Myth of ‘superhuman strength’ in Black people persists in deadly encounters with police

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: BC-CNS-Lethal Restraint Superhuman,2100 words.
  • 4 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Shahid Meighan, Nathan Collins, Elena Santa Cruz
Howard Center for Investigative Journalism

Deputy Steven Mills of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was on patrol one night in 2013 when he received a call about a Black man walking down a rural road in Phenix City, Alabama, naked in 50-degree weather.

Mills said the man ignored his calls to stop, but when the officer threatened to use his Taser, 24-year-old Khari Illidge turned and walked toward him, saying “tase me, tase me.” In a sworn statement, the deputy later said he had to tase Illidge twice because he’d been unable to physically restrain the “muscular” man with “superhuman strength.” Continue reading “Myth of ‘superhuman strength’ in Black people persists in deadly encounters with police”

Golf It Forward aims to grow women’s golf, empower future generations through Marilynn Smith’s legacy

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports-Marilynn Smith Golf, 1,100 words.
  • 2 photos available

By Brett Lapinski
Cronkite News

SCOTTSDALE – When Debbie Waitkus published a story on LPGA icon Marilynn Smith following her World Golf Hall of Fame induction, it was supposed to be nothing more than a tribute to her golfing journey. However, 18 years later, that story has brought her to a place she never would’ve imagined the day she put the pen to paper.

Founded in 2020 under Waitkus following the passing of Smith in 2019, Golf It Forward has been a cornerstone in the golf community, preserving the legacy of the 13 LPGA co-founders and sharing their passion for the future of women’s golf with the world. The non-profit organization will host a series of events from Sunday to Wednesday at Gainey Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale to fundraise for scholarships.

The foundation’s roots are inspired by Smith, who was one of, if not the most prolific pioneer in women’s golf history. While she amassed 21 tournament victories during her LPGA Tour career, it was off the green that truly cemented her legacy. Smith helped co-found the LPGA and was recognized as the “LPGA’s Goodwill Ambassador” for her efforts to promote the sport. Continue reading “Golf It Forward aims to grow women’s golf, empower future generations through Marilynn Smith’s legacy”

Star athletes and best friends: Basha’s Gabriella and J.J. Garcia share unique bond through sports

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports-Basha’s Garcia Sisters, 1,600 words.
  • Photo available

By Hayden Cilley
Cronkite News

CHANDLER – As the Basha Bears softball and track and field teams gear up for their respective state championship runs, one pair of sisters are cementing their legacy at the school.

Gabriella and Juliana (J.J.) Garcia have been dominant in their respective sports. Gabriella, a senior infielder on the Bears softball team, recently committed to the University of Oklahoma softball team, the top collegiate program in the nation. Gabriella is currently batting .507 with 27 runs batted in and 31 runs scored. When she isn’t on the diamond, she throws the javelin and does it with excellence, placing first at every competition this season.

Her younger sister J.J., a junior, placed first in discus throws at the Red Mountain Rampage and the Shadow Ridge Showcase with a distance of 134 feet, 5 inches and 133 feet, 11 inches respectively. She also placed first in shot put at the Red Mountain Rampage with throws of 36 feet, 11 inches and at the Devon Allen Invitational with 36 feet, 11.25 inches. Continue reading “Star athletes and best friends: Basha’s Gabriella and J.J. Garcia share unique bond through sports”

Hockey hotbed: Arizona might have lost its NHL team, but push for sport’s growth continues

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports-Hockey’s Growth in Arizona, 3,080 words.
  • 3 photos available

By Sean Brennan
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Kenny McGinley prides himself on being part of one of the first generations to play hockey in Arizona. Born in 1993, the current president of the Arizona High School Hockey Association was 3 when the first iteration of the Winnipeg Jets packed up and joined the Valley’s professional sports franchises as the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996.

For many years after the NHL’s emergence in the Valley, there was great skepticism as to whether a winter sport like hockey could survive in an arid climate. But there are several reasons why the sport has grown in the past 27 years, the largest being the Coyotes’ success in spearheading the hockey movement in Arizona.

