Search result for Amanda Kukkola

SAG-AFTRA Arizona members rally as part of national strike for TV, film worker protections, higher wages

PHOENIX – The Arizona-Utah chapter of SAG-AFTRA held a rally in Phoenix on Sunday to support local actors, writers, and TV and film workers who are on strike. The national union has been on strike since July 14 in conjunction with the Writers’ Guild of America, which has been on strike since May 2. The strikes have stopped production on films and TV series.

Actress and comedian Saylor Billings tells jokes to the crowd at the SAG-AFTRA Arizona-Utah rally, on Sept. 17, 2023. (Photo by Kiersten Edgett/Cronkite News)

Women athletes fight for equality to level playing field in male-dominated sports

PHOENIX – With a long history of suppression, women athletes are rebelling through the domination of rugby, football and combat sports while going against the norm and paving paths for themselves.

UFC hopeful Leslie Hernandez fights out of Phoenix’s MMA Lab under the strawweight division, where she currently holds a record of 1-1. (Photo courtesy of Leslie Hernandez)

De ‘solitario’ a Lily’s Pad: Parque infantil en Tempe brindará a niños inmunocomprometidos la oportunidad de ser niños

PHOENIX – Los niños con sistemas inmunológicos debilitados u otras discapacidades a menudo no pueden jugar con otros niños. Lily's Pad, un nuevo parque infantil programado para abrir en Arizona en abril, está diseñado para ayudar a los niños inmunocomprometidos a construir su salud física y emocional. Está entre otras áreas recreativas en todo Estados Unidos destinadas a dar cabida a niños con discapacidades.

“Casi de inmediato supimos que algo estaba mal dentro de las primeras seis horas de su nacimiento”, dijo Christine Buckrucker sobre su hijo de 4 años, Colton Buckrucker. Colton y su padre, Chris, construyen un juguete. Colton tiene un sistema inmunológico debilitado que ha llevado a varias cirugías y procedimientos médicos. (Foto de Sierra Alvarez/Cronkite Noticias)

From ‘lonely’ to Lily’s Pad: Tempe playground to give immunocompromised kids a chance to be a kid

PHOENIX – Children with weakened immune systems or other disabilities often can’t play with other kids. Lily’s Pad, a new playground scheduled to open in Arizona in April, is designed to help immunocompromised children build their physical and emotional health. It’s among other recreational areas across the U.S. meant to accommodate children with disabilities.

“We knew almost right away that there was something wrong within the first six hours of his birth,” Christine Buckrucker said about her 4-year-old son, Colton Buckrucker. Colton and his father, Chris, build a toy. Colton has a weakened immune system that’s led to several surgeries and medical procedures. (Photo by Sierra Alvarez/Cronkite News)

Guesting game: State of the Union guests make political, personal points

WASHINGTON - First lady Jill Biden will host two Arizonans for the State of the Union Tuesday and state lawmakers have invited guests ranging from college student to a college chancellor, tribal leaders to business leaders, in a tradition that can have both personal and political goals.


Empathy and humanity are at the center of Holocaust education in Arizona

PHOENIX – Arizona teachers, including some who have visited Holocaust sites, are looking for ways to teach middle and high school students about the Holocaust and other genocides. Experts say teaching it builds empathy and warns of “the dangers of staying silent in the face of evil.”

When Amanda Johnson was visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland, she didn’t take photos of the heart-wrenching scenes at the memorial. Instead, she bought books to share with her students and help them learn about the millions of Jewish people who were killed during the Holocaust. Photo taken on Sept. 6, 2022, at Corona del Sol High School in Tempe. (Photo by Sophie Oppfelt/Cronkite News)

Arizona hopes to reduce enormous teacher shortage through mentoring, paid tuition

PHOENIX – The Arizona Teacher Residency is a first-of-its-kind graduate program, modeled on a traditional medical residency. It offers student teachers a two-year term in which they will receive in-classroom experience, a living stipend, a master’s degree from NAU and a job in a partnering school district. The program’s first cohort has been placed in three Title I districts.


Arizona donors double down after Jan. 6 panel questions Trump election fund

WASHINGTON - Thousands of Arizonans gave a total of $1.5 million to former President Donald Trump's election defense fund, but the Jan. 6 committee said that money went to other Trump funds in what it called "a big rip off." But Arizona donors say they don't feel ripped off.


With Supreme Court on cusp of abortion ruling, Arizona advocates prepare

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court is expected to hand down a ruling restricting or overturning abortion rights within a matter of days, but abortion providers and abortion-rights groups in Arizona say they have been getting ready for months.


With injuries piling up, San Francisco Giants open season with a new look

SCOTTSDALE – Evan Longoria and Lamonte Wade Jr will not be available to start the season due to injuries. The San Francisco Giants will have a different look on Opening Day.


On the road again: Cardinals Caravan returns, connects with fans around Arizona

TEMPE – From Lake Havasu to Safford, the Cardinals Caravan is back on the road and reconnecting with fans throughout Arizona


As MLB’s Opening Day nears, players believe more work is needed

PHOENIX – Opening Day is two days away after a lockout threatened the 2022 MLB season, but players still believe more work needs to be done.