• Slug: BC-CNS-Climbing Anchors,640 words.
• 15 photos available (thumbnails, captions below)

By Naomi DuBovis
Cronkite News

TUCSON – It’s a bright and early Monday morning on Mount Lemmon. The landscape of steep slopes is full of boulders, shrubs and tall saguaro cactuses. Gunshots from the shooting range nearby can be heard faintly.

Climber Nicki Manzanares is making her ascent up a cliff wearing a harness adorned with clips and a brightly colored rope. Kait Junek, who is standing at the bottom, is controlling the rope and wearing a harness herself.

As Manzanares makes her way up the jagged crevices of the mountain, she attaches her quickdraw, which has two carabiners, to an anchor. “Clipping!” she says to Junek after each anchor until she reaches the top. Continue reading “Arizona rock climbers speak out against National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service proposal to restrict anchors”

• Slug: Sports-Reservation Basketball, 820 words
• 14 photos available (thumbnails, captions below)

By Reece Andrews
Cronkite News

WHITERIVER – The population of Whiteriver, part of the Fort Apache Reservation in eastern Arizona, equals roughly half of what an average regular-season Phoenix Mercury game drew last season.

But those 4,300 people in the community share a passion for basketball that is every bit as intense as the Mercury’s “X-Factor” following.

Basketball is revered on all of Arizona’s reservations, and the Alchesay Falcons on Fort Apache are benefiting from that enthusiasm at Chief Alchesay Activity Center in Whiteriver, where nearly 3,400 typically pack into the building for nearly every home game to support the boys and girls teams. Continue reading “Photo essay: Whiteriver Community finds unity in hoops through Alchesay Falcons”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Fixed Sex,840 words.
• 2 photos, video story available (thumbnails, captions below)

By Lillie Boudreaux
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – GOP senators want to rewrite state law to define sex as only male and female and not “a person’s subjective sense of self,” a move they said will protect women and girls from “unwanted intrusions” by transgender women.

But opponents called the bill another “LGBTQ+ Erasure Act,” little more than an attempt “by people who want to erase LGBTQ+ people, particularly transgender and nonbinary folks, from public life.” Continue reading “GOP bill would strike ‘gender’ from state law, limit sex to male, female”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Diamondbacks Hispanic Fans. 465 words.
• Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Donovan Growney
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – In the past few years, the Arizona Diamondbacks have been growing their Hispanic audience through various events and promotions. It ramped up with the unveiling of their “Serpientes” City Connect jerseys in 2021, and since then, Chase Field has been home to numerous Mexican Heritage nights, Hispanic Heritage events and Serpientes giveaways.

This trend continued with a Serpientes Fiesta event on Jan. 27. The event outside of Chase Field featured Valley food trucks, a lowrider car show, a meet and greet with longtime Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero and live music performances by Grupo Supremo 602, Freddy Vega Jr. and Enigma Norteño.

Continue reading “Diamondbacks continue outreach to Hispanic community through Serpientes Fiesta”

EDS: An early version of this story incorrectly reported the full name  of MALDEF as well as Andrea Senteno’s title in the 14th graf. The story below has been corrected, but clients who used previous versions are asked to run the correction found here.

• Slug: BC-CNS-Border Bill,970 words.
• 2 file photos available (thumbnails, captions below)

By Ian McKinney
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – The bipartisan immigration reform bill unveiled in the Senate late Sunday includes $1.4 billion to help border communities grappling with the migrant surge, in addition to funding for Ukraine and Israel.

The money for the Migrant Shelter and Services Program, which helps communities and nonprofits along the border provide assistance to migrants, is part of a $6 billion pot of money in the bill that would go toward beefing up border security.

But the overall $118 billion measure faces an uphill fight in Congress, where critics from both sides of the aisle have attacked it and House Speaker Mike Johnson declared it “dead on arrival” even before seeing the bill. Continue reading “Border bill includes funds for local communities, along with Ukraine, Israel”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Music Therapy. 617 words.
• Photos, video available.

