EDS: Cronkite School students profiled candidates for Phoenix City Council and the Maricopa County sheriff race. You can find all the profiles here.
By Shondiin Mayo
Special for Cronkite News
By Patrick Holleron
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – In the stands of SHI Stadium, Gary and Vicky Melton wiped away tears.
Their sons, Bo and Max Melton, took the field as teammates for the first time at the collegiate level for Rutgers in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Scarlet Knights walked away with the victory over Michigan State, but the 38-27 final score took a backseat for the proud parents as they witnessed their sons fulfill their football dreams.
Now, four years later, Bo and Max will accomplish another milestone for the Melton family Sunday when the Arizona Cardinals face the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Bo, in his second year at wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers, and Max, rookie defensive back Cardinals, will face off against each other for the first time in the NFL.
For Max, the matinee matchup against his brother is one he always envisioned before his first NFL snap. Continue reading “Melton brothers set for first sibling rivalry as Max and Bo battle in Cardinals vs. Packers”
EDS: Cronkite School journalists profiled candidates for Phoenix City Council and the Maricopa County sheriff race. You can find all the profiles here.
By Emily Holshouser
Special for Cronkite News
EDS: Cronkite School journalists profiled candidates for Phoenix City Council and the Maricopa County sheriff race. You can find all the profiles here.
By L. M. Boyd
Special for Cronkite News
EDS: Cronkite School journalists profiled candidates for Phoenix City Council and the Maricopa County sheriff race. You can find all the profiles here.
By Armond Sarduy
Special for Cronkite News
EDS: Cronkite School journalists profiled candidates for Phoenix City Council and the Maricopa County sheriff race. You can find all the profiles here.
By Tori Smith
Special for Cronkite News
EDS: Cronkite School students profiled candidates for Phoenix City Council and the Maricopa County sheriff race. You can find all the profiles here.
By Grace Berry
Special for Cronkite News
By Tom Forbes
Cronkite News
TUCSON – Before the Arizona Wildcats travel to Provo, Utah, to take on BYU for the first time since 2021, the No. 14 Cougars have been studying last week’s game between Arizona and Texas Tech in search of weaknesses.
At Arizona’s Big 12 home opener, quarterback Noah Fifita struggled to gain an offensive rhythm in the first half, getting sacked on the Wildcats’ first possession and throwing an interception returned for a touchdown that allowed the Red Raiders to take the lead at halftime.
Arizona eventually picked up its offense but still lost, 28-22, dropping to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference. Continue reading “Arizona Wildcats head to Provo eyeing upset of unbeaten, well-rested BYU after suffering setback”
By Chase Beardsley
Cronkite News
SALT LAKE CITY – Rally towels, singer Shaboozey and slushie-drinking contests. All were features of the Utah Hockey Club’s inaugural game at the Delta Center, marking the NHL’s first regular-season game in Salt Lake City. While the team let the local fans go home happy, winning 5-2 over the Chicago Blackhawks, reminders of where the franchise was a year ago were everywhere.
Forward Dylan Guenther got the crowd on their feet early Tuesday night, just 4:56 into the game. The young Edmonton native scored the first-ever goal in Utah franchise history and more than likely, found a spot in Utah fans’ hearts as well after scoring a second goal late in the third period.
Guenther was once in the hearts of Arizona Coyotes fans. After the team selected him ninth overall in 2021, the forward had 50 points in 78 games across two seasons. He was expected to be a pillar of success for the franchise’s future ambitions. Now, he’s the property of Utah, looking to help it make the playoffs. Continue reading “Utah Hockey Club’s debut provides exciting beginning for some fans, difficult closure for others”
By Aaron Stigile
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – Rep. Ruben Gallego and Kari Lake had a polite handshake to start their first and potentially last U.S. Senate debate, but that was the friendliest moment in a border-focused and interruption-prone event.
Gallego and Lake quickly launched broadsides about their opponent’s position on the border, with Lake firing off comments about open borders and Gallego countering with her position on the failed bipartisan immigration bill.
Continue reading “Kari Lake, Ruben Gallego clash in Senate debate for Arizona’s open seat”
By Koby Braunstein
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – Tyus Jones could be the missing link to unleashing the Phoenix Suns’ offensive potential and bringing an NBA championship to the Valley in 2025.
Jones will look to spearhead a high-tempo brand of basketball oriented on crisp ball movement and transition 3-pointers while serving as a security blanket that maximizes each player’s strengths.
Suns general manager James Jones emphasized the importance of acquiring both Jones and Monté Morris in free agency over the summer to hold down the point guard position. Continue reading “Tyus Jones poised to guide Phoenix Suns offense in NBA championship push”
EDS: Cronkite School students profiled candidates for Phoenix City Council and the Maricopa County sheriff race. You can find all the profiles here.
By Alessandra De Zubeldi
Special for Cronkite News
Cronkite School journalists profiled candidates for Phoenix City Council and the Maricopa County sheriff race.
