‘Our No. 1 job is to make sure that they’re safe’: America confronts election intimidation

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: News21: Increasing Intimidation. 3,485 words.
  • 7 Photos and 1 video available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Peggy Dodd, Pierce Gentry, Shelby Rickert and Olivia Talkington
News21

Editor’s Note: This story contains graphic language from threatening voicemails and emails sent to election officials across the U.S.

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – Exactly seven days had passed since the 2020 presidential election when Tina Barton sat down at her desk and saw the blinking light on her office phone.

It had already been a week from hell for the city clerk of Rochester Hills. Her office was responsible for administering an election that had grown increasingly contested, especially in her home state of Michigan. At one point, she’d worked for 36 hours straight.

She picked up the phone and hit the flashing button. A voice rang out that she would never forget.

Continue reading “‘Our No. 1 job is to make sure that they’re safe’: America confronts election intimidation”

‘Be yourself’: Quarterback Sam Leavitt proves experience isn’t everything in strong ASU debut against Wyoming

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports-ASU Quarterback Follow, 600 words.
  • Photo available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Tucker Sennett
Cronkite News

TEMPE – In an era when some college quarterbacks are as old as 25 – hello, Utah’s Cam Rising – Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt is just a young pup. However, in his first collegiate start against the University of Wyoming, the native of West Linn, Oregon, proved age is just a number.

“I wasn’t too nervous going into this game,” the 19-year-old redshirt freshman said after Saturday’s 48-7 victory over the Cowboys. “That’s a testament to the coaching staff and the team.”

The Sun Devils as a whole showed few nerves while pummeling Wyoming 48-7 in their season opener at Mountain America Stadium. Continue reading “‘Be yourself’: Quarterback Sam Leavitt proves experience isn’t everything in strong ASU debut against Wyoming”

Golf after dark: Grass League ushers in new era with primetime professional, amateur tournaments under the lights

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports-Grass League Golf, 1,540 words.
  • 4 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Jack Reeves
Cronkite News

TEMPE – The World Series, Super Bowl, World Cup, Olympics, and the Rose Bowl all have something in common. Yes, they are among the world’s most famous sporting events, but one unique feature ties them together: each event is played under the lights.

While that may seem obvious, not all sporting events benefit from playing under the lights, especially in golf. Countless golf tournaments have been postponed due to darkness, requiring an early morning finish. But what if there was a way to play not just a few extra holes, but an entire round during primetime hours?

Enter the Grass League. Established in February, the startup league has brought a new vision to the game loved worldwide. Continue reading “Golf after dark: Grass League ushers in new era with primetime professional, amateur tournaments under the lights”

Phoenix lawyer tapped by Biden would be second South Asian federal judge in Arizona – after older sister, an appeals court judge

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Biden Judge. About 450 words.
  • File photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Lauren Bly
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden will nominate Phoenix lawyer Sharad Desai to the federal bench, the White House said Wednesday, making him the second South Asian federal judge in Arizona – after his older sister.

Biden named Judge Roopali Desai to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which handles cases from nine western states, in 2022.

Continue reading “Phoenix lawyer tapped by Biden would be second South Asian federal judge in Arizona – after older sister, an appeals court judge”

Seismic shifts: New CFP director Richard Clark visits Fiesta Bowl, reflects on 12-team playoff

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: Sports-CFP Format Clark, 1,100 words.
  • 3 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Doyal D’angelo
Special for Cronkite News

SCOTTSDALE – Richard Clark, the newly appointed College Football Playoff executive director, is not going to reinvent the wheel under his new title, even as the landscape of not only college football, but also all of college sports, is shaping and shifting like never before.

“Right now, there’s a lot of change already, and it’s exciting,” Clark said Tuesday at Fiesta Bowl headquarters. “I think people are going to see things that they never imagined in what happens during this playoff.”

