AZ Briefing: Regents seek reversal of state cuts; Former Cardinals coach returns with Commanders; Best places to see fall colors in Arizona

Good morning, Arizona. Here's what our reporters are working on and what you should know about what's happening across the state before you start your day.

The board overseeing Arizona's public university system is urging leaders to reverse cuts in this year's higher education budget for the next school year.

The Arizona Board of Regents finalized a request for $732 million more in state funding in a Thursday meeting, saying it needs that money to avoid future consequences. The appeal comes after the state Legislature and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs reduced its investment in the universities by nearly $97 million, as policymakers corrected a state deficit.

More on the five requests made and why Regent Gregg Brewster said "it’s not a negotiation. It really is a need.”

Other big stories

➤ For Cardinals fans, all eyes this week will be on Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury , the former Cardinals head coach who led the team to a 28-37-1 record from 2019-22 .

➤ Arizona State Parks and Trails released its list of the best places to see fall colors in state parks on Wednesday. Here are the tops

➤ A group of horses on the Havasupai Indian Reservation was reportedly found starving and malnourished , leading tribal officials to launch an investigation .

➤ Today, an excessive heat warning is in effect. You can expect it to be very hot with a high near 116 degrees. Expect it to be very warm at night with a low near 87 degrees. Get the full forecast here .

Best, worst and weirdest fair foods we tried at the Arizona State Fair

From hundreds of fair food options , The Republic's dining team tried six. These are the best bites, worst food fails and just plain weirdest dishes .

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We'd love your feedback about the AZ Briefing. Email us at karen.kurtz@arizonarepublic.com .

Today in history

Here are just some of the events on this date in the past.

• On this day in 1907 : The cornerstone of the Washington National Cathedral was laid in a grand ceremony attended by over 20,000 people, including President Theodore Roosevelt. The event marked the beginning of construction for the neo-Gothic structure that would become a significant landmark in Washington.
• In 1982 : Seven people died in the Chicago area from cyanide-poisoned Extra-Strength Tylenol, leading to a nationwide recall and the introduction of tamper-proof medication packaging. The perpetrator was never caught.
• In 1988 : NASA’s STS-26 mission, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, launched from Kennedy Space Center. The event marked a significant comeback after the space program was grounded for 32 months following the Challenger explosion.
• In 1988 : Stacy Allison became the first American woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain. She was part of the Northwest American Everest Expedition.
• In 2005 : John Roberts was confirmed by the Senate as the 17th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court with a vote of 78-22. Initially nominated by President George W. Bush to replace retiring Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Roberts’ nomination was redirected to the Chief Justice position following the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist.
• In 2008 : The U.S. stock market experienced a dramatic crash after the House of Representatives voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 777 points, setting a new record for a single-day point drop.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AZ Briefing: Regents seek reversal of state cuts; Former Cardinals coach returns with Commanders; Best places to see fall colors in Arizona