On the surface, it appears that Arizona hockey is in a tumultuous time. The Coyotes, who were renamed the Arizona Coyotes in 2014, saw their 2023-24 regular season come to a close on April 17 at the 5,000-seat Mullett Arena in Tempe. The next day it was announced that the Coyotes had been sold and will be moving to Salt Lake City due to ownership’s inability to secure a long-term arena deal in the Valley. However, the impact of an NHL team in Arizona has extended far beyond just the professional level. Continue reading “Hockey hotbed: Arizona might have lost its NHL team, but push for sport’s growth continues”

‘Fake electors’ indictment charges GOP leaders with felony fraud, forgery

by Steve Crane
  • Slug: BC-CNS-Electors Indicted,940 words.
  • 2 file photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Ian McKinney
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – Eleven top Arizona Republicans were among 18 people indicted on felony fraud, forgery and conspiracy charges for their part in a plan to present themselves to Congress as the state’s presidential electors and throw the election to Donald Trump.

The 58-page indictment handed up Wednesday gives a detailed account of the plan by former state party Chairwoman Kelli Ward, current state Sens. Jake Hoffman and Anthony Kern, and others, to keep Trump – identified as “Unindicted Coconspirator 1” – in office “against the will of Arizona’s voters.” Continue reading “‘Fake electors’ indictment charges GOP leaders with felony fraud, forgery”

Valley fever, a fungal disease endemic to the Southwest, disproportionately affects minority populations

by Julia Thompson

By Jack Orleans
Cronkite News

TUCSON – Daniel Sestiaga remembers being in the COVID-19 ward of a hospital in late 2020. He tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 in June, then later tested negative, but he was still struggling to breathe and testing positive again by the end of August.

After driving 60 miles to see his Indian Health Service primary care physician in Sells, Sestiaga said that his doctor took a chest X-ray showing pneumonia. His breathing became so difficult that he had to go to the emergency room before seeing a pulmonologist.

It wasn’t only COVID-19 causing his difficulty breathing. He was diagnosed with Valley fever after the X-ray revealed fluid around his lungs restricting their capacity. Sestiaga was told the fluid needed to be removed.

Continue reading “Valley fever, a fungal disease endemic to the Southwest, disproportionately affects minority populations”

Sidebar: The rise of Valley fever

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: BC-CNS-Valley Fever Sidebar. 365 words.
  • Photo available (thumbnail, caption below).
  • To run with BC-CNS-Valley Fever.

By Jack Orleans
Cronkite News

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, Calif. – Valley fever has been infecting people in the Southwest U.S., Central America and South America for decades.

“It’s not just (in Arizona). It’s also up and down the Western Hemisphere. There are pockets in Mexico, there are pockets in Central America,” said Dr. John Galgiani, director of the Valley Fever Center for Excellence at the University of Arizona.

Continue reading “Sidebar: The rise of Valley fever”

‘Power to evoke change’: Phoenix-based Artists 4 Liberation uses art to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: BC-CNS-Artists 4 Liberation. 1,335 words.
  • 13 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Kayla Mae Jackson
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – American writer Amiri Baraka once said, “The artist’s role is to raise the consciousness of the people. To make them understand life, the world and themselves more completely. That’s how I see it. Otherwise, I don’t know why you do it.”

Artists 4 Liberation is a Phoenix-based human-rights advocacy group that is using art to raise consciousness about the Palestinian people and fight for marginalized groups across the globe.

The organization holds community art events, fashion shows, movie screenings, rallies and marches throughout Phoenix in support of Palestinian liberation. At the events, local artists are invited to create posters with provided supplies, create political graphic T-shirts at screenprinting locations with designs by local artists, hang up political art flyers around the city and hear from local activists.

Continue reading “‘Power to evoke change’: Phoenix-based Artists 4 Liberation uses art to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza”

‘Opportunities are boundless’: Arizona pushes space sector’s growth through education, collaboration, economy

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: BC-CNS-Space Sector. 630 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Vanessa Pimentel
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – “Our opportunities are boundless, just like space,” Gov. Katie Hobbs told an audience at the second annual Arizona Space Summit in Tempe last month.

Arizona is the fifth-largest employer in aerospace and defense manufacturing, home to over 1,250 supply chain contributors, according to the Arizona Commerce Authority. Sandra Watson, the authority’s president and CEO, said Arizona has become the “global hot spot for emerging technologies and advanced manufacturing.”

Major industry players in Arizona have a significant impact on the economy. Together, these companies employ more than 52,000 people directly, according to the authority. Its website states the numbers reflect “Arizona’s long-standing history with leading names in the industry – companies whose continued success in everything from unmanned aircraft systems to missiles, space vehicles to commercial aircraft and research into alternative fuels – drives further future growth.”
Continue reading “‘Opportunities are boundless’: Arizona pushes space sector’s growth through education, collaboration, economy”

After losing players to the transfer portal, Arizona State football looks to returnees to bolster defensive line

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports-ASU Defensive Line, 780 words.
  • 3 photos available

By Justin de Haas
Cronkite News

TEMPE — With the NFL draft and transfer portal taking players from teams across the country, Arizona State is relying on returnees to bolster the defensive line.

