• Slug: CN2GO
• Runtime: 5:26
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THIS IS YOUR CRONKITE NEWS 2GO BRIEFING.

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I’M EMMA VANDENEINDE. (  go to story ) 

Data reveals rise in Arizona’s violent crime rate 

Summary: U.S. House members demanded action on the VICTIM Act this week, which calls for $100 million to go to police agencies yearly until 2032 following new FBI data, which shows rising rates of violent crime nationwide and even higher rates in Arizona.

VIOLENT CRIMES IN ARIZONA REMAIN HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST DATA FROM THE F-B-I.  THE NATIONAL RATE ROSE 4-POINT-6 PERCENT, BUT THE RATE IN ARIZONA ROSE BY ALMOST DOUBLE THAT.

HOMICIDE WAS UP BY 40 PERCENT IN THE U.S.  THAT’S ACCORDING TO ANDY EDMISTON WHO DIRECTS GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POLICE ORGANIZATIONS.

EDMISTON IS CALLING FOR ACTION ON THE VICTIM ACT.  

THE BIPARTISAN BILL WOULD ALLOCATE ONE-HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FOR THE NEXT DECADE FOR POLICE AGENCIES.  

 THERE HAS BEEN NO MOVEMENT SINCE IT WAS INTRODUCED, BUT THE BILL’S LEAD SPONSOR, FLORIDA DEMOCRAT VAL DEMINGS, SAYS ITS 30 CO-SPONSORS ARE “LASER-FOCUSED” ON GETTING IT PASSED.

Pascua Yaqui Chairman urges Congress to fund water infrastructure

Summary: Pascua Yaqui Chairman Peter Yucupicio called on a House Transportation subcommittee Tuesday that tribes should get a fair shot at the federal infrastructure program. 

PASCUA YAQUI CHAIRMAN PETER YUCUPICIO [you-coo-PEA-see-oh] URGED A HOUSE TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE THIS WEEK TO INCLUDE TRIBES IN THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM. 

HE WAS ONE OF SEVERAL TRIBAL MEMBERS OUTLINING THEIR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS DURING A HEARING ON THE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2022. THAT BILL WOULD  FUND MANY WATER PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IN THE MEETING, YUCUPICIO SAID THAT SOME TRIBES ARE HAVING TROUBLE ACCESSING THE FUNDING, AND ASKED TO RECEIVE NOTICE OF AVAILABLE FUNDS TO TRIBES BEFORE DEADLINES PASS. 

Black History Month Mural Project launches at Footprint Center

Summary: The Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Mercury unveiled a new mural at Footprint Center to feature prominent black Arizona athletes.

HOST:

THE PHOENIX SUNS AND THE MERCURY HAVE A  BRAND NEW MURAL AT FOOTPRINT CENTER IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX. IT’S ONE OF NEARLY 30 MURALS THAT WILL GO UP IN PHOENIX  TO HONOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH. 

AS CRONKITE NEWS JUSTIN TORRES EXPLAINS THE MURAL COMMEMORATES AFRICAN AMERICAN ATHLETES FROM ARIZONA.   

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THE MURAL OUTSIDE THE FOOTPRINT CENTER FEATURES A BEVY OF BLACK ATHLETES FROM THE  PAST AND THE PRESENT. ICONS SUCH AS LARRY FITZGERALD, SKYLAR DIGGINS-SMITH, AND BRITTNEY GRINER ARE NOW PAINTED ON WHAT LOOKS LIKE A MASSIVE GARAGE DOOR NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE CENTER. THE ATHLETES FRAME THE WORDS “ I AM BLACK HISTORY.” 

THE ARTISTS HOPE THE MURAL OFFERS INSPIRATION TO YOUNG BLACK INDIVIDUALS  ACROSS THE PHOENIX AREA.

