Good afternoon. This is your Cronkite News digest for Tuesday, Dec. 16.
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EDS: Clients who used the recent Cronkite News/Cronkite Noticias story on the new citizenship test are asked to run the following correction and to update any online story. The error occurred numerous times throughout. The Spanish version slugged NewCitizenship ran Oct. 22. The English version slugged New Version US Citizenship Test ran Oct. 23. Updated versions are posted here in Spanish and here in English.
PHOENIX – An Oct. 23 Cronkite News story about the updated citizenship test misspelled the name of Ron Flater, a volunteer at the Phoenix West Learning Center.
EDS: Los clientes que publicaron el artículo de Cronkite Noticias con el nombre de NewCitizenship que se publicó el 22 de octubre bajo la entradilla del primer párrafo PHOENIX, se les pide hacer la siguiente corrección. El error ocurrió al escribirse de forma incorrecta el apellido de Ron Flater.
PHOENIX – El 22 de octubre, un artículo de Cronkite Noticias sobre la prueba de ciudadanía actualizada escribió mal el nombre de Ron Flater, un voluntario del Centro de Aprendizaje Phoenix West.
EDS: Clients who used the Cronkite News story slugged Color of Blood that moved Oct. 28 under a PHOENIX dateline are asked to run the following correction and to correct the online version. The error occurred in the ninth paragraph. The updated story is posted here.
PHOENIX – An Oct. 28 Cronkite News story about blood donation demand in communities of color cited incorrect information from Vitalant stating that it supplies 62 hospitals in Maricopa County. The company supplies 62 hospitals across Arizona.
By Logan Brown
Cronkite News
TEMPE – Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham walked into the Sun Devils’ postgame press conference exhausted, doused in sweat, yet relieved.
He looked down at safety Adrian Wilson and gave him a wink, as if to say, “How about that?”
That was Dillingham’s first win in Tempe against an AP Poll top-10 opponent. The Sun Devils (5-2, 3-1) toppled No. 7 Texas Tech (6-1, 3-1) 26-22 Saturday in another drama-filled matchup that concluded with ASU students pouring onto Frank Kush Field, that same day the program honored Kush’s 1975 team, which finished undefeated. Continue reading “Lesson learned: Dillingham, Sun Devils upset Texas Tech to shake up Big 12 race”
By Paul Garcia II
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – Michael Carranza has made the 300-mile trip from his Las Vegas home twice this season to see his beloved Arizona Cardinals. His Tik Tok featuring team content has nearly 30,000 followers and two million likes.
What have the Cardinals given him in return? A 2-4 record in 2025 with four fourth quarter losses, including three that saw them either leading or tied with less than five seconds left. Yet, Carranza keeps coming back.
“The thought of leaving the team has never crossed my mind,” he said. “Yes, the Cardinals have put me through a lot and they’ve disappointed me time and time again, but I don’t have a desire to go to another team. Hopefully, by the time I’m in my grave, the Arizona Cardinals win at least one Super Bowl.”
Considering Carranza is 25, that’s not a big ask. Continue reading “Why do we do this to ourselves? For Cardinals fans, loyalty isn’t rational, it’s psychological”
By Colin Hogan
Cronkite News
TEMPE – The college sports landscape changed forever when the NCAA allowed athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. Less than five years later, the Texas Tech Red Raiders are reaping the rewards – arriving in Tempe for Saturday’s game against Arizona State with a roster valued at more than $28 million as the No. 7 team in the country.
In July, On3’s Pete Nakos reported on Tech’s hefty NIL budget. The Red Raiders’ strong 6-0 start suggests it was money well spent. A lump sum of that investment went into their defense, particularly the defensive line, which has transformed into one of the nation’s best units, built through the transfer portal.
“All of their defensive linemen that started last year are their twos or they’re rotating ones,” ASU coach Kenny Dillingham said. “That tells you how much they leveled up.” Continue reading “Arizona State prepares for Texas Tech’s $28 million football roster in pivotal Big 12 meeting”
By Lorenzo Gomez
Cronkite News
GLOBE, Ariz. — She was just 4 years old when the floodwaters first tore through Beth McCreary’s hometown of Globe. Her father’s truck was swept away by a river of rainwater as she waited outside the courthouse for a typhoid shot. Over seven decades later, the lifelong resident watched helplessly as her hometown drowned again — three lives were lost, and her granddaughter’s cars were carried off just as her father’s truck once was.
“It’s just overwhelming,” McCreary, now 75, said.
