Donald Trump wants 10,000 more Border Patrol agents but high turnover has stymied far more modest growth targets

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Border Patrol Trump. 1,000 words.
  • File photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Kelechukwu Iruoma
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump has promised to hire 10,000 more Border Patrol agents as part of a crackdown on immigration. That may be a tall order.

Days after taking office in 2017, Trump ordered the Border Patrol to add 5,000 agents. By the time he left four years later, the Border Patrol had actually shrunk by 1,084 agents, records from Customs and Border Protection show.

Continue reading “Donald Trump wants 10,000 more Border Patrol agents but high turnover has stymied far more modest growth targets”

Roller skating resurgence sparks interest in new and old roller rinks in Arizona

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Roller Skating Resurgence. 1,480 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnail, captions below).

By Jalen Woody
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – One of the country’s favorite pastimes has made a comeback. Social media platforms such as TikTok and various events have reintroduced roller skating to a new generation.

Kendra Mikkelson attended an adult skate night at the Zoni Girls’ new venue in the Arizona Center after being away from it for years.

Continue reading “Roller skating resurgence sparks interest in new and old roller rinks in Arizona”

‘Be early’: What fans need to know ahead of ASU football’s sold-out contest vs. BYU

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports–ASU BYU Logistics, 520 words.
  • Photo available.

By Dane Palmer
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Arizona State hopes to have a strong wall of maroon and gold Saturday when the Sun Devils host BYU in a highly anticipated Big 12 showdown. ASU coaches have implored fans who can’t make the game to resell their tickets only to Sun Devil fans, and ASU removed students’ option to buy guest passes with their free student ticket.

“If you have tickets and you’re an ASU fan, make sure they go to ASU fans,” coach Kenny Dillingham said. “There’s a lot of BYU fans in the Valley. … Make sure they show you an ASU hat, an ASU shirt.”

The hype surrounding the Sun Devils’ first home game in two weeks has grown to astronomical levels. Tickets for the game at Mountain America Stadium were sold out by Tuesday, forcing the athletic department to work harder than ever to make the game as accessible as possible. 

Continue reading “‘Be early’: What fans need to know ahead of ASU football’s sold-out contest vs. BYU”

Horizon volleyball secures rare four-peat as 5A state champions behind Teyara Siegler’s leadership

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports–Horizon Volleyball, 627 words.
  • Photo available.

By Ethan Desjardine
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – When legendary coach Valorie McKenzie stepped down from Horizon’s volleyball program after her fifth championship win in 2022, some questioned whether her successor, McKenzie Skaggs, could continue Horizon’s dominance.

After winning the 5A state championship last year, Skaggs’ first season as Horizon’s coach, and defeating Sunrise Mountain Saturday to complete a four-peat, all those questions have been answered.

Horizon continues to add to its legacy as a powerhouse in Arizona high school volleyball. Continue reading “Horizon volleyball secures rare four-peat as 5A state champions behind Teyara Siegler’s leadership”

Middle school with collegiate offers? Arizona high school basketball underclassmen and coaches reveal early recruiting realities

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports–Middle School Recruiting, 1,500 words.
  • Photo available.

By Dylan Ackermann
Cronkite News

MESA – While most middle schoolers were focused on back-to-school shopping, Kyi Kyi Miles was heading to a workout with his trainer and former Arizona State University guard Jahii Carson.

On the way to the summer workout, while Miles sat in the passenger seat, his father, Jarvis, mentioned that he received a phone call and that the caller wanted to follow up.
Not expecting it to happen so soon – he thought junior year would be the time – Miles was caught off guard when, after putting the call on speaker, he received his first verbal offer from University of San Francisco men’s basketball coach Michael Plank.

At the time, Miles hadn’t yet started his eighth-grade year at AZ Compass Prep, but according to Plank, he was still one of the best players at the Dons’ basketball camp. Continue reading “Middle school with collegiate offers? Arizona high school basketball underclassmen and coaches reveal early recruiting realities”

Nick Kurtz defies rookie expectations with stellar Arizona Fall League debut

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports–A’s Nick Kurtz, 780 words.
  • 3 photos available.

By Sean Brennan
Cronkite News

MESA – When a newly drafted baseball player experiences their first professional baseball games, their skills usually don’t translate into immediate success. New faces often need time to adjust before they eventually hit their stride, according to the Athletics’ Javier Godard, manager of the single-A Stockton Ports and the hitting coach for the Arizona Fall League’s Mesa Solar Sox.

That’s the case for most players, at least. First baseman Nick Kurtz, selected by the Athletics with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Entry Draft, is an exception, as proven by his performance with the Solar Sox this past season in the Arizona Fall League.

Across two levels of minor league baseball — Single-A and Double-A — Kurtz only played a combined 12 games due to a hamstring injury suffered in late August. But those 12 games were enough as it instantly became clear no grace period was needed. Continue reading “Nick Kurtz defies rookie expectations with stellar Arizona Fall League debut”

ASU Prep launches Family Choice Day for flexible Friday learning

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Family Choice Day. 570 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).
  • Video available.

