Vanessa Pimentel
Vanessa Pimentel(she/her/hers)
News Reporter, Phoenix

Vanessa Pimentel expects to graduate in December 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication with a minor in criminal justice. Pimentel has worked in customer service for over six years to fund her college degree and cannot wait to see where journalism takes her.

Latest from Vanessa Pimentel

Build-to-rent communities surge in Phoenix amid high home interest rates

PHOENIX – Build-to-rent properties create residential communities made up of single-family homes for rent that are less expensive than owning a home in a traditional housing development. This subset of the single-family rental class has grown in the West Valley, with young individuals in mind.

Mark-Taylor’s EVR Spur Cross build-to-rent community is in Queen Creek. (Photo courtesy of Mark-Taylor Investment Management)

‘Opportunities are boundless’: Arizona pushes space sector’s growth through education, collaboration, economy

PHOENIX – Gov. Katie Hobbs spoke at the Arizona Space Summit about the business environment, infrastructure and innovation happening to drive the space sector’s growth in the state. Job opportunities, infrastructure and space education benefit Arizona, experts say.

Gov. Katie Hobbs speaks to the media on March 28 in Tempe after a fireside chat at the 2024 Arizona Space Summit about strategic opportunities for Arizona in the space industry. (Photo by Marnie Jordan/Cronkite News)

State of the City: Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego highlights jobs, housing, sustainability

PHOENIX – In her annual State of the City address, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego focused on creating a successful, sustainable and safe Phoenix to enable residents to live comfortably. Phoenix is looking to build its economy by addressing climate and housing issues along with increasing investment opportunities.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego delivers her annual State of the City address at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel on April 23, 2024. (Photo by Crystal Aguilar/Cronkite News)

The Singletons provides financial, compassionate support to single-parent families battling cancer

PHOENIX – The Singletons, a Phoenix-based nonprofit, helps single-parent families battling cancer get the resources and assistance they need.

The Singletons building is where the nonprofit holds events monthly for cancer warriors and survivors. Photo taken on Feb. 17, 2024, in Phoenix. (Photo by Mariah Temprendola/Cronkite News)

Eastlake Park Community Center unveils NCAA Men’s Final Four Legacy Project in Phoenix

PHOENIX – Gov. Katie Hobbs joined other officials to unveil the NCAA Men’s Final Four Legacy Project, which refurbished indoor and outdoor basketball courts and upgraded other amenities at Eastlake Park Community Center.

Elizabeth White, 101, stands in front of the Legacy Project mural painted at Eastlake Park Community Center in Phoenix after the unveiling of the NCAA Men’s Final Four Legacy Project, which refurbished indoor and outdoor basketball courts and upgraded other amenities at the center. (Photo by Kayla Mae Jackson/Cronkite News)

Phoenix evaluates downtown bike lanes on Fillmore Street

PHOENIX – The city of Phoenix Street Transportation Department is currently working on a pre-design phase for a project that would add bike lanes, or a two-way protected bikeway, on Fillmore Street from Seventh to Central avenues. That project would connect to changes made in 2022 to Fillmore Street east of Central Avenue to Seventh Street.​

Bikes currently share the lane with cars on Fillmore Street near Second Avenue. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Affordable Care Act celebrates 14th anniversary following jump in enrollment, continuing political discord

PHOENIX – The Affordable Care Act just celebrated its 14th anniversary this month despite continuing differences in opinions between Democrats and Republicans about the landmark health care law.


Voters hit the polls for Arizona presidential preference election

PHOENIX – The Arizona presidential preference election drew some voters out on Election Day, though many who participated in the partisan election had already voted via mail-in ballot for their chosen presidential candidate. Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden are already their parties’ presumptive nominees.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes speaks at the State Capitol Executive Tower on March 19, 2024. (Photo by Mariah Temprendola/Cronkite News)

Arizona Republicans tout legislation aimed at cracking down on organized retail crime

PHOENIX – Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma and others touted House Bill 2435, which aims to crack down on organized retail crime. The legislation, which heads to the House Judiciary committee Wednesday, would change current sentencing ranges.

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell talks about organized retail crime as Michelle Ahlmer, executive director for the Arizona Retailers Association, left, and Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma look on at a news conference at the Arizona Capitol on Jan, 30, 2024. (Photo by Mariah Temprendola/Cronkite News)