EDS: Clients who used a Cronkite News story slugged BC-CNS-Abortion California that moved Tuesday, June 18, under a WASHINGTON dateline are asked to run the following update. The clarification is in the last graf of the original. A new version of the story has been posted here.
WASHINGTON – A June 18 Cronkite News story about Arizona doctors and licenses to perform abortions in California featured a now out-of-date number provided to Cronkite News. The new graph should say, “Under the 2022 law, 69 physicians have received licenses, according to the California Department of Consumer Affairs.”
ASU running back DeCarlos Brooks hosts second annual Cutback Giveback Haircut Event for local kids
- Slug: Sports-ASU Brooks Haircuts, 520 words.
- 3 photos available.
By Jordan Hampton
Cronkite News
TEMPE – Small children peeked into the window at the Arizona Barber Academy in Tempe, eagerly waiting for a free haircut Sunday. Arizona State running back DeCarlos Brooks greeted them from the inside with a wide smile, matching their excitement before the 10 a.m. start during his second annual Cutback Giveback Haircut Event.
A local sponsor booth, two bounce houses and games were set up outside the academy as the cloudy and hot day approached the lunch hour and kids stood in line, awaiting their turn to sit in the barber’s chair. The event is part of the Chandler native’s effort to give back to the Valley, where the former Arizona Offensive Player of the Year starred in the Chandler High School backfield and won three 6A state championships.
Brooks hosted his first free haircut event in 2023, servicing 30 kids, according to the Arizona Republic. The community’s positive reception played a large role in bringing the event back for a second year. Among his supporters, which included Sun Devils teammates, his father, brother and mother were present.
‘A true professional’: Caitlin Clark’s poise under WNBA spotlight shines in near triple-double win vs. Phoenix Mercury
- Slug: Sports-Caitlin Clark Spotlight, Mercury, 660 words.
- 4 photos available.
By Joshua Heron
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – A father skipped celebrating his son’s birthday Sunday in Dallas. Instead, he sat courtside to witness the anticipated matchup between the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever at Footprint Center with his brother’s two children.
As he sat and watched players warm up before tip-off, his mind wasn’t on the perks that came with his luxury seats; rather, he expressed anger through his raw, expletive speech that they missed one person walking out of the tunnel en route to the court for pregame warmups: Fever phenom Caitlin Clark.
Nearby, a middle-aged woman held up a “We love you #22” poster near women’s basketball fans of all ages showing Clark support by wearing or holding her Fever and Iowa Hawkeyes gear in hopes of getting her autograph above the same arena tunnel where the uncle missed the star rookie come out. Continue reading “‘A true professional’: Caitlin Clark’s poise under WNBA spotlight shines in near triple-double win vs. Phoenix Mercury”
Arizona Rattlers aim for IFL postseason push with win-first mentality
- Slug: Sports-Rattlers Postseason Push, 600 words.
- 3 photos available.
By Dylan Slager
Cronkite News
GLENDALE – Win and win big – that’s the mentality of the Arizona Rattlers for the remainder of the regular season.
Rattlers coach and president Kevin Guy echoed the mantra during a June practice as the schedule reached a critical point, with five games remaining to make a playoff push.
“From this week forward, every game is a playoff game until the end of the season,” Guy told his players leading up to their matchup against the Northern Arizona Wranglers on June 15. Continue reading “Arizona Rattlers aim for IFL postseason push with win-first mentality”
3 indicted in ‘fake electors’ scheme among Arizona delegates to RNC
- Slug: BC-CNS-Fake Elector Delegates. 895 words.
- File photos available (thumbnails, captions below).
By Grey Gartin and Keetra Bippus
Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – Three of the Arizona Republicans indicted as “fake electors” for their roles in an attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election will serve as delegates at the Republican National Convention in July. And they are defiant.
Arizona Republicans who picked them for the honor were well aware of the charges.
Continue reading “3 indicted in ‘fake electors’ scheme among Arizona delegates to RNC”
Arizona survivor of Las Vegas massacre reflects on Supreme Court ruling to make bump stocks accessible
- Slug: BC-CNS-Bump Stocks. 1,090 words.
