EDS: An earlier version of this story misattributed information in the seventh and eighth grafs that should have been attributed to the University of Arizona. The story below has been corrected, but clients who used earlier versions are asked to run the correction found here.

• Slug: BC-CNS-Arizona Medical Schools. 1,375 words.
• Photos available.

By Alyssa Bickle
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – With a shortage of health care professionals across the state, Arizona’s public universities are expanding their program offerings to boost health education and the number of certified professionals.

In the past year, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona have all announced major health care program additions.

The Arizona Board of Regents’ AZ Healthy Tomorrow initiative laid out a plan to rapidly grow the state’s health care workforce. The state’s three public universities are working to implement the plan with the creation of two new medical schools and an increase in graduates from the existing medical school.

Continue reading “Medical program additions at ASU, UA and NAU aim to curb Arizona’s health care worker shortage”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Immigrant Families Reunited. 580 words.
• 7 photos, video story available.

By Roxanne De La Rosa
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – After 23 years of being apart, Elena Díaz, with tears flowing down her face, finally embraced her 74-year-old mother, Catalina Díaz.

The last time the two saw each other was just before the daughter embarked on a journey from Mexico to the U.S. for a better life. The emotional toll of not being able to visit her mother weighed heavily on Elena and her family.

“It’s sad. It’s sad because there is so much distance. God’s timing is perfect,” she said of the reunion.

Díaz’s mother was part of a group of about 10 parents who were reunited with their families with the assistance of nonprofits Raíces del Sur and Esperanza en la Frontera. Raíces del Sur, which means “roots of the south,” assists Mexican parents who have adult children in the U.S. in obtaining visas to visit their families, regardless of the children’s immigration status.

Continue reading “Organizations help immigrants reunite with families from Mexico”

• Slug: BC-CNS-The Zone Next. 2,350 words. By Oakley Seiter.
• 15 photos available (thumbnails and captions below)
• Graphic available here.

By Oakley Seiter
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – This past spring, the city of Phoenix was court-ordered to clear out its largest homeless encampment, The Zone. The city’s Office of Homeless Solutions had to tackle the difficult, oftentimes painful and complicated issue of moving nearly 1,000 unhoused people, and their possessions, off the streets where some had been living for years.

The area of The Zone that the city was responsible to clear took up roughly 15 city blocks from Seventh Avenue to 15th Avenue and Van Buren Street to Grant Street in downtown Phoenix. It was filled with tents, handmade shelters, platforms and tarps. The residents there included some who were 17, as well as younger children with their families, but the majority were 25 and older.

Continue reading “Phoenix successfully clears its largest homeless encampment by deadline, shifts focus to long-term solutions”

• Slug: BC-CNS-O’Connor Mourned,940 words.
• File photo available. (thumbnail, caption below)

By Staff
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who rose from a girlhood on an eastern Arizona ranch to becoming the first female Supreme Court justice, died Friday at age 93.

O’Connor, who stepped back from public life in 2018 after worsening dementia, died in Phoenix “of complications related to advanced dementia, probably Alzheimer’s, and a respiratory illness,” the Supreme Court said in a statement announcing her death.

Tributes poured in from current and former lawmakers, lawyers, politicians and admirers on both sides of the political spectrum, who praised O’Connor as a trailblazer. Chief Justice John Roberts said she not only rose to the challenge of being the first woman on the court, but did so “with undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor.” Continue reading “Tributes pour in on death of Arizona icon, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Border Force,1020 words.
• 2 file photos available. (thumbnails, captions below)

By Adrienne Washington
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – Use-of-force incidents by Customs and Border Protection officers have nearly doubled in the past five years, from 593 in fiscal 2019 to 1,090 in fiscal 2023, with the vast majority occurring at the southern border.

The rise in use of force comes at a time when migrant encounters have surged to historic highs, nearing 2.5 million in fiscal 2023. There were 1,082 use-of-force incidents reported that year, less than 0.05% of the total encounters.

A spokesperson said CBP is committed to investigating all such incidents and that “maintaining the public’s trust is vital to our mission.” Continue reading “Use of force by Customs and Border Protection rises as border encounters rise”

• Slug: BC-CNS-CN2Go Weekly Update. Runtime 13:09.
• Downloadable audio here. (Note: Some web browsers may not support media download)

 [Music bed under]

CN2Go Host: This is Cronkite News 2 Go. I’m your host, Kiersten Edgett.

[Music fade in/under]

CN2Go Host: On today’s show, we talk about Governor Katie Hobbs signing a petition to put abortion rights on the 2024 ballot, how New Mexico residents are taking action to raise gun violence awareness, and more about a new project launched by the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.

Continue reading “CN2Go Weekly Update: Abortion rights push, gun violence awareness and tribal boarding school healing”

• Slug: Sports-The Sweet Spot. Runtime 12:46
• Downloadable audio here. (Note: Some web browsers may not support media download)

[Music bed under]

TSS Host: This is The Sweet Spot where we take a closer look at the week’s biggest sports stories in Arizona. I’m Brandon Tran, and thank you for joining us for our last episode of the semester.

