Chef’s special: Anthony Pressley parlays 200-pound weight loss into cooking for world’s best boxers

PHOENIX – Anthony Pressley went from overweight at 400 pounds to a performance chef for world champion boxers such as Tyson Fury and Errol Spence Jr., using the same cooking techniques that helped him lose 200 pounds naturally.

An unsuccessful pursuit to be selected for 'Master Chef' inspired Anthony Pressley to pursue opportunities as a chef, where he combines his passions of food nutrition and combat sports. (Photo courtesy of Anthony Pressley)

Honor your ‘mother’: Working to keep traditional ways, types of Hopi corn

MAYER – Michael Kotutwa Johnson, a farmer from the Hopi Tribe, is focusing on bringing Hopi corn back to the dining table – not only for the health benefits but also to connect his people to their culture.

Michael Kotutwa Johnson says Hopi corn "has 10 to 15 times more mineral content" than supermarket corn. He hopes to share it with the Hopi people and believes they will see an improvement in health. (Photo by Sierra Alvarez/Cronkite News)

‘Blue Zone’ comes to south Phoenix to increase longevity

PHOENIX – Life expectancy in south Phoenix during the pandemic is lower than other neighborhoods. Early last year, the Blue Zone initiative was introduced to the city which capitalizes on the development and improvement to the environment and the health and well-being of those in the community.

A volunteer at the TigerMountain Foundation, Brandon Bates, tends to the soil at the TigerMountain Foundation community gardens on April 25, 2023. (Photo by Logan Camden/Cronkite News)

The March of Dimes Mom and Baby Unit brings care to southern Tucson

TUCSON – The March of DImes Mom and Baby Unit isn’t a standard health care clinic, it’s a bright purple recreational vehicle. Inside are two small exam rooms, and a friendly staff prepared to help the city’s vulnerable residents with free maternity and basic health care.

The bright purple, March of DImes Mom and Baby Unit, provides health care to the uninsured, underinsured and people who are homeless in Tucson. (Photo by Lux Butler/Cronkite News)

With COVID-19 emergency winding down, Embry Health holds surplus sale

TOLLESON – With the COVID-19 public health emergency ending May 11, the company synonymous with testing in Arizona is winding down as well, holding a surplus supply sale.

Masks, gloves and other COVID-19 equipment are for sale at Embry Health’s Tolleson warehouse through the end of May. Photo taken on April 28, 2023. (Photo by Jack Wu/Cronkite News)

Los Angeles homeless shelters are opening their doors to residents’ pets

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles homeless shelters recently discovered that they can get more people off the streets by allowing their pets on the property.

Krystal Eubanks shared her story at the My Dog is My Home co-sheltering conference. Her dog Keeper is in training to be a service dog (Photo by Ayana Hamilton/Cronkite News)

No more silence: Boarding school survivor Anita Yellowhair shares her story, over 60 years later

Anita Yellowhair is a Navajo woman and a boarding school survivor. Yellowhair left her home and family in 1950, stripped of her identity and forced to assimilate into American culture alongside other Indigenous children.


Eve’s Insomnia: A comic about getting help to overcome sleepless nights

Insomnia can happen to anyone, especially as life stressors like studying for exams, going through menopause or caring for a family member occur. The graphic comic, “Eve’s Insomnia,” shows the struggle toward solutions.

(Illustration by Emily Mai/Cronkite News)

Tempe partners with nonprofits to assist people experiencing homelessness

TEMPE — Tempe has been proactive in finding solutions to homelessness, partnering with Tempe Community Action Agency to offer shelter, assistance with rent and utilities, and job resources.

Tamika Broadnax, right, receives the Tempe Community Action Agency's Barbara Norton Award for her perseverance through homelessness and her impact on the community at an April 14, 2023, fundraising event. (Photo by Jack Wu/Cronkite News)

Lake Havasu boating event gives unique experience to boat enthusiasts with disabilities

LAKE HAVASU – Anderson Powersports’ Desert Storm boating week at Lake Havasu kicked off in mid-April with the Krusin’ for a Kause event, which gave adults and children with disabilities a chance to take a ride in a high-performance boat.

Boat owners wait in queue to set up for the Desert Storm Street Party in Lake Havasu City. (Photo by Drake Presto/Cronkite News)

Standing 4 Black Girls keeps memories alive for missing and murdered Black women

LOS ANGELES – Women’s Leadership project Standing 4 Black Girls wants to increase awareness of the issue and bring justice to the missing and murdered Black girls across the nation.

Event-goers marched around Leimert Park chanting, “We’re standing for Black girls!” (Photo by Ayana Hamilton/Cronkite News)

Finding Grandma Joyce: What happens when someone dies alone?

TUCSON – A two-year search for Joyce Maryanna Williams led to Maricopa County’s final resting place for the unclaimed, unidentified and indigent. Between September 2021 and August 2022, 718 people in Maricopa County died alone, meaning next of kin were unable to be located or refused to handle arrangements.