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The Nash’s women’s initiative attempts to change jazz culture

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 22:38:39 +0000

Nov. 29, 2023

The Nash’s women’s initiative attempts to change jazz culture

PHOENIX – The Nash Jazz Club in downtown Phoenix is hosting a new multiyear “Women in Jazz” initiative to address gender inequities in jazz music. The initiative includes The Nash Jazz DivAZ program, which teaches middle- and high-school girls concert jazz music. The Nash has been a staple in downtown Phoenix since 2012 and has focused on “celebrating the rich tradition and ongoing innovation of jazz,” according to its website, but recently its efforts have shifted to getting more young women involved in the genre. “It's really not our goal to only play with a one-man band, it's unrealistic to have that expectation,” said Mary Petrich, who is the artistic director of the women’s initiative. “I am also a player, and I love my male colleagues. However, it is important that we feel that we have women leaders, as many women leaders as we have men leaders. … If they feel confident and strong going out into any musical situation, then we’ve done our job.” Petrich, an experienced saxophonist who teaches the Jazz DivAZ classes, has experienced the gender inequities of jazz firsthand and knows the importance of changing the culture. “I've had guy colleagues telling me that girls can't play jazz to my face. I've had colleagues say that they should be sitting in my seat, they should be playing the chair that I'm playing, they should be teaching in the position I’m teaching,” Petrich said. [caption id="attachment_223019" align="alignright" width="200"] Mary Petrich plays the saxophone to help the DivAZ class perform a song on Oct. 21 at The Nash Jazz Club in Phoenix. (Photo by Sam Volante/Cronkite News)[/caption] The changing culture is exemplified by Jazz DivAZ students such as bassist Summer Lee, who is 15. “I think it's important because women are half the population and we want to contribute our own sound to this. I think it's great that The Nash has a program that will train young women to start learning how to play music where we can make mistakes, and so if we want to go out into the real world and play, we can help to do our best,” Lee said. Lee plays both cello and bass and has not only felt an improvement in her music and her ability to stay on beat but has also learned a more valuable life lesson from the classes. “Jazz has taught me to listen to those around you,” she said. Other students mentioned improvements such as better soloing and being more confident in their play after taking the classes. Some said it even helped them in their school bands. The Women in Jazz initiative extends beyond the DivAZ program: Nationally renowned saxophonist Roxy Coss kicked off the initiative with a performance at The Nash Jazz Club in October. “I think it's powerful,” Petrich said of Coss’ performance. “You can say, ‘We need women,’ and judge; you can just talk until you're blue in the face. Until we see it, until I stand next to somebody who's doing that and experience that energy – to me, that's when it really becomes real.” After the performance, there was a panel discussion allowing students to speak to role models and people who are changing the jazz landscape. The Jazz DivAZ program will culminate with a live performance at 7 p.m. on Dec. 3 as part of the Nash Education Concert.

Forks down: Exit of OC Beau Baldwin, departure of players mark first changes in busy ASU football offseason

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 21:58:05 +0000

Nov. 29, 2023

Forks down: Exit of OC Beau Baldwin, departure of players mark first changes in busy ASU football offseason