By Lauren Kobley
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Arcadia High School seniors Aani Nagaiah and Gage Samaddar are using their talents to give back to older adults in memory-care communities. Our Ode to You, a nonprofit the duo started last summer, provides free therapeutic art and music programs for older people in assisted living facilities across the Valley.

“Our main mission is to rekindle the creativity in the elderly care facility homes and just make them (the residents) feel empowered again as some of their talents can be shown through art or music,” Nagaiah said.

Samaddar serenades the group with vocals and the piano while Nagaiah engages and paints with them. After they finish their art projects, the pair provides instruments for the residents to use and they create music together.

Music and art both evoke memories for those experiencing memory loss and can be used to reduce stress and symptoms of depression.

Continue reading “Our Ode to You nonprofit offers older adults in memory-care communities free therapeutic music, art programs”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Valley Vinyl. 1,000 words.
• Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).
• Video available.

By Analisa Valdez
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – It takes great care and delicacy to play a vinyl record.

A person first removes the disc from its plastic film, plugging the record player cord into an outlet before placing the vinyl disc onto the turntable platter. As the disc begins to spin, the tonearm comes out and the needle-like stylus is placed along one of the many grooves. The stylus sends the mechanical vibrations picked up from the disc to the component attached to the tonearm, the cartridge, which then converts the mechanical notes into electrical signals, eliciting the audio from each individual groove wall, as the sweet music captured within is amplified by the speakers.

Continue reading “‘Everything old is new again’: Valley vinyl stores see uptick in physical music sales”

The coming electric battery revolution in America will require billions upon billions of gallons of water to mine lithium – and many of the new U.S. mines will be located in the drought-prone American West. An investigative report from the Howard Center at Arizona State University. Find more stories from the project here and here. 

• Slug: Howard Center-Lithium Argentina. 1,595 words.
• Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Francesca D’Annunzio, Anna Montoya-Gaxiola and Alex Appel
Howard Center for Investigative Journalism

One of North America’s lithium mining powerhouse companies has lobbied for a record $1 billion Department of Energy low-interest loan — despite having never owned or operated any kind of mine in the U.S.

By last September, Vancouver-based Lithium Americas Corporation had begun talks with the U.S. government to obtain the loan to underwrite the cost of building a massive lithium mine in Nevada at Thacker Pass.

While the company has no prior experience operating in the U.S., it did previously own and later jointly operate an Argentinian lithium mining company, Minera Exar, that for years failed to comply with legal requirements to report environmental data to local mining regulators, the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University found.

Continue reading “Lessons from abroad: Environmental and social costs to lithium mining in Argentina”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Shaky Sinema,820 words.
• 3 file photos available (thumbnails, captions below)

By Ian McKinney
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema raised a fraction of what her leading challengers brought in in the last quarter of 2023, raising new questions about her chances in what could be a bruising, three-way race.

Sinema still had more than $10 million in her campaign account as of Dec. 31, more than any of the candidates currently in the race, according to numbers posted Thursday by the Federal Election Commission.

But the FEC said she raised less than $600,000 in the last quarter, compared to $3.3 million for Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Phoenix, and $2.1 million for GOP hopeful Kari Lake in the same period. Continue reading “Sinema’s lackluster fundraising quarter raises eyebrows over campaign hopes”

• Slug: BC-CNS-AI Elections. 990 words.
• Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Sadie Buggle
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – In the rapidly evolving campaign landscape of the upcoming presidential election, artificial intelligence is already a large and active participant, revolutionizing campaign strategies and communication. From AI-generated campaign ads to rapid response times, election officials say these technological advancements could have a profound impact on the way candidates engage with voters.

Generative AI is already being used by candidates and politicians to assist in maximizing voter outreach and send out statements and fundraising emails in record time.

This technology provides parties and candidates, as well as the average person, with inexpensive, fast tools for developing political messaging, changing the dynamics of political communication – for better or for worse.