EDS: Cronkite School students profiled candidates for Phoenix City Council and the Maricopa County sheriff race. You can find all the profiles here.
By Kennedy Chanell
Special for Cronkite News
EDS: Cronkite School students profiled candidates for Phoenix City Council and the Maricopa County sheriff race. You can find all the profiles here.
By Kayla Christenson
Special for Cronkite News
EDS: Cronkite School students profiled candidates for Phoenix City Council and the Maricopa County sheriff race. You can find all the profiles here.
By Eve Wodarcyk
Special for Cronkite News
Continue reading “Ann O’Brien runs unopposed for Phoenix City Council District 1”
By Connor Moreno
Cronkite News
PALM DESERT, Calif. — As Devin Booker wrapped up his routine of feeling out the game ball before the Phoenix Suns tipped off last Sunday’s preseason game, Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell jokingly tried to steal the ball in front of referee Kevin Cutler to stop Booker from getting comfortable.
After exchanging a few words and laughs, the two guards embraced with a dap-up and a hug and lined up on their respective sides of the jump ball circle to open the 2024 NBA preseason – marking the start of the 10th season for the friendly foes.
From getting each other in trouble for breaking curfew at the NBPA Top 100 camp in 2014, to hitting golf balls at Booker’s mountainside driving range in the 2024 offseason as a part of Russell’s “Backyard Podcast,” their friendship has mostly been unknown to the public. Continue reading “Book & D-Lo: One of NBA’s closest friendship is hidden in plain sight”
EDS: An earlier version of this story included incorrect information about the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System and about an involuntary hold for Jane Jepson’s son, Nick. The errors occurred in grafs 6, 7 and 25. The story below has been corrected, but clients who used previous versions are asked to run the correction found here.
By Shi Bradley
Cronkite News
Jane Jepson remembers when her son, Nick, first came back home in 2017. He was working as a bellman, traveling across the country, from Alaska to Virginia.
“He was so excited,” Jepson recalled fondly. “He looked so handsome and so strong and in such good shape.”
However, a few weeks later, Jepson received strange phone calls from Nick.
By Brianna Chappie
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood donation, according to the American Red Cross. The Southwest Arizona Chapter of the organization is running a campaign to encourage more Latinos in Arizona to donate blood.
The Southwest Arizona Chapter serves 1.4 million people across Pima, Santa Cruz, Cochise, Yuma, La Paz, Graham and Greenlee counties. The group’s”Los Donates” campaign, timed to coincide with Hispanic Heritage seeks to inspire more Latinos in Arizona to donate blood and help meet the critical demand.
“Donating blood is one of the noblest acts a person can do,” said Edgar Olivo, CEO of the Red Cross of Arizona and New Mexico.
The initiative draws inspiration from the traditional Mexican card game lotería, similar to bingo. The donantes, or donors, featured on the Red Cross cards represent people who’ve won because they’ve donated a lifesaving necessity which is blood donations.
Around 60 percent of Latinos have Type O blood, according to the American Red Cross. Type O is vital: O-positive blood is the most common blood type, account for an estimated 37% of the world’s population. O-negative blood is a universal donor, meaning it can be donated to anyone regardless of blood type or phenotypes.
Latinos also make up 30.7% of Arizona’s population, showing a heightened need for a significant portion of people in the state.
Olivo emphasized how increasing the number of blood donors could help meet the needs of people outside urban areas.
“We know that the rural hospitals, the ones that are away from the metro Phoenix area, are the ones that need blood just as much as the metro hospitals as well,” Olivo said.
Ashley Mérida, chapter president of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses in Phoenix, says that fighting misinformation is a challenge when it comes to encouraging new donors.
“I think a lot of Latinos have a lot of misinformation regarding the donation of blood,” Mérida said. “I’ve heard some people say that it can alter the DNA. It changes the DNA. I’ve heard people just say like they just really aren’t interested, or maybe it’s just the lack of time of getting to a blood drive.”
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs was at the Red Cross’ Hispanic Heritage Month Kick Off on Sept. 17 and encouraged all people to donate, regardless of blood type.
“Even if you don’t have Type O blood, your donation is invaluable,” Hobbs said. “So today, I’m encouraging all of you celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month to consider doing so by making a blood donation and encouraging your friends and family to do so as well.”
Hispanic heritage Month runs through Oct. 15. Anyone interested in donating blood or blood platelets can visit the American Red Cross website to find the nearest American Red Cross clinics and view available times to donate.
For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.
By Amelia Monroe and Mia Osmonbekov
Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – As Hurricane Milton slams into Florida, and North Carolina residents dig out from Hurricane Helene, Republicans are pushing claims – widely debunked – that federal disaster aid has been depleted because of illegal immigration.
“FEMA, among a whole bunch of other federal agencies, has been using your tax dollars that are supposed to help you as American citizens,” said U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, during a campaign stop Tuesday in Phoenix on behalf of former President Donald Trump. “They use that money helping illegals here that they brought into America.”