TEMPE – For the record books, the 2023 ASU football season will go down as just two numbers: 3-9. However, that record doesn’t show the adversity, progress and impact that defined coach Kenny Dillingham’s first season in Tempe. Now, with a new athletic director and another recruiting cycle on the horizon, the Sun Devils have already begun the offseason changes. Offensive coordinator Beau Baldwin is not returning next season, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Baldwin departs ASU after a rough first season. During his time, Baldwin’s offense averaged 17.8 points per game, ranked 123rd of 130 FBS teams. The Sun Devils’ total offense ranked 109th in the FBS, with an average of 322.2 yards per game. After ASU was shut out 29-0 by Fresno State and scored only three points in the second half through three games, Dillingham took over play-calling duties for the rest of the season. More offseason changes have already begun with the roster as redshirt junior tight end Jalin Conyers announced Wednesday on Instagram that he will enter the transfer portal as a graduate transfer. Conyers, one of ASU’s offensive bright spots, finished this season with 30 catches, 362 receiving yards and one rushing touchdown while also spending time playing quarterback in the season's final three games. As a vocal leader and veteran on the team, the decision comes as a surprise given that Conyers praised the culture that Dillingham had built in one season after Saturday’s 59-23 defeat to in-state rival Arizona. “Coach Dillingham and everybody is doing a great job,” Conyers said. “There’s no one that’s not bought in, and if you’re not bought in, then you’re free to leave.” [caption id="attachment_223002" align="alignnone" width="1024"] ASU coach Kenny Dillingham was optimistic in the spring before a wide array of injuries took its toll on the team during the season. (Photo by Reece Andrews/Cronkite News)[/caption] Junior linebacker James Djonkam also announced his intent to enter the portal on X later Wednesday. He served as a backup to redshirt freshman Tate Romney in all 12 games this season, compiling 20 tackles and two QB hurries. These are the first changes following ASU’s final game. Dillingham called the lopsided loss “rock bottom” after the Wildcats outclassed the Sun Devils, who conceded 619 yards of offense to ASU’s 309 yards. However, Dillingham knows this season is the first step to building long-lasting success. “I didn’t take this job and expect to go and win eight games,” Dillingham said. “The buy-in, what we’re doing, the direction we’re going (is) 100% the direction that (ASU) needs to be headed. It’s what needed to be done this year. Sometimes, you have to hit rock bottom to bounce back up.” The program’s troubles started before the first kickoff when ASU announced a self-imposed postseason ban ahead of the NCAA’s ruling on the ongoing investigation into COVID-19 recruiting violations in 2020 committed by former coaches. Then, ASU was plagued with injuries throughout the season, forcing the offense to play most of the season with an undermanned offensive line and start a program-high four different quarterbacks throughout the year, including Conyers in two games. For Dillingham, the lack of depth was the most significant setback throughout this season. “That was, if I take one thing away from this year, the most disappointing thing was the inability to practice in-season,” Dillingham said. “We didn’t get any better. We got worse. And it pains me to say it out loud as our football team from week six or seven got worse as the season progressed because we were so banged up that we couldn’t practice versus each other.” [related-story-right box-title="Related story" link="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2023/11/13/ray-anderson-resigns-asu/" image="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ray1.png" headline="Ray Anderson resigns as athletic director of ASU"] Despite the insurmountable adversity that ASU faced this season, Dillingham relished that the program didn’t get any worse from a record standpoint from season to season. “We won the same amount of games we won last year,” Dillingham said. “Through all the adversity that we faced, we didn’t get any worse through the craziest year I’ve ever been a part of, and I’ve coached Pop Warner. We faced more adversity than when the lights wouldn’t turn on at the park, and you had to practice in the dark.” ASU booster Edward Sandidge is also confident that Dillingham is leading the program in the right direction following a rough season. “What happens today is not nearly as important as what’s going to happen in the future,” Sandidge said. “Kenny is a fantastic individual. He’s going to turn this thing around.” Now that the hellish 2023 season is behind them, Dillingham & Co. are focused on moving forward immediately and starting to build for next year. The first step of significant change for the next season was the resignation of Ray Anderson on Nov. 13. Slow to embrace the name, image and likeness era, his departure sparked an influx of donations and memberships to the Sun Angel Collective, an organization that helps facilitate NIL deals and money to ASU athletes. The rise in memberships was the first sign of new fundraising being diverted to the football program for NIL programs, something Dillingham knows is arguably the most important part of building a program in this era of college football. “I’m going to go fundraise because that’s what the name of the game is nowadays,” Dillingham said. “So I’m going to go fundraise, fundraise and fundraise. The staff is going to go out and recruit players, and I’ll go out and recruit some players, but I’m recruiting people who want this place to win as well. That has nothing to do with players, and that's one of the biggest factors in college football right now.” [caption id="attachment_223003" align="alignnone" width="1024"] ASU offensive coordinator Beau Baldwin, right, who worked closely with quarterback Trenton Bourguet, parted ways with the football program Wednesday. (Photo by Reece Andrews/Cronkite News)[/caption] The most significant factor in the offseason progression will be the hiring of a new athletic director. While many names are floating around, the program will focus on hiring a proven candidate with the ability to improve the NIL programs around ASU to allow the athletic program to attract high-level recruits and transfers and retain talent already in the program. “We need an athletic director that can go after the big guns and get money for the program,” Sandidge said. “There’s a lot of people out there that have a lot of money that are willing to give it to ASU if the right person asks.” The funds are just as crucial for retaining players as it is for attracting more talent. The athletic program saw a mass exodus of players from the men’s basketball team last offseason and has already started losing significant players, including Conyers and Djonkam. With less than a week before the winter transfer portal opens on Monday, and with key players like freshman quarterback Jaden Rashada and junior running back Cam Skattebo likely to receive interest from other programs, getting the collectives around ASU more funds will allow the football program to better retain its current talent. In Dillingham’s words, dating back to his opening press conference, ASU athletics needs to continue to “activate the Valley.”

Survive and advance: Phoenix Suns win tiebreaker, eye NBA In-Season Tournament knockout round

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 21:48:57 +0000

Nov. 29, 2023

Survive and advance: Phoenix Suns win tiebreaker, eye NBA In-Season Tournament knockout round

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns are still in the hunt. Despite not being in action, the Suns were actively watching Tuesday’s slate of NBA In-Season Tournament games of group play to determine if the point differential tiebreaker would sway in their favor to advance to the knockout round. After the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 106-103, Phoenix got its answer and sealed the West Group’s lone wild-card spot in the quarterfinals next Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a plus-34 point differential over the Wolves. The winner earns a trip to Las Vegas, the host city of the semifinals and championship games. The Suns started the tournament with a 122-119 loss to the Lakers but managed to win three consecutive games to keep hope alive. Among these victories, all played without the Big 3 at full strength, their 110-89 triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 24 was particularly noteworthy. Devin Booker's 40-point performance allowed the Suns to remain in contention for the wild-card spot in the Western Conference. With 12.9 seconds remaining, Booker banked a three-pointer off the glass to extend the lead to 21. "No disrespect to the Grizzlies,” Booker told azcentral’s Duane Rankin after the game. “I wouldn't take that shot if it wasn't (the) in-season tournament, but we needed it."

