Since 1980, Horizon volleyball coach McKenzie has thrived in evolving sports landscape
PHOENIX – Since Ronald Reagan was president, Valorie McKenzie has been the coach of Horizon High School’s volleyball team. She has seen the high school landscape change with Title IX, college recruitment and the spread of club volleyball.
Tribal boarding schools much improved, but legacy of old schools remains
WASHINGTON - The abuses of tribal boarding schools are in the past, but the schools are not, entirely. Arizona, once home to 47 federal Indian boarding schools, has eight tribal boarding schools today. They aren't perfect, advocates say, but a far cry from past horrors.
Olympic gold medalist Sydney Leroux redefines soccer moms across pro sports
LOS ANGELES – Sydney Leroux takes the term soccer mom to a whole new meaning.
Capitalizing on capital’s draw, street vendors peddle to protests, tours
WASHINGTON - Whether it's icy bottles of water out of a cooler in the summer, or hats and T-shirts in the winter, when political movements come to Washington they are invariably trailed by an army of vendors who capitalize on the protesters' need for food, water and souvenirs.
3D printing and foam: Arizona organizations make homes more sustainable
PHOENIX – Amid climate change and an affordable housing crisis in Arizona, organizations have developed housing solutions, including using 3D printing and plastic foam, to make buildings better for the environment and for tight budgets.
A change for the better? Arizona set to add shot clocks for high school basketball
PHOENIX – Arizona high school basketball divisions 6A-3A have decided to adopt the 35-second shot clock outlined by the NFHS. A majority of coaches are praising the decision, but logistical and financial issues are causing trouble for Arizona schools.
Housing options limited for migrants forced to wait in southern Mexico
TAPACHULA, Mexico – Migrants seeking housing in Tapachula, one of Mexico’s poorest cities, have three choices as their immigration paperwork is processed: stay in a shelter and follow its rules, rent a room if they have money, or sleep on the streets. More often than not, their accommodations depend on circumstances and the social environment.
Varsity Gay League creates inclusive sports leagues where ‘everyone’s welcome’
LOS ANGELES – The Varsity Gay League, a national organization with recreational sports leagues, aims to create an inclusive environment for all athletes regardless of sexuality, ability or gender.
Tempe streetcar opens as Valley Metro expands light rail west and south
TEMPE – Valley Metro is expanding the reach of public transportation across the Phoenix area, including a recently opened streetcar in Tempe and light rail expansions northwest to Metrocenter mall and south to Baseline Road.
‘A bunch of guys who came together’: Sunnyslope basketball’s memorable 3-year run often overlooked
PHOENIX – Sunnyslope basketball’s class of 2018 featured a memorable run with three state title appearances and back-to-back championships. Yet the program is rarely mentioned among recent high school powerhouses.
Fight over Resolution Copper Mine drags on – and both sides expect more
WASHINGTON - Lawmakers, federal regulators and courts have been grappling with challenges to the proposed Resolution Copper Mine in Oak Flat for years, and while the two sides agree on little, most agree that the debate is likely to continue for years to come.
Controversial Avalanche tweet raises questions about intersection of fandom, sports journalism
PHOENIX – A celebratory tweet about the Colorado Avalanche by a sports journalist raises questions about the direction of balanced reporting, particularly in the age of social media.