LUCRETIA TORVA AND JENNIFER WHITE DESIGNED AND PAINTED THIS MURAL. TORVA SAYS IT HAS MEANING FOR HER AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY : 

: <Lucretia Torva/mural painter/artist>

“Everybody deserves the same, access to everything in the country.” (5 SECONDS)

TORVA SAYS THE MURAL TOOK JUST OVER A WEEK TO FINISH: 

<Lucretia Torva/mural painter/artist>

“It was important to have it done on time. That’s for sure, <laugh> and to the absolute best of my ability. So there, fortunately there was enough time to do it, uh, so I could concentrate on each figure and get it done on time.” (14 SECONDS)

THE MURAL REPRESENTS A FIGHT THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR MUCH LONGER.

SANDRA BASSETT IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE WEST VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL. SHE SAYS THE BLACK COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE ADVERSITY. AND SHE  HOPES THIS MURAL WILL HELP EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE ROLE BLACK ATHLETES HAVE HAD. 

<Sandra Bassett/ President and CEO of the West Valley Arts Council>

“What we hope that it does is that the community at large will get a chance to learn more about famous African Americans in history and what they’ve contributed to the community, that it will encourage, um, more communication and understanding, increase education and awareness, and most of all bring people together so that people can come down together and see these different murals and experience something incredible in art. So it’s about community.” (22 SECONDS)

AND THE PHOENIX SUNS AND THE MERCURY ARE A BIG PART OF THE CITY’S COMMUNITY. 

<Sandra Bassett/ President and CEO of the West Valley Arts Council>

“Traditionally barriers are being broken down. Um, and we, we don’t always see them, but when a sports figure breaks down a barrier increases an opportunity. It is, um, publicized nationally. It’s in the papers in the, um, TV on radio and everything.” (14 SECONDS)

THIS IDEA OF ATHLETES USING THEIR PLATFORMS TO PROMOTE SOCIAL ACTIVISM CONTINUES TO GROW. BASSETT SAYS  THE PLAYERS FOR THE SUNS AND THE MERCURY ARE AT THE FOREFRONT.

<Sandra Bassett/ President and CEO of the West Valley Arts Council>

“That’s why we selected these people because of their great accomplishments, their barrier breaking activity. And we know that the community will be able to engage with these people that they’ve seen and known for many years.” (10 SECONDS)

BASSETT AND THE  FOUNDER OF THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH MURAL PROJECT, GIZETTE KNIGHT WORKED TOGETHER TO GET THE SPOT FOR THE MURAL AT FOOTPRINT CENTER. 

<Sandra Bassett/ President and CEO of the West Valley Arts Council>

“So when it came time for the mural, this was a natural place to stop first, highly visible area, great walls, great support from the Phoenix community.” (9 SECONDS)

THE PAINTING OF ATHLETES WHICH INCLUDES  LARRY FITZGERALD, BRITTANY GRINER, AND SKYLER DIGGINS-SMITH NOW HAS A HOME AT FOOTPRINT CENTER. BUT IT WON’T BE THE ONLY MURAL YOU SEE PUT UP THIS MONTH TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER 27 MURALS LOCATED AROUND THE VALLEY. 

JUSTIN TORRES, CRONKITE NEWS.

HOST OUTRO: 

The Phoenix City Council in 2020 denied a request to paint a “Black Lives Matter” mural on a downtown street. That rejection led to the Black History Mural Project. The Shining Light Foundation started the project last year to educate and empower Arizonans.

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WE HAD HELP TODAY FROM EMILY SACIA [say-sha], CAMILA [kuh-mill-uh] PEDROSA [ped-drow-sha], HOPE O’BRIEN  AND JUSTIN TORRES. ALSO THANKS TO KIRSTEN DORMAN, WHO PRODUCED THE SHOW. 

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YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STORIES YOU HEARD IN TODAY’S NEWS UPDATE, BY GOING TO CRONKITENEWS-DOT-AZPBS-DOT-ORG. 

THAT’S ALL FOR YOUR CRONKITE NEWS 2 GO. I’M EMMA VANDENEINDE. 

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