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Fanfare, fights and futbol: CONCACAF Gold Cup makes pit stop at State Farm Stadium

GLENDALE – The CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament came to Phoenix and the popularity of Mexico attracted a large crowd. Coming out of its successful match, Mexico still appeared to be in the honeymoon phase with interim coach Jaime Lozano. The period was short-lived, however, as Mexico lost its final group stage game to Qatar to the ire of fans.

Fans of Mexico’s men’s national team represented a large portion of the crowd when the team played Haiti Thursday night for the CONCACAF Gold Cup at State Farm Stadium. Mexico won, 3-1. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

At Lake Powell, record low water levels revealed an ‘amazing silver lining’

As water levels fell to historic lows at Lake Powell earlier this year, the receding water revealed a breathtaking landscape of deep red-rock canyons that cradle lush ecosystems and otherworldly arches, caverns and waterfalls - what some call a "lost national park."


Federal development funds will let Oklahoma tribes expand access to capital

WASHINGTON - Three Oklahoma tribal nations will receive more than 40% of the initial $73 million in funding from a federal small business initiative that for the first time is being targeted directly to tribes.


Another summer, another lifeguard shortage, as pools cut hours, openings

A $3,000 incentive program brought a boom in lifeguard applications to the city of Phoenix this year, but not enough lifeguards and pool managers to open more than 18 of the city's 29 pools this summer.

City of Phoenix lifeguard Carrie Nelson is the manager at Encanto pool. June 14, 2023 (Evelin Ruelas/Cronkite News)

Brave heart: The motivation behind Raymond Jones’ fight to stay on football field at Cactus High

GLENDALE – Growing up with a heart defect, Cactus football player Raymond Jones already works twice as hard to remain on the field. But after heart surgery in January, Jones was faced with his biggest hurdle yet.

Only six months removed from heart surgery in January, Raymond Jones pushed through running drills on the Cactus High School track to prepare for his senior season. (Photo by Eduardo Morales/Cronkite News)

Get on your soap box: Bisbee Coaster Races return with rich history

BISBEE – For the first time since 2019, Bisbee will hold its Fourth of July Coaster Races. Started in 1914, racers spend thousands of dollars to build soap box derby style cars that race down Tombstone Canyon into downtown Bisbee.

Coasters reach between 40-42 mph, and safety for all is always a priority, with required safety inspections, weigh-ins and brake checks. (Photo courtesy of City of Bisbee)

For July Fourth picnic prices, inflation is down this year – but not done

WASHINGTON - Americans can expect to pay less for their Independence Day cookouts than they did last year but don't go setting off fireworks over the drop - it's still 14% higher than two years ago after a historic spike in 2022.


Report: Shifting to EV fleets would save state, local governments millions

WASHINGTON - Arizona governments could save almost $283 million over the next 10 years if roughly 20,000 gasoline-powered light-duty vehicles in their fleets that are due to be retired were replaced with electric vehicles, according a recent report.


Months of wet weather erase drought across the Southwest

Climate experts recently provided a briefing with updates on the state of drought in the Southwest. In a rare dose of good news, much of the region's drought has been erased by months of wet weather.

Snow falls on the Colorado River near New Castle, Colorado, on Jan. 11, 2023. Months of snow and rain soaked a region in the grips of drought and helped replenish reservoirs along the Colorado River. (Photo by Alex Hager/KUNC)

Supreme Court nixes Biden plan for $430 billion in student-loan relief

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Friday struck down a Biden administration student-debt relief plan that would have aided more than 40 million people, 916,000 of whom live in Arizona and currently hold a total of $32.6 billion in loans.


Remembering heroes: New mural honors Granite Mountain Hotshots and their impact on Prescott

PRESCOTT – Ten years after the Yarnell Hill Fire, where 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots perished, a mural honoring their lives was unveiled at the Prescott Chamber of Commerce.

A mural created by Arizona artist Katie Von Kral honors the bravery of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and captures the essence of their courage. Unveiled Wednesday, June 28, 2023, the artwork is on the Prescott Chamber of Commerce building. (Photo by Bri Pacelli/Cronkite News)

Supreme Court rules race-based college admissions unconstitutional

WASHNGTON - A divided Supreme Court said that race-based college admissions policies are unconstitutional violations of the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause. Arizona universities do not believe it will affect them, but advocates called it "a shameful day."