Historical photos available (thumbnails, captions below).
By Brianna Chappie Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – From 1819 until 1969, hundreds of thousands of Native American children were forcibly removed from their homes and sent to boarding schools – sometimes hundreds or even thousands of miles from their families.
The schools were run by churches and the federal government with a clear purpose: to strip Native Americans of their cultures and force them to assimilate.
By Grey Gartin, Benjamin Adelberg and Aoife Kane Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – Of the contenders Vice President Kamala Harris is vetting as a possible running mate, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly is the only one who’s been to space, traveling over 20 million miles for NASA.
But does he have the right stuff to join the Democratic ticket?
“This is not about me,” he told reporters at the Capitol on Wednesday. “This is about the future of this country.”
WASHINGTON – The first skateboard Di’Orr Greenwood ever rode was a cheap plastic one her grandpa had given to her younger brother.
“He had so much fun on it that I wanted a little bit of that fun, too,” she said.
When she was 22, an arson fire left the family home in ashes. They lost almost everything. But Greenwood found some old skateboards unscathed by the fire, and a tool for wood burning that her late uncle had taught her to use.
Slug: BC-CNS-Proposition 314. 1,000 words. By Alex Cunningham.
Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).
By Alex Cunningham Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – Proposition 314 would make it a crime under Arizona law to cross the border illegally – allowing police to arrest anyone who can’t prove U.S. citizenship or legal residency and state courts to order deportations.
Even if voters approve the measure in November, it faces high legal hurdles.
Immigration enforcement is a federal power, and federal courts have so far blocked similar laws in Texas and other states. Advocates for civil liberties and migrants warn that such “show me your papers” laws put Americans with darker skin and accents at risk.
PARIS – Nearly 400 miles south of Paris, in a city known for its foie gras but also its booming aerospace industry, several swimming coaches are quietly fine-tuning their not-so-secret weapon.
Former Arizona State swimmer Léon Marchand has returned home to Toulouse to prepare for the biggest stage in the world, the Paris Olympics
Slug: Sports–Nate Bjorkgren Team Canada, 1,200 words.
Photos available.
By David Bernauer Cronkite News
PARIS – Coaching basketball has consumed Nate Bjorkgren for more than half his life, all the way from the high school ranks to the NBA. Though he secured his first coaching jobs at high schools in his home state of Iowa, it was a move to Phoenix and a position as the head coach at Cactus Shadows High School where he was able to truly establish himself.
Now he finds himself on an international stage.
Bjorkgren will serve as Team Canada associate head coach for the Paris Olympics, where his group, widely considered one of the top teams in the tournament, will face Greece in opening round action Saturday.
PHOENIX – The WNBA All-Star game returned to Phoenix for the third time last weekend, bringing in fans from across the country and internationally to witness the world’s best players.
Team WNBA prevailed over the Women’s National Team, 117-109, in front of a sellout crowd Saturday at the Footprint Center, with Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale earning the All-Star MVP award after a 34-point performance in her third All-Star game appearance. The 2024 WNBA All-Star Game averaged 3.4 million viewers on ABC, making it the most-watched WNBA telecast since opening weekend in 1997, according to Front Office Sports.
Fans also flocked to downtown Phoenix to see rookies Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. Reese scored 12 points and had 11 rebounds to become the first rookie with a double-double in an WNBA All-Star game, while Clark’s 10 assists set an All-Star rookie record of her own.
The weekend festivities kicked off with Friday night’s skills competitions, including an obstacle course-style skills challenge, a 3×3 exhibition game and a 3-point contest. Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray became the first player in WNBA history to win both the skills challenge and the 3-point contest in the same year.
A huge focus of the weekend was fan engagement, as the league hosted events like the WNBA Live fan festival in Phoenix. Fans of all ages participated in shooting contests, waited in line for meet-and-greets with their favorite players and purchased a variety of All-Star-themed merchandise.
After Team WNBA’s victory Saturday and the ensuing awards presentation, ESPN reporter Holly Rowe spoke to the loud Phoenix crowd. Her message was received by applause and cheers from players and fans alike.
“I feel really comfortable saying that this has been the best WNBA All-Star game we have ever seen in this league,” Rowe said.
