Sydney Witte
Sydney Witte SID-nee WIH-tee (she/her)
News Broadcast Reporter, Phoenix

Sydney Witte expects to graduate in May 2024 with a master’s in mass communication. Witte has interned at KTVK/KPHO in Phoenix and KHNL/KGMB in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Latest from Sydney Witte

SAG-AFTRA Arizona members rally as part of national strike for TV, film worker protections, higher wages

PHOENIX – The Arizona-Utah chapter of SAG-AFTRA held a rally in Phoenix on Sunday to support local actors, writers, and TV and film workers who are on strike. The national union has been on strike since July 14 in conjunction with the Writers’ Guild of America, which has been on strike since May 2. The strikes have stopped production on films and TV series.

Actress and comedian Saylor Billings tells jokes to the crowd at the SAG-AFTRA Arizona-Utah rally, on Sept. 17, 2023. (Photo by Kiersten Edgett/Cronkite News)

Honor your ‘mother’: Working to keep traditional ways, types of Hopi corn

MAYER – Michael Kotutwa Johnson, a farmer from the Hopi Tribe, is focusing on bringing Hopi corn back to the dining table – not only for the health benefits but also to connect his people to their culture.

Michael Kotutwa Johnson says Hopi corn "has 10 to 15 times more mineral content" than supermarket corn. He hopes to share it with the Hopi people and believes they will see an improvement in health. (Photo by Sierra Alvarez/Cronkite News)

Gilbert Fire and Rescue’s best arson investigator is a 4-year-old Lab named Zeta

GILBERT – Gilbert Fire and Rescue’s arson dog, Zeta, is their best investigator of suspicious fires. The 4-year-old Labrador can quickly and precisely locate accelerants, saving the fire department time and money.

Gilbert fire investigator David Zehring poses with Zeta, an accelerant-detection canine for the ATF. Zehring is the only person who's allowed to handle Zeta during arson investigations. (Photo by Samantha Chow/Cronkite News)

Valley homeowners take advantage of xeriscape incentives

MESA – Mesa and Chandler offer xeriscape incentives for homeowners to convert their grass lawns to more desert-friendly landscaping.

This yard in Mesa was converted to desert landscaping under the city’s Grass-to-Xeriscape incentive program. Photo taken Sept. 7, 2022. (Photo by Samantha Chow/Cronkite News)

Pandemic adds pressure on doctors, who already had one of the highest rates of suicide

PHOENIX – Physicians have one of the highest rates of death by suicide, and the pandemic has excerbated the stress on health care workers. Doctors often are hesitant to seek help because of the stigma surrounding mental illness.


Luminarias bring holiday tradition to Desert Botanical Garden

Luminarias are a holiday tradition that span hundreds of years and several cultures. It’s a tradition being honored at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.

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Agritainment: Arizona farms turn to petting zoos, corn mazes, concerts and festivals to survive

GILBERT – Farms across Arizona are turning to ‘agritainment’ in order to survive. From petting zoos and tractor rides to pumpkin patches, the public can pay to peek behind the scenes and have some fun.


Fourth fire station built in Phoenix could become a full-service restaurant

Phoenix is preparing to lease the fourth fire station built in the city so it can be converted into a restaurant or small business. The transformation is part of the Margaret T. Hance Park revitalization program.