PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) – You may have heard about people camping overnight for sporting events or concerts. But dozens of people in Gilbert braved the cold temperatures overnight to reserve a spot in a preschool.
TotSpot Preschool said they had almost 90 registrations on day one today of their three registration days this month. This line of people wrapping around the building actually isn’t anything new. Some teachers even came down to the school on their own around midnight to bring snacks and hot chocolate to parents in the cold. But the line shows how far Arizonans are willing to go to get quality care for their young children.
“They [kids] came home excited that they were here,” first-in-line Steven Heyd said. “They have a great time in the community. And all the people that we’ve met have been incredible.”
Heyd’s middle child came to TotSpot Gilbert a few years ago and loved it. So, for him and his wife, trading shifts overnight was well worth it to make sure his youngest child got that same opportunity. “We just figure one night of pain for all year we get to have the fun,” he said. “We get to have the class we want.”
Heyd camped outside for one night to get his top teacher and preschool choice. But Arizona Early Childhood Education Association executive director Barbie Prinster says not every Arizona family is as lucky in terms of options and being able to pay for childcare services. “Childcare is expensive,” Prinster said. “It’s pretty much the same cost as tuition at ASU or the University of Arizona for one year.”
Prinster says Arizona’s ongoing teacher shortage and low teacher salaries have impacted the state’s quality and quantity of preschool resources, leading to waitlists for highly-rated schools.
“We end up with places in Arizona that we call childcare deserts where there are just not enough slots versus the number of children that live in that specific area,” she said.
Moving forward, Prinster says additional federal and state funding is needed to add more quality preschools and prevent long waitlists. “Parents can’t go to work without high-quality child care,” Prinster said. “And we want their kids to be safe and in a high-quality learning environment.”
Eligible Arizonans can visit the Child Care Resource and Referral website for state assistance for child care assistance resources.
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The 2026 Arizona Legacy Races in Buckeye, Ariz., are ringing in a new year for futurity horses December 30 – January 6, at the Buckeye Equestrian & Events Center. Formerly known as the MVP Futurity and Greg Olson Futurity, these two races have been a staple in many professional trainers’ schedules for decades. This year, the two events boast $22,000 in added money.
Linzie Lindsey and Fame Dancin Yola claimed the Round 1 win with a 17.577 for $1,959. Barbara Merrill rode TKW Eye Am Tess to the 2D win.
After finishing out of the 1D money in Round 1, Loralee Ward and Dark Honey ran the fastest time of the futurity with a 17.030 to claim the Round 2 win. The duo also earned the Futurity Reserve Championship for $1,652.
Lindsey and Fame Dancin Yola finished second in Round 2 with a 17.164, adding $1,603 to their futurity earnings and claiming the Futurity Championship for another $2,019.
Jenna Duhon and PMC AintSheBeautiful earned the Round 2 2D win. In the 2D Average, it was Estella Martin and Quanahs Kingdom claiming the win.
Round 1 of a very tough Derby went to Jana Bean and Feature This Goodbye with a 17.268. 2025 futurity standout Blissful Version and Lora Nichols finished second in Round 1 with a 17.282, won Round 2 with a 17.032, and claimed the Average win.
“Buddy” and Nichols were in contention for the highest money-earning futurity horse of the previous season, before the cancellation of the last two major events of the season due to EHV-1. By $7 million sire Winners Version, Buddy banked over $300,000 in his futurity year.
Megan McLeod-Sprague and Seis Corona (“Jagger”) were hot off the 2025 National Finals Rodeo. The duo won the Roohide Hot Rod with a 17.004 for $1,368. They also earned the Friday Open 1D win for $1,083.
With the first 16-second run of the weekend, Sherry Cervi and MP Meter My Fame won the Saturday Open 1D with a 16.969.
Rita Cheeney and HP Dash Ta Fairfax ran the only other sub-17-second run of the weekend, with a 16.996 that took the top spot in Sunday’s Open 1D.
Nichols and Buddy doubled down on their derby earnings, placing deep in the Open 1D both days, as well as the Roohide Hot Rod, and Big Time Boss.
Youth competitor Tabitha Dyal also had an outstanding weekend, earning Open 1D money Friday, Saturday, and Sunday aboard Slym Shady. She swept the Youth 1D on Slym Shady and earned Open 1D, Open 2D, and Youth 1D checks on Promise Me Fame Guys and Smooth Operraider. Dyal wrapped up her weekend with several checks in the Big Time Boss.
Authorities say a prominent California agriculture heir is accused of traveling to Arizona to kill his estranged wife amid a bitter divorce, a case now drawing national attention for its cross-state trail and high-profile ties.
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On today’s Digital Pregame Show presented by Little Caesars, J.B Long, D’Marco Farr, and Maurice Jones-Drew preview the Los Angeles Rams’ Week 18 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium. The trio discuss key players to watch, game predictions, and more. Tune in for kickoff at 1:25pm PT on FOX.
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