CHICAGO – Arizona Democrats are feeling good about Vice President Kamala Harris’ chances of achieving what Hillary Clinton could not: making history as the first female president.
“She can break the glass ceiling,” said Gabriella Cázares-Kelly, Pima County Recorder and one of the state’s 91 delegates at the Democratic National Convention this week in Chicago. “She has the support of Arizona women, men, and nonbinary. She has a lot of support everywhere.”
Clinton, the former first lady, New York senator and secretary of state, lost the 2016 race to Republican Donald Trump – dashing Democrats’ hopes of ending the all-male presidential winning streak that began with George Washington in 1789.
Slug: BC-CNS-DNC Day 1 Mood. 530 words. By Phineas Hogan.
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CHICAGO – After months of anxiety over the presidential contest, Arizona Democrats basked in a far more optimistic vibe as the party’s national convention opened Monday.
“Excited, invigorated and happy,” was how delegate Llama Habern of Cornville described the mood – now that Vice President Kamala Harris is atop the ticket, reversing a downward spiral before President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid.
“How excited everyone is in general is very motivating, very encouraging,” Habern said.
Slug: Howard Center-Online Exploitation. 2,175 words.
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By Gianna Montiel Howard Center for Investigative Journalism
PHOENIX – An adult sexual predator, posing as a teenager, sought out young boys from 10 to 13 years old to entice them to play various online gaming platforms and then sexually exploited them, police in Scottsdale say – part of a growing trend that authorities contend should put parents on alert.
“A lot of cases that we’re coming across, especially with younger victims, are starting from online gaming,” said the case detective, who asked not to be named because of his undercover work in the Scottsdale Police Department’s Human Exploitation Unit.
PHOENIX – Arizona attracts tourists and foodies, major sports events and big business. The money comes from all over the world, but one major investor is the neighbor in the north: Canada.
Total trade between Arizona and Canada topped $5.3 billion in 2023. Arizona Rep. David Cook, R-Globe, who serves as the chair of the House International Trade Committee, has been an advocate for increasing trade with Canada.
“Where else can you take this large amount of money? Because you’re limited for investments in your own country of Canada – then what better place, what safer place to invest your people’s money than the state of Arizona,” Cook said.
WASHINGTON – A few weeks into last school year, 30% of teacher positions in Arizona remained unfilled. The shortage persists, but there are signs of improvement.
Tucson Unified School District currently has 164 classroom openings – down from 300 at the same time last year. Deer Valley Unified School District is close to fully staffed. Tempe Union High School District has just one opening to fill compared to five at this time last year.
PHOENIX – Jace Taylor is a rambunctious 4-year-old boy. He runs, jumps and plays with his friends. He isn’t aware that genetically, he’s different from other children.
“I think he’s too young to comprehend what’s going on,” said Brittany Taylor, Jace’s mother. “We let him … do his little boy thing.”
Last year, Jace was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a rare and fatal genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and deterioration. But, in some ways, he’s lucky.
WASHINGTON – Arizona’s migrant communities have much on the line in the 2024 elections, with former President Donald Trump vowing mass deportations, and the end of both DACA protections and automatic citizenship for children born to non-Americans.
With no right to vote, some people in the country without legal status are finding ways to make their voices heard through grassroots activism – encouraging others to support sympathetic candidates.
“Not being able to vote puts you at a huge disadvantage. But we decided to organize our family, friends and people in the community that have the power of voting. We give them some information, and we share stories on how these decisions impact our daily life,” said Karina Ruiz, executive director at the Arizona Dream Act Coalition.
EDS: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described a recent rate cut. The story below has been corrected, but clients who used previous versions are asked to run the correction found here.
Slug: BC-CNS-Public Power Tucson. 1,065 words.
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By Isabelle Marceles Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – Tucson is exploring a transition to a publicly-owned electric utility, as customers complain about high bills and the city aims to cut its carbon footprint.
Tucson Electric Power’s contract will expire in April 2026. The city recently hired an outside firm to assess the economics and regulatory hurdles of taking over by forming its own power utility.
“This feasibility study is another pathway of, what does the future of Tucson’s energy look like?” said Tucson resident Nick Arnold, a board member of the Sierra Club Nopales Group. “TEP is not operating as the act that will get us there as quickly as we need to.”
