Latest from Kevinjonah Paguio
Minneapolis to Phoenix: George Floyd protest offerings displayed at ASU Art Museum
TEMPE – ASU Art Museum partnered with Arizona State University’s Center for Work and Democracy and the George Floyd Global Memorial following a professor’s acquisition of a collection of offerings gathered during the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis.
New Sage Memorial Hospital transforms Navajo health care
GANADO – A new $177 million state-of-the-art medical facility in the Navajo Nation is nearing completion. Before the new hospital opens, staff must keep caring for patients in cramped spaces and with outdated equipment. All of that will change this fall when the new facility opens. Here’s a look at how radically different the new hospital will be.
Sage Memorial Hospital in Navajo Nation constructs new facility to improve health care
GANADO – Sage Memorial Hospital is opening a new facility in Ganado, looking to improve rural health care for the Diné people. Despite project hurdles and construction setbacks, the community is looking forward to the hospital’s opening.
Medical interpreters break the language barrier in Phoenix hospitals, use interpretation and translation services to broaden accessibility
PHOENIX – Health care accessibility includes language. Phoenix hospitals are using interpretation and translation services to help non-English speakers access necessary care.
¿Cómo los intérpretes médicos ayudan a superar las barreras del idioma?
PHOENIX – Los intérpretes médicos son esenciales para brindar atención de calidad a los pacientes que no hablan inglés ya que superan la barrera del idioma entre el personal médico y los pacientes, lo que garantiza que ambas partes se entiendan y puedan comunicarse de manera efectiva. Un simple error puede tener graves consecuencias.
Navajo psychiatrist bridges gaps between Native American culture and behavioral health care
GANADO – Dr. Richard Laughter, a Navajo psychiatrist practicing in the heart of the Navajo Nation, incorporates Native American cultural practices into the behavioral health program at Sage Memorial Hospital in Ganado.
Pandemic relief funds for early childhood care set to expire June 30
PHOENIX – Quality First’s federal pandemic relief funding for early childhood care is set to expire on June 30, ending some provider services and scholarships for families. Many, including Gov. Hobbs, are requesting an increase in state funds to mitigate the impact of this expiration.
Arizona Supreme Court restores near-total ban on abortions in the state
PHOENIX - A divided Arizona Supreme Court on Tuesday reinstated a 19th-century, near-total ban on abortion, saying it overrides a 2022 law that allowed abortions up to 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Low-income hearing health care expanded to all three Arizona universities
PHOENIX - The Hearing Healthcare Assistance Project provides hearing care for low-income adults who might not able to afford care. Founded in 2021 by the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and ASU, the program now includes NAU and UArizona.
Dreamscape Learn provides virtual learning experiences for ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest students
PHOENIX – Dreamscape Learn is collaborating with ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest to provide students with the first K-12 opportunity to use its new immersive virtual learning pod. Students can experience virtual realities from King Tut’s tomb to 30 meters below the ocean’s surface.
Prom, conversation, bingo: Seniors seek socialization
GILBERT – Phoenix senior homes held a prom in January to give their residents a special event with live music, dancing and a chance to dress up and socialize. Socialization is key to mental health and well-being for senior citizens.
Abortion opponents rally at Capitol during ‘crucial time in Arizona’
PHOENIX – Abortion opponents packed the plaza outside the Arizona Capitol on Friday in an impassioned display of anti-abortion advocacy at what one advocate called "a crucial time in Arizona" for the abortion fight.
Foro en español sobre el fentanilo promueve discusiones acerca de las adicciones en la comunidad hispana
PHOENIX – Cientos de personas asistieron al primer foro en español organizado por el condado Maricopa sobre el fentanilo dirigido a la comunidad hispana. Entre los oradores estaban Ronny Morales y su madre, Marta Ayala, quienes compartieron su experiencia lidiando con la adicción en la familia.
Former drug user tells story at Maricopa County’s first Spanish-only forum on fentanyl addiction
PHOENIX – The Maricopa County Attorney's Office hosted its first Spanish-only forum on the dangers of fentanyl. The program featured Ronny Morales who told his personal story of using the drug and getting sober.