Two weeks after unprecedented flash flooding decimated the town of just more than 7,000, the community is banding together to rebuild their home. Continue reading “After deadly flash floods, Globe organizations and community members are putting the pieces back together”
By Javier Delgado
Cronkite News
TEMPE – Nearly 50 years have passed since the Arizona State football team stormed through the season unbeaten, capping off its magical year with a Fiesta Bowl win against Big Eight powerhouse Nebraska.
Although times and the game have changed, the memories haven’t faded for the 1975 Sun Devils squad that finished No. 2 in the national rankings with a perfect 12-0 record. The legendary team will be honored Saturday afternoon when the players and coaches are inducted into the Sun Devil Hall of Fame at halftime of ASU’s matchup against Texas Tech at Mountain America Stadium.
The recognition is long overdue for one of the best teams in program history. Led by coach Frank Kush, it was a season in which the Sun Devils dominated both sides of the ball, averaging 30 points a game while only allowing 10.3 by a defense that became known as the “Crunch Bunch.” Continue reading “‘We didn’t fear anybody’: Undefeated 1975 ASU football team to enter Sun Devil Hall of Fame”
By Logan Brown
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – In 2019, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound running back was the talk of the town in Rio Linda, California. With a signature surname and a personality that screams, literally, for anyone’s attention, Cam Skattebo was destined for big things.
The only problem: Nobody outside of the nearly 17,000 people in his hometown knew about him. Although college football programs recruited him, schools such as UCLA visited but didn’t view him as a priority target.
He didn’t receive any scholarship offers. When he visited UCLA, the Bruins were working hard to land Salpointe Catholic’s Bijan Robinson (who later enrolled at Texas and now stars for the Atlanta Falcons). Skattebo was thrown on the back burner, as a last resort option.
UCLA didn’t even spell his name correctly on his name tag for his unofficial visit.
“In my mind, I’m thinking he is really getting sold short,” said Rio Linda High School football coach Jack Garceau, who coached Skattebo for three seasons. “I could not get a straight answer as to why people felt the way they did. Maybe it was his height, maybe it was his lack of speed, maybe it was the fact that he was a white running back. I never really got that perspective.”
After bulldozing through two seasons at Sacramento State, becoming a College Football Playoff darling at Arizona State, and now taking the leading role in the backfield for the New York Giants, no one is questioning his ability on the field anymore.
It’s his boisterous personality that has grasped the attention of the nation, with his celebratory backflips and bruising runs turning him into a rookie sensation in New York, New Jersey and the hearts of old school, hard-nosed football fans everywhere.
Skattebo has become beloved in sport’s biggest market, and with one of the NFL’s most desperate fan bases. The New York Giants have managed just two winning seasons in the past decade, despite having rosters littered with stars such as Saquon Barkley, Odell Beckham Jr. and two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning.
Losing is often described as a feeling worse than the thrill of victory. Big Blue has been feeling blue since its Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots in 2012.
“Over the last decade it’s probably been the worst culture that I’ve seen,” FOX Sports NFL reporter Ralph Vacchiano said. “It’s not like there are bad guys, they’re not loaded with criminals, but there’s this losing feeling. They don’t have a direction. If you look back over the last 10 years, the amount of times they’ve changed coaches and general managers and quarterbacks, you’re going to see that affects the players. A lot are there for a couple of years, they do nothing but lose, and they move one.
“Even for professional athletes, that weighs on you.”
The 2025 season hasn’t flipped that narrative, with the Giants starting 2-4 and sitting in last place in the NFC East. However, Skattebo and rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart have created a new buzz in East Rutherford that has inspired an upswing.
Skattebo initially put himself on the national radar with 121 yards from scrimmage against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3, adding a touchdown run with a backflip for good measure. He ranks third among rookie running backs this season with 338 rushing yards.
Anybody who walks the hallways of the Giants facilities or in the tunnel of MetLife Stadium before a game can hear the echoes of Skattebo’s best Ric Flair impression.
Or in the middle of position meetings.
Or in the middle of coach Brian Daboll’s media availability.
“He’s genuinely an idiot,” Giants receiver Gunner Olszewski said fondly of Skattebo. “(Reserved) is not in his wheelhouse. He doesn’t know where he’s at. Most rookies when they first get into the league are like, ‘Oh my god, it’s the NFL.’ For him it’s just another day playing football.”
For Skattebo, it all traces back to his time in Tempe, where he learned how to win and how to foster a connection within his team that is rooted in on-the-field production and authenticity off of it.
In Rio Linda, the 23-year-old is already something of a legend whose shadow of accomplishments casts over the Sacramento suburb, his last name known to most everyone. A person passing through will see the No. 44 jerseys, and the locals are quick to mention he is homegrown.
