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The Morning News Brief on Friday, October 3, 2025. (MCSO; Getty Images; KSAZ-TV)

From the arrest of a man accused of killing two Phoenix high school students to the sentencing of Sean “Diddy” Combs, here’s a look at some of your top headlines for the morning of October 3.

1. Man accused of killing Acadia H.S. students

What we know:

Thomas Brown, 31, was arrested more than four months after the deaths of 18-year-old Pandora Kjolsrud and 17-year-old Evan Clark, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office announced.

The backstory:

Kjolsrud and Clark were found in the Mount Ord area of the Tonto National Forest in May. They both had gunshot wounds.

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2. ‘All hell broke loose’

What we know:

David Hayes Sr., a 66-year-old Marine veteran, narrowly survived last week’s deadly flash floods in Globe after water swept his RV trailer a half-mile, pinning his leg and forcing him to crawl out of a broken back window to reach safety.

What they’re saying:

“I’m thinking I’m going to die. I say, I’m going to die,” Hayes said.

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3. Diddy sentencing

Sean “Diddy” Combs attends Day 1 of 2023 Invest Fest at Georgia World Congress Center on August 26, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

What we know:

Sean “Diddy” Combs will learn his fate today after a weeks-long trial and more than a year behind bars at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center. 

The backstory:

Diddy, 55, was convicted in July on two counts of violating the Mann Act, a federal law banning interstate prostitution. Prosecutors said he arranged paid sexual encounters between his girlfriends and male sex workers. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

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4. Deadly west Phoenix shooting

What we know:

A man in his 40s has died after police say he was found with a gunshot wound lying on the ground next to a running SUV near 83rd Avenue and Indian School Road.

What you can do:

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS, or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish.

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5. Beef prices hit record highs

Beef products on display in a grocery store on July 22, 2025, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

What we know:

Beef prices are at a record high in the wake of a drought that left cattle inventory at the lowest level in 70 years amid strong demand, resulting in price increases for steak and ground beef.

Dig deeper:

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ consumer price index report for August showed a surge in beef prices over the past year. Ground beef prices were up 12.8% on a year-over-year basis in August, while beef roasts were up 13.6%, and steak prices were 16.6% higher. Those inflation figures are well above the 3.2% year-over-year rise in all food categories, as well as the 5.4% rise in meat prices from last year.

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