Arike Ogunbowale celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer in the second half, where she scored 34 points in an MVP-worthy performance at Footprint Center. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)From left: Aliyah Boston, Allisha Gray, Caitlin Clark and Arike Ogunbowale celebrate after Ogunbowale’s basket to end the third quarter in Saturday’s 2024 WNBA All-Star Game. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark takes warmup 3-pointers in front of a fan’s sign that reads, ‘Caitlin from the Logo,’ at Footprint Center. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Fans were greeted Saturday with a unique T-shirt designed by Kelly Malka across their seat backs ahead of the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game at Footprint Center. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)A’ja Wilson stretches for Team USA before the start of the WNBA All-Star game Saturday at Footprint Center. (Photos by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark, a starter for Team WNBA, goes for a layup surrounded by Team USA players in the second half of Saturday’s 2024 WNBA All-Star Game at Footprint Center. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Kahleah Copper goes for a layup for Team USA in the first half, defended by Aliyah Boston in Saturday’s 2024 WNBA All-Star Game at Footprint Center. (Photos by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)The 2024 WNBA All-Star Game averaged 3.4 million viewers on ABC, making it the most-watched WNBA telecast since opening weekend in 1997, per reports. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Arike Ogunbowale earns WNBA All-Star MVP for the second time in her career Saturday at Footprint Center. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Team WNBA’s Angel Reese finished the game with a double-double, putting up 12 points and 11 rebounds, in Saturday’s All-Star Game. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Mercury veteran Diana Taurasi hugs Vanessa Bryant after Team USA’s 117-109 loss to Team WNBA Saturday at Footprint Center. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Nikkole Bonner wears a shirt featuring A’ja Wilson and Angel Reese that reads, ‘I came to see the vet vs the rookie,’ Saturday at Footprint Center. (Photos by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Fans had the opportunity to meet current and former players at the WNBA Live fan festival held at the Phoenix Convention Center, including A’ja Wilson. (Photos by Grace Hand/Cronkite NewsPhoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner hugs second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who visited Team USA’s practice Friday at the Player 15 Group facility. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones reacts to missing the final shot in the 3-point challenge Friday at Footprint Center. (Photos by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Allisha Gray celebrates with former University of South Carolina teammate A’ja Wilson after winning the 3-point and skills competitions Friday at Footprint Center. (Photos by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey high-fives enthusiastic young fans before competing in the skills challenges Friday at Footprint Center. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey high-fives enthusiastic young fans before competing in the skills challenges Friday at Footprint Center. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)
PHOENIX – Sierra Smith had a vision to create a women’s flag football league when she first stepped foot on the campus of Arizona State University, but the rising sophomore needed help.
She first reached out to former athletic director Ray Anderson, whose assistant led her to Jason Pappas, the program coordinator for student engagement through sports and special events at ASU. The next month involved meetings and Zoom calls to bring the sport across the goal line of becoming an official club activity. Those discussions involved sorting out details and, with help from her twin sister Sophia, securing local sponsors and vendors.
All of Smith’s hard work and dedication paid off – ASU will open its inaugural season in January 2025 against teams from Conference Carolinas. The Sun Devils will hold a three-day tryout at the ASU Recreation and Sports Fields at Dorsey Lane starting Sept. 3.
“The reason that I wanted to start the women’s college football team at ASU was because we kind of were cut short of our opportunity to play at a collegiate level and to gain collegiate exposure in high school,” Smith, a native of Tampa, Florida, said.
WASHINGTON – James Holeman’s first encounter with the deadly toll that illegal migration takes came in August 2018 on his first patrol with Aguilas del Desierto, a group devoted to rescuing missing migrants.
It’s a gruesome reality for volunteers whose goal is to save lives. They don’t reach everyone in time.
His small group was assigned to scour an area called Growler Valley, about 30 miles from Ajo – his home – and 75 miles from Yuma. They found two sites with human bones that day – 13 individuals desperate enough to brave some of the most unforgiving terrain in the country.
LAS VEGAS — The night before the Miami Heat’s second Summer League game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, former Arizona State University guard Josh Christopher was in the gym until 11 p.m. preparing for the contest. The following day, Christopher put up 20 points during the fourth quarter and posterized two OKC point guards, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Since being plucked from the NBA’s G League and named to the Heat’s 2024 Summer League roster, Christopher has made it his mission to show that he belongs on an NBA team. After helping Miami win the Summer League Championship Monday night and earning MVP of the game, Christopher left Vegas knowing he had done all he could to raise his stock.
“We’ve done a great job of just having camaraderie and understanding what the culture is,” Christopher, who averaged 19.3 points, three rebounds, and two steals for the tournament, said following Sunday’s semifinal win against the Golden State Warriors.
Slug: Sports–Sustainability Paris Olympics, 2,304 words.
