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NEWS ACROSS THE VALLEY
Valley and State

Navajo Nation reports 2 more COVID-19 cases and 1 more death

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation on Thursday reported two new cases of COVID-19 and one more death. Tribal health officials say the sprawling reservation that stretches into New …
Memorial

Scottsdale 9/11 memorial tribute marks 20th anniversary

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the attacks that took the lives of nearly 3,000 people on Sept. 11, 2001. In recognition, the city of Scottsdale is hosting a free 9/11 Memorial Tribute, …
first responders

Mesa Police: 2 suspected of stealing $100K in merchandise from Walmart stores

Two suspects have been arrested after months of stealing from Walmart stores in several western states, Mesa Police Department said. Mary Garcia, 47, and Melinda Rodriguez, 38, were arrested June …

Evacuation orders expand as wildfires burn in Arizona

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Residents in about 90 homes west of Flagstaff were told to evacuate Thursday because of a wildfire in the area. The lightning-caused fire has burned 54 square miles (141 …
Subscriber exclusive

Industrial zoning planned at Loop 202 and Elliot Road

A site plan and rezoning of 41 acres west of Ellsworth Road on the north side of Elliot Road for an industrial development should be approved by the Mesa City Council, an advisory board recommended …
First responders
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office took the following reports of crime in the Florence area June 17-24.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office took the following reports of crime in the Queen Creek area from June 17-24.
The Apache Junction High School football team experienced something Wednesday morning it hopes never to experience again. Forty-five members of the Prospectors team took part in an active-shooter …
Opinions: Highlighting Valley Voices
Nan Hayworth

Hayworth: Bipartisanship — It’s a taste well worth acquiring

Bipartisanship is the broccoli of politics — everyone knows it’s good for us, but few of us love it.
Andrew Lautz

Lautz: Bipartisanship’s not dead; it just takes courage

President Biden promised a new era of bipartisanship when he was elected, telling media in December that “the nation’s looking for us to be united, much more united.”

Reagan: June 27 is PTSD Awareness Day and this is one soldier’s experience

Sunday, June 27, is National Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Injury Awareness Day. It is a day dedicated to raising awareness around the signs, symptoms and stigma associated with PTSD.
Nicholas J. Brown

Brown: Five legal topics to consider before getting married

Getting married is one of the happiest days of our lives. However, marriage is a legal union as much as it is a romantic one. Therefore, it is important to consider financial and legal implications before tying the knot.

Kenny: Life’s simple 7 to help achieve optimal heart health

Sadly, we are seeing deaths from heart disease and stroke on the rise. The good news is that heart disease and stroke can be prevented 80% of the time by making healthy choices. The American …
Nation

NYC Pride ban on uniformed police reflects a deeper tension

NEW YORK (AP) — For decades, when LGBTQ people have gathered to take part in New York City’s annual Pride march, they’ve made their presence known with every color and type of clothing …

Facebook arrest video leads to protests in South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Demonstrators converged outside a South Carolina police station for a second day Thursday, protesting the arrest of two men by officers in Rock Hill who were recorded on a …

Songwriter Diane Warren saves escaped cow from slaughter

PICO RIVERA, Calif. (AP) — Songwriter Diane Warren stepped in Thursday to save the life of cow that eluded capture for more than a day after a herd escaped from a Southern California slaughterhouse …

A look at high-profile cases over killings by US police

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin faces decades in prison when he is in George Floyd's death. A teenage bystander filmed Chauvin pinning Floyd to the street for …

Some expressed concern about road safety at fatal wreck site

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Local officials were concerned about the safety of a heavily traveled stretch of Interstate 65 where 10 people died in a fiery crash long before the pileup last weekend, and …
World

Russia mandates vaccinations for some as virus cases surge

MOSCOW (AP) — They tried grocery giveaways and lotteries for new cars and apartments. But an ambitious plan of vaccinating 30 million Russians by mid-June still has fallen short by a third. So …

1 dead, hundreds injured by rare tornado in Czech Republic

PRAGUE (AP) — A rare tornado tore through southeastern Czech Republic, killing at least one person and injuring hundreds of people, the rescue services said on Friday. The tornado was formed …

Is Japan's remarkable vaccine drive in time for Olympics?

