As wildfires rage, federal firefighters see bump in minimum hourly pay
WASHINGTON - Fighting wildfires did not get any easier this month, but it did get a little more profitable for thousands of full-time and temporary firefighters employed by the federal government, which raised their minimum wage from $13 an hour to $15 an hour.
Child welfare systems face additional challenges during pandemic
Systems meant to deal with abused and neglected children are facing many new challenges in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which put many parents out of work and many families on the streets.
From housing football games to fire evacuees, Round Valley Ensphere has rich history
PHOENIX – The Round Valley Ensphere – so named for the atypical connector design implemented by the dome’s architects – purports to be the only domed high school football stadium in the country. But to focus on that label would be to sell it short. After all, it can fit more people than the combined population of the two towns it serves.
Medical mistreatment, inequity lead to vaccine hesitancy for Black Americans
Historic and ongoing medical mistreatment and lack of access have informed Black Americans’ COVID-19 response: vaccine hesitancy.
Attorneys waive fees to prepare name-change petitions for LGBTQ+ community
PHOENIX – In June, attorney Daniel Riley started pro bono name changes for trans and nonbinary people. “It gives them the power to decide who, when and where they're going to share their story,” he said.
Arizona professor will lead NASA project to locate menacing objects near Earth
PHOENIX – NASA has appointed a professor at the University of Arizona to lead the Near Earth Object Surveyor project, which involves building an orbiting infrared telescope that scans space for potentially harmful asteroids.
Legislation to change Native American team names lacks momentum in Arizona
PHOENIX – Colorado and Nevada recently passed laws restricting team names and mascots that reference Native American culture. One former state legislator who tried to make progress in this area thinks changing Arizona will be a challenge.
Navajo officials confident about reopening amid spread of delta variant in U.S.
PHOENIX – Cases of the delta variant are rising in the U.S., but the tribe’s president and officials with the Navajo Department of Health express confidence about reopening the reservation at 50%.
FDA approves Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm, but concerns raised about cost, effectiveness
For the first time since 2003, the Federal Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive brain disorder. But with limited clinical trials and a hefty price tag, officials are skeptical about Aduhelm.
‘This funky game’: Korfball players struggle to grow sport in Arizona and U.S.
PHOENIX – In the 1980s, David Warren of Maricopa was part of the United States korfball team that earned a bronze medal at the World Games. Since then, the sport has faded even further into the background.
After the flames: Santa Catalina Mountains rebounding from Bighorn Fire a year ago
TUCSON – A year later, plants and wildlife are returning to the Santa Catalina Mountains after one of the state’s largest wildfires destroyed nearly 120,000 acres.
‘Everything I dreamed it would be’: Arizona optimistic despite early exit from College World Series
OMAHA - Arizona was eliminated from the College World Series after losing to Pac-12 rival Stanford in its second game. Although the Wildcats’ trip to Omaha was short, their season was a memorable one