PHOENIX – Time was running out as the medevac helicopter made its way from rural Arizona to a nearby hospital. The patient was in critical condition, and flight paramedics worked against the clock. Only one thing could save him – blood.
BannerAir flight paramedics worked to save the patient, who was losing large amounts of blood due to an ATV accident. If the flight team did not have access to the life-saving blood, the patient could have died.
Quick access to blood, whether at the hospital or at the scene, could be the difference between life and death.
MILWAUKEE – In the days after a would-be assassin tried to kill former President Donald Trump, Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake shrugged aside calls for politicians to soften their rhetoric and refrain from stoking divisions.
The political climate is actually “good,” she said at one point during a whirlwind week at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee at which she lashed out at the news media and reiterated claims that she actually won the 2022 election for Arizona governor, which the courts have repeatedly tossed out.
WASHINGTON – Tucson congressman Juan Ciscomani, who enjoys a reputation as a relatively moderate Republican, has long been active with a group that promotes the goal of Christians stewarding the nation’s morality through “biblical citizenship.”
“I can wholeheartedly say that nothing in my life has given me a clearer direction for my life than Patriot Academy,” the first-term Republican wrote in a 2010 blog post.
Slug: BC-CNS-Youth Social Media. 1,065 words. By Morgan Kubasko.
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By Morgan Kubasko Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – Congress hasn’t passed a law protecting children online since 1998. Advocates are hoping that changes soon.
The Kids Online Safety Act would require tech companies to protect minors from bullying, sexual exploitation, and material that promotes suicide and eating disorders. KOSA would also add privacy protections and limit how minors’ information is collected online.
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By Brianna Chappie Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – From 1819 until 1969, hundreds of thousands of Native American children were forcibly removed from their homes and sent to boarding schools – sometimes hundreds or even thousands of miles from their families.
The schools were run by churches and the federal government with a clear purpose: to strip Native Americans of their cultures and force them to assimilate.
By Grey Gartin, Benjamin Adelberg and Aoife Kane Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – Of the contenders Vice President Kamala Harris is vetting as a possible running mate, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly is the only one who’s been to space, traveling over 20 million miles for NASA.
But does he have the right stuff to join the Democratic ticket?
“This is not about me,” he told reporters at the Capitol on Wednesday. “This is about the future of this country.”
WASHINGTON – The first skateboard Di’Orr Greenwood ever rode was a cheap plastic one her grandpa had given to her younger brother.
“He had so much fun on it that I wanted a little bit of that fun, too,” she said.
When she was 22, an arson fire left the family home in ashes. They lost almost everything. But Greenwood found some old skateboards unscathed by the fire, and a tool for wood burning that her late uncle had taught her to use.
Slug: BC-CNS-Proposition 314. 1,000 words. By Alex Cunningham.
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By Alex Cunningham Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – Proposition 314 would make it a crime under Arizona law to cross the border illegally – allowing police to arrest anyone who can’t prove U.S. citizenship or legal residency and state courts to order deportations.
Even if voters approve the measure in November, it faces high legal hurdles.
Immigration enforcement is a federal power, and federal courts have so far blocked similar laws in Texas and other states. Advocates for civil liberties and migrants warn that such “show me your papers” laws put Americans with darker skin and accents at risk.
PHOENIX – The WNBA All-Star game returned to Phoenix for the third time last weekend, bringing in fans from across the country and internationally to witness the world’s best players.
Team WNBA prevailed over the Women’s National Team, 117-109, in front of a sellout crowd Saturday at the Footprint Center, with Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale earning the All-Star MVP award after a 34-point performance in her third All-Star game appearance. The 2024 WNBA All-Star Game averaged 3.4 million viewers on ABC, making it the most-watched WNBA telecast since opening weekend in 1997, according to Front Office Sports.
Fans also flocked to downtown Phoenix to see rookies Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. Reese scored 12 points and had 11 rebounds to become the first rookie with a double-double in an WNBA All-Star game, while Clark’s 10 assists set an All-Star rookie record of her own.
The weekend festivities kicked off with Friday night’s skills competitions, including an obstacle course-style skills challenge, a 3×3 exhibition game and a 3-point contest. Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray became the first player in WNBA history to win both the skills challenge and the 3-point contest in the same year.
A huge focus of the weekend was fan engagement, as the league hosted events like the WNBA Live fan festival in Phoenix. Fans of all ages participated in shooting contests, waited in line for meet-and-greets with their favorite players and purchased a variety of All-Star-themed merchandise.