THE BRACKET IS SET.

The NBA In-Season Tournament Knockout Rounds tip off with the Quarterfinals on Monday, 12/4 and Tuesday, 12/5 on TNT 🏆 pic.twitter.com/9GgIKrpOU2
— NBA (@NBA) November 29, 2023

Adam Silver and the NBA have consistently demonstrated a willingness to evolve the league, and the inaugural in-season tournament is another example. An 82-game regular season brings its challenges, and among the biggest in recent years is the practice of “load management,” with star players often taking off games in an effort to remain fresh and avoid injuries. It shows that teams are willing to sacrifice regular-season games to be at their best during the playoffs. However, it also has diminished the value of the regular season in the eyes of some. Adding to the challenges, with teams playing multiple games per week, there is not as much anticipation for game day as there is in some other sports, especially football where teams play only one game per week. The underlying idea behind the in-season tournament is to inject more competition and importance into the early stages of the regular season for players and fans. "The NBA does as good a job as any professional sports league out there at marketing their game and coming up with ways to make it fun and interesting for our fans,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. Under the new tournament format, all 30 teams are divided into six groups, with one wild-card team and three group winners from each conference advancing to the knockout stage. And there’s a substantial incentive involved for players: money. The winning team will receive the NBA Cup and each player and coach earns a $500,000 prize. Players on the second-place team receive $200,000. Even the losing teams in the knockout stage will not leave empty-handed. Players from the semifinals will receive $100,000 each, and those from the quarterfinalists will receive $50,000 each. While the league’s superstars, signed to multi-million dollar contracts, don’t necessarily need the additional cash, they are motivated to keep winning and help their teammates on minimum contracts. The NBA has implemented several measures to distinguish the tournament games, including the use of unique court designs. The courts are brightly colored and feature a large NBA Cup in the center, positioned behind the team’s logo and inside the paint. “The unique court kind of gives players a sense that they're playing for something different,” said Brendan Mau, Suns reporter for Burn City Sports. Bradley Beal, who made his Phoenix Suns home debut on the purple and turquoise court, described the court as “energetic” and said the game felt like a “playoff atmosphere.” [related-story-right box-title="Related story" link="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2023/10/10/phoenix-suns-big-3-nba-management-policy/" image="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1484014004.jpg" headline="How Suns plan to manage stars Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal under NBA’s new policy"] Since 2016, NBA teams have designed their own Nike City Edition uniforms they will wear throughout the season and now during the tournament as well. This campaign encourages teams to showcase their community's history or heritage on their uniforms. Last year, the Suns paid tribute to all 22 of Arizona’s Native American tribes with their City Edition uniform. This year, the team is celebrating the vibrant Mexican-American culture of the city. Miguel Godoy, an art professor at Arizona State University, designed the ‘El Valle’ (The Valley) uniforms and incorporated elements of Chicano lowrider culture. From the classic Chicano cursive script to the side panel design, Godoy reflected his culture and heritage in the look. “I think it's really important to recognize those communities,” said Eliav Gabay, reporter for Sports360AZ. “They're a part of Suns nation, just like everybody else.”

En los detalles 🔎

El Valle | @PayPal pic.twitter.com/IJYJ4Yglc8
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 2, 2023

The seed for an in-season tournament was planted during the pandemic-interrupted 2019-20 NBA season. Due to COVID-19, the NBA transitioned the end of the season to the quarantined “Bubble” at Walt Disney World Resort. The seventh to 10th seeds in each conference competed in a play-in tournament to determine which two teams would move on to the playoffs. The format was deemed a success as it helped more teams remain competitive and prevented them from intentionally tanking games for a better draft pick. While the change to the regular-season format was born out of COVID-19, the NBA is also taking inspiration from other professional sports. A prime example would be European soccer. These tournaments often create excitement among players and fans. The NBA is a global brand with a massive following, and the league's top international players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić help to increase its popularity and reach. With that reach into markets around the world, the NBA’s is reaching fans accustomed to in-season tournaments, especially in soccer. “They're getting inspired by international soccer and they're trying to add more competition to the beginning of the season,” Gabay said. The NBA also looked to the WNBA's Commissioner's Cup, where players competed for additional cash and represented a charity of their team's choice. The WNBA’s annual tournament has been well-received, with three seasons already played under the format. “I think once it goes around the first time this year, then players will start to get more accustomed to it, and it'll be a good thing for the league,” Mau said. The in-season tournament has had a successful start, attracting an average of 1.7 million viewers on its inaugural night. Netflix is interested in acquiring streaming rights for the games, according to Front Office Sports, indicating the tournament has serious revenue-producing potential. The league, eyeing lucrative media rights deals after the 2024-2025 season, sees the tournament's success and the new Player Participation Policy – aimed at stemming the load-management trend – as factors that could elevate these deals. In part, the PPP requires players to play in a minimum number of games in order to be eligible for league-wide awards, such as Most Valuable Player or Rookie of the Year. With the Suns’ Big 3 of Booker, Beal and Kevin Durant missing multiple games this season, Phoenix is on a seven-game winning streak and currently sits atop the Pacific Division at 11-6. Considering the number of injuries the team has faced, its start to the season has been quite promising. The beginning of any season is crucial for most teams, but it is even more important for the Suns who have undergone a major roster overhaul and have a new head coach. A point of emphasis this past offseason was adding depth to the star-heavy roster, and Eric Gordon and Grayson Allen have provided a needed scoring boost in the backcourt, while Jusuf Nurkic has been a consistent performer, starting every game and coming close to averaging a double-double. The team's increased length on the court has also improved its defensive capabilities. “I know the in-season tournament has all the excitement, but they just got to focus on that chemistry,” Gabay said. “That's what people need to look at for the Suns – they need to be developing as a group right now.”