Part of the change is the novel 12-team CFP playoff format that Clark is inheriting, which he is preparing extensively for with training and the reliance on his selection committee to make the proper choices. Continue reading “Seismic shifts: New CFP director Richard Clark visits Fiesta Bowl, reflects on 12-team playoff”

Arizona archer Eric Bennett prepares for fifth Paralympics, this time with family by his side

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports-Paralympic Archer Bennett, 750 words.
  • Photo available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Sydney Lovan
Special for Cronkite News

PARIS – Full-time teacher by morning, Paralympic athlete by afternoon and a father always, Team USA archer Eric Bennett is embarking on his fifth Paralympic Games with his sights set on a prize bigger than the gold medal: his family in attendance to watch him shoot.

Bennett, a Surprise native and graduate of Northern Arizona University, began practicing archery when he was 7 and quickly found a passion for the sport until he lost his right arm at 15, when a drunk driver hit the car in which he was a passenger. It wasn’t until about 10 years later that he started shooting again, this time with help from his father.

“When I realized that I could shoot again, that’s when a fire was lit, and I had gotten my love back,” said Bennett, who is set to compete in the recurve Para Archery event beginning Thursday in Paris. Continue reading “Arizona archer Eric Bennett prepares for fifth Paralympics, this time with family by his side”

Minimum salaries, max effort: The unseen financial hardships of Phoenix Mercury and WNBA players

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports-WNBA Salary Minimum, 1,400 words.
  • 2 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).
  • graphic available.

By Joshua Heron
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – On June 27, Liz Dixon sat on a furniture top in the Verizon 5G Performance Center hallway, discussed the difficulties of living on a WNBA minimum contract and knew she was vulnerable on the one-year, $64,154 deal that offered little to no security and stability.

Five days later, the Phoenix Mercury waived the forward.

“One of the hardships is teams can get anybody under minimal contracts,” Dixon said. “You’re already paying me less than everybody else, but what if one day they don’t need you? They’ll want somebody else they can get. They can get another vet at the exact same price as a rookie. So it’s more like, ‘Hey, even though I am making the minimum payment, am I still needed? Am I still an asset to them?” Continue reading “Minimum salaries, max effort: The unseen financial hardships of Phoenix Mercury and WNBA players”

After scathing GAO report, Border Patrol agents ordered to stop tossing out migrants’ belongings

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: Migrant Belongings Rules. 445 words.
  • File photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Mia Osmonbekov
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – U.S. Customs and Border Protection has directed agents to stop discarding migrants’ personal belongings, after a scathing report detailing how medicine, clothes, cell phones, cash and identity documents have been taken by authorities at holding facilities and never returned.

The new rules classify legal documents, contact information and religious items as “essential personal property” that cannot be stripped from migrants. Phones, cash, medical documents and items of sentimental value must be stored, with migrants given written instructions on how to retrieve their belongings.

Continue reading “After scathing GAO report, Border Patrol agents ordered to stop tossing out migrants’ belongings”

From Snoop Dogg blowing Olympic-like rings to Simone Biles’ heart, pins remain the talk post-Paris Games

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports-Olympic Pins Paris, 730 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).
  • Video available.

By Tyler Bednar
Cronkite News

PARIS – From Snoop Dogg blowing Olympic-looking smoke rings to a heart with gymnast Simone Biles’ name in it, the pins of the Paris Games are still creating a buzz even weeks after the competitions ended.

Pin trading at the Olympics is popular for athletes and spectators. Some fans travel across the world specifically to collect and trade them.

The tradition can be traced to the first modern Games in 1896, when the pins were used to identify athletes, officials and media members. In the Athens Olympics, only 241 athletes – compared to the more than 10,000 in Paris – competed for 14 teams in 43 events.

Continue reading “From Snoop Dogg blowing Olympic-like rings to Simone Biles’ heart, pins remain the talk post-Paris Games”

Olympics bring vibrant sports courts to Paris’ often forgotten neighborhoods

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports-Olympics Sports Courts Paris, 1,900 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Zach Bradshaw and Doyal D’angelo
Cronkite News

PARIS – The enhancement of sports facilities at the Paris Games wasn’t limited to Olympic venues.