“His dad was a great athlete, his brother was a great athlete, and he just took it to another level,” Garceau said. “There’s a ton of pride in him being a hometown guy. It’s not like he transferred into Rio Linda and became a dude, he grew up here. He drank Rio Linda water in his baby formula.”
Now that his journey spans from coast-to-coast, Skattebo’s hard-nosed running and contagious personality is well-known, and maybe a bit wild. The “Nature Boy” – a nickname he borrowed from Flair, the iconic wrestler, which has stuck since his Rio Linda days – will continue to scream and shout, lowering his head into defenders and backflipping into his passion for the game he’s grown up destined to play.
He might be “a bad little kid” on the field, according to New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis, but that personality carries over into a relatable person with whom fans can connect even if they will never step on an NFL field.
At Arizona State, there may never be another game at Mountain America Stadium without at least one No. 4 jersey in the crowd. Just like they do in his hometown of Rio Linda, tales of his thundering runs and undeniable charisma have started spreading like ghost stories.
In the words of Flair, “Diamonds are forever, and so is Ric Flair.”
And so is Cam Skattebo.
For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.
By Adam Kunin
Cronkite News
TEMPE – Arizona State sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt trotted onto the Kajikawa Practice Fields Wednesday morning wearing one of his seemingly typical practice outfits ahead of Saturday’s game against No. 7 Texas Tech: a gold helmet, light grey jersey, black shorts and maroon and gold Adidas cleats.
Except, something remained absent from his appearance – the tape that had been tightly wrapped around his right foot in previous practices the past two weeks.
It provided an early hint that the Sun Devils’ signal-caller might be trending toward playing against the Red Raiders at home Saturday at 1 p.m. in a Big 12 tilt that could have conference championship implications. Continue reading “ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt ‘probable,’ trends toward playing against Texas Tech”
By Kelly Henriquez
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – On a warm Wednesday afternoon, one burro with tan fur and large ears wandered the streets and desert surrounding Lake Pleasant with its herd. Many of the wild donkeys roam near the lake because it lowers the temperature of the surrounding areas. After eating some plants, a thorn gets stuck in the fur on the burro’s upper lip. The burro jumped over a metal barrier and quickly trotted towards a white Kia Sedona that had slowed to observe the animals.
The burro let the driver pet the top of its head, hoping its friendliness would earn food from the woman. When she tried to remove the thorn, the burro wouldn’t let her reach towards its mouth and hurried away to snack on more native plants.
A recent study from the Arizona Game and Fish Department found that the invasive species of burros threatens the native Sonoran Desert ecosystem life in the area. Explorers first brought the burros from Northern Africa and over time, they have escaped or been released into the desert.
Continue reading “Wild donkeys damage saguaros, other plants vital for the Sonoran Desert ecosystem”
By Gabrielle Wallace
Cronkite News
PHOENIX — Anna Cicero, a retired educator who lives in Chandler with her daughter and grandson, held her utility bill up while speaking behind a podium in the Rose Garden of the Arizona Capitol. She spoke passionately about the rising utility rates and their effects on her family.
“I can try to find cheaper eggs or just skip cholesterol,” Cicero said. “But I cannot switch to a cheaper electrical company.”
Cicero said she’s scared to check her bill every month. Two other concerned Arizonans joined her at the podium, echoing the sentiment. Many more stood behind the podium, holding up signs demanding that rate hikes stop.
Continue reading “Commission candidates, Arizonans upset over state’s increasing utility rates”
By Lorenzo Gomez
Cronkite News
PHOENIX — On the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic, Richie Dolan flew back to Phoenix from New York City with one craving: ice cream. He navigated the eerily quiet streets to a nearby grocery store, filled a basket and later churned a batch in his kitchen. He left scoops for neighbors; they went crazy for it.
What they didn’t know was that the homemade treat was completely lactose-free.
The stars aligned for Dolan, who is lactose intolerant. A year later, that late-night craving became LIX Uptown Ice Cream, one of Arizona’s only fully lactose-free ice cream shops.
Continue reading “Phoenix lactose-free ice cream shop is bringing dairy back, one lick at a time”
By Lochlan McTeague
Cronkite News
TEMPE – Arizona State’s hockey team celebrated a weekend full of firsts at Mullett Arena. First win, first goal and a first chance to rewrite the wrongs from what coach Greg Powers described as a heartbreaking opening weekend.
In a condensed tournament-style format, the No. 15 Sun Devils defeated Notre Dame 5-3 Friday and Alaska Fairbanks 5-2 Saturday to capture the Ice Breaker Tournament.
“We won a trophy and that’s what we wanted to do with this young team, and we’re really proud of them,” Powers said. Continue reading “From heartbreak to happiness: Arizona State hockey wins Ice Breaker Tournament”
By Nick Karmia
Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – More than three weeks after winning her late father’s congressional seat, Tucson Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva returned to the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday to demand – yet again – that House Speaker Mike Johnson swear her in.