[Music fade in/under]

TSS Host: On today’s show we go through the Arizona Wildcats’ football win in the Territorial Cup over the Arizona State Sun Devils, and reflect on ASU’s season coming to an end. Also, the start of high school basketball for the Brophy Broncos, and finally a charity event at Top Golf with the Arizona Coyotes. Continue reading “The Sweet Spot: Wildcats romp, ASU reflects, Brophy reloads and Coyotes tee off”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Rattlesnake Ecology. 400 words.
• Photos, audio story, video story available.

By Kiersten Edgett
Cronkite News

QUEEN CREEK – As more people move to the Grand Canyon State, infrastructure continues to expand outward. With more people, comes more cars and an interest in freeway expansion for projects like the Interstate 11 corridor.

The proposed project, which doesn’t have a clear timeline, would run from Wickenburg to Nogales and could potentially connect to I-11 in Nevada. However, a portion of the project cuts through desert land, which experts say could cause continuing concerns for wildlife, such as rattlesnakes. Over a dozen species live in Arizona. Continue reading “Arizona rattlesnakes could be affected by I-11 construction”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Cochise County Indictments,410 words.
• File photo available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Tabitha Bland
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The Arizona Attorney General’s office on Wednesday announced the indictment of two Cochise County supervisors for their roles in delaying the certification of the county’s results in the November 2022 general election.

Peggy Judd, 61, and Terry “Tom” Crosby, 64, face felony charges of conspiracy and interference with an election officer.

“The repeated attempts to undermine our democracy are unacceptable,” Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a statement. “I took an oath to uphold the rule of law, and my office will continue to enforce Arizona’s elections laws and support our election officials as they carry out the duties and responsibilities of their offices.” Continue reading “Two Cochise County officials face felony charges over 2022 election”

EDS: An earlier version of this story misquoted Mary Petrich, artistic director of The Nash Jazz Club’s women’s initiative. The error appeared in the third graf. The story below has been corrected, but clients who used previous versions are asked to run the correction found here.

• Slug: BC-CNS-Women in Jazz,530 words.
• 3 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Sam Volante
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The Nash Jazz Club in downtown Phoenix is hosting a new multiyear “Women in Jazz” initiative to address gender inequities in jazz music. The initiative includes The Nash Jazz DivAZ program, which teaches middle- and high-school girls concert jazz music.

The Nash has been a staple in downtown Phoenix since 2012 and has focused on “celebrating the rich tradition and ongoing innovation of jazz,” according to its website, but recently its efforts have shifted to getting more young women involved in the genre. Continue reading “The Nash’s women’s initiative attempts to change jazz culture”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Leaders Rejected,910 words.
• 2 file photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Alexandria Cullen
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Monday denied a request from Republican legislative leaders who argued they cannot be forced to answer questions from voting rights groups challenging the 2022 passage of two Arizona election laws.

Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma and Senate President Warren Petersen said legislative privilege protects them from being deposed by opponents of the laws, which would make it easier for officials to cancel the registration of voters who cannot prove their citizenship.

But lower courts said Toma and Petersen waived that right when they joined the lawsuit to defend the laws, and the Supreme Court declined to intervene late Monday. It refused, without comment, their request for an emergency stay. Continue reading “Supreme Court won’t protect legislative leaders in election law challenge”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Hobbs Abortion Rights. 300 words.
• 3 photos available (thumbnails and captions below).

By Kiersten Edgett
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Gov. Katie Hobbs added her name to a petition Tuesday to put abortion rights on the 2024 ballot in an effort to make it a constitutional right in Arizona.

Abortion regulation was returned to the states on June 24, 2022, after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Hobbs said at a news conference that Arizonans “need to understand exactly what’s at stake when pregnant women can’t get the health care they need.”

Continue reading “Gov. Katie Hobbs signs petition to add abortion rights to 2024 ballot”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Azteca Bridal. 780 words.
• 10 photos available.

By Alyssa Bickle
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Bertha Gonzalez bought her wedding dress from Azteca Bridal in 1967. In the store’s last two weeks of operation, she came back this month for her great-granddaughter’s quinceañera dress.

“This was a bridal shop for all of Arizona, especially for us … the Mexican people,” Gonzalez said.

Azteca, which is closing its doors for the last time on Thursday, after 60 years of service, began selling quinceañera dressing around 1972 as the demand for them grew along with the Latino population in Phoenix.

Continue reading “Azteca Bridal closes its doors after 60 years of family-operated business”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Urban Fishing Photo Essay. 400 words.
• 10 photos available (thumbnails and captions below).
• Video by Roxanne De La Rosa available.

By Kevinjonah Paguio
Cronkite News

PAGE SPRINGS – Though Arizona may be a desert, the recreational pastime of fishing is still alive and well. Hatcheries like Page Springs are able to provide the public with fish and preserve an activity that many enjoy.