Vegas, baby: Washington, Oregon aim for Pac-12 and CFP glory

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 19:18:14 +0000

Nov. 29, 2023

Vegas, baby: Washington, Oregon aim for Pac-12 and CFP glory

PHOENIX – In the penultimate rankings of the four-team College Football Rankings era, the Pac-12 conference was put in prime position to have one final go at the playoff. Even though the initial road looks clear for the winner, the exact trajectory is still foggy. No. 3 Washington (12-0, 9-0 Pac-12) and No. 5 Oregon (11-1, 8-1 Pac-12) are set to face off in Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium for the final Pac-12 Championship as we know it Friday night. At first glance, it’s likely that the winner in Vegas would clinch a spot in the playoff. Where the winner ends up within the last four standing, however, can range from a relatively simple discussion, to one of the most compelling conversations about the No. 3 and 4 spots in CFP history. Selection committee chair Boo Corrigan said it best Tuesday night after the rankings were released about the difficult decisions that lie ahead. “There’s nothing easy about any part of this,” Corrigan said after a slight shakeup to the top four, with Georgia retaining the No. 1 spot, Michigan jumping to No. 2, Washington settling at No. 3 and Florida State slipping into No. 4. Washington moved up to No. 3 after the Huskies’ close 24-21 Apple Cup victory against Washington State. Even though the game was not the most decisive, it showed glimpses of what the Huskies can be this season, with their defense shutting down the third-best passing offense in Division I. It’s an impressive jump from their form earlier in the season, giving up 337 and 312 yards to Oregon and USC, respectively. Washington also became the first team, and maybe the last, in the 12-team Pac-12 era to go 12-0 in the regular season. The 2010 Oregon Ducks were the last team to go 12-0, when the conference housed only 10 teams. Corrigan briefly discussed the difference between Washington and No. 4 Florida State (12-0, 9-0 ACC), and the difficult advantage of having so many close teams. “Not to be funny, but you can’t get closer than three and four,” Corrigan said. “The advantage we have this year, and I do believe it’s an advantage, we’ve got a lot of great teams, and we’ve got a lot of great choices to make.” Oregon moved up to No. 5, as the Ducks continued their dominant streak in a 31-7 win at home against the Beavers of Oregon State. The Ducks have the second-highest scoring offense in the country (45.3 points per game), but their defense since their loss to the Huskies has catapulted them to the highest-ranked one-loss team. Over the last two weeks, the Ducks defense has only given up 20 points combined, while shutting down an Oregon State squad that averaged 34 points per game on the year and throttling Arizona State, 49-13. [related-story-right box-title="Related story" link="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2023/11/22/washington-college-football-playoff-ranking-arizona-pac12/" image="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cfp1.png" headline="Four real: Washington leaps past Florida State at No. 4 in College Football Playoff rankings"] Corrigan commented on the Ducks’ recent performance when discussing why they are the highest-ranked one-loss team in the rankings. “Oregon has continued to dominate,” Corrigan said. “They just continue to impress the committee with their offense and their defense.” As impressive as they have been, the Ducks will need to find a way to avenge their only loss of the season against the Huskies, in what may be one of the most important games in their respective recent histories. In their regular-season matchup on Oct. 14, the game came down to the final play when Oregon kicker Camden Lewis missed a 43-yard field goal at the end of regulation to seal the 36-33 victory for Washington. Both teams had their spurts during the game, with 965 yards of combined total offense, with Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. putting up high-caliber performances. Nix and Penix Jr. lead the top two passing offenses in the country, with plenty of expectations they will continue the high-flying performances that started in October, while the defenses will have to find ways to slow down the train on the other end. The Ducks will look to limit the Huskies’ offense like they did last time, when Oregon had nearly 10 more minutes of possession. They will try to do this by attempting to shut down Washington’s star wide receiver Rome Odunze, forcing the Huskies to rely on their rushing attack which has had struggles at times throughout the year. Washington needs to continue capitalizing on fourth-down attempts, as well as try and find a way to silence an Oregon offense that is one of the best in the country. The Huskies went 2-3 in their previous