The City of Paris also reinvigorated community sports courts, a vital component of any neighborhood’s urban culture.

This isn’t a new concept. When Phoenix has hosted big events, professional leagues and local organizing committees often contribute money to improve youth fields and and athletic structures. But it was particularly important in Paris, where updating the sports landscape requires a deft touch in a city knows for its one-of-kind architecture. Continue reading “Olympics bring vibrant sports courts to Paris’ often forgotten neighborhoods”

Arizona Democrats excited as Kamala Harris accepts presidential nomination, vow to help her win battleground state

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: DNC Wrap-up. 775 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Kelechukwu Iruoma
Cronkite News

CHICAGO – Arizona delegates left the Democratic National Convention electrified and eager to help Vice President Kamala Harris win the presidency.

“We are returning to Arizona with a lot of energy, excitement and enthusiasm,” said Yolanda Bejarano, chair of the Arizona Democratic Party. “Our country is on the line, our democracy is on the line and our rights are on the line.”

Continue reading “Arizona Democrats excited as Kamala Harris accepts presidential nomination, vow to help her win battleground state”

Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego, in tight Senate race with Kari Lake, showcased on final night of Democratic National Convention

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: DNC Ruben Gallego. 720 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Phineas Hogan
Cronkite News

CHICAGO – Democrats put a bright spotlight on Phoenix Rep. Ruben Gallego at their national convention, underscoring the importance of his race with Republican Kari Lake for an open U.S. Senate seat.

Both hope to succeed Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an independent who announced in March that she would not seek reelection. Democrats would struggle to keep their narrow majority if they lose in Arizona.

Continue reading “Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego, in tight Senate race with Kari Lake, showcased on final night of Democratic National Convention”

Black Democrats see Kamala Harris driving up turnout in Arizona

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: DNC Black Voters. 540 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Kelechukwu Iruoma
Cronkite News

CHICAGO – Black Democrats account for a relatively small share of the electorate in Arizona, but they’re thrilled at the prospect of electing Kamala Harris as president.

“Her candidacy is a big deal for the African American community in Arizona,” said Nicole Brown, a communications strategist from Tempe and according to state party officials, one of 18 Black delegates from Arizona at the Democratic National Convention this week.

Continue reading “Black Democrats see Kamala Harris driving up turnout in Arizona”

In centrist shift, Democrats tweak platform, deploy anti-Donald Trump Republicans to help Kamala Harris broaden her appeal

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: DNC Democrats Go Centrist. 780 words.
  • Photo available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Phineas Hogan
Cronkite News

CHICAGO – Former President Donald Trump has driven some Republicans out of his party. Democrats have spent the week offering them a new home.

They have toned down progressive language in their platform. At the Democratic National Convention, they have framed Trump as an extremist and deployed disaffected Republicans to encourage others to defect to Vice President Kamala Harris.

“John McCain’s Republican Party is gone,” Mesa Mayor John Giles, who co-chairs the Arizona chapter of Republicans for Harris, said from the convention stage, invoking the late senator known for working across party lines. “Let’s turn the page. Let’s put country first.”

Continue reading “In centrist shift, Democrats tweak platform, deploy anti-Donald Trump Republicans to help Kamala Harris broaden her appeal”

Vulnerable on border security, Democrats adopt some GOP rhetoric even as Harris slams Trump’s approach

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: BC-CNS-DNC Immigration Harris. 850 words.
  • File photo available (thumbnail, caption below).
  • Video coming.

By Mia Osmonbekov
Cronkite News

CHICAGO – When President Joe Biden won the 2020 election, Democrats offered a sharp contrast with incumbent Donald Trump’s strict border policies and harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric.

“Not only do immigrants support us – immigrants are us,” the party’s platform said.

Continue reading “Vulnerable on border security, Democrats adopt some GOP rhetoric even as Harris slams Trump’s approach”

Arizona Democrats bar press from convention events, defying norms and keeping cabinet members and governors off camera

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: BC-CNS DNC Media Shy Dems. 1,010 words.
  • Photo available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Mia Osmonbekov
Cronkite News

CHICAGO – Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, fresh from Kamala Harris’ vice presidential short list, kicked off the morning for Wisconsin Democrats on Tuesday with a plea to avoid complacency and get voters to the polls.

