PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Around 17,000 children in Arizona are currently enrolled in Head Start programs. But funding uncertainty amid the ongoing government shutdown threatens to disrupt the help the program gives.
The 60-year-old federally funded program helps the youngest in a community by providing education, nutrition and family services to help set children up for success.
“I love watching when families and children enter our program,” said Keri Flathers, the child development manager at Educare Arizona. “It’s a concern on everyone’s minds.”
According to the National Head Start Association, 140 programs nationwide will lose their operational funding if the government shutdown continues into November, including about 210 kids and 37 staff in Arizona.
“For Head Start programs, the November 1st date has a significant impact. One, because there’s many grantees who are still waiting for their notice of award to continue providing services. But then we also serve families that are SNAP recipients,” said Eve Del Real, president of the Arizona Head Start Association.
Program grants are approved on a rolling basis, but the longer the government shutdown lasts, the greater the impact. Del Real says more than 2,200 kids could be impacted by December, depending on how the shutdown continues to play out.
“One of the biggest challenges that we have in projecting out how to prepare if a notice of award does get issued is the backlog of fiscal actions,” Del Real explained.
Without the Head Start program, Del Real said it could be devastating for families who rely on it.
“Families would have to rely then on unlicensed care or relying on family, friends, neighbors, to be able to compensate for the loss of this service,” she said.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2025 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
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.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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.
Hamas builds new terror regime in Gaza, recruiting teens amid problematic election
Google is at last letting users swap out embarrassing Gmail addresses without losing their data
Indianapolis Colts playoffs: Updated elimination scenario, AFC standings, playoff picture for Week 17
Two attorneys vanish during Florida fishing trip as ‘heartbroken’ wife pleads for help finding them
Roads could remain slick, icy Saturday morning in Philadelphia area, tracking another storm on the way
Most shocking examples of Chinese espionage uncovered by the US this year: ‘Just the tip of the iceberg’
Marijuana rescheduling would bring some immediate changes, but others will take time
Podcast: The 2025 EU-US relationship explained simply