matchup on fourth down, while also forcing the Ducks to go 0-3 on their fourth-down tries. This game will be decided by which defense can disrupt the opposition’s gameplan, after both sides struggled to bring their offense back on the field back in October. The final Pac-12 champion of this era will practically lock in a playoff spot, but who and where they play will be a critical debate Saturday night into Sunday morning, when the final rankings will be revealed. In the event that Washington wins, it would be nearly impossible to imagine the Huskies dropping from No. 3, with more potential to move up. The only two scenarios that seem relatively possible to have Washington move up are if No. 1 Georgia (12-0, 8-0 SEC) and/or No. 2 Michigan (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) lose in their respective conference championships. In the more likely situation of Georgia falling to No. 8 Alabama (11-1, 8-0 SEC), the Huskies may move up to No. 2, with the Wolverines jumping to No. 1. In this case, Washington’s opponent would likely be Florida State in the event it wins the ACC Championship. If the Seminoles were to lose, it could be Texas or Alabama jumping up to the No. 3 spot. Very similarly to the first example, if Michigan loses to heavy underdogs No. 16 Iowa in the Big Ten Championship, Washington may move up to No. 2. For the more chaotic scenario, Washington can move up to the No. 1 team in the final rankings if Georgia and Michigan were to both lose, creating a scramble of one-loss teams battling for the final few spots. The Ducks’ road may be slightly more complex depending on exactly where they land. With a win over Washington, Oregon would presumably jump Washington and enter the top four. If the chaotic situation noted above were to occur (Oregon, Florida State, Alabama and Texas all winning) the Ducks’ final placement could range from No. 2 to No. 4, depending on how the selection committee views the complete line of work for all four teams. Other than that, Oregon’s most likely spot would be at No. 3 or No. 4, if all of the teams above them win, with the potential of leaping over the Seminoles if they do not look great in their second game without quarterback Jordan Travis. No. 15 Arizona (9-3, 7-2 Pac-12) and No. 20 Oregon State (8-4, 5-4 Pac-12) stayed in the rankings, with their eyes now on where they may end up during bowl season. The Wildcats finished in third place in the conference, after a 3-6 finish in the Pac-12 in 2022, coach Jedd Fisch’s sophomore year. It’s been an extraordinary turnaround for a program that just a few years ago went 1-11 in the conference. Even though the Wildcats missed out on playing in the Pac-12 Championship, they are in a great position to take on an unfamiliar opponent: the No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners (10-2, 7-2 Big-12). It is not confirmed, but all signs point towards the Wildcats and Sooners going head-to-head in the Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, on Dec. 28. The bowl, which has been a Big 12 vs Pac-12 game for the last decade, traditionally takes the third-highest-ranked teams in each conference to face off at the Alamodome. This would be the second time each team has participated in the Alamo Bowl, and their first meeting since Sept. 16, 1989, when the Wildcats took down the Sooners 6-3 in Tucson. The Beavers are currently projected to face off against another Big 12 team in Iowa State in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 16. Oregon State will be without former head coach Jonathan Smith, who was hired by Michigan State to lead its program hours after the Beavers finished their season. Fans and media personalities often enjoy exploring the hypothetical situations teams may enter on Selection Sunday, trying to paint a probable picture of what the final four may look like. But for Washington and Oregon, one thing is clear: shut out all of the noise, focus on winning the final Pac-12 Championship of this era and earning a spot to potentially bring home the conference’s long-awaited CFP title. College Football Playoff Selection Committee Rankings - Nov. 28, 2023 Georgia (12-0) (-) Michigan (12-0) (+1) Washington (12-0) (+1) Florida State (12-0) (+1) Oregon (11-1) (+1) Ohio State (11-1) (-4) Texas (11-1) (-) Alabama (11-1) (-) Missouri (10-2) (-) Penn State (10-2) (+1) Ole Miss (10-2) (+1) Oklahoma (10-2) (+1) LSU (9-3) (+1) Louisville (10-2) (-4) Arizona (9-3) (-) Iowa (10-2) (+1) Notre Dame (9-3) (+1) Oklahoma State (9-3) (+2) NC State (9-3) (+3) Oregon State (8-4) (-4) Tennessee (8-4) (-) Tulane (11-1) (+1) Clemson (8-4) (+1) Liberty (12-0) (+1) Kansas State (8-4) (-6)

November 28, 2023 newscast

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 18:41:43 +0000

Nov. 29, 2023

November 28, 2023 newscast

ASU volleyball in NCAA Tournament, four-generation MLB family, AZ congressional races

