👀 Eyes on the border

It's Friday! Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

🌡️ Today's weather: High of 113, with ongoing excessive heat warning continuing through Sunday.

🎂 Happy early birthday to our Axios Phoenix member Sandy Whitley!

Today's newsletter is 941 words — a 3.5-minute read.

Vice President Kamala Harris will make a campaign visit to Douglas today. It's her first trip to the U.S.-Mexico border since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee — and many Republicans say it's overdue.

Why it matters: Harris has faced relentless attacks from former President Trump and Republicans who claim she's ill-equipped to handle what they've called a crisis at the southern border.

Driving the news: Harris will cover border security, according to a campaign aide speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the trip that was still being planned.

• In particular, Harris will share how she is proposing to send new agents to the border and plans to implement new technology to target the flow of fentanyl, the aide said.
• Harris has cast herself as a former "border state prosecutor," leaning into a more hawkish stance while still pushing for a path to citizenship.

The other side: Speaking at a North Carolina rally this week, Trump said Harris was traveling to the border for "political reasons."

• Even before Harris was the presidential nominee, Arizona Republicans criticized her for not visiting the border, despite President Biden tasking her with addressing the root causes of Central American migration to the U.S.

Between the lines: Immigration is perhaps Harris' largest liability among undecided Arizona voters — who could swing the presidential election.

• Harris' campaign has steered away from some more liberal policies she ran on in her prior presidential bid.

Flashback: Several prominent Arizona Democrats — and Harris supporters— have criticized the Biden-Harris administration's handling of the southern border.

Yes, but: Harris and local Democrats have tried to shift the blame back onto Trump, who earlier this year encouraged Senate Republicans to reject a bipartisan border security deal that would have increased Border Patrol staffing, sped up the asylum process and more.

What we're watching

The Pinal County Attorney's Office filed 10 felony charges against activist and political operative Bruce Franks Jr. last week after an investigation into unsent mailers the Maricopa County Democratic Party (MCDP) paid for before the 2022 election.

The big picture: Franks faces nine counts of forgery and one count of theft.

• The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office recommended the forgery counts after a nearly year-long investigation.
• Franks' attorney, Steve Benedetto, declined to comment on the charges.

Catch up quick: The MCDP paid $24,480 to Tempe-based consulting firm Agave Strategy for about 100,000 mailers in October 2022. Agave subcontracted through Franks' company, Blaque Printing Enterprise.

• Agave Strategy CEO Dawn Penich told Axios last year that Franks gave her documents purporting to show the mailers were sent through a sub-vendor.
• After learning the mailers never went out, party officials questioned the authenticity of the documents, which were later determined to be forgeries, according to reports from the sheriff's office.
• The party asked for a refund, which it received the following January.

Zoom in: Penich told Axios last year that Ne'Lexia Galloway, who was then-MCDP executive director and Franks' fiancée, requested that Agave use Blaque Printing Enterprise for the mailers.

• MCDP enacted a conflict-of-interest policy in September 2022 requiring employees to disclose financial conflicts to the MCDP executive board and recuse themselves while the board makes decisions on the transactions or arrangements.
• Penich said Franks and Galloway, who have since married, asked her to keep the arrangement between Agave Strategy and Blaque Printing quiet due to disputes with other Democrats.
• Galloway and MCDP chair Nancy Schriber resigned after Axios reported on the mailer dispute.

What's next: Franks' initial appearance in Maricopa County Superior Court is scheduled for Oct. 21.

• Forgery is a class 4 felony that carries a penalty of 1 to 3.75 years in prison, and theft is a class 5 felony with a penalty of up to 2.5 years.

No charges were filed against anyone else in the case.

Full story

It's coming down to the wire for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are fighting for a playoff spot and a chance to defend their National League crown.

The big picture: With three games left in the regular season, Arizona is tied with the New York Mets for second place in the NL Wild Card standings. The D-Backs have a 73% chance of making the playoffs, according to ESPN.

• The Atlanta Braves are in fourth place by one game.
• The San Diego Padres lead the Wild Card race by 3 games.

What's next: Arizona begins its final three-game series Friday against the surging Padres, who have won 7 of their last 10.

The intrigue: Wednesday and Thursday games between the Braves and Mets were postponed due to Hurricane Helene, and were rescheduled for a Monday doubleheader in Atlanta.

• That means we might not know the full playoff picture until everyone else is finished playing.
• Both teams hold the tiebreaker over Arizona, so if the D-Backs end the season tied with either for the final Wild Card spot, they're out.

Let's go, D-Backs!

Join a discussion with GPEC and the State of Black Arizona focused on building supportive ecosystems so Black entrepreneurs can ideate and thrive.

The strategy: Breakout groups will share insights and discuss needs surrounding financial literacy, local government and more.

Attend on Oct. 2.

💗 Richard de Uriarte, a former longtime reporter and editorial writer for the Arizona Republic and Phoenix Gazette, died at the age of 77. (AZcentral)

💸 State schools Superintendent Tom Horne plans to use $15 million to place additional armed officers in schools. (Arizona's Family)

🍝 Italian restaurant Giuseppe's on 28th will be featured in an episode of Guy Fieri's "Triple D Nation" this weekend on Food Network. It was previously showcased on Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" in 2009. (12 News)

Welcome to another edition of "Where in the Valley?"

How it works: We show you something cool. You tell us where it is.

• The first reader who names the spot gets a shout-out in the newsletter.

You tell us: Where in the Valley can you find this canal?

On Oct. 18, don't miss out on a festive night that includes…

• Industry networking with key leaders.
• An open bar with specialty cocktails.
• Fun music and a dance floor.

Plus, plus, plus: Gourmet catering, live artists and a 360° photo booth.

Celebrate 35 years of progress in Greater Phoenix with GPEC.

⚾ Jeremy has faith that the Diamondbacks can get back to the playoffs.

💗 Jessica is heartbroken by Richard de Uriarte's passing, but so thankful she got the chance to know, love and learn from him. She'll cherish all the encouraging voicemail messages she's saved from him.

This newsletter was edited by Gigi Sukin.