Continue reading “Arizona officials combat AI election misinformation through proposed bills, security trainings”

The coming electric battery revolution in America will require billions upon billions of gallons of water to mine lithium – and many of the new U.S. mines will be located in the drought-prone American West. An investigative report from the Howard Center at Arizona State University. Find more stories from the project here and here. 

• Slug: Howard Center-Lithium Liabilities Indigenous. 3,310 words.
• Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Noel Lyn Smith and Pacey Smith-Garcia
Howard Center for Investigative Journalism

OROVADA, Nev. – Myron Smart remembers stories told by his father and other tribal elders about the connection between Thacker Pass in Nevada, where a new lithium mine is under construction, and a tragic moment for the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone.

In Northern Nevada near the Oregon border, Thacker Pass was traditionally used by Smart’s ancestors to camp, hunt and gather, collect obsidian and medicine, and perform ceremonies. On Sept. 12, 1865, the 1st Nevada Cavalry raided a campsite and slaughtered at least 31 Paiutes.

Continue reading “Tribes face an uphill battle to defend their sacred land against lithium mining”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Planet Pluto,710 words.
• 2 file photos available (thumbnails, captions below)

By Martin Dreyfuss
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Pluto was taken off the “full-size planet” list almost 20 years ago, but that’s no reason why it can’t still be Arizona’s official state planet, the way Rep. Justin Wilmeth sees it.

“When you think of cactus, you think of Arizona. When you think of Pluto, you think of Arizona,” said the Phoenix Republican.

That may be a stretch but Wilmeth’s “fun” bill to add the planet to the long list of official state symbols was passed 8-1 Wednesday by the House Government Committee. Continue reading “It’s not officially a planet, but Pluto could be Arizona’s official planet”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Prager Partner,610 words.
• Photo available (thumbnail, caption below)

By Reagan Priest
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Education is partnering with conservative advocacy group PragerU to provide K-12 schools with the group’s video content — content that Democratic lawmakers say is inaccurate and does not belong in public schools.

State Superintendent Tom Horne, backed by PragerU CEO Marissa Streit and GOP lawmakers, said at a Capitol news conference Wednesday that the company’s content would be promoted on the Department of Education’s website. Horne said schools will not be required to use the content, but the partnership will help give parents and schools “a choice.” Continue reading “Horne plan for conservative videos for state schools called ‘irresponsible’”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Black Breast Camcer,1080 words.
• 3 handout photos available (thumbnails, captions below)

By Mia Milinovich
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Cancer biology, inadequate insurance coverage and limited access to health care are a few factors influencing the consistently high breast cancer mortality rates for Black women in the United States, according to cancer experts. Black women are over 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women, a percentage that has largely stayed the same for a decade, according to the American Cancer Society.

While the overall disparity in deaths from many cancers has grown smaller between Black and white communities, there is a prevailing divide in mortality rates for breast and uterine cancers. Continue reading “Local group, U.S. task force target disparity in Black breast cancer mortality rates”

The coming electric battery revolution in America will require billions upon billions of gallons of water to mine lithium – and many of the new U.S. mines will be located in the drought-prone American West. An investigative report from the Howard Center at Arizona State University. Find more stories from the project here and here. 

• Slug: Howard Center-Lithium Liabilities (Short Version). 1,772 words. By Reporters from the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism.
• Extended version of 5,782 words also available.
• Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

SILVER PEAK, N.V. — Nyle Pennington, a veteran water scientist who tracks groundwater for local governments, stopped at a monitoring station just one mile from America’s only active commercial lithium mine. For years this well in Central Nevada typically held enough fresh water to reach the height of a three-story building, or about 30 feet. Pennington said it supplied much-needed nourishment for local cattle grazing under the Nevada sun.

On this crisp fall day in October, Pennington dropped a small rock down the well. Pings and clangs rang out as the rock hit bottom. A soft thud echoed back. “Bone dry,” he said. “If that would have had water in it, you would have heard a pronounced loud splash.”