Supreme Court won’t protect legislative leaders in election law challenge

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 02:09:56 +0000

Nov. 28, 2023

Supreme Court won’t protect legislative leaders in election law challenge

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Monday denied a request from Republican legislative leaders who argued they cannot be forced to answer questions from voting rights groups challenging the 2022 passage of two Arizona election laws. Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma and Senate President Warren Petersen said legislative privilege protects them from being deposed by opponents of the laws, which would make it easier for officials to cancel the registration of voters who cannot prove their citizenship. But lower courts said Toma and Petersen waived that right when they joined the lawsuit to defend the laws, and the Supreme Court declined to intervene late Monday. It refused, without comment, their request for an emergency stay. Lydia Guzman, who testified in the case for both Chicanos Por La Causa and the League of United Latin American Citizens, welcomed the high court's order and said the lawmakers should have to face questions on why they passed the laws. "You know, coming from a Latino standpoint, I can guess as to what their intent is," Guzman said Tuesday. “But I think it's only fair that they say it.” [related-story-right box-title="Related story" link="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2023/11/02/fontes-other-officials-tell-senate-panel-of-ongoing-threats-to-elections/" image="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/fontesprofile-1024.jpg" headline="Fontes, other officials tell Senate panel of ongoing threats to elections"] In their petition to the Supreme Court, Toma and Petersen urged the court to act before Tuesday, when they said they could be deposed in the case. Requests for comment from the leaders and their attorneys were not immediately returned Tuesday and it could not be determined if they have, in fact, been deposed. Monday's order is the latest turn in a challenge that began one day after the first two election law was signed into effect by then-Gov. Doug Ducey. Eight separate challenges were filed by more than 20 plaintiffs, including the Justice Department, the national and state Democratic parties, Native American tribes, Hispanic, student and voting rights groups. They were consolidated into one case against the state and county recorders. The lawsuits targeted HB 2492 and HB 2243. HB 2492 requires a person to provide proof of citizenship and their address before they can register to vote. If it is challenged, voters would have to go to a county recorder or the attorney general with proof of their citizenship. HB 2243 requires a county recorder to cancel the registration of voters if the recorder receives and confirms information that the person is not a U.S. citizen, is not an Arizona resident or has been issued a driver's license or nonoperating license in another state. In signing HB 2492 into law in March 2022, Ducey said that more than 11,600 Arizona voters had failed to provide evidence of citizenship since the 2020 elections. In a letter to then-Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, Ducey said the state had a “proud history of making voting accessible" and that the bill aimed to provide election integrity. "Election integrity means counting every lawful vote and prohibiting any attempt to illegally cast a vote," Ducey wrote. "H.B. 2492 is a balanced approach that honors Arizona’s history of making voting accessible without sacrificing security in our elections." [caption id="attachment_183671" align="alignnone" width="800"]Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen, shown here testifying in 2022, argued that he and House Speaker Ben Toma are protected from being deposed in a lawsuit challenging state election laws. But courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, have rejected that argument. (File photo by Genesis Alvarado/Cronkite News)[/caption] Opponents argue that the laws are racially motivated attempts to disenfranchise minority voters, in violation of federal law and the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection. Then-Attorney General Mark Brnovich initially defended the law. But when Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, took office this year, Toma and Petersen asked to intervene in the case to make sure the laws were vigorously defended. After the two leaders joined the case, the plaintiffs sought to question them on the reasoning for passage of the laws that they said "make it harder to register to vote, harder to stay registered, and harder to cast a ballot." Toma and Petersen said they turned over more than 90,000 pages of documents along with written answers to some of the plaintiffs' questions. But they declined to answer other questions about motives behind the law, saying that it infringed legislative privilege, which protects lawmakers from being sued for "legitimate legislative activity." [related-story-right box-title="Related story" link="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2023/10/17/court-rejects-attempt-by-finchem-lake-to-bar-electronic-voting-machines/" image="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/election-day-ballot-drop-box.jpg" headline="Court rejects attempt by Finchem, Lake to bar electronic voting machines"] The plaintiffs said they respect the privilege, but that Toma and Petersen waived it when they got involved in the suit and argued that there was no malicious intent behind the laws. They could have joined the case as friends of the court, but chose otherwise and now "have only themselves to blame for … being subjected to the same discovery to which every other party in civil litigation is subject," their filing said. A federal district judge in Arizona agreed and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals eventually upheld that ruling on Nov. 17. The legislative leaders asked the Supreme Court to put the circuit court's ruling on hold while they petitioned for a writ of mandamus - an order directing the lower courts to reverse a ruling. The plaintiffs said the leaders' petitions are little more than a delaying tactic in an effort to keep the laws in effect before the presidential primary set for March 2024. Guzman, who is the state director of LULAC, said Toma and Petersen should be subject to discovery. “Show us where this (the laws) came from, show us the intent, show us,” said Guzman. “I hope that with this discovery also comes looking at some of the emails, when they were drafting this.” Alex Gulotta, the state director of All Voting is Local Arizona, echoed Guzman's message. “Legislators pass laws for inappropriate reasons,” Gulotta said in a statement. “The public deserves to know and the courts should consider those motives when trying to determine if those laws should be struck down.”

