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How would an alert for missing indigenous people in Arizona work?

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How would an alert for missing indigenous people in Arizona work?


The murder of an indigenous Arizona teen could soon bring change at the state level.

14-year-old Emily Pike was reported missing out of a Mesa group home, she was later found killed near Globe. There have been no arrests in her murder.

Pike’s death has inspired a push for a statewide system similar to AMBER Alerts for missing indigenous people. There is already one in California called the Feather Alert.

“If someone is missing and we had this alert in Indian Country, we can get the information out there, we can work together,” said Elisia Manuel, the founder of Three Precious Miracles in the Valley.

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California’s Feather Alert has been in place since 2023. The California Highway Patrol handles those types of alerts, including six others, just as the Arizona Department of Public Safety would here should a system be put in place for missing indigenous peoples in the state.

All the alerts are posted on CHP’s social media sites. Sometimes, if it is time-sensitive and area-specific, they get pushed to your cell phone with that loud ringing tone.

“All of the alerts that we activate are always on the behalf of the investigating agency,” said Captain Melissa Kittell, who works with CHP’s Emergency Notifications and Tactical Alert Center.

There are specific requirements for CHP to issue a Feather Alert, including that the missing person has to be indigenous. Also, if law enforcement or the tribe believes the person is in physical danger, in danger of human trafficking, or suffers from a mental or substance abuse disorder.

CHP provided ABC15 with some numbers: In 2023, there was one Feather Alert activation and one person was recovered. The next year, there were 14 activations where 11 were recovered safely, two remain missing and one was found dead. In 2025, there were 10 activations where nine persons were recovered.

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CHP says these success rates are by and large thanks to the public’s response.

“It’s someone got the WEA on their phone or they follow CHP Alerts and they saw a picture and they were driving by a bus stop and saw a person that looked familiar,” said Kittell.

For Manuel, who works with group home and foster youth in the Valley, it is something she hopes can succeed here.

“There’s such a higher rate of our kids that are in the system across the board to be trafficked, murdered,” said Manuel.

HB 2281’s main sponsor tells ABC15 that the Arizona bill will likely be discussed in the State Senate later this week, then head to the Senate floor for a vote next week.

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One amendment to the bill would name the system in Arizona the Turquoise Alert; another would name the law after 14-year-old Emily Pike, whose case has rocked indigenous communities in Arizona and across the country.





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Arizona

Peat scores 24, No. 1 Arizona remains undefeated with 89-82 win over rival Arizona State

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Peat scores 24, No. 1 Arizona remains undefeated with 89-82 win over rival Arizona State


TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Koa Peat had 24 points and 10 rebounds, Tobe Awaka added 25 points and top-ranked Arizona remained undefeated with an 89-82 win over rival Arizona State on Wednesday night.

The Wildcats (17-0, 4-0 Big 12) had a hard time shaking the Sun Devils in a physical first half before Peat came alive in the second. The 6-foot-8 freshman, who shot 2 of 8 in the first half, made all seven of his shots in the second as Arizona built a 12-point lead.

The Sun Devils (10-7, 1-3) kept hanging around behind Moe Odum, whose 3-pointer with 55 seconds left pulled Arizona State within 87-82.

Arizona’s Jaden Bradley followed with a short jumper and the Wildcats made two free throws to join No. 8 Nebraska and Miami (Ohio) as the only remaining undefeated Division I teams following No. 10 Vanderbilt’s loss to Texas. The Wildcats are off to their best start since opening 21-0 in 2013-14.

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Odum led Arizona State with 23 points and Massamba Diop added 16.

Arizona State led 39-38 at halftime by holding its ground, bumping and banging the physical Wildcats while limiting their transition opportunities.

They also got the ball inside to Diop.

The 7-1 Senegalese freshman averaged 21.5 points in two games last week and beat Arizona with a variety of moves, scoring 13 first-half points on 6-of-9 shooting.

Awaka used his might to bull his way through the Sun Devils for 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

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Arizona found more of an offensive rhythm midway through the second half, hitting 11 straight shots to build a 75-63 lead before Arizona State fought back to make it close.

Up next

Arizona State: plays at No. 7 Houston on Sunday.

Arizona: plays at UFC on Saturday.