- File photo available (thumbnail, caption below).
By Sahara Sajjadi
Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – Bump stocks are back thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court. Some survivors of the Las Vegas massacre that left 60 people dead aren’t pleased.
That includes Justin Uhart, a gun owner who was working as a bartender at a music festival in 2017 when a man named Stephen Paddock fired over 1,100 rounds during a 10-minute shooting spree – a rampage made possible by use of a device that converts an ordinary rifle into a rapid-fire weapon.
State Farm Stadium set for world-class soccer matches in historic Copa América
- Slug: Sports-Copa América Preview. 1,000 words.
- Photo available.
By Jack Reeves
Cronkite News
GLENDALE – The oldest international soccer tournament in the world is coming to the Valley.
Since 1916, Copa América has long been one of the most coveted events to win for soccer’s elite. Every four years, 10 South American countries come together and compete in the major international tournament. This year marks only the second year that North American and Central American countries are allowed to compete in Copa América.
Lionel Messi and Argentina are the reigning champs, looking to win Copa for a record sixth time. Argentina and Uruguay sit at the top with 15 titles each, followed by Brazil with nine. Continue reading “State Farm Stadium set for world-class soccer matches in historic Copa América”
Democrats see abortion rights as a potent issue as they aim to topple seven-term U.S. Rep. David Schweikert
- Slug: BC-CNS-Schweikert Targeted. 1,300 words.
- Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).
By Alex Cunningham
Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. David Schweikert eked out a win in 2022 by just 3,000 votes. With abortion likely on the ballot in November, Democrats are confident they can flip the Phoenix-area district this time around, and a half dozen have lined up to try.
The district includes many of Arizona’s wealthiest suburbs, and Schweikert, a Republican, has emphasized sound fiscal policy and low taxes throughout his seven terms in Congress.
Customs and Border Protection data shows sharp drop in use of force, but accuracy is questioned by migrant advocates
- Slug: BC-CNS-Border Use of Force. 1,080 words.
- Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).
By Benjamin Adelberg
Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reported a sharp drop in the use of force against migrants at the southern border since last summer – 27% for the 12 months that ended May 31 – compared to a year earlier.
]Migrant advocates are skeptical.
The Government Accountability Office found significant underreporting in a report issued last July. One practice GAO spotlighted was counting an incident as a single event even when it involved numerous CBP officers and dozens of migrants.
Nostalgia meets nightlife: Phoenix’s Cobra Arcade Bar, Stardust Pinbar highlight retro gaming resurgence
- Slug: BC-CNS-Retro Gaming, 670 words.
- 7 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).
By Stella Subasic
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – In the heart of downtown Phoenix, modern spaces are bringing retro gaming back to life, drawing crowds of all ages.
Leading this trend are Cobra Arcade Bar and Stardust Pinbar, establishments that have successfully merged vintage video games with a modern bar atmosphere. The combination has captivated locals and tourists, transforming downtown Phoenix into a destination for nostalgic entertainment.
Marcus Boykin, Cobra’s assistant general manager, has witnessed this transformation firsthand since the bar’s inception. “We hit the ground running,” Boykin said. “From our soft openings in January 2016, we’ve had lines out the door on weekends, and it hasn’t slowed down since.” Continue reading “Nostalgia meets nightlife: Phoenix’s Cobra Arcade Bar, Stardust Pinbar highlight retro gaming resurgence”
Phoenix Suns snag Virginia defensive standout Dunn, former Desert Vista center Ighodaro in NBA Draft
- Slug: Sports-Suns NBA Draft. 1,040 words.
- Photo available.
By Joshua Heron
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – Two years ago, Ryan Dunn departed Perkiomen School (Pennsburg, Pennsylvania) for the University of Virginia to join the Cavaliers as a walk-on. The three-star recruit stepped on the court at John Paul Jones Arena with no sense of security but determined to embrace coach Tony Bennett’s pack line defense style of play, he reminded people why offense isn’t the only part of basketball.