ASU must deal with two big departures with defensive linemen B.J. Green and Dashaun Mallory going to Colorado and the draft, respectively. The Sun Devils will also be without graduate defensive lineman Anthonie Cooper this season after an ACL injury, so there are several major holes to fill.

Mallory is an especially difficult loss as he was a graduate transfer from Michigan State who provided leadership and was a run-stuffer up the middle. While Mallory hopes to be selected in the NFL draft, which begins Thursday night, ASU will evaluate potential replacements. Continue reading “After losing players to the transfer portal, Arizona State football looks to returnees to bolster defensive line”

Clock is ticking: Arizona Cardinals set eyes on NFL draft with fourth pick overall

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports-Cardinals NFL Draft, 600 words.
  • Photo available

By James Morel
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Following the fast frenzy of free agent action that has taken place over the past few months, the Arizona Cardinals now have their eyes set on 11 total draft picks heading into the NFL draft. But it all starts with the fourth overall pick for a team looking to revamp and reload following a 4-13 season.

Last Thursday, Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort and coach Jonathan Gannon took the podium to discuss their plans for the draft, which begins Thursday and runs through Saturday.

With the clock quickly winding down, teams are scrambling to find the right players and the Cardinals seemed ready for when their name is called. Continue reading “Clock is ticking: Arizona Cardinals set eyes on NFL draft with fourth pick overall”

Pressure, resilience define former Pinnacle star Spencer Rattler’s unconventional journey to NFL draft

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports-Spencer Rattler Draft, 1,000 words.
  • Photo available

By Brevan Branscum
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Ever since he was in middle school, Spencer Rattler has felt the hype around his name.

The Phoenix native was highly coveted by high schools in Arizona as his freshman year approached. During his senior year at Pinnacle High School, where Rattler grew into the consensus No. 1 quarterback in the 2019 recruiting class, he starred in the documentary “QB1: Beyond the Lights.” Described as confident and competitive from day one, he set state records during his high school tenure.

He committed to the University of Oklahoma during his sophomore year at Pinnacle High School, following in the cleats of two Heisman winners and one runner-up in coach Lincoln Riley’s offense. Continue reading “Pressure, resilience define former Pinnacle star Spencer Rattler’s unconventional journey to NFL draft”

NFL tight end Mark Andrews wants to inspire others with diabetes both on and off the field

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports-Mark Andrews Diabetes, 1,800 words.
  • Two photos available

By John Busker
Cronkite News

MESA – Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews was not always a football star. When he was young growing up in Scottsdale, soccer was his sport of choice. However, it appeared his sports career might be in jeopardy when he and his family found out that he had type 1 diabetes.

Now, Andrews, a Scottsdale native who played wide receiver at Desert Mountain High School, is one of the NFL’s best tight ends, with three Pro Bowl appearances and a First-Team All-Pro nomination in 2021.

But even when his body started to show symptoms of the disease when he was a child, Andrews always knew he would be fine. He knew from his next soccer game after his diagnosis that he would be fine. His blood sugar was up near 450 mg/dL, which is very high. But despite his parents’ concern, Andrews said he needed to play. And that competitive edge has now helped him achieve success at the NFL level. Continue reading “NFL tight end Mark Andrews wants to inspire others with diabetes both on and off the field”

House votes to repeal near-total abortion ban; bill still needs Senate OK

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: BC-CNS-Abortion Repeal,790 words.
  • File photo, video story available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Reagan Priest
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The Arizona House voted Wednesday to repeal the state’s near-total ban on abortion, with three Republicans joining all Democrats to reverse the law despite emotional rhetoric from anti-abortion lawmakers.

The 32-28 vote came just two weeks after the Arizona Supreme Court reinstated the 1864 law that criminalizes abortion except to save the life of the mother, and it was the third try by Democrats to reverse that ruling.

The measure still needs Senate approval before it goes to the governor, who has said she would sign it. Continue reading “House votes to repeal near-total abortion ban; bill still needs Senate OK”

Abortion law status remains unclear, even as lawmakers near repeal of ban

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: BC-CNS-Abortion Calentdar,910 words.
  • 2 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Martin Dreyfuss
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – As state lawmakers push to repeal a near-total ban on abortion, Planned Parenthood of Arizona confirmed Wednesday that it will continue to provide abortions up to 15 weeks of pregnancy “until the last legal moment.”