Gov. Katie Hobbs signs petition to add abortion rights to 2024 ballot

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 01:55:39 +0000

Nov. 28, 2023

Gov. Katie Hobbs signs petition to add abortion rights to 2024 ballot

PHOENIX – Gov. Katie Hobbs added her name to a petition Tuesday to put abortion rights on the 2024 ballot in an effort to make it a constitutional right in Arizona. Abortion regulation was returned to the states on June 24, 2022, after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Hobbs said at a news conference that Arizonans “need to understand exactly what's at stake when pregnant women can't get the health care they need.” “Our ability to access abortion care, miscarriage care, pregnancy care and even contraception is under indictment,” Hobbs said. “In Arizona, we are just one bad court decision away from an 1864 abortion ban that carries prison time for doctors and provides no exceptions for rape or incest.” Hobbs was referring to a case in which the Arizona Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on Dec. 12. The case could determine if Arizona’s 1864 law regarding abortion should be reinstated. The law would bar doctors from performing abortions in all cases, except for when a patient’s life is in danger. Arizona currently bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Hobbs said during the news conference that this is an issue about personal freedoms over political affiliation. “We have a coalition of folks that you might not expect to see together: Republicans, independents and Democrats. But we all agree that the decision to have an abortion should be left to a woman and her doctor, not the government and politicians,” Hobbs said. Hobbs voiced frustrations that “my daughter has fewer rights than I did her at her age some 30 years ago.” Hobbs’ daughter, Hannah Goodman, 21, attended the news conference and signed the petition. “This felt like it was something that could actually lead to real change and that was really powerful,” Goodman said. The petition requires nearly 384,000 signatures in order for it to get on the ballot in 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XMu7sSA3Os

(Video by Aaron Gonzalez/Cronkite News)

Azteca Bridal closes its doors after 60 years of family-operated business

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 22:33:47 +0000

Nov. 28, 2023

Azteca Bridal closes its doors after 60 years of family-operated business

PHOENIX – Bertha Gonzalez bought her wedding dress from Azteca Bridal in 1967. In the store’s last two weeks of operation, she came back this month for her great-granddaughter’s quinceañera dress. “This was a bridal shop for all of Arizona, especially for us … the Mexican people,” Gonzalez said. Azteca, which is closing its doors for the last time on Thursday, after 60 years of service, began selling quinceañera dressing around 1972 as the demand for them grew along with the Latino population in Phoenix. The business, a staple in the Phoenix bridal and quinceañera industry, remained family-owned for the entirety of its operation. “If the doors are open, somebody in the family had to be here. It wasn't a case that we were going to be distant owners,” said Raoul Torrez, Azteca Bridal co-owner. “Somebody from the family got to be here and that was pretty much a guiding principle up until today.” [caption id="attachment_222929" align="alignright" width="169"] An outside view of Azteca Bridal in Phoenix. The store’s final day is Thursday. (Photo by Sam Volante/Cronkite News)[/caption] Torrez reminisced about the thousands of customers Azteca served, taking the last few weeks of business operation to celebrate their stories. In the last week of operation, everything in the store is 70% off, and all existing orders will be fulfilled. Torrez’s mother and father, Kay and Adolfo Torrez, opened the bridal shop in 1962 near 10th and Washington streets. They previously ran a restaurant, flower shop, furniture store and more – bringing the family’s business legacy to over 70 years. “My parents, they're the ones that went through the struggles and making sure that things started working well and operating good,” Torrez said. Kay and Adolfo Torrez met in a nightclub in Phoenix, where Kay was a photographer. She was business savvy from running a photography business with her father, and Adolfo was the “strong man behind the strong woman,” Raoul Torrez said. They did not envision working for someone else, leading them to open a restaurant. The building they chose in downtown Phoenix already had a sign that lit up “Azteca Cafe,” and the name stuck. He said his father was the one who decided to go into the bridal business and told his mother, who didn’t know anything about sewing, “You’re smart, you don’t need to sew, you can get other people to sew.” Kay Torrez took on many of the day-to-day operations of selling formalwear and working with customers, and Adolfo Torrez would do the cooking, shopping and washing. “He was basically the first Mr. Mom. … They were a team,” Raoul Torrez said. The pair built the building Azteca Bridal still operates in, using the floor from an old gymnasium and lumber from demolition projects with nails still in the wood, Raoul Torrez said. “My mom would hire guys around here that maybe have a few beers or whatever and pay them to take the nails out of the wood,” Torrez said.

Keeping it in the family

As Kay and Adolfo Torrez aged, they relinquished control of the business to Raoul Torrez; his brother, Gregory Torrez; and his sister, Royna Rosell, in the early 1980s. All three had worked at the business starting as children and teenagers, when the family lived in an apartment attached to the plaza. [caption id="attachment_222930" align="alignright" width="200"] Wedding dresses hang from racks at Azteca Bridal in Phoenix on Nov. 21, 2023. (Photo by Sam Volante/Cronkite News)[/caption] But the siblings didn’t immediately take over the business because their parents, who were always there, just took a step back. After their parents died, Rosell took on her mother’s role of being in charge of alterations, scheduling employee hours and ordering wedding gowns, while Raoul Torrez stepped into his father’s role of behind-the-scenes work, and Gregory Torrez was in an advisory role. Kay and Adolfo Torrez were involved in an accident in 1972, which left Adolfo semiparalyzed on his right side. “But he showed up … every day to the day he passed away,” Raoul Torrez said. The family sold the property, and the business will close this week. There was no need to sell the “Azteca” name, Raoul Torrez said, as there are so many other stores out there to buy wedding dresses from. The three siblings are ready for retirement. Raoul Torrez has two small grandchildren to spend time with and traveling to catch up on. Jenna Rosell, Royna’s granddaughter, grew up at Azteca and works there. “I used to have a playpen here.” The family component and the connections they made with customers are what made Azteca special, she said. “Everybody knows that we're family and it's not like a chain company, and I feel like we really care for our customers,” she said. But it’s time for everyone to retire and spend time together outside of work, Jenna Rosell said. “It was our life and we're going to miss it, but it's time to celebrate family.”