In his second season at Virginia, the 6-foot-8 forward utilized his 7-foot-1 wingspan to haunt opposing offenses. He ranked 16th nationally and first in the ACC in blocked shots per game and earned a 2024 ACC All-Defensive team nod.
“Once I got to UVA and had my growth spurt, I think I got some God-given talents, and coach Bennett drew out that defensive mindset in me,” Dunn said. Continue reading “Phoenix Suns snag Virginia defensive standout Dunn, former Desert Vista center Ighodaro in NBA Draft”
From backyard batting cages to college champions, Queen Creek’s Berry siblings carry legacy of sports excellence
- Slug: Sports-Berry Athletic Family, 1,200 words.
- Photo available.
By Jorden Hampton
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – Earlier this month, Stanford University freshman third baseman Jade Berry made her Women’s College World Series debut against the University of Texas. Although the Cardinal suffered their first loss, they bounced back behind her two RBIs to knock out Oklahoma State, before earning another win against UCLA in the elimination bracket. Facing Texas again, Stanford was eliminated in a 1-0 loss and fell short of the WCWS Finals.
Despite the final result, Berry cemented her place on the team, recording hits in eight of the Cardinal’s 11 postseason games. She finished the 2024 season as a member of the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team, starting every game and finishing second on Stanford in OPS (.844), second in RBI (38) and tied for third in home runs (7).
Berry’s performance is no surprise, given her family’s long history of athletic achievements, which started with her parents, Perry and Lana, and has extended to her and her siblings, Jacob, Jenae and Jet. Continue reading “From backyard batting cages to college champions, Queen Creek’s Berry siblings carry legacy of sports excellence”
Nature’s therapy: How Jillian Stannard found healing in rock climbing
- Slug: Sports-Rock Climbing Recovery, 900 words.
- 3 photos available.
By Jorden Hampton
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – Jillian Stannard lay in a hospital bed, her skin peeling off after battling Stevens-Johnson syndrome and fibromyalgia. She could barely eat, and her body rejected the medication prescribed by doctors to treat her illnesses.
“I was throwing up. I was shaking, I was vibrating,” Stannard recalled. “I couldn’t stop seeing the images. I couldn’t sleep through the night even with prescription medication.
“And that’s when they essentially told me, ‘There’s nothing else for us to try. You’re on every medication.’ And so I didn’t know what to do.” Continue reading “Nature’s therapy: How Jillian Stannard found healing in rock climbing”
Without more oversight on doping, Olympics ‘might not even be there’ in future, gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps warns
- Slug: BC-CNS-Olympics Doping Phelps. 865 words.
- Photo available.
By Grey Gartin
Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – Swimmer Michael Phelps – the most decorated Olympic athlete in history – pressed Congress to demand an international crackdown on doping amid revelations that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
The World Anti-Doping Agency knew about the test results but allowed the swimmers to compete. Last week, 11 of those swimmers were named to the Chinese team for the Paris Olympics, which start July 26.
U.S. anti-doping officials, athletes and lawmakers consider that an outrage, and a sign that WADA needs reform.
As Florida Panthers capture Stanley Cup, Arizona’s NHL hopes fade
- Slug: Sports-Hockey in Desert. 880 words.
- Photo available.
By Mateo Arenas
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – As Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history, former Arizona Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo also gave fans a reason to cheer on the opposite side of the Sun Belt.
Meruelo reportedly decided to step away from the franchise Monday, marking the end of an era for professional hockey in Arizona, for now at least, following his sale of the team in April. While hockey fans have often bemoaned the idea of hockey in the desert, the Florida-based franchises show that the heat doesn’t melt NHL hopes in the sunshine.
With the Tampa Bay Lighting and Florida Panthers added as NHL expansion teams in 1992 and 1993, respectively, the Coyotes were formed when the Winnipeg Jets relocated to the desert in 1996. As the Panthers just added a championship to their resume, the Lightning boast three, coming off of back-to-back wins in 2020 and 2021.
