Search result for Cronkite News Staff

‘A way to remember our country’s heroes’: Arizona Diamondbacks, MLB fans pay respect to veterans for Memorial Day

PHOENIX – The Arizona Diamondbacks organization rolled out the red carpet to honor soldiers and their families with an array of celebrations throughout Monday’s 7-5 victory against the Colorado Rockies.

Fans attending Monday's game at Chase Field honored military and veterans throughout the afternoon during the Arizona Diamondbacks' 7-5 win over the Colorado Rockies. (Photo courtesy of the Arizona Diamondbacks)

Phoenix Police Department plans to recruit more female officers, diversify staff by 2030

PHOENIX – Phoenix signed the national 30x30 Initiative in January, pledging to recruit more female police officers and setting a goal of having 30% of its sworn Phoenix Police Department officers be female by 2030

The Phoenix Police Department is seeking more female police recruits and is working to make sure 30% of its officers are women in the next seven years. (Photo by Gianna Abdallah/Cronkite News)

Flags for the fallen: Annual ‘flags-in’ readies Arlington for Memorial Day

ARLINGTON, Va. - In the predawn chill at Arlington National Cemetery, more than 1,000 service members hoisted backpacks and headed into the rows of headstones. Their mission: Plant thousands of small American flags at the graves of the country's fallen heroes.


Scott Barclay dedicates life to keeping ASU men’s gymnastics alive

CHANDLER – Former ASU gymnast Scott Barclay witnessed funding get cut from the Sun Devils men’s gymnastics program in 1993. Over the past 30 years, the ASU Hall of Famer has creatively worked to ensure the school’s decision wasn’t a death sentence for the program.

ASU men's gymnastics coach Scott Barclay works with his gymnasts and coaching staff to fundraise $225,000 annually as a fully self-funded club team. (Photo by Bobby Murphy/Cronkite News)

Former ASU pitcher Jake Borup awaits biggest save of his career: a heart transplant

PHOENIX – After suffering a massive heart attack last year, former ASU and Phillies pitcher Jake Borup awaits a heart transplant.

Jake Borup, who has six children, said he doesn’t “remember anything for about 40, 45 days” after he was admitted to the hospital following his heart attack. (Photo courtesy of Jake Borup)

Congress considers making Chiricahua National Monument Arizona’s fourth national park

WILLCOX – Bipartisan bill to make Chiricahua National Monument Arizona’s fourth national park could bring more tourism to southeastern Arizona.

Chiricahua is believed to have formed after a volcanic eruption 27 millions years ago left 2,000-foot-high layers of pumice and ash that fused to create rhyolitic tuff rock. (Photo courtesy of National Park Service)

‘We’re going to bounce back’: ASU baseball optimistic despite dropping Pac-12 tournament opener

SCOTTSDALE – More than a month after losing 20-0 to the University of Arizona, the Sun Devils walked a season-high 10 batters in a 12-3 loss in the first game of the Pac-12 tournament at Scottsdale Stadium.

ASU baseball took a thumping Tuesday in a 12-3 loss to UArizona in the Pac-12 tournament opener at Scottsdale Stadium. (Photo by Joey Plishka/Cronkite News)

Watchdog fights to protect consumers, keeps tabs on utility companies and the commission that regulates them

PHOENIX – Since 2018, Abhay Padgaonkar has worked as a fierce consumer advocate, fighting for the rights of those who struggle to pay their electricity bills. Padgaonker believes that his background in engineering and financial modeling makes him uniquely suited for data analysis as he keeps tabs on utilities and the commission that regulates them.

Protesters march around the Arizona Corporation Commission building in Phoenix before a September 2019 meeting about Arizona Public Service’s electricity shut-off policy. (File photo by Jake Eldridge/Cronkite News)

From stilettos to sneakers, center offers LGBTQ youth gender-affirming clothes

PHOENIX - One-n-Ten, a Phoenix nonprofit collects and gives away gender-affirming clothes for free. Hundreds of items, including underwear, socks, binders, drag and job-interview clothes are among the offerings.


Double standard: Duo of twins help raise level of play for ASU women’s lacrosse

TEMPE – The ASU women’s lacrosse team has a unique lineup with two sets of identical twins. Gigi and Bella Gaspar and Maddie and McKenna Riley are helping to raise the level of play in Tempe.

Maddie, left, and McKenna Riley have been through a lot together, including rehabbing from a torn ACL. (Photo courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics)

Phoenix Union school district considers return of school resource officers on campuses to address school safety

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Union High School District is considering bringing back school resource officers on campus after dropping its contract with the Phoenix Police Department nearly three years ago. The move brings great debate among students, faculty and parents.

Officer Edward Toves, shown in a 2018 file photo, when he worked at Westview High School as a school resource officer. His job included visiting classes to teach students about the law. (File photo by Faith Miller/Cronkite News)

Phoenix residents could see water bill increases coming soon

PHOENIX – The city of Phoenix is considering increases to its water rates in response to the ongoing drought and rising costs of labor, electricity and chemicals used to treat water and wastewater. Other Valley cities say their drought plans have not yet progressed to charging users more.