Phoenix Rising at midseason: Experts weigh in on expectations, challenges

PHOENIX – Phoenix Rising has reached midseason with 41 points in their 20 games. They sit comfortably atop their division but still face road tests and a battle for top seed and home-pitch advantage in the USL playoffs.


Sandra Day O’Connor’s hands-on sports medicine program teaching athletic trainers of the future

PHOENIX – With over 700 athletes at Sandra Day O’Connor High School, the task of providing treatment to everyone can be demanding. But the school has three athletic trainers who double as teachers leading a hands-on program that provides treatment while preparing aspiring sports medicine professionals.


The results are in: Standardized test scores fell during pandemic year

WASHINGTON - Standardized test scores in Arizona fell across the board last school year, as COVID-19 upended learning through the year and led to a sharp drop in the number of students taking the tests, the Arizona Department of Education said.

Clarendon Elementary School photo

As wildfires rage, federal firefighters see bump in minimum hourly pay

WASHINGTON - Fighting wildfires did not get any easier this month, but it did get a little more profitable for thousands of full-time and temporary firefighters employed by the federal government, which raised their minimum wage from $13 an hour to $15 an hour.


How COVID-19 and red tape pushed millions to the brink of homelessness

Across the U.S., as many as 1 in 5 renters have fallen behind on rent during the pandemic. For families who have no financial safety net to fall back on, the economic consequences of the pandemic have pushed them to the precipice of homelessness. The situation is made worse by bureaucracy.


With 253,000 Arizonans behind on rent, court halts eviction moratorium

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court's decision to overturn a national eviction moratorium late Thursday comes as an estimated one-fifth of U.S. renters are behind on the rent - including 253,000 in Arizona.


Some schools sticking with mask mandates, despite Ducey funding threat

WASHINGTON - Friday was the deadline for schools to drop mask mandates if they wanted to be eligible for a share of millions in COVID-19 state aid, but at least several districts in the state were refusing to comply with Gov. Doug Ducey's demand.


Climate advocates, lawmaker urge Sens. Sinema and Kelly to support Biden budget plan

PHOENIX – Arizona’s senators are being urged to support the “Build Back Better” budget to provide funding for clean energy initiatives and jobs to address the effects of climate change as extreme heat becomes more common.


Have app, will gamble: Arizona online sports betting sites open registration Saturday

PHOENIX – Online Sports betting sites open Saturday, moving one step closer to the launch date for sports betting in Arizona on Sept. 9.


As COVID-19 testing numbers rise, Embry Health hopes to expand services

MESA – COVID-19 testing numbers are increasing as schools reopen and the delta variant spreads. To counter the rise in numbers and reduce wait times, Embry Health is bringing in hundreds of new workers.


Temporarily knocked out, RUF Nation returns strong, features card at Celebrity Theatre

PHOENIX – This time last year, RUF had a different name, struggled to hold events due to the pandemic and had a much darker outlook for the future of Arizona MMA. This year, a lot has changed and business is booming, including a card Sunday at the Celebrity Theatre.


Taurasi’s return helps Mercury surge as WNBA playoff picture comes into focus

PHOENIX – After a lukewarm start to the season, the Phoenix Mercury have caught fire with five wins in a row. With the playoffs less than a month away, their timing is ideal.