Author: Julia Thompson

ASU Prep launches Family Choice Day for flexible Friday learning

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Family Choice Day. 570 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).
  • Video available.

By Sienna Monea
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – ASU Preparatory Academy is making educational waves with Family Choice Day. This new program aims to give families more flexibility while helping students stay engaged in their learning. The initiative comes as more schools nationwide, including those in the Phoenix area, adopt four-day school weeks.

Continue reading “ASU Prep launches Family Choice Day for flexible Friday learning”

‘We are not alone’: LA city council passes sanctuary city ordinance as Donald Trump plans mass deportations

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: LA Sanctuary City. 670 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Brandelyn Clark
Cronkite News

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to pass a new sanctuary city ordinance that aims to solidify protections for immigrant residents at risk of deportation.

City hall was abuzz with activity as supporters, many wearing T-shirts and holding signs with slogans like “Protect our neighbors” and “Make California a Sanctuary City,” gathered to advocate for the measure.

Continue reading “‘We are not alone’: LA city council passes sanctuary city ordinance as Donald Trump plans mass deportations”

Cancer can affect anyone. But Hispanics face disproportionately severe outcomes

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Hispanic Cancer. 1,130 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Nicollette Valenzuela
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – For 58-year-old Beatriz Topete, cancer has been a part of her life from an early age. When she was barely a toddler, Topete lost her mother to leukemia. Fourteen years later, her half-sister, 3, was diagnosed with Wilms tumor, a type of cancer that affects kidneys. The girl survived.

Later, the disease took her 62-year-old father, two uncles and one grandmother. Topete was anything but surprised when doctors told her she had a rare muscle cancer called leiomyosarcoma this year.

Continue reading “Cancer can affect anyone. But Hispanics face disproportionately severe outcomes”

Ruben Gallego outspent Kari Lake to win Senate seat but other Arizona races proved money isn’t always enough

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Costly Arizona Elections. 750 words.
  • Photo available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Miguel Ambriz
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – More than $250 million poured into Arizona’s contests for the U.S. Senate and House. After all the ads, mailers, phone calls and rallies, not a single seat flipped – proving, experts said, that money isn’t everything in politics.

The Senate race between Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego and Republican Kari Lake, a former news anchor, drew the bulk of that spending – $156 million, according to OpenSecrets, a group that tracks campaign spending.

Continue reading “Ruben Gallego outspent Kari Lake to win Senate seat but other Arizona races proved money isn’t always enough”

’12th-man experience’: No. 21 ASU set for showdown with No. 14 BYU as sold-out crowd awaits

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Sports–ASU Football BYU, 560 words.
  • Photo available.

By Dane Palmer
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Arizona State football has finally made its push into the top 25 teams in college football, landing at No. 21 in the nation. One of the most important games of the season now lies ahead of the Sun Devils as they get ready to face off with 14th-ranked BYU at Mountain America Stadium.

Coach Kenny Dillingham’s mantra has been “Activate the Valley” since he arrived at ASU, and it looks as if he’s done just that – Saturday’s matchup will go down in front of a sold-out crowd. Reportedly, student tickets were in high demand with the Ticketmaster queue reaching up to 1,000 people waiting to claim tickets.

Players have felt the buzz all week and are ready for the Sun Devils crowd to create a home-field advantage. Quarterback Sam Leavitt is more pumped for practice knowing he’ll be in front of a packed stadium this weekend. Continue reading “’12th-man experience’: No. 21 ASU set for showdown with No. 14 BYU as sold-out crowd awaits”

‘Cultural shift’ of young voters favored Donald Trump in 2024 election

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Young Voter Swing. 710 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Nash Darragh
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The outcome of the 2024 election has a familiar look to 2020. Then, the Democrats successfully got Joe Biden elected to the presidency, won the U.S. House and split the Senate. Now, a massive swing has led to what some are calling “the greatest comeback in political history.”

The Republicans have a trifecta for at least two years; Donald Trump won the presidency while Republicans won the Senate and officially claimed 218 House seats for a GOP majority.

Continue reading “‘Cultural shift’ of young voters favored Donald Trump in 2024 election”

Arizona receives mixed ratings on American Lung Association’s annual ‘State of Lung Cancer’ report

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: State of Lung Cancer. 465 words.
  • File photo available.

