Jonmaesha Beltran
Social Justice Reporter, PhoenixLatest from Jonmaesha Beltran
‘I wanted to do more than hold a sign’: Street medic crew forms out of Black Lives Matter protests
PHOENIX – Desert Action Medical Network is a group of street medics – from paramedics to people with basic first-aid knowledge – who have attended more than 80 protests in metro Phoenix, offering medical care to more than 60 people.
Mother and son percolate coffee business to hire the formerly incarcerated
PHOENIX – One coffee at a time: A former sex offender and his mother hire formerly incarcerated workers for Java Justice. The new business is part of reforming a system that punishes people long after they have left prison.
COVID-19 in Arizona: Map tracks cases by ZIP code; federal relief coming to universities
PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Health Services releases new data on COVID-19, and Yuma County reports the first COVID-19 related death.
COVID-19 in Arizona: Immigration employees test positive, small-business evictions halted
NOGALES – As Arizona grapples to contain deadly COVID-19, Yavapai County reported its first death on Monday, and deaths related to COVID-19 are projected to peak mid April statewide.
‘We’re in crisis mode’: Coronavirus putting pressure on food and shelter nonprofits
PHOENIX – Homeless shelters and food banks are seeing an increase in demand as COVID-19 rampages through the state. And time and money are running out for nonprofits.
Despite COVID-19, poll officials report steady turnout, smooth voting
TEMPE - Polling officials around Arizona said voting in the state's presidential preference primary Tuesday was decidedly calm in the midst of a decidedly anxious time in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, with high turnout but generally smooth operations..
Knowledge of the Holocaust wanes for millennials, Gen Z
PHOENIX – Studies show that knowledge of the Holocaust is declining, even as anti-Semitism is on the rise and survivors mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Oskar Knoblauch has told his story of surviving the Krakow ghetto in Poland to hundreds of students and supports making Arizona the 13th state to mandate genocide education.
Phoenix City Council approves first civilian review board of police conduct
PHOENIX – The Phoenix City Council on Tuesday approved civilian oversight of the Phoenix police that combines a new city agency and a community review board that will have the power to investigate complaints against police, recommend policy changes directly to the police chief and set up community outreach.
‘A clean slate is needed’: Arizona lawmakers urged to reform criminal justice system
PHOENIX – Criminal reform advocates are asking Arizona legislators to change laws that keep hundreds of formerly incarcerated people from voting or getting jobs.
