Fanfare, fights and futbol: CONCACAF Gold Cup makes pit stop at State Farm Stadium

GLENDALE – The CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament came to Phoenix and the popularity of Mexico attracted a large crowd. Coming out of its successful match, Mexico still appeared to be in the honeymoon phase with interim coach Jaime Lozano. The period was short-lived, however, as Mexico lost its final group stage game to Qatar to the ire of fans.

Fans of Mexico’s men’s national team represented a large portion of the crowd when the team played Haiti Thursday night for the CONCACAF Gold Cup at State Farm Stadium. Mexico won, 3-1. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Federal development funds will let Oklahoma tribes expand access to capital

WASHINGTON - Three Oklahoma tribal nations will receive more than 40% of the initial $73 million in funding from a federal small business initiative that for the first time is being targeted directly to tribes.


Another summer, another lifeguard shortage, as pools cut hours, openings

A $3,000 incentive program brought a boom in lifeguard applications to the city of Phoenix this year, but not enough lifeguards and pool managers to open more than 18 of the city's 29 pools this summer.

City of Phoenix lifeguard Carrie Nelson is the manager at Encanto pool. June 14, 2023 (Evelin Ruelas/Cronkite News)

Brave heart: The motivation behind Raymond Jones’ fight to stay on football field at Cactus High

GLENDALE – Growing up with a heart defect, Cactus football player Raymond Jones already works twice as hard to remain on the field. But after heart surgery in January, Jones was faced with his biggest hurdle yet.

Only six months removed from heart surgery in January, Raymond Jones pushed through running drills on the Cactus High School track to prepare for his senior season. (Photo by Eduardo Morales/Cronkite News)

Get on your soap box: Bisbee Coaster Races return with rich history

BISBEE – For the first time since 2019, Bisbee will hold its Fourth of July Coaster Races. Started in 1914, racers spend thousands of dollars to build soap box derby style cars that race down Tombstone Canyon into downtown Bisbee.

Coasters reach between 40-42 mph, and safety for all is always a priority, with required safety inspections, weigh-ins and brake checks. (Photo courtesy of City of Bisbee)

For July Fourth picnic prices, inflation is down this year – but not done

WASHINGTON - Americans can expect to pay less for their Independence Day cookouts than they did last year but don't go setting off fireworks over the drop - it's still 14% higher than two years ago after a historic spike in 2022.


Report: Shifting to EV fleets would save state, local governments millions

WASHINGTON - Arizona governments could save almost $283 million over the next 10 years if roughly 20,000 gasoline-powered light-duty vehicles in their fleets that are due to be retired were replaced with electric vehicles, according a recent report.


Supreme Court nixes Biden plan for $430 billion in student-loan relief

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Friday struck down a Biden administration student-debt relief plan that would have aided more than 40 million people, 916,000 of whom live in Arizona and currently hold a total of $32.6 billion in loans.


Are the Diamondbacks poised for postseason success after strong first half?

PHOENIX – The Arizona Diamondbacks’ surprising start to the season has them in an ideal position to make their first playoff appearance in six years.

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, talking with pitcher Zac Gallen, has helped put the team in a position to make the postseason for the first time since 2017. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

Out of retirement: Charli Turner Thorne joins Mercury staff as assistant coach

PHOENIX – One year and a few months after retiring from ASU women’s basketball, coach Charli Turner Thorne is already back in the women’s basketball world, signing on as an assistant for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.

The Mercury have added a familiar face as an assistant: former Arizona State women’s basketball coach Charlie Turner Throne. She joins her former assistant, interim Mercury coach Nikki Blue. (Cronkite News file photo)

Yarnell Hill Fire 10 years later: Lessons learned, lives remembered, community rebuilt

YARNELL – Ten years later, the story of Yarnell is one of loss but also survival. A Navajo heirloom emerging intact from the rubble. A burned, wounded cat seeking comfort from a stranger. And a firefighter, the lone survivor of the hotshots crew, trying to rebuild a life and answer a question that haunts him: “Why didn’t I die that day?”

A photo of all 20 Granite Mountain Hotshots posing in a human pyramid was turned into a statue at the Yarnell Hill Fire Memorial. (Photo by Sean Lynch/Cronkite News)

Remembering heroes: New mural honors Granite Mountain Hotshots and their impact on Prescott

PRESCOTT – Ten years after the Yarnell Hill Fire, where 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots perished, a mural honoring their lives was unveiled at the Prescott Chamber of Commerce.

A mural created by Arizona artist Katie Von Kral honors the bravery of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and captures the essence of their courage. Unveiled Wednesday, June 28, 2023, the artwork is on the Prescott Chamber of Commerce building. (Photo by Bri Pacelli/Cronkite News)