Phoenix banks on wheels try to make banking more accessible, provide financial education

PHOENIX – With portions of Arizona’s population having limited or nonexistent access to banking services, financial institutions are working with nonprofits to help. Bank branches on wheels provide financial education and get more people signed up for bank accounts.


Pretty in pink: Phoenix Barbie exhibit highlights cultural, fashion icon

PHOENIX – Despite the “Barbie” movie’s snubs at Sunday night’s Academy Awards, the doll franchise has continued to influence the current cultural climate. Even prior to the movie’s release in 2023, Barbie has influenced fashion for decades since the doll’s launch in 1959. Phoenix Art Museum has an exhibit representing Barbie’s impressive collection and history.

A display case at the “Barbie: A Cultural Icon” exhibition at the Phoenix Art Museum shows off some of the many career Barbies, including a camerawoman Barbie and an award-winning actress Barbie. Throughout her existence, Barbie has taken on more than 250 different careers. Photo taken in Phoenix on Feb. 21, 2024. (Photo by Emily Mai/Cronkite News)

‘All I wanted to do was dance’: Ballet scholarship competition helps further dancers’ dreams

PHOENIX – Ballet dancers competed for scholarships at the Youth America Grand Prix international student ballet scholarship competition at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix in February.

Betzy Martinez, 19, performs at the Youth America Grand Prix international student ballet scholarship competition on Feb. 10, 2024. (Photo by Marnie Jordan/Cronkite News)

Business owners challenge bill requiring E-Verify checks for jobs, benefits

PHOENIX - House Speaker Ben Toma says his latest immigration bill could save Arizona billions in welfare benefits annually, but small business owners rallied Monday to say it will cost the state instead, by driving out businesses and workers.


Going on offense over Defense spending: Biden touts benefits to states

WASHINGTON - As Congress weigh $95 billion in military aid for Ukraine and Israel, the Pentagon is reporting that defense spending in Arizona totaled $15 billion in fiscal 2022, making Arizona the 10th-biggest beneficiary of Defense Department support among states.


Arizona public schools struggle to fill teaching positions as leaders brainstorm school staffing solutions

PHOENIX – From legislative proposals to extend Proposition 123 to the two-day Arizona State University Fulton Teachers College Summit on Strategic School Staffing Structures, educators, politicians and researchers weigh in on strategies to help alleviate staffing shortages in Arizona schools.

The annual Strategic School Staffing Summit, run by Arizona State University's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College earlier this month, highlighted a collection of potential solutions to teacher staffing issues across the state. In this 2022 file photo, students work with a teacher at Encanto Elementary School in Phoenix. (File photo by Sophie Oppfelt/Cronkite News)

As animal shelters exceed capacity, groups seek to keep pets with families

PHOENIX – As Maricopa County animal shelters work to handle more dogs than they can handle, local organizations seek to remind current and future pet owners of resources to help them keep their pets.

Kennels at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control's West Valley Animal Care Center are over capacity, and several hold two animals. “It's not the shelter's fault. They get a lot of heat from the community around these choices. But what do you do when you've got more animals coming in than you have kennels and adopters?” said Leanna Taylor, CEO of the Arizona Pet Project. Photo taken in Phoenix on Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Emily Mai/Cronkite News)

Flight attendants demand better pay and working conditions during Sky Harbor Airport walkout

PHOENIX – Flight attendants at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport joined others across the country in an educational demonstration to shine a light on their struggle to make a deal with their airline employers.

Flight attendants walk out at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to advocate for better pay and working conditions on Feb. 13, 2024. (Photo by Mariah Temprendola/Cronkite News)

Behind the cart: Food vendor’s take on tamale bill discussion

PHOENIX – The tamale bill is back and a local food vendor shares his thoughts on the newly reintroduced bill.


Diamondbacks continue outreach to Hispanic community through Serpientes Fiesta

PHOENIX – In the past few years, the Arizona Diamondbacks have been growing their Hispanic audience through various events and promotions. It ramped up with the unveiling of their “Serpientes” City Connect jerseys in 2021. Since then, Chase Field has been home to numerous Mexican Heritage nights, Hispanic Heritage events and Serpientes giveaways. This trend continued with a Serpientes Fiesta event on Jan. 27.


‘Everything old is new again’: Valley vinyl stores see uptick in physical music sales

PHOENIX – Luminate's 2023 Year-End Report has found that physical album sales grew 8.9% over 2022, with records seeing the largest growth. As audio streaming popularity skyrockets, vinyl, CD and cassette tape popularity are holding strong in sales up from 79.9 million in 2022 to 87 million in 2023. Arizona record stores have noticed the trend, and Arizona artists hope to record physical copies of their music.

Dario Miranda, who works for Stinkweeds Records, inspects a vinyl for scratches or imperfections. Photo taken in Phoenix on Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Emily Mai/Cronkite News)

Tribes face an uphill battle to defend their sacred land against lithium mining

OROVADA, Nev. — Myron Smart remembers stories told by his father and other tribal elders about the connection between Thacker Pass in Nevada, where a new lithium mine is under construction, and a tragic moment for the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone.