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.
‘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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.