Search result for Stephanie Morse and Sam Ficarro

Golf’s growth across Valley spurs $6 billion economic boost while staying environmentally friendly

PHOENIX – A report from Rounds Consulting Group and the Arizona Alliance of Golf have found that the golf industry in Arizona contributes more than $6 billion to the economy.

Only 2% of Arizona’s daily water usage goes toward golf course irrigation for over 370 locations throughout the state. “The reason the daily usage is going down is that a lot of golf courses are using reclaimed water,” said Luis Cordova, the Vice President and COO of Rounds Consulting Group. (Photo by Susan Wong/Cronkite News)

Double standard: Duo of twins help raise level of play for ASU women’s lacrosse

TEMPE – The ASU women’s lacrosse team has a unique lineup with two sets of identical twins. Gigi and Bella Gaspar and Maddie and McKenna Riley are helping to raise the level of play in Tempe.

Maddie, left, and McKenna Riley have been through a lot together, including rehabbing from a torn ACL. (Photo courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics)

Finding Grandma Joyce: What happens when someone dies alone?

TUCSON – A two-year search for Joyce Maryanna Williams led to Maricopa County’s final resting place for the unclaimed, unidentified and indigent. Between September 2021 and August 2022, 718 people in Maricopa County died alone, meaning next of kin were unable to be located or refused to handle arrangements.


After pitching struggles in Oregon, ASU baseball turns focus to Stanford series

EUGENE, Ore. – Although it came away with just one victory in its series at Oregon, the Arizona State baseball team is ready to shift its focus to the future. Especially since Stanford awaits.

Arizona State right fielder Nick McLain hit three home runs during the Sun Devils’ series against Oregon in Eugene. (Photo by Anthony Remedios/Cronkite News)

Map of border surveillance towers shows growing ‘virtual wall’ along US southern border

PHOENIX – The Electronic Frontier Foundation created a map of more than 300 surveillance towers on the United States-Mexico border. EFF questions the implications of surveillance on citizens in border communities and the expansion of surveillance technology.

Two remote video surveillance systems are shown on hills across from the border wall in Nogales, Ariz. (Photo courtesy of Electronic Frontier Foundation)

Arizona’s veterinary medicine grads aid shortfall of vets in nation, state

GLENDALE – Arizona’s veterinary loan assistance program will repay up to $100,000 in loans for graduates who have practiced in the state for four years. Midwestern University and the University of Arizona hope to graduate more veterinary medicine students to fill the vet shortage.


La pregunta para las víctimas y la corte no es si Aaron Gunches será ejecutado, sino cuándo

WASHINGTON - Se suponía que Aaron Gunches moriría el jueves por la noche. Pero en cambio, el asesino convicto pasará al menos dos meses más en el corredor de la muerte de Arizona mientras los tribunales deciden si el estado puede ser obligado a llevar a cabo una ejecución para la cual dicen que no están preparados

Arizona llevó a cabo tres ejecuciones en 2022, después de una pausa de ocho años debido a preguntas sobre los protocolos de pena de muerte del estado. El asesino convicto Aaron Gunches ha pedido ser ejecutado, pero los funcionarios estatales dicen que todavía hay demasiados problemas con la inyección letal y otros procedimientos para llevar a cabo una ejecución ahora. (Foto cortesía del Departamento de Correcciones, Rehabilitación y Reingreso de Arizona)

Native Sun: How Saben Lee’s NBA dreams from Corona Del Sol days led to Arizona homecoming

PHOENIX – Former Corona Del Sol standout Saben Lee endured setbacks throughout high school and college, but all of his trials led him back home for a dream opportunity with the Suns.

Phoenix Suns guard Saben Lee attended Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, where he dedicated countless hours to his craft with the help of his father and became a two-time first-team All-State selection before signing to play at Vanderbilt. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Phoenix Suns eager to reverse postseason failures in upcoming NBA playoffs

PHOENIX – The Suns hope to end a franchise-long streak of heartbreaking playoff outings and lift up the Larry O’Brien trophy. To do that, however, Phoenix will need to go against history, unwritten rules and other factors that will stand in the way of its first title.

The Phoenix Suns ended the 2021-22 season on a bitter note against the Dallas Mavericks. Entering Sunday's first round of the NBA playoffs, Devin Booker & Co. start fresh in pursuit of erasing the franchise's dismal postseason history. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

‘Pick your poison’: Kevin Durant’s impact abundantly clear as NBA playoffs approach

PHOENIX – Since trading for Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns are a perfect 8-0 when Durant is in the lineup, and it’s no secret the 13-time All-Star will pose a headache for the Los Angeles Clippers in their first-round series.

Since his trade in February, Kevin Durant has averaged 26 points in eight games while shooting 57% from the field and 53% from 3-point range. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

As heat-related deaths soar in Arizona, cities, businesses and environmental activists launch tree-planting initiatives

PHOENIX – Deaths related to heat have soared in recent years in Arizona. Several cities, businesses and environmental groups believe that planting trees should be part of the solution.

The blue palo verde is Arizona's state tree. Several are shown in a neighborhood in North Phoenix. (Photo by Emily Mai/Cronkite News)

Question for victims, court, is not if Aaron Gunches will die, but when

WASHINGTON - Aaron Gunches was supposed to die Thursday night. But instead the convicted murderer will spend at least two more months on Arizona's death row while courts decide if the state can be forced to carry out an execution it says it is not ready for.