“Arizona stocks the (lakes) with nice, healthy trout,” Dan Esh, a snowbird from Pennsylvania, said. “They’re fun to catch.” Esh can thank people like Matt Lyons, wildlife specialist at Page Springs Hatchery.

Continue reading “Arizona Game and Fish restocks lakes with fish grown in hatcheries”

• Slug: BC-CNS-CN2Go Weekly Update. Runtime 5:39.
• Downloadable audio here. (Note: Some web browsers may not support media download)

[Music bed under] 

CN2Go Host: This is Cronkite News 2 Go. I’m your host, Deanna Pistono.

[Music fade in/under]

HOST: On today’s show, we talk about weapons detectors in public schools and how land development in the Valley may displace local rattlesnakes.

Continue reading “CN2Go Weekly Update: Security in schools and rattlesnakes vs. roadways”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Changemaker Gina Jernukian. 1,800 words.
• Photos available (thumbnails and captions below).

By Ana Aragon Sierra
Cronkite News

SCOTTSDALE – Gina Jernukian was working part time when she began to notice something in her tattoo studio that made her uneasy.

“I started having strange tattoos and strange men in my studio,” she said. “I mean, I was taken aback. They were rude. They were mean. The girl didn’t speak at all – only the guy did, and he would yell at me.”

“So I finally asked someone, ‘What is this?’ And a friend of mine said, ‘It’s probably a branding.’ I said, ‘What?’ I had no idea. I had no idea. I didn’t know.”

Jernukian, a permanent makeup artist who lives in Phoenix, decided to find out more. She did some online research and attended meetings of groups that were all too familiar with branding – the practice of tattooing or marking sex trafficking victims, mostly women, with the names or symbols of those who victimize them.

Continue reading “Restoration: Tattoos removed from sex trafficking survivors”

EDS: This is a partner story from KUNC. If you choose to use it, please fill out this form to help their tracking.

• Slug: BC-CNS-Warming Warning,650 words.
• 2 photos, audio story available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Alex Hager
KUNC

The arid West is getting drier, and shrinking water supplies pose a boatload of risks to human health throughout the region.

Those findings come from a new federal report on climate change that also covers a broad range of hazards brought on by changing climate patterns due to human activity, from flooding to wildfires, drought to rising sea levels.

The Fifth National Climate Assessment identified drying in the Colorado River basin as one of the greatest climate risks facing the Southwest, as well as the region’s biggest area for future climate mitigation and adaptation. Continue reading “New climate report shows impact of drying on human health in Southwest”

• Slug: BC-CNS-New Mexico Gun Violence. 900 words.
• Photos available (thumbnails and captions below).
• Video available. By John Leos and Deanna Pistono.

By Deanna Pistono
Cronkite News

ALBUQUERQUE – On Nov. 4, the parking lot outside Albuquerque’s San Pedro Library held more people than cars. On a wall in the parking lot, the nonprofit organization New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence unveiled its new mural against gun violence – a shower of flowers, faces and hummingbirds. The mural itself has augmented reality or AR capabilities, which enables visual elements to change or shift when viewed through a phone camera.

“All the faces, they become shadow and then a scrolling list of people that we’ve lost in the city in New Mexico starts scrolling,” said Warren Montoya, the artist who created the mural.

“So it’s a list of 200…almost 300 names by now that have been taken in the last two years, so that people can really recognize and remember those people,” he said.

New Mexico, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was the state with the third-highest death rate as a result of gun violence in 2021. In September this year, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a public health order that would have prohibited people from carrying guns – whether concealed or openly carried – in Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, and other areas with high rates of gun violence.

Continue reading “New Mexicans speak out against gun violence”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Purple Star School,590 words.
• 4 photos available (thumbnails and captions below).

By Kate Duffy
Cronkite News

GOODYEAR – At a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, Great Hearts Trivium Preparatory Academy became one of the first schools in Arizona to be named a Purple Star School candidate.

The school joined Luke Elementary School, Millennium High School and Dreaming Summit Elementary School in the Purple Star pilot program launching in Arizona. All four schools serve families from Luke Air Force Base.

The Purple Star distinction is awarded to schools with programs dedicated to supporting military-connected children in their education and social-emotional development. Continue reading “Arizona Purple Star pilot program kicks off with four schools supporting military families”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Thanksgiving Dinner Down. 730 words.
• Photos, illustraion available (thumbnails and captions below).
• Graphic available here.

By Jacob Snelgrove
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The average price of a Thanksgiving feast for 10 people this year is down 28%, after Arizona consumers faced “historically high” prices for their Thanksgiving meal ingredients in 2022.

The Arizona Farm Bureau’s annual market basket survey of the typical fixings for Thanksgiving estimates that a traditional meal for 10 people will cost $51.89 this year – or around $5.19 per person – a $19.99 decrease from last year’s total bill of $71.88.

The survey shopping list includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, milk, plus pumpkin pie with whipped cream, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10 with plenty of leftovers.

Continue reading “Arizona Thanksgiving meal cost down 28% as turkey prices decrease”