Phoenix City Council bans “source of income” discrimination for renters, home buyers

PHOENIX — Phoenix City Council voted 8-1 to pass an ordinance banning “source of income” discrimination for anyone who rents or buys a home. The March 1 vote followed a push from Phoenix residents and affordable housing advocates who said people on public assistance and Section 8 housing vouchers face discrimination from landlords.

Phoenix joined Tucson in passing legislation the prohibits "source of income" discrimination against renters, which is when landlords reject applicants who rely on Section 8 vouchers, Social Security, disability payments or other public income. The Tucson law is under review by the attorney general, but Phoenix officials are confident the ordinance will survive. (File photo by Carolina Lopez/Cronkite News)

‘Above all else, believe us’: Advocates say doctors can show biased behavior toward autistic adults

Several patients say doctors and others in the medical field often show biased behavior toward autistic adults. Advocates say some physicians fail to believe people when they say they are autistic, treat adults like children and use ableist language.

Medical care of autistic adults is marked with bias, advocates say. (Photo by Alex Proimos/Creative Commons)

Hobbs says state will not proceed for now with court-ordered execution

WASHINGTON - Gov. Katie Hobbs said Friday that the state will not proceed with the execution of convicted murderer Aaron Gunches, one day after the Arizona Supreme Court said it had no choice but to order his death.


African American history museum aims to preserve Black history and fight for social change

TUCSON – The African American Museum of Southern Arizona officially opened on Jan. 14, 2023, in Tucson, with the intention to “enable the community to join together and respect the past, honor the present, and pay reverence to the future while engaging and sustaining social action,” according to the museum’s website.

A sign for the African American Museum of Southern Arizona.

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)

Crime survivors rally at state Capitol to demand better trauma care

PHOENIX - Crime survivors and their families from across Arizona gathered at the state Capitol Monday, calling on lawmakers to fund trauma recovery centers that offer therapy and social services.


‘Soundies’ showcase Black history on film, racism and all

LOS ANGELES — For Black History Month, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures highlighted its exhibit "Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898–1971." It features rarely-seen film excerpts restored by the Academy Film Archive.

Museum guests point and admire the photos of iconic Black stars like Sidney Poitier and Hattie McDaniel. It was part of an exhibit on early Black films at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in a photo taken Feb. 4, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo By Ayana Hamilton/Cronkite News)

Supreme Court chides Arizona – again – for death-penalty sentencing rules

WASHINGTON - A divided Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that an Arizona death row inmate was wrongly denied the right to tell jurors he would never get out on parole if he was sentenced to life instead of death.


Phoenix officials urged to address income discrimination against renters on public assistance

PHOENIX — Residents who have struggled with high rents in America’s fifth-largest city are calling on city officials to address discrimination against renters on public assistance.

Residents who have struggled with high rents in Phoenix are calling on city officials to pass an ordinance that would prohibit landlords from rejecting renters who rely on Section 8 housing vouchers and unemployment benefits for income. (Photo by Paula Soria/Cronkite News)

ASU film students join storytelling masterclass with NFL 360

MESA – NFL Media’s NFL 360, which creates short-form documentaries that tell the stories of individuals pushing the boundaries of football, came to ASU’s film school to teach students about their filmmaking techniques.

NFL 360, which produces short-form documentaries on the intersection of football and race, gender and nationality, worked with ASU students on the art of storytelling during Super Bowl week. (Photo by Aidan Richmond/Cronkite News)

States’ challenge to fed border policy pulled from Supreme Court calendar

WASHINGTON - Arizona was already edging away from a legal challenge by states trying to keep the Title 42 border policy in place when the Supreme Court on Thursday took the case off its calendar.