocking Opportunites with Freddie Mac

• The Gospel at Colonus

• Jon Spelman - Frankenstein's Creature Tells His Tale

• Nuance Jazz featuring Jackie Lopez @ La Locanda, Scottsdale

• Landscapes

• 48 LIVE: One Way Sky

November 3rd

• ART ON THE AVENUE

• Fountain Hills Farmers Market

• Enchant Christmas

• The Gospel at Colonus

• AZ Kidz Bouse Offroad Jamboree

• Artists of the Superstitions Fall Studio Tour

• Holidaze Craft Faire at Willowbrook UMC, Sun City, November 3-4

• Open House - ASU Fashion and Popular Music

• Thich Nhat Hanh and Thomas Merton: Guides for a Life of Prayer and Peace with Tom Stella and Jerry B

• CRAFT Walk

• Annual American Lebanese Festival

• The Story of Foster Care

• Beethoven’s Fifth & Magnificent Mendelssohn

• Dueling Pianos at Wicked Brews Bites and Spirits

• FREE Comedy Show in Gilbert (National Touring Comedian and Friends Show)- Reservation Required

• Nuance Jazz featuring Jackie Lopez @ Pa'La Downtown

November 4th

• AZ Kidz Bouse Offroad Jamboree

• Holidaze Craft Faire at Willowbrook UMC, Sun City, November 3-4

• ART ON THE AVENUE

• Fountain Hills Farmers Market

• Enchant Christmas

• The Gospel at Colonus

• Annual American Lebanese Festival

November 5th

• AZ Kidz Bouse Offroad Jamboree

• Annual American Lebanese Festival

• ART ON THE AVENUE

• Fountain Hills Farmers Market

• Enchant Christmas

• The Gospel at Colonus

Mesa teacher on leave after allegedly dressing as devil and hailing Satan to students

A teacher at Mesa High School is under investigation for dressing as a devil and allegedly saying "hail Satan" to students during a Halloween spirit week event. The theme was "dynamic duos," and another teacher was dressed as an angel. Sophomore Nathaniel Hamlet felt insulted by the teacher's actions due to his Christian faith and reported the incident to his father, Chris Hamlet, a former school board candidate. Following the event, the teacher was placed on paid administrative leave. While some believe the teacher's actions were inappropriate, others think firing might be an overreaction. The investigation is ongoing.

Queen Creek boy dies after violent attack at party

The Queen Creek Police Department is investigating an incident where a boy died after a party. On Saturday night, the police responded to a disturbance involving kids but found no illegal activities. Shortly after, they were informed of an assault nearby and discovered a critically injured teen. Although the police haven't officially identified the victim, a related GoFundMe campaign identified him as Preston Lord, a junior and Basketball player at Combs High School. The post mentions he was attacked at a Halloween party and later died in the hospital. The police have requested the public to share any videos from the surrounding area taken during the time frame of the incident. Anyone with relevant information can email or call the department.

Valley mother detained for leaving disabled son in car overnight post-party, according to records

A Phoenix woman, Rocio Avalos, is facing child abuse charges after leaving her 9-year-old nonverbal and visually impaired son in the car upon returning from a party. Police responded to a missing child report, and with the help of the boy's grandmother, located the vehicle with the child inside, appearing to be in distress. The child was taken to Phoenix Children's Hospital for checks. Avalos was subsequently arrested, and her bond is set at $5,000.

BBB taps Paradise Valley resident chief financial officer

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Serving the Pacific Southwest has appointed Patty Beckman as their new Chief Financial Officer. Beckman brings over 25 years of diverse financial experience, especially in the nonprofit sector, which will be crucial for the BBB's future growth. In her previous role, she worked for Mosaic, a significant nonprofit dedicated to individuals with disabilities. In addition to her professional achievements, Beckman has been actively involved in community service, such as serving on the Scottsdale Unified School District board, teaching finance at Scottsdale Community College, and being a part of the Scottsdale Charros Foundation. She is an ASU finance graduate and has been a Paradise Valley resident for two decades.

Higley schools get nearly straight A's from state

The Higley Unified School District (HUSD) saw a remarkable performance in the 2022-23 academic year, with 12 out of its 14 schools receiving A grades from the Arizona Board of Education, while the other two schools got B's. The district as a whole was also awarded an A grade. This showcases an enhancement from the previous year where only eight schools got A’s and five received B’s. The Higley Virtual Academy, which started in the 2021-22 academic year, was awarded an A for its debut letter grade. Interim Superintendent Sherry Richards expressed her gratitude towards the dedication of teachers, students, and parents in achieving these ratings and highlighted the district's data-driven educational approach. The grading methodology considers various academic parameters, such as state-mandated assessments and academic growth.

