Franco LaTona
Franco LaTona
News Visual Journalist, Phoenix

Franco LaTona is a Wisconsin native who expects to graduate in December 2020 with a master’s degree in mass communication. He is honing his visual storytelling skills and writing for the health desk at Cronkite News. LaTona spent more than three years as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa.

Latest from Franco Latona

A mother’s journey: How one Arizona woman navigated domestic violence amid a pandemic

Experts around the world are reporting increasing domestic violence during the pandemic. But in Arizona, some advocates say victims may not be in a position to seek help or move into a shelter. This is the story of one woman who found the courage to do just that and, along with her children, come out on the other side.


Pandemic, Trump and racism drive voter turnout in some tribal communities

Native American voters say they were driven to vote by COVID-19, racism and President Trump’s disregard for sacred tribal land.


Community health centers struggle to serve and survive during pandemic

PHOENIX – Community health centers are a vital part of the nation’s health care system, helping 29 million people in medically underserved communities regardless of their ability to pay. But COVID-19 has hit these clinics hard, and some are struggling to survive.


Biden claims ‘clear victory’ as Arizonans await final vote counts in razor-thin election

PHOENIX – Amid celebrations on one side, and vows to keep fighting on the other, Arizonans on Sunday awaited final vote counts even as President-elect Joe Biden claimed a “clear victory."


Each Election Day, voters with disabilities combat barriers to cast ballots

PHOENIX – Some 38 million people with disabilities were eligible to vote in this year’s election, but they face unique challenges in ensuring their ballots get cast and counted.


Vote counting anxiety rises as Trump-Biden race tightens in Arizona

PHOENIX – Arizona draws national attention, Trump supports protest the election process and “Sharpie-gate” rumors add to unfounded tensions as the vote count continues in Arizona. Some media outlets have called the state for Joe Biden, but election officials caution that some 200,000 ballots still need to be counted in Maricopa County alone.


Election updates: Voters defy COVID, misgivings to make their voices heard

Millions of Arizona residents have already voted in this swing state but people are showing up in person at polls around Arizona to vote for President Trump or Joe Biden for president, for or against Proposition 207 to legalize recreational marijuana and Prop 208 to fund education.


Bill pressures CDC to give Native Americans better access to federal health data

PHOENIX – A bipartisan bill co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Tom O’Halleran of Arizona reaffirms that Native Americans are entitled to federal health data, which could help them in the COVID-19 pandemic. Tribal officials say it addresses a long-standing issue.


‘Baby-Friendly’ hospitals tackle health disparities by encouraging Native mothers to breastfeed

A hospital on the Fort Apache Reservation in eastern Arizona is one of several overseen by the Indian Health Service that aims to encourage more Native American women to breastfeed.