Continue reading “As Florida Panthers capture Stanley Cup, Arizona’s NHL hopes fade”
Does Arizona have enough water? Phoenix-area cities are spending big to make sure it does
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- Slug: KUNC-Phoenix Water Engineering. 2,670 words.
- 7 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).
- Audio available.
By Alex Hager
KUNC
Brett Fleck does not have an easy job. He manages water for a city in the desert. He has to keep taps flowing while facing a complicated equation: Peoria is growing – attracting big business and thousands of new residents each year – but its main source of water is shrinking.
Standing on the edge of a sun-baked canal with palm trees lining its banks, Fleck watched water flow into the pipes that supply the Phoenix suburb.
Miracle on wheels: GCU roller hockey makes national championship strides in two seasons against all odds
- Slug: Sports-GCU Roller Hockey, 1,600 words.
- 2 photos available.
By Joseph Furtado
Cronkite News
PEORIA – Dissatisfied with limited playing time for one of the nation’s top collegiate roller hockey teams, Aydin Schwetz had no choice but to start his own program that would eventually go on to match the success of his former team.
Since its Division I debut in 2022, Grand Canyon University has established one of the nation’s premier roller hockey programs in the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association. However, Schwetz didn’t always plan to establish a new program at GCU.
His NCRHA career began at Arizona State University but was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He transferred to one of the NCRHA’s best collegiate roller hockey teams at Lindenwood University, where he appeared in 24 games in two seasons. Continue reading “Miracle on wheels: GCU roller hockey makes national championship strides in two seasons against all odds”
Where the buffalo roamed: Bill would return herds to ancestral Native American lands
- Slug: BC-CNS-Buffalo Tribal Reintroduction. 1,050 words.
- Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).
By Brianna Chappie
Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – Buffalo are so iconic, Congress designated them as the national mammal in 2016. Native American oral histories estimate that 30 to 60 million once roamed the plains.
After nearly going extinct, the shaggy beasts are making a comeback and soon, many could find themselves on reservations where their kind hasn’t set hoof in decades.
A bipartisan bill pending in Congress would pay to relocate some of the 20,500 buffalo from public lands across the West and Midwest to reservation lands that were historically part of the animals’ range.
In Phoenix, VP Kamala Harris puts focus on abortion rights as advocates mark two years post-Roe v. Wade
- Slug: BC-CNS-Abortion Anniversary VP. 1,200 words.
- Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).
- Video available.
By Morgan Kubasko and Lauren De Young
Cronkite News
Marking two years since the Supreme Court struck down federal abortion rights, protesters marched on the court Monday, and Vice President Kamala Harris stumped in Phoenix to put a spotlight on the tussle over abortion in Arizona.
“Our work right now is absolutely directly going to affect the people of Arizona, the people of our country, but will have an impact on people around the world. That’s what’s in our hands right now,” Harris said at a reproductive freedom campaign event in Phoenix.
Continue reading “In Phoenix, VP Kamala Harris puts focus on abortion rights as advocates mark two years post-Roe v. Wade”
Arizona Coyotes’ future uncertain in the Valley as key land auction abruptly canceled
- Slug: Sports-Coyotes Land Auction Canceled, 770 words.
- 2 photos available.
By Dylan Slager
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – As the Utah Hockey Club continues its offseason of change, the wait continues for clarity surrounding the future home stadium of the Arizona Coyotes.
After selling the team in April, Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo promised to secure land in north Phoenix for a new venue at an auction that was originally scheduled for Thursday but canceled Friday. The abrupt cancellation of the auction marks yet another major bump in the road for a franchise that has experienced disappointment in securing its own home since moving to the desert.
The land located north of Loop 101 and Scottsdale Road was set to become a central hub for hockey in Arizona, with plans to build a 17,000-seat arena and entertainment district for Phoenix and Scottsdale. But in their latest effort to make progress, the Coyotes reportedly failed to bring on a zoning attorney to assist them with their building permits, causing concern for the Arizona State Land Department, according to the Arizona Republic.