By Sienna Monea
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – ASU Preparatory Academy is making educational waves with Family Choice Day. This new program aims to give families more flexibility while helping students stay engaged in their learning. The initiative comes as more schools nationwide, including those in the Phoenix area, adopt four-day school weeks.

Continue reading “ASU Prep launches Family Choice Day for flexible Friday learning”

New coach Pa-Modou Kah brings global expertise to Phoenix Rising FC amid roster uncertainty

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports–Phoenix Rising New Coach, 1,140 words.
  • 3 photos available.

By Cooper Burns
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The new coach of Phoenix Rising FC comes from a different league, and the roster he is taxed with improving before the United Soccer League season begins in March is still in a state of flux. But Pa-Modou Kah has a resume as unique as the situation he is inheriting.

Kah has a wealth of experience not only on the field but off it. The Gambia native has experience in both European and North American soccer and speaks seven different languages. Kah is fluent in Wolof, Norwegian, English, Spanish, French, Dutch and Arabic. Kah’s mastery of diverse languages should help him form genuine connections with his players quicker than most.

Just four days after Phoenix lost a quarterfinal playoff game to New Mexico on Nov. 3, ending Rising’s bid to defend their USL title, the team announced that interim coach Diego Gomez would not return. Gomez stepped in after the firing of first-year coach Danny Stone in June. Continue reading “New coach Pa-Modou Kah brings global expertise to Phoenix Rising FC amid roster uncertainty”

‘We are not alone’: LA city council passes sanctuary city ordinance as Donald Trump plans mass deportations

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: LA Sanctuary City. 670 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Brandelyn Clark
Cronkite News

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to pass a new sanctuary city ordinance that aims to solidify protections for immigrant residents at risk of deportation.

City hall was abuzz with activity as supporters, many wearing T-shirts and holding signs with slogans like “Protect our neighbors” and “Make California a Sanctuary City,” gathered to advocate for the measure.

Continue reading “‘We are not alone’: LA city council passes sanctuary city ordinance as Donald Trump plans mass deportations”

Look who’s 21: Arizona State checks into CFP rankings for first time since 2014 as BYU looms

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports–CFP Ranking ASU, 760 words.
  • Photo available.

By Fletcher Anderson
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Defeat Kansas State? Check.

Land in the College Football Playoff rankings? Check.

The CFP committee placed Arizona State at No. 21 in the third ranking of the year Tuesday, its first appearance since the inaugural year in 2014 as they continue their improbable run at 8-2. Continue reading “Look who’s 21: Arizona State checks into CFP rankings for first time since 2014 as BYU looms”

Arizona Fall League proves invaluable for MLB prospects in successful 2024 campaign

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports–Fall League Championship, 800 words.
  • Photo available.

By Sean Brennan
Cronkite News

SCOTTSDALE – Entering the 2024 Arizona Fall League championship game, Washington Nationals No. 13 prospect Robert Hassell III felt several emotions.

He was excited for a chance at redemption: he reached the semifinals in the two previous seasons with two separate teams but lost each time. He felt a sense of fulfillment for giving himself an opportunity at a championship. But the one emotion he didn’t feel was surprise.

Despite the AFL season being a sprint that begins in early October and wraps up in mid-November, Hassell’s Salt River Rafters have formed a strong connection over the short time. They bonded over many things, but the biggest was undoubtedly the desire to win a championship. Continue reading “Arizona Fall League proves invaluable for MLB prospects in successful 2024 campaign”

Cancer can affect anyone. But Hispanics face disproportionately severe outcomes

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Hispanic Cancer. 1,130 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Nicollette Valenzuela
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – For 58-year-old Beatriz Topete, cancer has been a part of her life from an early age. When she was barely a toddler, Topete lost her mother to leukemia. Fourteen years later, her half-sister, 3, was diagnosed with Wilms tumor, a type of cancer that affects kidneys. The girl survived.

Later, the disease took her 62-year-old father, two uncles and one grandmother. Topete was anything but surprised when doctors told her she had a rare muscle cancer called leiomyosarcoma this year.

Continue reading “Cancer can affect anyone. But Hispanics face disproportionately severe outcomes”

Ruben Gallego outspent Kari Lake to win Senate seat but other Arizona races proved money isn’t always enough

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Costly Arizona Elections. 750 words.
  • Photo available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Miguel Ambriz
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – More than $250 million poured into Arizona’s contests for the U.S. Senate and House. After all the ads, mailers, phone calls and rallies, not a single seat flipped – proving, experts said, that money isn’t everything in politics.

The Senate race between Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego and Republican Kari Lake, a former news anchor, drew the bulk of that spending – $156 million, according to OpenSecrets, a group that tracks campaign spending.

Continue reading “Ruben Gallego outspent Kari Lake to win Senate seat but other Arizona races proved money isn’t always enough”

’12th-man experience’: No. 21 ASU set for showdown with No. 14 BYU as sold-out crowd awaits

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Sports–ASU Football BYU, 560 words.
  • Photo available.

By Dane Palmer
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Arizona State football has finally made its push into the top 25 teams in college football, landing at No. 21 in the nation. One of the most important games of the season now lies ahead of the Sun Devils as they get ready to face off with 14th-ranked BYU at Mountain America Stadium.