November 27, 2023 newscast

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 16:19:21 +0000

Nov. 28, 2023

November 27, 2023 newscast

Hamas releases hostages, ‘QAnon Shaman’ runs for Congress, Mexican families reunited

Flat chance: Tire mishap inspires Cardinals’ Jesse Luketa to hitch ride to work with fans

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 23:05:57 +0000

Nov. 27, 2023

Flat chance: Tire mishap inspires Cardinals’ Jesse Luketa to hitch ride to work with fans

TEMPE – It was an unorthodox commute to work Sunday for Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Jesse Luketa, one that he will remember forever. And the Phillips family, a collection of Cardinals fans, will, too. Luketa left the team hotel late Sunday morning, confident he would make his noon report time. However, as he got on the 101 highway before the Cardinals game against the Los Angeles Rams, he received some unfortunate news from his vehicle. “I get a notification that I have a tire issue,” he said. “So ‘I’m like, ‘Alright cool, this is not good.’ I think it’s a situation where I have to put in some air. I get to the gas station, and it wasn’t working.” Luketa has repeatedly experienced trouble with the front left tire of his BMW, so he knew that there was no easy fix to the problem. So he began scrambling to find any way to get to the stadium. Roadside assistance would take too long, and a ride from a Cardinals employee would likely make him late as well. [related-story-right box-title="Related story" link="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2023/11/13/kyler-murray-return-arizona-cardinals-win-falcons/" image="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cards1.png" headline="Cardinals defeat Atlanta in Kyler's 2023 debut"] Then, Luketa looked across the gas station, which was still about a 30-minute drive from the stadium. “So as I’m sitting there looking to my right, I see a family. They’re in Cardinals gear. It looks like they’re going to the stadium,” Luketa said. He weighed his options. “The dad is pumping gas,” he said. “He’s wearing a Patrick Peterson jersey. I could see the kids through the window. They had jerseys on. So it’s either they’re going to a tailgate, they’re going home to watch the game or they’re going to the stadium. I got nothing to lose. I might as well try and see what it is.” Luketa called out to the dad, saying he was a player who desperately needed a ride to the stadium. At first, it was clear the man wasn’t sure Luketa was telling the truth. “I yell out, ‘Are you guys going to the stadium?’ He looks at me a little crazy, and he’s like ‘Yeah,’ and I’m like, ‘I’m a player, can you guys help me out? I need a ride to the stadium.’” “Uh, yeah,” the man, J.W. Phillips, recalled telling Luketa as he wondered why this person needed a ride. After consulting his wife, Phillips told Luketa to hop in. With Phillips driving, Luketa in the passenger seat and the wife and three kids in the back, they were off to State Farm Stadium. Luketa talked football with the family. They asked him questions about his experience in college at Penn State and discussed Cardinals football over the year. Phillips was impressed with how Luketa carried himself. “The biggest thing I want people to know about this is that he is just the nicest guy you will ever meet,” Phillips said. “I have three kids, and we were just chatting. It felt like he was part of the crew.” Although it deviated from his normal routine of music on gameday, Luketa, 24, enjoyed the experience. “I had a blast talking to his kids the whole way there,” he said. “They got me there on time, and that’s all she wrote.” [caption id="attachment_222897" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Arizona Cardinals linebacker Jesse Luketa wasn’t sure if he was going to make it to Sunday’s game against the Rams and had to turn to some stranger at a gas station for help. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)[/caption] After arriving at the stadium, Luketa posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, hoping to track down contact information for the family. He connected with the family postgame for photos, and has arranged to provide them tickets for the Cardinals' next home game vs. the San Francisco 49ers on December 17th. Coach Jonathan Gannon found out about the situation as he was on his way to the stadium. It’s not an experience he can ever remember witnessing happen. “I’m kind of laughing about it now,” Gannon said. “It’s really not funny. I would have been freaked out if I got a flat tire on my way to the game, but I’m thankful for the family of five. We got an ‘A Lot’ pass for them.” Once Luketa’s work duties – playing defense in a 37-14 loss to the Rams – ended, it was time to return to the troubles of his BMW. He made his way back to the original gas station, where he had been forced to leave his car. Roadside assistance picked him up, and the car was brought to the repair shop. Luketa expected to have his car back Monday afternoon. “Once I’m done here, I’m going to go pick it up,” Luketa said. The mess has caused Luketa to consider making a change to his personal automobile, like purchasing a Toyota or Lexus. For now, he’s grateful to the company that got him and a family of five to the game safely. “Shout out Infiniti,” Luketa said. And to good Samaritans.