Mercury: Skylar Diggins-Smith absence not related to disagreement with Diana Taurasi
PHOENIX – Despite a bench disagreement with teammate Diana Taurasi during a loss in Las Vegas, Mercury guard Skylar Diggins-Smith missed Thursday night’s home loss against Dallas due to a non-COVID illness and not because of a fight, the team said.
Feds approve 35,000 more work visas, as firms struggle to fill open jobs
WASHINGTON - Arizona businesses welcomed the federal government's release this week of another 35,000 H-2B visas for temporary guest workers, as a tight U.S. labor market has left companies scrambling to fill vacancies.
Battle for Arizona Avenue: Hamilton-Chandler rivalry extends to baseball with first title meeting
TEMPE – A rivalry best known for football has extended to the diamond. Hamilton High School and Chandler High School showcased their talents in the baseball 6A state championship game. Is a new rivalry underway?
Arizona housing authorities’ strict criminal background checks often bar people who need a second chance
PHOENIX – As they look for a place to live in the state’s tight rental market, applicants with criminal backgrounds seeking government-supported housing face hurdles that go far beyond what the federal guidelines require.
On heels of Flores lawsuit, Black high school football coaches in Arizona hungry for more opportunities
PHOENIX – As the NFL deals with controversy over the dearth of Black head coaches, Arizona’s Black high school football coaches say numbers need to improve in their state.
From India to Flagstaff: Ramesh’s journey to NAU reflects country’s passion for basketball
FLAGSTAFF – Nearly two centuries ago, basketball made its way to India, thanks to a missionary from the YMCA. Now there are three women from India who have been awarded Division I scholarships, and two of them landed at Arizona universities.
NAU’s smart bike technology can detect damaged pathways
FLAGSTAFF – A Northern Arizona University engineering team has created a prototype sensor and network that can detect damage along bike paths and alert city officials to needed repairs.
Going pro in esports? ASU Valorant players eye turning professional
PHOENIX – The college-to-pro pipeline for esports players isn’t as clear as their NCAA counterparts. For players on the ASU Esports Valorant team, their dreams of going professional are undeterred by this lack of clarity.
As death rates rise, medical examiners struggle to keep pace with caseload
WASHINGTON - As the nation enters a third year under the threat of COVID-19, Arizona medical examiners say they are struggling to keep up with rising caseloads driven largely by rising deaths from the virus at a time when there is a shortage in forensic pathologists.
Losing contact: Instead, girls flag football emerging in Arizona, across U.S.
PHOENIX – Spreading the word through social media and word of mouth, Mountain Pointe High School is joining schools within the Chandler Unified School District to start girls flag football programs. The sport’s popularity is growing around the country.
Soccer’s popularity in Arizona has helped Phoenix Rising groom top academy players
CHANDLER – The Phoenix Rising have signed two more players from their youth academy to two-way contracts, signaling the talent level in Arizona continues to rise.
‘Trust the process’: Tommy Lloyd optimistic about future of Arizona men’s basketball
PHOENIX – Exactly a year from the day he was hired, coach Tommy Lloyd reflects on his first season with the University of Arizona men’s basketball program.