This time, she was joined by leaders from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus as fellow Democrats from Arizona and around the country pressed the speaker to relent.
“What’s the problem?” said Rep. Gil Cisneros, D-Calif., a leader of the Hispanic caucus, flanked by Grijalva, Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, and others. “Is it because she’s a Democratic Latina? That she’s going to sign the discharge petition on the Epstein files?”
By Logan Brown
Cronkite News
TEMPE – A brutal and wet night in Salt Lake City is proving to have a lasting impact on the season in Tempe.
Arizona State (4-2, 2-1) returned to the Valley with more than just a 42-10 loss at Utah (5-1, 2-1). A challenging season has bruised and battered the Sun Devils, but Saturday’s storm at Rice-Eccles Stadium poured on the punishment. Now, ASU is forced to pick up the pieces before undefeated No. 7 Texas Tech comes to town in what might be a make-or-break game for ASU’s Big 12 title hopes.
For starters, quarterback Sam Leavitt was deemed unable to play before the weekend had arrived. He was spotted wearing a walking boot on his right foot pregame, a nagging issue since the Sun Devils’ trip to Baylor more than three weeks ago, Dillingham said. Continue reading “Will Sam Leavitt play against Texas Tech? ASU’s Dillingham reflect on Utah loss, injuries as big weekend nears”
By Nate Mills
Cronkite News
SALT LAKE CITY – Rain fell throughout the night in Arizona State’s game against Utah, but it really started to pour when the Utes’ offense took the field.
An evening thunderstorm with heavy precipitation briefly delayed ASU’s game against Utah Saturday but cleared out just in time for an 8:30 p.m. kickoff.
When the turf finally dried up at Rice-Eccles Stadium, quarterback Devon Dampier and the Utes offense showered the Sun Devils defense with touchdowns in their 42-10 win. Continue reading “ASU weathers the storm but not Utah’s physical play in 42-10 loss”
By Nate Johnson
Cronkite News\
PHOENIX – From posting the second-worst record in franchise history in 2023 to defying the odds en route to a WNBA Finals appearance in 2025, the Phoenix Mercury have undergone one of the greatest transformations in their 29-season journey.
At the center of it all, through every trial and tribulation, has been coach Nate Tibbetts, who was ejected early in the Mercury’s 97-86 loss to the Aces Friday in Game 4 that solidified Las Vegas’ third championship win in the last four years.
Tibbetts, who received a double technical foul after arguing a foul call on Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani, voiced his distaste for the call and the league’s officiating that ultimately ended his team’s run for glory. Continue reading “Despite officiating disagreements, Tibbetts preaches optimism in Mercury’s WNBA Finals loss to Las Vegas”
By Carmen Liberto
Cronkite News
SCOTTSDALE – Under the Friday night lights at Notre Dame Preparatory High School, the final whistle blows and the scoreboard fades into the background. Players from both sidelines gather at the end zone, drop to one knee and bow their heads.
For many players at Notre Dame Prep, those actions carry more weight than a win. The Catholic school has built its athletic culture around prayer, community and faith, values it believes guides the team long after the lights go dark.
The school’s beliefs come at a time when the intersection of religion and athletics are under scrutiny, and on a grander scale, religion and its role in U.S. policy. One case – Kennedy v. Bremerton School District – went all the way to the Supreme Court, which in 2022 ruled 6-3 that a Washington state high school football coach’s private prayer on the field after games was protected by the First Amendment’s Free Speech and Free Exercise clauses.
As a private school, Notre Dame Prep does not find itself immersed in First Amendment discussion because it is not a government entity. Faith is an important message at the school, whose many graduates include Erika Kirk, who has vowed to continue the mission of her late husband, Charlie Kirk, leading Turning Point USA with vision and faith. Continue reading “As debate circles the intersection of sports and religion, Notre Dame Prep remains committed to faith’s role”
By Carmen Liberto
Cronkite News
TEMPE – The No. 8 Arizona State volleyball team is making noise on a national stage.
With a sweep over No. 16 Baylor (26–24, 27–25, 25–23) at Desert Financial Arena Wednesday night, the Sun Devils improve to 3-2 against ranked opponents and remain undefeated at home. They hope to enhance those numbers at 7 p.m. Friday when they host No. 24 Colorado.
The win extended ASU’s streak of dominance in Tempe, where Baylor has never earned a victory since ASU joined the Big 12 conference.
Success came after a week of centered preparation and resilience. Continue reading “Serving notice: Arizona State volleyball sweeps Baylor, takes down another ranked opponent”