Photos available.
By Doyal D’angelo Special to Cronkite News
PARIS – Sustainability is at the forefront of the 2024 Paris Olympics, with organizers hoping to mitigate the negative environmental impact the Games will have and to limit the amount of wasted space after the closing ceremony.
Many potential host cities have become reluctant to take on the Olympics because of the sheer amount of investment required, and because of the possibility of new facilities going idle.
EDS: Clients who used the Cronkite News story slugged BC-CNS-Arizona IVF that moved Monday, July 22, under a PHOENIX dateline are asked to run the following correction. The error occurred in a quote in graf 20 of the original. A corrected version of the story has been posted here.
PHOENIX – A July 22 Cronkite News story about religious opposition to in vitro fertilization incorrectly quoted E-Beth Marshall, who has had multiple miscarriages and is executive director of Advanced Fertility Care. “We opted not to do PGT testing (pre-implantation genetic testing) because it was just something that we just thought wasn’t necessary,” Marshall said.
LAS VEGAS — With three seconds left against Oklahoma City, Phoenix Suns power forward David Roddy headed to the line after being fouled and sunk his three free throws, sealing the team’s first NBA Summer League win in Las Vegas on Wednesday night. He finished the victory with 21 points, six rebounds and five assists, but more important than his performance this offseason is his influence on his younger teammates.
Two years ago, Roddy was a rookie at Summer League after the Memphis Grizzlies drafted him 23rd overall. Then, the Colorado State product became the Suns’ youngest player on the roster last season after being traded to the team in February. During his third run in Las Vegas, he was the Summer League veteran that the Suns rookies relied on for his experience and advice.
Two-way Suns rookie Jalen Bridges is one teammate who is looking up to Roddy during his transition from Baylor to the NBA. He averaged 10.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and one assist, while shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range.
WASHINGTON – Arizona’s Democratic delegates, federal lawmakers and governor have rallied behind Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s new presidential nominee.
President Joe Biden’s announcement on Sunday upended the race for the White House, and he quickly endorsed his vice president. Democrats around the country have followed his lead.
“There is an outpouring of endorsements and support from Democratic Party officials and delegates here in Arizona, and we look forward to her being our nominee,” Lupe Conchas, a vice chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, said Monday.
PHOENIX – As Diana Taurasi spoke to reporters Saturday outside the Team USA locker room after the WNBA All-Star game, Phoenix Mercury teammate Kahleah Copper walked behind the six-time Olympian, dancing with one hand in the air and a flour taco in the other before using her unoccupied hand to play with Taurasi’s ear.
Taurasi turned, laughed and Copper leaned her head on the 20-year veteran’s shoulder.
Copper, in her first year with the Mercury, has quickly formed chemistry with her first-time teammate, a primary reason why Phoenix sits four games above its win total last year at 13-12 during the Olympic break. However, the Mercury aren’t Copper’s only new team this year, as she was selected for her first Olympic team.
Team USA reconnected during the WNBA All-Star weekend for the first time since training camp in April. Its 117-109 loss to Team WNBA Saturday night at Footprint Center exposed chemistry flaws, but Copper trusts time will heal that wound.
PHOENIX – Under a new manager and paced by a new signing, Phoenix Rising got their first win Friday night since June 8, and it came after a month of ups and downs for the club. Still, questions and concerns continue to revolve around the organization that won the USL title last season.
In the first game since a road loss to San Antonio, interim head coach Diego Gómez earned his first win at the helm Friday, as Rising defeated El Paso 2-0 at Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium.
“Happy to come back home, happy to get the three points with a home crowd,” Gómez said. “I think we owe it to the fans. The team worked very hard for this and very happy we were able to win.”
The win moved Phoenix back into the playoff picture for the first time since the departure of Danny Stone, who was fired on June 29, ending his short stint as manager. Stone, appointed in January of this year, compiled a record of 5-6-6. He was a part of Rising coaching staff since March 2021, working as an assistant under Juan Guerra, who left in January to take an assistant coaching position for Houston Dynamo in the MLS. Stone played a vital role last season in helping bring an eventual USL Championship to Phoenix.
“Although my four years in Phoenix has come to an end and I’m disappointed that we weren’t able to keep pushing together for longer, I’m very appreciative of everyone who has given so much during my time with the club,” Stone said on X. “We’ve made some great memories together that I will always remember with pride. Wishing everyone at the club all the best in the future.”
