Gila River Indian Community rejects states’ plan for Colorado, works with feds
The Gila River Indian Community said it does not support a plan backed by three states for managing the Colorado River’s shrinking water supply, and is instead working instead with federal officials to develop its own proposal for water sharing.
Chub snub? Advocates question plan to protect threatened Colorado River fish
Federal water managers proposed a new plan to protect the humpback chub, a threatened native fish species in the Colorado River and its tributaries, but conservation groups say it does not go far enough.
‘We are survivors:’ National, Arizona projects aim to uncover, preserve histories of Native American boarding schools
PHOENIX – The Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative launched an oral history project documenting the traumatic experiences of Indigenous children in the federal boarding school system. Local preservation efforts have already delved into Arizona’s history of boarding schools and resulting generational trauma.
Americans cross the US-Mexico border for more affordable IVF treatment
YUMA – Cristina Yanez and her husband, Alex, spent eight years trying to conceive a child, but they were always met with disappointment. That’s when the Yuma couple turned to IVF options in Mexico. Now, they’re parents of three boys.
Tap water is cheap, but old pipes, a shrinking Colorado could change that
With aging infrastructure in need of replacement, water departments in the Colorado River basin are starting to invest in new systems that will also help cope with shrinking water supplies. But that means big spending, costs that will get passed on to customers.
MMIP task forces are given years to solve a problem centuries in the making
WASHINGTON - At least 10 states, including Arizona, and federal agencies have efforts to address the problem of missing and murdered Indigenous people, but those efforts have to grapple with historical neglect, modern bureaucracy and myriad legal and police disparities.
Student loan repayments will hit economy; how hard depends on who’s being hit
WASHINGTON - When federal student loan payments resume Oct. 1, they could pull $71 billion a year out of the economy, $5.3 billion from Arizona. The pain could be real for borrowers - about 880,000 in Arizona - but will present only a "modest headwind" to the overall economy.
Group mentor program in Tucson teaches male youth about healthy relationships
TUCSON – A mentoring program is using talking circles, adventure outings and overnight camping trips to help young men develop positive and healthy relationships. The goal is to give every boy in middle and high school access to safe and trusted men.
‘We cannot continue to scar Mother Earth’: Public shows support for proposed monument near Grand Canyon
FLAGSTAFF – Dozens of community members, tribal leaders and state officials gathered in Flagstaff to show their support for a proposed national monument around the Grand Canyon, saying the designation could protect natural and cultural resources. Critics say the monument could hurt the economy.
Mixed record for Phoenix police’s 12 community boards meant to build trust with marginalized groups
PHOENIX – Phoenix police department touts 12 boards as a way it builds trust with marginalized communities, but it releases little information about what they do.
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.
Page has a front row seat to climate change crisis on the Colorado River
PAGE – As the Colorado River shrinks in the hands of a changing climate, communities that rely on it are starting to feel the pinch. Smaller cities and towns in the Southwest, like Page, have a perilous front row seat as the diminished river threatens to cut off their water supply completely.
