Search result for Tom Blanton

Guesting game: State of the Union guests make political, personal points

WASHINGTON - First lady Jill Biden will host two Arizonans for the State of the Union Tuesday and state lawmakers have invited guests ranging from college student to a college chancellor, tribal leaders to business leaders, in a tradition that can have both personal and political goals.


What the Eagles and Chiefs are saying ahead of Super Bowl 57

PHOENIX – For the first time since 2015, Arizona will play host to the Super Bowl. Follow along for live updates, featuring news, event highlights and more from the Cronkite News team, before the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs kick off on Super Bowl Sunday at State Farm Stadium.

Margaret T. Hance Park is home to a portion of the Super Bowl LVII Experience. Signage at the park promotes the big game and events surrounding it. (Photo by Drake Presto/Cronkite News)

Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball riding six-game streak, rounding into NCAA Tournament form

TUCSON – The Arizona Wildcats defeated the Oregon State Beavers Saturday to win their sixth straight game and are in contention for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The team is playing some of its best basketball of the season and it couldn’t come at a better time. There is just more than a month of basketball ahead for the Wildcats before the Pac-12 and NCAA tournaments in March.

University of Arizona men's basketball player Kylan Boswell and Oregon State men's basketball player Jordan Pope during a game.

Camp Freedom collaboration car sells for $350,000 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale

SCOTTSDALE – Camp Freedom collaborated with Count’s Kustoms and Shelby America on a custom 2021 Shelby Super Snake. The funds from the auction at Barrett-Jackson will fund Camp Freedom’s work providing outdoor experiences to veterans & first responders in need.

Scottsdale’s Barrett-Jackson auction featured a custom 2021 Shelby Super Snake Count’s Kustoms edition car, which sold last weekend for $350,000. (Photo courtesy of Barrett-Jackson)

Super Bowl deals: Affordable events to attend leading up to the big game

PHOENIX – As the average ticket cost for the 2023 Super Bowl reaches $5,000, here are events fans on a budget can attend during the week leading up to the big game.

The Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe's will invite attendees to participate in the "ultimate NFL experience." For $20, fans can kick a field goal and run the 40-yard dash, among other interactive activities, ahead of the big game. (Photo by Grace Edwards/Cronkite News)

Arizona’s Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club keeps producing the best of the best

PHOENIX – Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club in Arizona is home to many Olympic medalists and World Champions, and according to coach Mark Perry, resources and elite talents are the reasons why.

ASU wrestler Brandon Courtney trained with elite talent at a young age as a member of the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club. "It keeps you motivated to stay wrestling," the redshirt senior said. (Photo courtesy of ASU Athletics)

Arizona, other states propose Colorado River cuts; California pushes back

WASHINGTON - Federal officials said they will consider a plan by Arizona and five other Colorado River basin states on how to further cut water consumption, even though the biggest user in the basin - California - has not signed off on it.


Former Phoenix Suns players stir memories of 1992-93 season at fundraiser

PHOENIX – Phoenix Suns Charities event hosted current and former Suns players Monday at Steak 44, where the conversation centered around the 1993 NBA Finals team and the hopes for a championship in the near future.

Former Phoenix Suns forward Richard Dumas, who averaged 15.8 points and 4.6 rebounds as a rookie during the 1992-93 season, attended Monday's Phoenix Suns Charities event at Steak 44. (Photo by Grace Edwards/Cronkite News)

Arizona Wildcats hang hats on defense, rebound in Pac-12 race

TUCSON – After a slow start to 2023, the Arizona Wildcats defeated the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins in a key, two-game homestand. The pivotal victories put the Wildcats back in prime position in the Pac-12 regular-season title race.

Courtney Ramey scored 11 points in UArizona's 58-22 win Saturday against No. 5 UCLA. The Wildcats look to extend their win streak to three games Thursday at Washington State. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Catalyst for change: How Jerry Colangelo, 1992-93 Suns transformed downtown Phoenix

PHOENIX – The 1992-93 Phoenix Suns were more than a success on the basketball court, where they were good enough to reach The NBA Finals. With a new coach, a new superstar in Charles Barkley and a new arena, that team launched a renaissance in downtown Phoenix that transformed the city.

A visionary in his own right, former Suns owner Jerry Colangelo capitalized on the potential of downtown Phoenix to help revitalize the Valley. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

As cartels turn to social media to push fentanyl, experts teach parents how to keep kids safe

GLENDALE – Opioid use, particularly the use of powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl, remains a pressing problem. As cartels do more to target young people on Snapchat and other social media, Arizona drug prevention groups are letting parents, kids and educators know what to look out for to stay safe.


Move ’em out! Historic Old Tucson film studio has reopened after two years

TUCSON – Two years after COVID-19 shut it down, Old Tucson reopened in early October under new management. Hollywood filmed Westerns at the site for decades, and now visitors again can soak up some of that history.