___

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Arizona senator wants online sites liable for prostitution, child sex trafficking

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Arizona senator wants online sites liable for prostitution, child sex trafficking


PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Arizona state Sen. Mark Finchem has filed a bill that would hold online platforms accountable if they help support prostitution or child sex trafficking.

Finchem, a Republican from Prescott, said Senate Bill 1077 would make it a felony for anyone or any business that knowingly operates an online service that facilitates, promotes or solicits those types of sex offenses.

Violations involving underage teens between ages 15 and 17 would carry a class 5 felony, while those involving children under 15 would be guilty of a class 2 felony.

“Technology should never be used as a shield for those who profit from exploitation,” said Finchem in a news release. “Criminal activity has adapted to the digital age, and our laws must do the same.

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The proposal would also penalize platforms that show harmful materials to kids and don’t have “reasonable age verification” established. It also prohibits people from profiting from these types of crimes.

Finchem said the bill came about through working with the chamber’s Human Sex Trafficking Task Force, which was formed by Senate President Warren Petersen, also a Republican. The task force was established to find gaps in Arizona law as technology evolves.

“Protecting children and shutting down modern avenues of exploitation must remain a top priority, and this legislation reflects that commitment,” Finchem said in part.

“It is no secret that sexual predators and human traffickers use the internet to sell the most vulnerable among us for a profit,” said Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes in a prepared statement. “Senator Finchem’s SB 1077 will protect women and children from these criminals, as well as give law enforcement a needed tool in the prevention of crime.”

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Here’s what Arizona law says about pedestrians’ right of way

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Here’s what Arizona law says about pedestrians’ right of way


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  • The Arizona Republic sampled expertise on pedestrian right of way from those who know the rules best: law enforcement.
  • Unless there is a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing, motorists must yield the right of way to a pedestrian on a crosswalk, according to Arizona state law, A.R.S. 28-792.
  • A pedestrian cannot “leave any curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield,” the law states.

Arizonans may think pedestrians always having the right of way is a given. 

State law, however, does not quite reach that conclusion.

When pedestrians have the right of way varies based on the situation. And there is a lot to take into account. 

Making matters more concerning, data from the Arizona Department of Transportation shows that in 2024 there were 2,079 pedestrians involved in traffic crashes in the state. Of these, 263 were killed.

The Arizona Republic sampled expertise on pedestrian right of way from those who know the rules best: law enforcement. 

Here is what you should know about the laws regarding pedestrian right of way in Arizona.

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What Arizona law says about pedestrians’ right of way in a crosswalk

Unless there is a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing, motorists must yield the right of way to a pedestrian on a crosswalk, according to Arizona state law, A.R.S. 28-792. Pedestrians also have right of way when a pedestrian is on half of the roadway that the vehicle is traveling or when approaching a vehicle so closely from the opposite half of the road that they are in danger, the law says.

Additionally, the law directs drivers to not try and pass a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian at a marked crosswalk or at an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.

Are there exceptions to when a pedestrian has a right of way in Arizona?

A pedestrian cannot “leave any curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield,” the law states.

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What law enforcement says about pedestrians’ right of way in Arizona

Phoenix police spokesperson Sgt. Brian Bower explained that a pedestrian crossing a crosswalk with signage indicating not to cross would be a fault in a crash. Pedestrians cannot cross the street on an angle, but must cross in a straight path, Bower added.

“The pedestrians have to ensure that there is safe distance and it’s safe to cross over,” Bower said. “It’s still up to the drivers that if there’s somebody in the street, they have to still slow down or stop for that individual.” 

Marked crosswalks typically have white lines painted on them, he noted, adding, there are also the ones with traffic signals at major intersections.  

Bower also pointed to the High Intensity Activated CrossWalK (HAWK) crosswalks found in Phoenix, which are activated by a pedestrian pushing a button and a sequence of yellow, red and flashing red lights for motorists to yield.

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Some tips for drivers regarding pedestrians’ right of way

Mesa police spokesperson Detective Jessie Macias advised that pedestrians make eye contact with approaching drivers.

“Try to be seen,” Macias said. “You want to do it in each lane.”

Macias also urged drivers approaching a green light where some vehicles appear to have slowed down or have come to a complete stop to double check whether there is a pedestrian still crossing. 



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