After Team WNBA’s victory Saturday and the ensuing awards presentation, ESPN reporter Holly Rowe spoke to the loud Phoenix crowd. Her message was received by applause and cheers from players and fans alike.
“I feel really comfortable saying that this has been the best WNBA All-Star game we have ever seen in this league,” Rowe said.
Arike Ogunbowale celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer in the second half, where she scored 34 points in an MVP-worthy performance at Footprint Center. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)From left: Aliyah Boston, Allisha Gray, Caitlin Clark and Arike Ogunbowale celebrate after Ogunbowale’s basket to end the third quarter in Saturday’s 2024 WNBA All-Star Game. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark takes warmup 3-pointers in front of a fan’s sign that reads, ‘Caitlin from the Logo,’ at Footprint Center. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Fans were greeted Saturday with a unique T-shirt designed by Kelly Malka across their seat backs ahead of the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game at Footprint Center. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)A’ja Wilson stretches for Team USA before the start of the WNBA All-Star game Saturday at Footprint Center. (Photos by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark, a starter for Team WNBA, goes for a layup surrounded by Team USA players in the second half of Saturday’s 2024 WNBA All-Star Game at Footprint Center. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Kahleah Copper goes for a layup for Team USA in the first half, defended by Aliyah Boston in Saturday’s 2024 WNBA All-Star Game at Footprint Center. (Photos by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)The 2024 WNBA All-Star Game averaged 3.4 million viewers on ABC, making it the most-watched WNBA telecast since opening weekend in 1997, per reports. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Arike Ogunbowale earns WNBA All-Star MVP for the second time in her career Saturday at Footprint Center. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Team WNBA’s Angel Reese finished the game with a double-double, putting up 12 points and 11 rebounds, in Saturday’s All-Star Game. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Mercury veteran Diana Taurasi hugs Vanessa Bryant after Team USA’s 117-109 loss to Team WNBA Saturday at Footprint Center. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Nikkole Bonner wears a shirt featuring A’ja Wilson and Angel Reese that reads, ‘I came to see the vet vs the rookie,’ Saturday at Footprint Center. (Photos by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Fans had the opportunity to meet current and former players at the WNBA Live fan festival held at the Phoenix Convention Center, including A’ja Wilson. (Photos by Grace Hand/Cronkite NewsPhoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner hugs second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who visited Team USA’s practice Friday at the Player 15 Group facility. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones reacts to missing the final shot in the 3-point challenge Friday at Footprint Center. (Photos by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Allisha Gray celebrates with former University of South Carolina teammate A’ja Wilson after winning the 3-point and skills competitions Friday at Footprint Center. (Photos by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey high-fives enthusiastic young fans before competing in the skills challenges Friday at Footprint Center. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey high-fives enthusiastic young fans before competing in the skills challenges Friday at Footprint Center. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)
WASHINGTON – James Holeman’s first encounter with the deadly toll that illegal migration takes came in August 2018 on his first patrol with Aguilas del Desierto, a group devoted to rescuing missing migrants.
It’s a gruesome reality for volunteers whose goal is to save lives. They don’t reach everyone in time.
His small group was assigned to scour an area called Growler Valley, about 30 miles from Ajo – his home – and 75 miles from Yuma. They found two sites with human bones that day – 13 individuals desperate enough to brave some of the most unforgiving terrain in the country.
WASHINGTON – Arizona’s Democratic delegates, federal lawmakers and governor have rallied behind Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s new presidential nominee.
President Joe Biden’s announcement on Sunday upended the race for the White House, and he quickly endorsed his vice president. Democrats around the country have followed his lead.
“There is an outpouring of endorsements and support from Democratic Party officials and delegates here in Arizona, and we look forward to her being our nominee,” Lupe Conchas, a vice chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, said Monday.
EDS: An earlier version of this story incorrectly incorrectly quoted E-Beth Marshall in the 20th graf. The story below has been corrected, but clients who used previous versions are asked to run the correction found here.
Slug: BC-CNS-Arizona IVF. 1,785 words.
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By Lauren De Young Cronkite News
PHOENIX – It was Christmas Day 2012 when E-Beth Marshall and her husband’s lives were shattered.
“We finally got to go and tell everybody that we are pregnant, and then on Christmas Day, we ended up miscarrying,” Marshall said. “It was heartbreaking.”