But when that last legal moment is depends on who’s talking.

Abortion opponents argue that the ban should have taken effect this week, while Attorney General Kris Mayes said it would not take effect until June at the earliest – and she would not enforce it then. It could take weeks yet for final Senate approval of a repeal, and even then it would be months before the law took effect. Continue reading “Abortion law status remains unclear, even as lawmakers near repeal of ban”

Annual symposium for Arizona military members and families highlights veteran suicide prevention

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: BC-CNS-Veterans Suicide Prevention. 850 words.
  • Photos available.

By Brooke Rindenau
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Suicide prevention was a key focus of the Arizona Coalition for Military Families’ 14th Annual Statewide Symposium held in Phoenix on April 17 and 18. The symposium brought together military, government and community resources to focus on strengthening services and support for the half-million veterans who live in Arizona and their families.

In 2021, 6,392 veterans were among the 46,412 suicides among U.S. adults, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Between the years 2015 and 2019, veteran suicides accounted for 20.6% of the suicides in Arizona.

Continue reading “Annual symposium for Arizona military members and families highlights veteran suicide prevention”

Navajo psychiatrist bridges gaps between Native American culture and behavioral health care

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: BC-CNS-Navajo Nation Psych. 1,840 words.
  • 5 photos available (thumbnails, captions available).

Mia Milinovich
Cronkite News

GANADO – As a Navajo himself, Dr. Richard Laughter understands mental health issues experienced by members of the Navajo Nation on a deeply personal level. As a Native American psychiatrist, he breaks down accessibility barriers for his people by blending Native cultural practices with Western behavioral health care.

According to Laughter, the rural nature of the Navajo Reservation greatly impacts the number of accessible behavioral health services because of the distances people have to travel to get to them. The Navajo Nation website says tribal lands cover 27,000 square miles in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico.

Continue reading “Navajo psychiatrist bridges gaps between Native American culture and behavioral health care”

How city of Phoenix, CAP are addressing water supply issues

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: BC-CNS-Water Supply Solutions. 600 words.
  • File photo available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Huston Dunston Jr.
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Arizona, much like California and other states with large deserts, is having an issue with dwindling Colorado River water levels.

With so many people living in and moving to Arizona, specifically the Phoenix area, state and local agencies are working toward water solutions, including expanding the Bartlett Dam and adding new infrastructure.

The Central Arizona Project is a 336-mile aqueduct system that begins on the California-Arizona border, at Lake Havasu, and ends south of Tucson. CAP brings Colorado River water into Arizona and runs it through more than a dozen pumping plants that carry the water throughout the system.

Continue reading “How city of Phoenix, CAP are addressing water supply issues”

A walk toward growth: Success of Nelly Korda, improved marketing could help increase LPGA audience

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports-LPGA Growth, 1,660 words.
  • Two photos available

By Max Williams
Cronkite News

GILBERT – With talented golfers reaching new levels of success in the sport, the LPGA’s goal is to grow with every tournament. Slowly but surely, women’s golf has gained worldwide recognition since the LPGA launched 74 years ago, and it hopes to increase its popularity at a time of greater attention to female athletes.

Take Nelly Korda, the world’s top-ranked golfer on both the Rolex and CME leaderboards. The American has won five consecutive tournaments, including an impressive 20-under-par finish at the Ford Championship at Seville Golf and Country Club in Gilbert in late March.  

“When you have star power like that, and (Korda) has been around for a while now, so many more people are taking notice of what she is doing,” LPGA Properties vice president Scott Wood said.  Continue reading “A walk toward growth: Success of Nelly Korda, improved marketing could help increase LPGA audience”

Inspired: Football mom’s idea brings HBCU programs, local players together at Arizona camp

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports-Arizona HBCU camp. 740 words.
  • One photo available

By Tyler Bednar
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The idea sprung into Britney Buckles’ head while she was watching her younger son, Xavier, play football at Williams Field High School.

Very few historically Black colleges and universities come to Arizona to recruit high school football players. She and her husband, Vince, were athletes at Howard University, an HBCU in Washington, D.C., and she decided to do something about it by creating a camp that would bring together HBCU coaches and Arizona athletes.

“Recruiting is really hard,” Buckles said. “We talked to a lot of coaches that there’s not a lot of HBCUs that come out here to recruit. So, we thought, ‘Let’s try to put something together where the Black colleges are out here recruiting, (and) the kids are learning about the opportunities they have.’” Continue reading “Inspired: Football mom’s idea brings HBCU programs, local players together at Arizona camp”