Maricopa County uses portion of national opioid settlement for group that helps recovering women
PHOENIX – Maricopa County got $2 million in national opioid settlement funds and gave $60,000 to Live and Learn AZ, a local organization that supported April Hernandez so she could overcome a crystal meth addiction and get back on her feet.
Organizations help immigrants reunite with families from Mexico
PHOENIX – Raíces del Sur and Esperanza en la Frontera assist Mexican parents who have adult children in the U.S. in obtaining visas to visit their families, regardless of the children’s immigration status.
Arizona Game and Fish restocks lakes with fish grown in hatcheries
PAGE SPRINGS – Arizona Game and Fish grows fish to replenish the state’s lakes. This supports those who enjoy the pastime while also keeping the state’s environment vibrant.
Parents of children with disabilities could soon be paid as caregivers following Arizona proposal
QUEEN CREEK – Special COVID-19 funds have been paying parents as caregivers for their children needing specialized care. An extension of that arrangement is set to expire but a new proposal would make pay for parent caregivers a permanent benefit in Arizona.
Arizona activists work to hold the criminal justice system accountable through court watching
PHOENIX – Activists with Mass Liberation Arizona have attended the state’s high-profile police brutality and racial discrimination cases – including hearings for former Maricopa County Attorney’s Office prosecutor April Sponsel – to support marginalized defendants and make their presence known to attorneys and judges.
‘Perpetuating the Hawaiian culture’: Outrigger canoe teams bring sport, community to Arizona
TEMPE – Arizona has two Hawaiian outrigger canoe teams. They focus on competition as well as preserving Hawaiian culture and building community.
Fighting fire with fire: How prescribed burns protect forests in northern Arizona
WILLIAMS – The Kendrick Prescribed Fire Project was one of the first of many prescribed burns this fall and winter throughout Arizona with the goal of protecting forest lands and surrounding communities from the threat of potential catastrophic wildfires. The prescribed burns in Kaibab National Forest are part of the U.S. Forest Service’s 10-year wildfire crisis strategy.
High home prices and interest rates contribute to tough market for first-time homebuyers
PHOENIX – Mortgage loan interest rates are hovering around 8% for the first time in decades, and home prices are high, making a home purchase tough for buyers entering the market for the first time.
Hundreds gather at ASU events with opposing views of Israelis, Palestinians
TEMPE - As the death toll in the fighting between Hamas and Israel rose this week, groups at Arizona State University gathered in separate rallies on Wednesday and Thursday to express both grief and support for Israelis and Palestinians.
Arizona’s extreme heat threatens ‘spectacular migrations’ of butterflies
SCOTTSDALE – Arizona experienced extreme heat this summer, which may affect butterfly migratory patterns. The prolonged heat means less food for butterflies and caterpillars.
Arizona veterans, state agencies battle over bingo machines deemed illegal under state gambling laws
PHOENIX – Arizona veteran groups, including members of local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, with the help of state Sen. Sonny Borrelli, called out public agencies for targeting them over bingo technological aids, but the state says that’s not the issue. Instead, the groups may be using illegal bingo gaming machines.
Biden honors McCain, denounces ‘MAGA extremists’ during Tempe event
TEMPE – President Joe Biden invoked the spirit of the late Sen. John McCain while denouncing "MAGA extremists" as a threat to democracy, during a speech Thursday at the Tempe Arts Center.
A national caregiver shortage strains organizations and families across the Valley
PHOENIX – The need for family caregivers is on the rise, leaving families looking for education and solutions as the national caregiver shortage continues to grow.
Scottsdale homeless housing plan met with concern from residents, legislators
SCOTTSDALE – Scottsdale residents denounced the city’s plan to convert hotel rooms into homeless shelters during a community hearing. State Rep. Matt Gress organized the community hearing after raising questions about the transparency and effectiveness of the plan.
Phoenix Sky Harbor workers file complaint, vote to strike over dangerous working conditions and low wages
PHOENIX – Concession and service worker groups at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport are speaking out about dangerous working conditions and unlivable wages. One group voted to strike and another filed an OSHA complaint.
Kris Mayes, other attorneys general, recommend crackdown on vaping products targeting youth
PHOENIX — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and 32 other attorneys general from around the country are asking the Food and Drug Administration to ban flavored e-cigarettes and crack down on marketing that targets youth.