Arizona hate crimes hit their highest level since 9/11, and it’s likely an undercount
PHOENIX – The 282 hate crimes reported in Arizona in 2020 were the most since 2001, when hate crimes spiked in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the FBI says.
Making dough: Phoenix chef leaves Microsoft to sell pastries at farmers markets
GLENDALE – Slade Grove left Microsoft two decades ago to pursue his baking hobby as a career. He won Best of Phoenix Awards and attracted the eye of Oprah Winfrey but now sells his wares at farmers markets.
Advocates gather in Long Beach to fight to end drunk driving, drugged driving
LONG BEACH, California – Families gathered in Long Beach to advocate to end drunk and drugged driving. Alcohol-related crashes increased by 9% in 2020, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Hungry holidays: Break from school means break from meals for some kids
WASHINGTON - Holidays bring a break from schoolwork for students, but for more than a half-million Arizona children they can also mean a break from their only reliable source of a nutritious meal - the subsidized school meal.
Unlevel pitch: The path to professional soccer is tougher for girls than boys
PHOENIX – Pathways to the professional level vary by gender in youth soccer, where girls and boys have disparate opportunities to sign a professional contract as a minor.
Despite football’s popularity among Hispanic Americans, participation rates remain low
PHOENIX – Over 30 million Hispanic Americans consider themselves NFL fans. Despite the numbers, that fails to translate to participation in the sport at all levels.
Nearly two years into the pandemic, theaters and performers adapting to the ‘new normal’
PHOENIX – Many theaters in metro Phoenix are putting on indoor performances for the first time since the pandemic started in March 2020. Despite challenges, the pandemic has allowed for a more mindful approach to planning and staging productions.
Pregnant people aren’t getting COVID vaccine, health providers worry
PHOENIX – In September, the CDC said pregnant people with symptomatic COVID-19 have a 70% greater chance of dying than symptomatic people who aren’t pregnant. However, thousands of pregnant people around the U.S. are hesitant to get vaccinated.
Colleges nationwide face rapid decline in male enrollment, although ASU bucks the trend
PHOENIX – Colleges across the country are seeing significant drops in young men on campus, though Arizona State University somehow has managed to buck the trend, registering a 5% increase in male enrollment in the 2020-21 school year.
Brains and brawn: Embry-Riddle women’s soccer team excels on, off field
PHOENIX – At a university known for its aeronautical excellence, Embry-Riddle in Prescott is also known for the standout play of its women’s soccer team.
‘It’s so joyful’: Chandler Symphony Orchestra relishes return to in-person performances
TEMPE – The Chandler Symphony Orchestra kicked off its 29th season in October after a pandemic-induced hiatus with masks, distancing and an audience.
Kim Cota-Robles breaking barriers as Latina PA announcer for Tucson Roadrunners
PHOENIX – Tucson native Kim Cota-Robles is making history as hockey’s first Latina PA announcer, impressing Roadrunners fans and paving the way for women in sports.
