Peoria parents hope military mental health act spares others their pain

WASHINGTON - Patrick and Teri Caserta hope no one has to go through what they did in 2018 when their son died by suicide while in the Navy. That's why the Peoria parents were on hand to support a bill to give service members confidential access to mental health care.


ASU students react to Ducey’s order blocking mask and vaccination policies

TEMPE – Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order banning Arizona universities and community colleges from requiring unvaccinated students to wear masks and to get tested regularly. Students weigh in on the order.


Red tape and the ‘mask god’: Group looks back on successful PPE drive

PHOENIX - Sam Wang's "anti-epidemic diary” shows photos of grateful medical personnel, police and firefighters around stacks of boxes that hold some of the 158,000 masks secured for them at the pandemic's start by a volunteer group of Chinese Americans in Arizona.


Arizona’s first excessive heat watch of 2021 issued, and where to find help

PHOENIX – The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat watch warning for next week with temperatures projected to be as high as 117. What the warning means, how to prepare for that type of weather and a look at Glendale’s heat relief stations.


How will youth sports leagues, parents react now that COVID-19 vaccine available for adolescents?

PHOENIX – With the release of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for adolescents coinciding with the start of many youth sporting events, parents and tournament organizers are faced with decisions related to protocol and expectations.


Tucson halts operations at water plant threatened by toxic chemical

WASHINGTON - Tucson officials said they will indefinitely suspend operations at one of the city's water treatment plants to keep it from being overwhelmed by an underground toxic chemical plume.


Vaccination rates drop, but officials still hopeful state can hit goal

WASHINGTON - COVID-19 vaccination rates have fallen sharply in Arizona, but health officials are still hopeful the state can reach a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention goal of vaccinating 70% of Arizonans by July 4.


Phoenix nonprofit gets vaccines to those experiencing homelessness

PHOENIX – Circle the City provides health care for more than 7,000 people experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County. Since January, the group has been providing vaccinations to this population through clinics and special events.


Desert Challenge Games afford athletes with disabilities a chance to compete again

MESA – It looked like any other competition at the Kino Aquatic Center, save the assistive devices, including wheelchairs, crutches and prostheses. And for athletes unable to take steps down into the pool, a built-in power lift was available.


Mass effort across Arizona results in millions of vaccinations

PHOENIX – From university campuses to the Navajo reservation, doctors, nurses, members of the armed services and everyday volunteers have participated in an enormous vaccination effort to help Arizonans return to normal life.


Worsening drought in the West weighs on farmers’ mental health

Farms in the Four Corners region are experiencing extreme drought conditions, which have been hard for both crops and farmers' mental health.


A year after Memorial Day went virtual, in-person events welcomed back

WASHINGTON - With vaccinations rising and new COVID-19 cases falling, Memorial Day ceremonies around the state and the nation that were forced to go virtual last are scheduled to be held in person again this year - a welcome change for those who observe the day.