All in the family: Freshmen twins Kalek and Kaden House lead Desert Mountain basketball to best season in school history

PHOENIX – Freshmen Kalek and Kaden House, who are twin sons of Eddie House, play varsity basketball at Desert Mountain High School. One of the assistant coaches is Michael Bibby Jr., son of Michael Bibby, who is cousins with Kalek and Kaden House.

Kaden House, left, and Kalek House, right, starred on Desert Mountain's basketball team last season, leading the team in every key statistical category. (Photo courtesy of Mingson Lau/Arizona Republic)

Arizona LGBTQ+ hockey league leads the way, offering inclusive safe place to play

Arizona Legacy Pride Hockey Association, an LGBTQ+ hockey league, is working to make the sport more inclusive and accessible. In conjunction with the Arizona Coyotes, ALPHA has created a safe space for growth.

Arizona Legacy Pride Hockey Association is the state's first LGBTQ+ hockey league, where members learn to skate and play hockey in an inclusive environment. (Photo courtesy of Nate Engle)

State begins to shed thousands from Medicaid, push them to other care

WASHINGTON - Arizona started purging people from the pandemic-inflated Medicaid rolls this month, a process that could end up pushing more than 600,000 people off the plan, health officials and advocates said.


Donate Life Arizona advocates for organ donations at the Arizona Capitol

PHOENIX – Donate Life Arizona brought together legislators and families of both organ donors and recipients at the Arizona Capitol to celebrate a record number of organ donations in 2022.

Kelsey and Zaccarri Krasnov tell how an organ donation saved their son, Valen’s, life when he was 3 years old. Photo taken during Donate Life Living Donor Day in Phoenix on April 5, 2023. (Photo by Drake Presto/ Cronkite News)

Going (Savannah) Bananas: Exhibition baseball teams take over Scottsdale, Peoria to delight of fans

SCOTTSDALE – The Savannah Bananas came to Scottsdale Stadium and Peoria Sports Complex last weekend as part of their 2023 world tour. The game featured plenty of entertainment outside of the unique Banana Ball rules.

The Savannah Bananas split their two games last weekend in Scottsdale and Peoria, but the final results came second to the overall experience for fans and players. (Photo by John Busker/Cronkite News)

Unmistakable rhythm of cumbia music grows louder in Phoenix as local DJ duo and fusion band work to create thriving scene

It’s an unmistakable rhythm that catches you by the ear and doesn’t let go. It’s the booming heart of Latin music and dance known as cumbia, and it’s a form of Latin culture that local DJ duo, Vinyl Vagos, and a cumbia fusion band known as Las Calakas are cultivating in Phoenix.

Eduardo Pym, left, and Felix Trejo, of the DJ duo Vinyl Vagos, get ready to hype up the dance floor with their cumbia music mix at The Womack in Phoenix on March 17, 2023. (Photo by Fernando Hernández)

Another assist: Suns guard Chris Paul helps kids read, learn with his new children’s book

PHOENIX – Chris Paul partnered with Page Turners Make Great Learners to promote his new children’s book and encourage children to read more. The 12-time NBA All-Star had so much fun doing a virtual read-along event, he invited a classroom of kids from an Atlanta-area school to a game when the Suns visited the Atlanta Hawks and met the young readers face-to-face.

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul has helped increase representation in publishing by authoring two children's books. "Once upon a time, I couldn’t see myself on the bookshelves," PTMGL founder Fefe Handy said. (File photo by Harrison Zhang/Cronkite News)

Arizona Gives Day collects donations to benefit over 1,000 nonprofits

PHOENIX – Amid rising inflation rates and costs, Arizona Gives Day raises funds for over 1,000 nonprofits statewide. Inflation is not only affecting the nonprofits but donors, too.

Arizona Helping Hands is one of the nonprofits participating in this year’s Arizona Gives Day. The organization provides children in foster care with the things they need to thrive, whether it’s a new bed, diapers, clothes, toys, school supplies or basic necessities. (Photo courtesy of Arizona Helping Hands)

Controversial Arizona bill would allow factories to treat their own water

PHOENIX – Nestlé supports Arizona bill, SB 1660, which would allow factories to treat their own water instead of going through water providers. The bill is sparking controversy.

Under SB 1660, industrial plants would not only be allowed to treat their wastewater on-site, but they would also earn long-term storage credits for treated water they put back in the aquifer. (Photo by Evelyn Nielsen/Cronkite News)

San Diego State’s loss to UConn in NCAA National Championship game does little to quiet Pac-12 rumors

HOUSTON – Despite the Aztecs' loss against UConn in the national championship game Monday night, their NCAA tournament run has solidified the athletic program’s case for a potential move to the Pac-12.

San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher wouldn't be surprised if a Power 5 conference showed interest in the Aztecs. "Everything we're about is first-class," he said after Monday's national championship game. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Phoenix Rising sets franchise attendance record in first game at new stadium

Phoenix Rising set its franchise record for attendance when more than 10,400 fans attended the team’s first game in its new stadium at 38th Street and Washington. Rising battled to a 2-2 draw with San Diego Loyal in the game.

On the move throughout the Valley in recent seasons, Phoenix Rising attracted over 10,000 fans in the club's first game at their new stadium. (Photos courtesy of Phoenix Rising FC)

Phoenix community market creates space to support women entrepreneurs

PHOENIX - Heart and Soil People's Garden works to provide fresh produce for the south Phoenix community. The garden hosts monthly markets to support entrepreneurs, mostly women of color, and their businesses.

Kaila LePage picks an onion from the produce at the Heart and Soil People’s Garden in Phoenix on March 18, 2023. (Photo by Lauren Kobley/Cronkite News)