“We cannot allow Donald Trump to get within a mile of the White House again,” the former astronaut told the breakfast crowd on Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention. “This is not rocket science. It isn’t. If it was, I could help you with that.”

Continue reading “Arizona Democrats bar press from convention events, defying norms and keeping cabinet members and governors off camera”

‘I don’t want to be in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’’: Abortion access drives Arizona delegates to get out the vote

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: BC-CNS-DNC Abortion Rights. 675 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Mia Osmonbekov
Cronkite News

CHICAGO – Democrats in Arizona view the fight over reproductive rights as a key to victory in November. The strategy is front and center at the Democratic National Convention too.

One hard-to-miss symbol is the 20-foot inflatable IUD outside the United Center, where thousands of delegates are gathering this week to rally behind Vice President Kamala Harris.

“This issue is going to help us from the top of the ticket to the bottom of the ticket,” said state Sen. Eva Burch, D-Mesa, one of the state party’s delegates in Chicago. “I’m talking not only about the presidential race and our local legislative races, but also when it comes to judges and to other local elections, to city councils.”

Continue reading “‘I don’t want to be in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’’: Abortion access drives Arizona delegates to get out the vote”

Arizona Democrats pin hopes on Kamala Harris to break the glass ceiling Hillary Clinton cracked

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: BC-CNS-DNC Glass Ceiling. 765 words.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Kelechukwu Iruoma
Cronkite News

CHICAGO – Arizona Democrats are feeling good about Vice President Kamala Harris’ chances of achieving what Hillary Clinton could not: making history as the first female president.

“She can break the glass ceiling,” said Gabriella Cázares-Kelly, Pima County Recorder and one of the state’s 91 delegates at the Democratic National Convention this week in Chicago. “She has the support of Arizona women, men, and nonbinary. She has a lot of support everywhere.”

Clinton, the former first lady, New York senator and secretary of state, lost the 2016 race to Republican Donald Trump – dashing Democrats’ hopes of ending the all-male presidential winning streak that began with George Washington in 1789.

Continue reading “Arizona Democrats pin hopes on Kamala Harris to break the glass ceiling Hillary Clinton cracked”

Arizona Democrats ‘excited, invigorated and happy’ as national convention kicks off four-day Chicago rally for Harris-Walz ticket

by Julia Thompson
  • Slug: BC-CNS-DNC Day 1 Mood. 530 words. By Phineas Hogan.
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

CHICAGO – After months of anxiety over the presidential contest, Arizona Democrats basked in a far more optimistic vibe as the party’s national convention opened Monday.

“Excited, invigorated and happy,” was how delegate Llama Habern of Cornville described the mood – now that Vice President Kamala Harris is atop the ticket, reversing a downward spiral before President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid.

“How excited everyone is in general is very motivating, very encouraging,” Habern said.

Continue reading “Arizona Democrats ‘excited, invigorated and happy’ as national convention kicks off four-day Chicago rally for Harris-Walz ticket”

From skateboarding to basketball, Paris showcased its street sport culture during Olympics

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug–Sports: Paris Street Sports, 880 words.
  • Photo, video available.

By Scott Sandulli
Cronkite News

PARIS – Hosting the Olympics gives any city a chance to show itself off to the world. Paris, with the Eiffel Tower lit up at night among several glamorous visuals, hardly needed any introduction when the world converged upon the City of Light for the 33rd Olympiad.

Even in such a picturesque atmosphere, the distinct street culture survives the millions of tourists that flock to Paris every year. Graffiti lines many public spaces and is embraced as part of a cultural identity. Among the arrondissements, it might as well be their screaming crowd backdrop as they play against their friends and foes in a little-known, tight-knit community of Paris street sports. Continue reading “From skateboarding to basketball, Paris showcased its street sport culture during Olympics”