Maricopa County leads nation in population increase, surpasses 4.5 million

PHOENIX – Maricopa County remained the fastest-growing county in the nation with a population over 4.5 million people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Pinal County saw the second-biggest gains in Arizona, adding 16,010 people.

Maricopa County remained the fastest-growing county in the nation with a population over 4.5 million people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. (File photo by Troy Hill/Cronkite News)

Storytellers say LA River can become tool against climate change

LOS ANGELES – In Los Angeles' Frogtown, eco-minded activists gathered around at the local brewery to hear storytellers share their personal connection to the Los Angeles River, a once thriving and unifying water source for the people and wildlife was lined with concrete and fenced in 1938.

The LA River story slam was held at the Frogtown Brewery. Guests were encouraged to shop, eat and drink. In the back were a frog-themed taco food truck and an “artist's alley.” It included art from Margaret Gallagher, Kris Mukai, Nova Community Arts and Emily Wallerstein. (Photo by Ayana Hamilton/Cronkite News)

Glendale breaks ground on first complex to use state affordable housing tax credit

GLENDALE – Centerline on Glendale will be the first housing complex in Arizona funded in part by the state affordable housing tax credit. The complex will have 368 new affordable apartments for Glendale residents by 2024.

Officials attend the groundbreaking ceremony for Centerline on Glendale, a 368-unit complex designed for mixed-income housing and funded in part by a state low-income housing tax credit. Photo taken on March 24, 2023. (Photo by Izabella Hernandez/Cronkite News)

‘Broadcast legend’ Pat McMahon of ‘Wallace and Ladmo’ still a Phoenix TV icon

PHOENIX – For over three decades, Pat McMahon brought joy to children across the greater Phoenix area on KPHO’s hit TV kid’s program, “The Wallace and Ladmo Show.”

Pat McMahon records an ad in the AZTV7 studio to be broadcast on the “Arizona Daily Mix” morning show. Photo taken in Phoenix on March 22, 2023. (Photo by Emily Mai/Cronkite News)

Haboobs, swamp box and ki-yotes: Arizona residents favor protecting the ways they speak

PHOENIX - A recent poll suggests Arizona residents are in favor of protecting the unique ways they speak, and the country of Wales provides an example to do so.

(Illustration by Emily Mai/Cronkite News)

Explosives training brings military and law enforcement from around the world to Marana

MARANA – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives hosts improvised explosive device exercises for public safety bomb squads and military explosive ordnance disposal units. The most recent, called Raven’s Challenge, was at Pinal County Airpark in Marana earlier this month.

Raven’s Challenge subject matter expert David Bebout (not pictured) demonstrates a type of explosion commonly used in Hollywood films at Pinal County Airpark on March 2, 2023. Three pounds of explosive make up the charge. (Photo by Jack Wu/Cronkite News)

Flagstaff competitions, businesses grow snowboarding community

FLAGSTAFF – Flagstaff clothing brand, Collective Supply Co., co-hosted a snowboarding contest with Sunset Terrain Park in Arizona Snowbowl. The company aims to grow the snowboarding community and bring people together.

Contestants at the “The Site” snowboarding and ski competition wait to do a run down Sunset Terrain Park on Jan. 28, 2023. Collective Supply Co., a clothing brand geared toward the Flagstaff snowboarding community, co-hosted the competition with the park. “Snowboarding is growing at a huge rate and obviously we are stoked on that,” said Rich Phillips, co-founder of Collective Supply Co. “Snowboarding is definitely alive and kicking, especially in AZ.” (Photo by Drake Presto/Cronkite News)

School advocates worry about keeping counselors as federal funding set to expire

CHANDLER – Federal funding provided during the pandemic allowed some schools to bring on extra counselors. School counselors and advocates emphasize the importance of keeping them on to work with students and families even when the funding ends.

Hamilton High School counselor Mandy Tietjen says “our kids see the same counselor, the same administrator all four years and we’re able to communicate if there’s a discipline issue we have a little insight about that and what social-emotional needs could be supported.” (Photo courtesy of Chandler Unified School District)

Virtual tour of Anne Frank’s house offers new way to teach about the Holocaust

PHOENIX – The Arizona Jewish Historical Society is opening a new interactive activity as part of its exhibit, “Stories of Survival: An Immersive Journey Through the Holocaust.” It utilizes virtual reality to guide visitors through the home of Anne Frank, the young girl whose life is memorialized in the diary she kept from age 13 until she was killed by the Nazis at age 16.

Holocaust survivor Andrew Schot, right, speaks at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society on Feb. 24, 2023, with Anthony Fusco Jr., who is the society’s education coordinator. (Photo by Shira Tanzer/Cronkite News)

Black artists connect family, culture and history

PHOENIX – Black art is the great connector – of humanity, of Black history, of family, culture and a vision of life’s value and purpose, according to several Arizona artists who paint, sculpt and create.

Rhonda “Shakur” Carter said she finds inspiration from family, community and history. “I have this piece that looks like Harriet Tubman and she’s running to freedom. It kind of feels like we’re still fighting for freedom and to be heard,” Shakur said. (Photo by Sierra Alvarez/Cronkite News)

Super Bowl brings more opportunity for Phoenix artists

PHOENIX — Super Bowl LVII has come and gone, but its impact on the local arts community remains in the form of a larger national profile it has given several Arizona artists.

A gif showing the progression of the mural's creation through five photos.

Inner-city students receive new space to play

PHOENIX – Kaboom, a nationwide nonprofit, and Fairytale Brownies, a bakery in Phoenix, sponsored a new playground for Loma Linda School in Phoenix. The playground will help Kaboom reach its goal of ending play space inequity.

Rebekah Gonzales, 11, plays on the monkey bars at Loma Linda Elementary School in Phoenix while she waits for the new playground unveiling. Her biggest wish for the new playground was for it to have a zip line, which it does. Photo taken on Feb. 23, 2023. (Photo by Evelyn Nielsen/Cronkite News)