By Jalen Woody
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The American Lung Association (ALA) graded Arizona’s lung cancer response as mostly below average Tuesday. The association releases an annual report documenting the success or failure in each state’s response to lung cancer awareness.

“The No. 1 modality (for lung cancer) is going to be smoking,” said Dr. Richard Gillespie, a thoracic surgeon at HonorHealth Heart Care – Heart and Lung Surgery – Shea. “It’s No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, but it’s not the only risk.”

Continue reading “Arizona receives mixed ratings on American Lung Association’s annual ‘State of Lung Cancer’ report”

CORRECTION to Nov. 15 story on federal subsidies for the TSMC semiconductor factories

by Julia Thompson

EDS: Clients who used the Cronkite News story slugged CHIPS Biden TSMC that moved Friday, Nov. 15, under a WASHINGTON dateline are asked to run the following correction. The error occurred in grafs 2 and 18 of the original. A corrected version of the story has been posted here.

WASHINGTON – A Nov. 15 Cronkite News story about federal subsidies for the TSMC semiconductor factories in Phoenix misspelled the name of Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

So there’s a chance? Inside Arizona State’s unexpected road to a College Football Playoff berth

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Sports-ASU Football, 870 words.
  • Photo available.

By Patrick Holleron and Doyal D’angelo
Cronkite News

TEMPE – ASU football has opened a path to the College Football Playoff after last weekend’s 35-31 win over UCF. The Sun Devils enter the final stretch of the season against three Big 12 squads in No. 20 Kansas State, No. 7 BYU, and in-state rival Arizona.

All the optimism surrounding a potential playoff run wouldn’t have been possible based on ASU’s play in most of the first half of the UCF game, but the Sun Devils got timely team contributions that propelled them.

One of the key turning points came at the end of the first half when defensive back Laterrance Welch recorded a pick 6 to give the Sun Devils the lead for the first time. The Devils also got contributions from unsung heroes such as Montana Warren, who returned a blocked punt for a 46-yard touchdown in the first quarter, which was the first since 2017 against UCLA. Continue reading “So there’s a chance? Inside Arizona State’s unexpected road to a College Football Playoff berth”

Kelly skeptical, Gallego mum on Trump defense pick – Fox News host Pete Hegseth – who lacks national security experience

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Trump Defense React. 815 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Gabrielle Wallace and Amelia Monroe
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly was among the combat veterans and Democrats expressing deep skepticism at Donald Trump’s choice of a defense secretary with no national security experience.

“Typically you expect someone in that role to have implemented or made policy – defense policy,” Kelly, a Navy combat pilot, said Wednesday of the president-elect’s pick, conservative Fox News host Pete Hegseth.

Continue reading “Kelly skeptical, Gallego mum on Trump defense pick – Fox News host Pete Hegseth – who lacks national security experience”

CORRECTION to Oct. 3 story about Indigenous voting obstacles

by Julia Thompson

EDS: Clients who used a Cronkite News story slugged Indigenous Voting Obstacles that moved Thursday, Oct. 3, under a PHOENIX dateline are asked to run the following correction. The error occurred in the first and second grafs. A corrected version of the story has been posted here.

PHOENIX – An Oct. 3 Cronkite News story about Indigenous voting obstacles miscast when Native Americans in Arizona gained the right to vote. Indigenous people gained voting rights in the state after a 1948 Arizona Supreme Court ruling.

‘Natives can ball,’ too: ASU’s Xavier Guillory inspires Native American youth at Fiesta Bowl Legacy Youth Clinic

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Sports-Xavier Guillory Native Americans, 800 words.
  • 3 photos available.

By Ethan Desjardine
Cronkite News

SCOTTSDALE – Raised in Lapwai, Idaho, and a proud member of the Nez Perce Tribal Nation, Xavier Guillory comes from a family full of Native American athletes, which made the Arizona State wide receiver the ideal person to address about a hundred children from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community at the Fiesta Bowl Legacy Youth Football Clinic in Scottsdale.

Guillory’s grandfather played for the University of Idaho, and his father, who played safety at Eastern Washington University, was a huge influence on his decision to pursue a career in football.

Starting his collegiate football career close to home, Guillory played wide receiver at Idaho State, before transferring to ASU in 2023. Continue reading “‘Natives can ball,’ too: ASU’s Xavier Guillory inspires Native American youth at Fiesta Bowl Legacy Youth Clinic”

Alzheimer’s affects the Hispanic community at higher rates, but research is lagging

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Alzheimer’s Consortium. 400 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Nicollette Valenzuela
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Arizona is home to over 150,000 people aged 65 and older who live with Alzheimer’s, or 11% of older residents. Specialists are calling for more research to understand the higher prevalence of the disease among Hispanic Americans.

Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that alters the way a person thinks, behaves and remembers. Over time, the disorder slowly inhibits a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks.

Continue reading “Alzheimer’s affects the Hispanic community at higher rates, but research is lagging”

‘Native voters can and will decide this election’: Parties fight to secure Native American votes

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Indigenous Voters. 2,130 words.
  • Photos available.

By Brianna Chappie
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Many Native Americans have long felt like politicians overlook them, but both parties are seeking Native Americans’ votes more than ever before – and they could hold the key to the outcome of the presidential election.

Continue reading “‘Native voters can and will decide this election’: Parties fight to secure Native American votes”

Maricopa County working around the clock to make sure Election Day goes smoothly

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Maricopa County Elections. 490 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Keller Brown

PHOENIX – Voters have many questions about the 2024 general election. Whether or not their early ballot will be counted in time to questions on security at voting centers, Maricopa County is preparing for all of it.

Around 55% of total ballots will drop immediately after 8 p.m. on election night, which is on par with previous elections in Maricopa County. For those who participated in early voting wondering when their ballot will be reported, around 75% of returns from early ballots will be available after 8 p.m.

Continue reading “Maricopa County working around the clock to make sure Election Day goes smoothly”

Arizona Cardinals return home to test momentum vs. heartbroken Chicago Bears

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Sports-Arizona Cardinals Bears, 700 words.
  • Photo available.

By James Morel
Cronkite News

TEMPE – On any given Sunday, the unusual can happen. Last Sunday, in something you’d see in a movie, the Chicago Bears were stunned by a last-second Hail Mary, while further south, the Arizona Cardinals jubilantly celebrated following a game-winning field goal.

The two teams, on contrasting paths, meet Sunday in a clash at State Farm Stadium, though the Cardinals know any ounce of momentum soared out the window when they touched down back in Phoenix.

“We got our work cut out for us, it’s going to be a big-time challenge,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters Wednesday. Continue reading “Arizona Cardinals return home to test momentum vs. heartbroken Chicago Bears”

CORRECTION to Oct. 23 story about Prop. 479, which would continue transportation sales tax

by Julia Thompson

EDS: Clients who used the Cronkite News story slugged Prop. 479, which moved Wednesday, Oct. 23, under a PHOENIX dateline, are asked to run the following correction. The error occurred in the fifth graf of the original. A corrected version of the story has been posted here.

PHOENIX – An Oct. 23 Cronkite News story about Prop. 479, which would continue a half-cent sales tax for Maricopa County transportation, miscast what $14.9 billion in tax revenue through 2045 would fund. It would help to create 28.3 miles of bus routes as well as new traditional and HOV freeway lanes and help to maintain the light rail system. Federal and local funds would be used to create 11.9 new miles of light rail.

Will tax deduction cap expire under Kamala Harris or Donald Trump? Experts weigh potential impact on Arizona taxpayers

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: SALT Expiration. 1,050 words.
  • Photo available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Grace Monos
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – Arizona’s higher-income residents and homeowners with steep property taxes have felt a pinch since Congress capped the state and local tax (SALT) deduction at $10,000, but the presidential election could lead to changes in the tax code.

The SALT cap and other provisions in former President Donald Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are set to expire next year. Even Trump has said he wants to let the cap expire.

Continue reading “Will tax deduction cap expire under Kamala Harris or Donald Trump? Experts weigh potential impact on Arizona taxpayers”

Phoenix says visits to heat relief centers skyrocketed during record-breaking summer, and 92% were from people experiencing homelessness

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Phoenix Heat Recap. 700 words.
  • Photo available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Jalen Woody
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Summer is the most brutal time in Phoenix, especially for those surviving without basic needs like water and cool places to rest. This year, the city offered 24-hour heat relief spaces that skyrocketed in demand. City officials say 92% of visitors were experiencing homelessness, and the centers are a means to help them get off the streets and into safer places.

The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) implemented the centers to provide people experiencing homelessness with much needed necessities to survive the temperatures.

Continue reading “Phoenix says visits to heat relief centers skyrocketed during record-breaking summer, and 92% were from people experiencing homelessness”