Although Rising were not on top of the league when Stone was fired, they were in the playoff picture. Stone’s last game in charge was a 5-1 defeat at Memphis. Besides the one hiccup in the record, Phoenix had only lost one league game since late April.
The firing came as a shock, especially to many of the fans who are part of the Bandidos, a loyal supporters group that can be seen and heard behind the goal every home game.
“Thank you Danny for your tireless commitment to our club,” the Bandidos wrote on X. “We are in this situation due to the front office’s repeated lack of urgency to rebuild a successful team and addressing locker room egos. Thank you Coach Stone. Bobby Dulle & Co. GET OUT of our club.”
Dulle has been Rising president since being promoted from general manager in January 2023.
There is another question that has been brewing around starting winger Panos Armenakas, Phoenix’s leader in chances created (30). For the last couple games, Armenakas has been unable for selection, resulting in further questions from fans about what is happening in the locker room.
“Panos is still unavailable for selection tomorrow,” Gómez said. “It’s an internal matter, disciplinary issues. Right now I don’t want to focus too much on that. It was something that all the staff, the club and the team, teammates and players were brought in on the situation.”
During the El Paso game, the Bandidos waved banners and porters that read, “thank you Danny Stone, siempre un bandido, siempre un campeón,” and “free Panos.”
Despite all the noise around the club, Rising were able to steady the ship and earn a much needed win at home.
JP Scearce, a local product out of Chaparral High School, scored his first of Rising’s two goals on the night.
“It’s exciting to get my first goal here at home in front of the fans, in front of my family,” Scearce said. “I’m just happy and happy we got the win in the end.”
A boost earlier in the week came on behalf of a new signing, midfielder Charlie Dennis. Dennis comes from Tampa Bay, where he was a 2023 USL Championship All-League selection, scoring 11 goals and adding three assists for the Rowdies.
Dennis was able to play immediately, as he signed a multi-year deal with the team last week. He is expected to slot into the team quickly, as Phoenix is dealing with injuries and suspensions. His first appearance came Friday after halftime.
“He’s a midfielder with a lot of power to score,” Gómez said. “I think he can play as an eight or as a 10 depending on the situation. In every moment of the game I think he’s a player that can come help us in build up, and also help us in the last third and score some goals.”
Gómez, 34, is the second youngest manager in the USL. He joined Rising as part of Stone’s staff in January. Regardless of his experience and the state of the club, there is optimism among the players about what is to come.
“With Diego in charge I think he’s emphasized a lot on the competition,” Scearce said. “Every day of training is competitive, everyone’s trying to win whatever the training drill is. Coming into this game it was just to fight, to fight for the fans, to make them fall in love with the team again because we’ve been going through a tough moment. I think we’re heading in the right direction.”
Phoenix Rising goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo maintains his sixth clean sheet of the season to keep El Paso Locomotive FC at bay during their 2-0 victory. (Photo courtesy of Phoenix Rising)
EDS: An earlier version of this story incorrectly incorrectly quoted E-Beth Marshall in the 20th graf. The story below has been corrected, but clients who used previous versions are asked to run the correction found here.
Slug: BC-CNS-Arizona IVF. 1,785 words.
Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).
By Lauren De Young Cronkite News
PHOENIX – It was Christmas Day 2012 when E-Beth Marshall and her husband’s lives were shattered.
“We finally got to go and tell everybody that we are pregnant, and then on Christmas Day, we ended up miscarrying,” Marshall said. “It was heartbreaking.”
PHOENIX – For an athlete to make it to the Olympics, it takes a village. Trainers push, facility managers open doors at odd hours and coaches endure almost as many sleepless nights as the athlete.
PHOENIX – A young boy stepped in line for a meet-and-greet with A’ja Wilson Saturday at the WNBA Live fan experience inside the Phoenix Convention Center wearing the two-time WNBA champion’s Team USA jersey. He waited patiently at the AT&T activation space for his moment to capture a picture with Wilson, and when his turn came, he wrapped his left arm around the 6-foot-4 center and smiled for the camera. However, he didn’t leave automatically. Understanding the magnitude of an opportunity he may never experience again, he screamed to the Las Vegas Aces superstar, “I love you, A’ja.”
The interaction reflected the blossoming adoration many have for the WNBA and women’s basketball as a whole. Merch sales at WNBA Live set an all-time record for All-Star merchandise sales. The WNBA’s viewership is up 183% from last season, according to PBS. WNBA All-Star voting increased 600% from last year. For Saturday’s game, Footprint Center was sold out with 16,407 fans on hand to watch Team WNBA beat Team USA, 117-109.
