Feds want to rush aid to public housing residents to stay cool during extreme summer heat, but Tucson and Phoenix are in no hurry
WASHINGTON – Arizona public housing authorities can expand utility assistance for cooling costs during extreme heat, but the Tucson authority won’t be participating this year. Residents face challenges accessing cooling, creating health risks as triple-digit temperatures hit the state.
Medical mistreatment, inequity lead to vaccine hesitancy for Black Americans
Historic and ongoing medical mistreatment and lack of access have informed Black Americans’ COVID-19 response: vaccine hesitancy.
Fleeing chaos, Venezuelans flock to Panama but struggle to find work
PANAMA CITY, Panama – 150,000 Venezuelans have fled to Panama, where they are reshaping the country’s labor force and cultural life.
50 grades of shade: Researchers find that it’s not all created equal
TEMPE – Scientists use information from an instrument called MaRTy to help cities like Tempe and Phoenix understand what makes for the best shade in extreme heat.
Blood draw: American Red Cross issues urgent call for help during shortage
The American Red Cross has scheduled blood donation opportunities throughout the Valley through the end of July to help stop a shortage of blood. This summer the organization has seen a decrease in blood donations across the country.
K-12 teachers learn ways to bring Native American history and traditions to the classroom
PHOENIX – Native American history, culture and art were the focus of the Heard Museum’s second annual Teacher Institute.
Emergency border funds get final OK, after some odd political turns
WASHINGTON – Congress gave a final OK, and the president is expected to sign, a border funding bill that does not include many migrant protections the House wanted - but it does send $4.59 billion to border agencies that said they could run out of funds to handle the surge of migrants at the border.
Hawaii at their fingertips: Middle-school students take virtual field trips
PHOENIX – Virtual technology that is changing industries from manufacturing to medicine is being incorporated into virtual field trips in a collaboration between Arizona State University and Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii.
Podcast: Volcanic soil, old artillery shells challenge crews managing the Maroon Fire
FLAGSTAFF – Firefighters were controlling a wildfire near Flagstaff, but unusual circumstances complicated the process: unusual volcanic soil and a “no-go zone”.
Timely tips for staying safe during Arizona’s monsoon season
PHOENIX – Arizona’s monsoon season will likely arrive later than usual this summer, which means more time to prepare for the sometimes violent storms.
Southern border apprehensions surge to highest rate in 10 years
WASHINGTON - The number of migrants apprehended at the southern border surged to 144,278 in May, bringing the total for the first eight months of fiscal 2019 to 676,315, already more than any full year in the last decade, leaving authorities and aid groups "bursting at the seams."