TOKYO (AP) — After months of frustration and delay, Japan has hit the remarkable benchmark of 1 million vaccines a day. But with the Olympics set to start in less than a month, and only a small …

Lava streams from crater as Indonesia's Mount Merapi erupts

YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia’s most volatile volcano erupted Friday, releasing plumes of ash high into the air and sending streams of lava with searing gas clouds flowing down its …

Parts of Sydney going into lockdown as virus outbreak grows

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Parts of Sydney will go into lockdown late Friday as a coronavirus outbreak in Australia’s largest city continued to grow. Health authorities reported an …
Thank You For Supporting Local Journalism
Business

Japan's Toshiba wins approval for board, despite controversy

TOKYO (AP) — Battered Japanese nuclear and electronics giant Toshiba Corp. faced off with shareholders Friday, seeking to shake off serious questions about governance at the once revered …

FedEx posts profit as online shopping boom continues

NEW YORK (AP) — FedEx reported a nearly $2 billion profit in its most recent quarter, after reporting a loss the year before, helped by a surge in online shopping and the growth of its …

Judge appeals skeptical over effort to dismiss Dominion suit

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday appeared skeptical of arguments to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems over baseless 2020 election claims made by Trump …

All big banks pass latest Federal Reserve 'stress tests'

NEW YORK (AP) — All 23 of the nation's biggest banks are healthy enough to withstand a sudden economic catastrophe, the Federal Reserve said Thursday as it released the results from its latest …

Neighbors

Meet Angel and Juan– Bonded brothers hope to score with football loving family

It’s impossible to miss brothers Angel and Juan. Fun loving and incredibly social, the brothers are always on the go.

Welcome to the cookout: Scottsdale’s Second Annual Juneteenth

The second annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration in Scottsdale was a big cookout complete with music, friends and families including the elders like Gwen and Ernie Calhoun.

$5K sought for Lindbergh Elementary kindergarten biking program

All Kids Bike, a national program on a mission to teach every child in America how to ride a bike, is working to bring the All Kids Bike Kindergarten PE Program to Lindbergh Elementary School in …

Jehovah’s Witnesses holding virtual convention

Jehovah’s Witnesses has moved its annual in-person convention to a virtual format for the second time in as many years, canceling nearly 6,000 conventions in 240 lands. “Powerful by …

Things to do

Superheroes Splash Down June 26 at Salt River Tubing

Join Salt River Tubing for its Fifth Annual Superheroes Splash Down 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 26. Free bandannas will be distributed to superheroes while supplies last, according to a …

East Valley revolting children take the stage in 'Matilda'

Nearly 40 revolting children from across the East Valley will take the stage this summer in “Matilda The Musical,” the Tony Award-winning show inspired by Roald Dahl that has captivated …

Concert film, live Q&A with Storm Large July 31

Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., is offering an online showing of a documentary concert with musician, actor and author Storm Large at 7 p.m. July 31. “Large shares her …

WHAM art center wraps its June program list

WHAM Art Center, 16560 N. Dysart Road, finishes its June art classes with: • Come Fly Away @Memory Lane Trinkets & Treasures in downtown Glendale is a mixed media watercolor painting …

Entertainment
President Joe Biden takes a selfie with members of the audience after speaking during a visit to a mobile COVID-19 vaccination unit at the Green Road Community Center in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Trump rally song plays briefly at Biden North Carolina event

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A song heard at every Donald Trump campaign rally blared at least twice at the close of a North Carolina event featuring President Joe Biden. Biden had just finished urging …
This image released by Warner Bros. Entertainment shows Don Cheadle, left, and Benicio Del Toro in a scene from "No Sudden Move." (Claudette Barius/Warner Bros. Entertainment via AP)

Soderbergh, Cheadle return to Detroit in 'No Sudden Move'

NEW YORK (AP) — During the pandemic, Steven Soderbergh has shot two feature films, released a pair of movies, written a sequel to his first film (1989's “Sex, Lies and Videotape”), re-edited …
FILE - Author Anne Rice poses for a photo at her home Oct. 26, 2005, in San Diego. Rice’s “Interview with the Vampire” is rising again on screen, this time for TV. The bestselling novel, which was adapted for the 1994 Brad Pitt-Tom Cruise film, will be the basis for a new AMC and AMC+ series set for 2022. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi, File)

Anne Rice's 'Interview with the Vampire' set for AMC in 2022

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anne Rice's “Interview with the Vampire” is rising again on screen, this time for TV. The bestselling novel, which was adapted for the 1994 Brad Pitt-Tom Cruise film, will …

Westgate planning July Fourth fireworks event in Glendale

Westgate is planning a July Fourth event complete with fireworks and live music.
FILE - In this Sunday, May 26, 2019 file photo, Winston Marshall of Mumford & Sons performs at the BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival at Napa Valley Expo, in Napa, Calif.  Marshall says he is leaving folk-rock group Mumford & Sons so that he can “speak freely” about political issues. Marshall took a break from the band in March after sparking a social media storm by tweeting admiration for  a book by right-wing writer-activist Andy Ngo. Marshall was accused online of endorsing the far right, but said Thursday, June 24, 2021 that “nothing could be further from the truth."( Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)

Guitarist quits Mumford & Sons to 'speak freely' on politics

LONDON (AP) — Winston Marshall, a founding member of folk-rock group Mumford & Sons, announced Thursday that is leaving the band so that he can “speak freely” about political …