Continue reading “SHORT VERSION: Lithium Liabilities: The untold threat to water in the rush to mine American lithium”

The coming electric battery revolution in America will require billions upon billions of gallons of water to mine lithium – and many of the new U.S. mines will be located in the drought-prone American West. An investigative report from the Howard Center at Arizona State University. Find more stories from the project here and here. 

• Slug: Howard Center-Lithium Liabilities. 5,782 words. By Reporters from the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism.
• Truncated version of 1,772 words also available.
• Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

SILVER PEAK, N.V. – Nyle Pennington, a veteran water scientist who tracks groundwater for local governments, stopped at a monitoring station just one mile from America’s only active commercial lithium mine. For years this well in Central Nevada typically held enough fresh water to reach the height of a three-story building, or about 30 feet. Pennington said it supplied much-needed nourishment for local cattle grazing under the Nevada sun.

On this crisp fall day in October, Pennington dropped a small rock down the well. Pings and clangs rang out as the rock hit bottom. A soft thud echoed back. “Bone dry,” he said. “If that would have had water in it, you would have heard a pronounced, loud splash.”

Continue reading “Lithium Liabilities: The untold threat to water in the rush to mine American lithium”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Border Buses,1010 words.
• 2 file photos available (thumbnails, captions below)

By Lillie Boudreaux
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Legislators on Tuesday approved an additional $8 million that will let the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs keep busing migrants away from border communities, a program that has transported more than 81,000 people since 2022.

It was just part of a $12.8 million budget transfer approved for DEMA border activities, including another $4.8 million to reimburse local police agencies and prosecutors that deal with border-related crimes.

But before approving the transfers, members of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee imposed safeguards to keep future spending in check. The DEMA request came after the agency spent almost all of a $15 million budget for migrant busing and $20 million for local law enforcement reimbursement. Continue reading “Lawmakers approve $8 million to continue busing asylum seekers from border”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Brnovich Border,760 words.
• Photo available (thumbnail, caption below)

By Ian McKinney
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – Former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich told a House committee Tuesday that states have a constitutional right to secure their borders if “the federal government is either unwilling or unable to do so.”

“The on-ground violence and lawlessness on our southern border that has been caused by the cartels and gangs is extensive, well-documented and persistent. Therefore, it satisfies the definition of an actual invasion as laid out by the Constitution,” Brnovich testified in a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee.

That reasoning, echoed by several witnesses at the hearing, was belittled by Democrats on the panel as a “crackpot legal theory that would have the public believe that federal supremacy over immigration and foreign relations is an open question.” Continue reading “Brnovich says states can take border action; Democrats pan ‘crackpot’ theory”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Retail Theft. 435 words.
• Photos available (thumbnails, caption below).
• Video available.

By Vanessa Pimentel
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma hopes that HB 2435 will crack down on the increase in organized retail crime in Arizona.

At a news conference Tuesday at the Capitol, Toma, a Republican who is sponsoring the bill, emphasized “getting tough” and holding criminals accountable.

Continue reading “Arizona Republicans tout legislation aimed at cracking down on organized retail crime”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Art of the Cowgirl, photo essay.
• 5 photos, video story available (thumbnails, captions below)

By Mariah Temprendola
Cronkite News

QUEEN CREEK – Welcome to Art of the Cowgirl, where the spirit of the untamed West converges with the elegance of female empowerment. The five-day event earlier this month paid homage to the remarkable women who embody the country lifestyle, weaving together tradition in a tapestry of strength, skill and creativity. At the heart of the event lies a commitment to fostering the next generation of artists and horsewomen. The event is more than a gathering: It’s a platform for women to feel connected and confident in themselves. By raising funds and channeling support, the Art of the Cowgirl propels aspiring artists toward opportunities that can transform their passion through fellowship programs. Continue reading “Women of the West: Art of the Cowgirl showcases female strength, artistry”