John Sanders
John Sanders(he/him/his)
News Reporter, Phoenix

John Sanders expects to graduate in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication. Sanders has written stories for The State Press and Downtown Devil. He will intern with Times Media Group in spring 2024.

Latest from John Sanders

Read On Arizona and partners provide youth reading education to support fight pandemic literacy loss

PHOENIX – Nonprofit organizations Read On Arizona and Read On Tempe work with partners to improve child literacy, as third grade test scores show pandemic literacy loss.

Nonprofit organizations Read On Arizona and Read On Tempe work in conjunction with partners to improve child literacy as third grade test scores show pandemic literacy loss. (File photo by Keerthi Vedantam/Cronkite News)

Older adults face homelessness at high rates. Here’s how governments, organizations are responding

PHOENIX – With the help of federal funding, the Justa Center and city of Phoenix are working to help older adults experiencing homelessness, including helping people find long-term housing solutions.

The Justa Center in downtown Phoenix has worked for years to assist unhoused older adults in the community. (Photo by Crystal N. Aguilar/Cronkite News)

Think tank estimates Arizona spends $1.1 billion annually for homelessness solutions

Think tank organization Common Sense Institute Arizona presented research, which estimates that Arizona spends $1.1 billion annually on homelessness solutions.

A Common Sense Institute report suggests that though most of the funding for homelessness solutions is dedicated to housing, there may be other areas to invest in as the unhoused population continues to grow. (Photo courtesy of St. Vincent de Paul)

Organizations assist Native American voters as election year ramps up

PHOENIX – Organizations like Arizona Native Voter and the Native American Rights Fund work to help Native Americans vote. With hurdles like restrictions on post office box addresses and voting accessibility in rural areas, voters may struggle to cast their votes.


With traffic fatalities on the rise, Phoenix looks for safety solutions

PHOENIX – Phoenix, which had the most traffic deaths in the state in 2022, is working toward eliminating traffic fatalities using its Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan.

Phoenix, which had the most traffic deaths in the state in 2022, is working toward eliminating traffic fatalities using its Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan. (File photo by Andrea Jaramillo/Cronkite News)

As summers get hotter, St. Vincent de Paul works to assist unhoused individuals

PHOENIX – St. Vincent de Paul provides housing and heat relief to people experiencing homelessness. In the summer, the organization offers bottled water, indoor air conditioning and outdoor heat relief stations, which are necessary interventions as the Valley is overwhelmed with heat.

People who are experiencing homelessness are provided with beds at St. Vincent de Paul’s Washington Street Shelter. (Photo courtesy of St. Vincent de Paul)

Environmental groups champion nature, wildlife and water to Arizona policymakers

PHOENIX – Activist groups and legislators gathered at the state Capitol for “Environmental Day” to address nature, wildlife and water. With the “Save Water, Save Life” theme, dozens of groups advocated for legislative changes and support for the environment and general sustainability.

Greg Clark, burrowing owl habitat coordinator for Wild at Heart, welcomes attendees at the Environmental Day at the Arizona Capitol to learn more about the rescue organization. Photo taken Jan. 25, 2024. (Photo by Kayla Jackson/Cronkite News)