Gilbert Public Schools' grades from state improve overall

In the 2022-23 academic year, Gilbert Public Schools district saw a significant percentage of its schools receiving A grades from the Arizona Board of Education. Out of the schools, 23 earned A’s, 12 got B’s, and three were graded C’s, while the alternative school, Canyon Valley, wasn't graded. The recent grades, released on Oct. 30, denote an advancement from the 2021-22 academic year: the number of schools with A’s grew by two, and the count of those with C’s dropped by two. Several schools, including Desert Ridge, Highland, Boulder Creek Elementary, and Playa del Rey Elementary, improved their grades. However, GPS Global Academy saw a dip from B to C, and Quartz Hill Elementary's grade decreased from A to C. A total of 11 schools improved their grades from the previous year, and the district recorded its highest number of elementary schools with A’s. Superintendent Shane McCord acknowledged the grading system as an effective indicator of academic progress. He emphasized that the district would utilize these grades for introspection and enhancement, ensuring that schools will keep their communities informed about their academic achievements and strategies for further development. The school grading system evaluates various academic aspects, including state-imposed assessments and academic growth.

Physicians Can Challenge Genetic-Abnormality Abortion Ban, Court Rules

A federal appeals court has ruled that a group of Arizona doctors can challenge the state's prohibition on abortions due to genetic abnormalities. The doctors argue that the law's vagueness might result in their incarceration. This decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturns a previous ruling which dismissed the doctors' suit, following the U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of the abortion right recognized in Roe v. Wade. The appeals court believes the physicians are harmed by the current law, known as the Reason Regulations, since it's unclear what actions might be deemed illegal under it. The court acknowledges that due to this uncertainty, many abortions the doctors might conduct could be considered violations. The judges agree that the doctors have the right to sue based on their economic interest in providing medical services affected by this law.

US Marshals releases its first report on shootings by officers

The U.S. Marshals recently disclosed data on shootings involving their officers or affiliated police from 2019 to 2021. The report shows 147 people were shot during this period, mostly during arrests. This move towards transparency comes amidst national discussions on police brutality and racial disparities. Although the report offers insight, it doesn't indicate if the shootings were legally justified. The intent behind this data release was to analyze policies, equipment, and training to reduce future shooting incidents. The data showed over half of the shots were fired by officers from different police departments working in tandem with the U.S. Marshals. 10% of the shootings near vehicles resulted in officer injuries, although it's unclear if the vehicles were in motion. The U.S. still lacks comprehensive data on police shootings, making it difficult to contextualize these numbers nationally. This report is seen as a positive step, but experts believe it leaves several questions unanswered. Comprehensive data is crucial for developing strategies to reduce police shootings.

The semis are set for the 1st-ever AIA girls flag football playoffs

We are just two games away from handing out the first-ever state championship trophies in Arizona for girls flag football! 

On Thursday, both 5A and 6A held their quarterfinals and there were some big upsets, including both #1 seeds getting knocked out! Now, let's take a look at the results and the semifinal matchups, starting with 6A. 

6A Quarterfinal Results 

• #9 Mountain View upset #1 Highland, 24-20 

• #4 Hamilton beat #5 Desert Ridge, 17-13 

• #11 Mountain Ridge upset #3 Marana, 21-20 

• #2 Red Mountain beat #7 Xavier Prep, 7-6  

6A Semifinal Matchups 

• #9 Mountain View at #4 Hamilton 

• #11 Mountain Ridge at #2 Red Mountain  

Both of the 6A semifinal games will be played on Wednesday, November 1 at 6 p.m. at the higher-seeded school. The 6A state championship game will be on Saturday, November 4 at 6 p.m. at Mountain View High School in Mesa. Full story @ girls flag football

Arizona State finds out its opponents for inaugural football season in Big 12

The Big 12 released its football scheduling model for 2024, which includes Arizona State moving to the Big 12 along with Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. Arizona State's coach, Kenny Dillingham, learned about this just before practice and is focused on the upcoming game against Utah. In the new model, ASU will play each of the 15 Big 12 members at least twice over four years, with a consistent matchup against Arizona. Home games include matchups against Brigham Young, Utah, Kansas, and Central Florida, while away games feature contests against Arizona, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, and Cincinnati. An anticipated game against Colorado, led by Deion Sanders, isn't on the schedule. Dillingham is excited about the new challenges and opportunities this move brings, urging fans to embrace new traditions. The exact dates for the games will be released later, with non-conference games including matches against Wyoming, Mississippi State, and Texas State.