Coach Kenny Dillingham’s mantra has been “Activate the Valley” since he arrived at ASU, and it looks as if he’s done just that – Saturday’s matchup will go down in front of a sold-out crowd. Reportedly, student tickets were in high demand with the Ticketmaster queue reaching up to 1,000 people waiting to claim tickets.

Players have felt the buzz all week and are ready for the Sun Devils crowd to create a home-field advantage. Quarterback Sam Leavitt is more pumped for practice knowing he’ll be in front of a packed stadium this weekend. Continue reading “’12th-man experience’: No. 21 ASU set for showdown with No. 14 BYU as sold-out crowd awaits”

‘Cultural shift’ of young voters favored Donald Trump in 2024 election

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Young Voter Swing. 710 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Nash Darragh
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The outcome of the 2024 election has a familiar look to 2020. Then, the Democrats successfully got Joe Biden elected to the presidency, won the U.S. House and split the Senate. Now, a massive swing has led to what some are calling “the greatest comeback in political history.”

The Republicans have a trifecta for at least two years; Donald Trump won the presidency while Republicans won the Senate and officially claimed 218 House seats for a GOP majority.

Continue reading “‘Cultural shift’ of young voters favored Donald Trump in 2024 election”

Arizona receives mixed ratings on American Lung Association’s annual ‘State of Lung Cancer’ report

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: State of Lung Cancer. 465 words.
  • File photo available.

By Jalen Woody
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The American Lung Association (ALA) graded Arizona’s lung cancer response as mostly below average Tuesday. The association releases an annual report documenting the success or failure in each state’s response to lung cancer awareness.

“The No. 1 modality (for lung cancer) is going to be smoking,” said Dr. Richard Gillespie, a thoracic surgeon at HonorHealth Heart Care – Heart and Lung Surgery – Shea. “It’s No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, but it’s not the only risk.”

Continue reading “Arizona receives mixed ratings on American Lung Association’s annual ‘State of Lung Cancer’ report”

Breaking Barriers: Ability360 opens Phoenix Summit Challenge to all abilities

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports–Ability 360 Phoenix Summit, 850 words.
  • Photo available.

By Keller Brown
Cronkite News

TEMPE – On a slightly overcast Saturday at Papago Park, which is sandwiched between Tempe and Phoenix, a group of three hikers gathered to take on their second hike of the day, with two more trails still to follow.

The three hikers, accompanied by at least one guide per person at all times, were not ordinary hikers, and not just because they were willing to hike four trails in a day.

Two sat in wheelchairs, another recently suffered a partial loss of her vision. Continue reading “Breaking Barriers: Ability360 opens Phoenix Summit Challenge to all abilities”

Migrants headed north from the Darién Gap can walk or catch a bus

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Borderlands-Uvita. 2,340 words.
  • Photos, charts available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Carly Stoenner
Cronkite Borderlands Project

UVITA, Costa Rica — Yocelin Dayana Garcias Barrio and Gladys Yusberny Seijas Matute stand begging for money in front of a grocery store in this small tourist town on the Pacific coast in southern Costa Rica. They hold pieces of cardboard with messages written in black ink. The 90-degree tropical sun bears down on them, and perspiration mixed with highway exhaust soaks their clothes. They have been on the road for two months since leaving Colombia, which was their first stop after fleeing their home country of Venezuela.

“We are a Venezuelan family. We are migrants. Please help us if you can with work, food or a little money,” reads their makeshift sign. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Continue reading “Migrants headed north from the Darién Gap can walk or catch a bus”

COVID-19 winter surge expected to hit marginalized communities hardest, experts warn

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: COVID-19 California. 940 words.
  • File photo available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Brandelyn Clark
Cronkite News

LOS ANGELES – As COVID-19 is expected to surge this winter, communities across the Southwest face rising hospitalizations and new, resilient variants. Infection rates can be even more severe for marginalized populations in these states.

Limited health-care access and historically low vaccination rates amplify the burden on these communities and underscore long-standing health disparities. Following a summer surge, this new wave serves as a stark reminder of how these inequities continue to put vulnerable groups at greater risk.

Continue reading “COVID-19 winter surge expected to hit marginalized communities hardest, experts warn”

‘Don’t get lost in the sauce’: No. 21 Arizona State preps for landmark game against No. 14 BYU

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports–ASU Football Ascension. 740 words.
  • Photo available.

By Tucker L. Sennett
Cronkite News

TEMPE – The last time Arizona State football finished the season undefeated at home came in 2004. Kenny Dillingham, then a 14-year-old freshman in high school, reflected Monday on what he was likely up to 20 years ago.

“I was either watching games or probably playing Halo 2 with people in high school,” Dillingham said.

The Master Chief, the Halo franchise’s iconic main character, is known for making miracles happen on science-fiction battlefields. While the gridiron isn’t the same as a sci-fi war, what the Arizona State head coach has done with the program in his second year is nothing short of a miracle. Continue reading “‘Don’t get lost in the sauce’: No. 21 Arizona State preps for landmark game against No. 14 BYU”