Happy Thursday, neighbors! Here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening today in Phoenix.

First, today’s weather:

Cloudy. High: 74 Low: 55.

Find out what’s happening in Phoenix with free, real-time updates from Patch.

Here are the top three stories today in Phoenix:

  1. The Glendale Fire Department is working to help a Glendale family that lost everything in a fire on Tuesday, just days before Christmas. The family, including three children, received some diapers, toys and money from the firefighters who put out the blaze at their home. But the family needs to replace many more belongings, including Christmas presents, so the fire department set up a GoFundMe account to help them out. As of Wednesday evening, it had already surpassed its $10,000 goal. (ABC15 Arizona)
  2. A lot more people are expected to be out traveling the roads and the air for Christmas gatherings this week than there were in 2020. And that means more traffic to deal with. See which times are likely to be the best for local travel or to get out of town and remember that rain in the forecast for the Valley could exacerbate holiday traffic congestion. (Phoenix Patch)
  3. A group of people gathered in downtown Phoenix Tuesday to honor the more than 500 people experiencing homelessness who lost their lives in Maricopa County this year. Similar vigils were held across the country this week in honor of National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. People who don’t have homes are three to four times more likely to die than those who are not homeless. (The Arizona Republic)

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Find out what’s happening in Phoenix with free, real-time updates from Patch.

From my notebook:

  • If you’re planning to adopt a new furry friend for the holidays, time is running out, so make your appointment with the Arizona Humane Society today. (Facebook)
  • Watch your favorite Hallmark Channel Christmas movies for free with your Phoenix Public Library Card.🎄Click the link to see the full list of available movies. (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I’ll see you soon!

— Caitlin Sievers

About me: I’m a passionate writer and photographer who worked as a reporter and editor for various publications in the Midwest before landing in Phoenix. I have seven roommates. Four of them are cats. Contact me at caitlin.sievers@patch.com with story ideas and feedback.

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