While the Salt River Project powers up Arizona, the company is also empowering teachers.

What we know:

Registration is now open for Salt River Project’s free workshops for teachers happening throughout the fall. The four-hour session teaches kindergarten through 12th-grade educators lessons to enhance their science, technology, engineering, and math instruction, focusing on hands-on activities to teach topics like energy, magnetism, and electricity.

Big picture view:

Salt River Project Community Activation Strategist Tori Galbreath explained the broader vision behind the educational program. “We know supporting teachers also impacts students, the classrooms, which then impacts the future workforce of Arizona,” Galbreath said.

With more than 30 years in the classroom, teacher Nancy Quinlan says the hands-on workshops stand out. Quinlan recalled her first experience with the program, stating, “I signed up for a workshop, I went to my first one, and I got hooked.”

The program delivers instructional value that stays with participants, according to educators who have utilized the resources. “It’s high quality and that’s what makes a difference. That’s what SRP does for us,” Quinlan said.

What they’re saying:

The specialized training leaves her feeling energized. “I feel like I’m a better teacher because I’ve been able to take what I’ve learned in those workshops, back to my classrooms and use those lessons with my students,” Quinlan said.

Why you should care:

The workshops bring back not just the knowledge but the lesson itself, thanks to a $400 grant from the Salt River Project after completing the workshop.

“We know that teachers traditionally spend their own funds to help impact their class, so we know this little bit can go a long way,” Galbreath said.

Dig deeper:

Teachers use the money to buy the lesson materials for students, addressing a widespread reality in the education system. “I don’t know any teacher who has not used their own money in their classroom. That is a given,” Quinlan said.

What you can do:

Any Arizona kindergarten through 12th-grade teacher is eligible for the workshop. Educators can sign up for their grade level’s workshop on Salt River Project’s website, and spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Arizona Diamondbacks remain in the playoff hunt after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-3, Saturday, July 18.

However, as Arizona claws its way back into the wild-card race, questions arise about its trade deadline strategy and whether the Diamondbacks will be buyers or sellers at the deadline.

Arizona is 1 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot for the 2026 postseason, and is 4-1 in its past five games, including a recent road sweep of the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Sweeping the Dodgers is no easy feat, in fact, that is the only time the Dodgers have been swept all year.

That’s enough to get people talking about what Arizona is going to do at the trade deadline — and shifting the conversation from selling to potentially buying.

But with the shift of tone comes difficult questions.

What would the Diamondbacks have to give up to bring the players they want to Phoenix?

It’s a question veteran closer Paul Sewald doesn’t even want to broach.

“You know what, with all due respect, I would rather talk about anything else,” Sewald said. “It’s enough stress to keep you up at night. I would prefer not to even talk about it.”

A cautious tone taken by the 10-year pro, who has been traded twice in-season during his career: once in 2023, from Seattle to Arizona, and then again in 2025 when he went from Detroit to Cleveland.

That was a similar tone fellow relief pitchers Juan Morillo and Jonathan Loaisiga took as well.

“You know with it being about things up in the air, I’d rather not speak on it,” Morillo said. “I can tell you, despite whatever could happen, these players are focused on winning.”

Loaisiga echoed that sentiment.

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“To be honest that’s not something even being talked about,” Loaisiga said. “I’m not really paying much attention to all that trade talk. My mind is on coming in, doing the job, trying to help the team win as much as we can.

“I think that’s something the front office has to handle, that whole conversation.”

Loaisiga has done his job; he has delivered a 2.17 ERA out of the pen and has been one of Arizona’s more reliable arms.

If anyone can relate to the pressures of trade deadline performance, it’s Loaisiga, who spent eight of his nine years in the majors pitching for the New York Yankees and being involved in many trade-deadline discussions throughout his time there.

But it’s in between the wincing glances when the trade deadline is brought up that the nature of the subject reveals itself to be more delicate than fans, players and maybe even front office personnel can imagine.

We will preview every player on the Cardinals roster leading up to training camp. This is about LB Mack Wilson.

The Arizona Cardinals report to training camp on July 22 and begin the process of preparing for the regular season, forming the roster and determining starting jobs and roles on the team.

Leading up to the start of camp, we will take a look at every player on the offseason roster, their background, their contract, their play in 2025, questions they face and their roster outlook.

Here is linebacker Mack Wilson.

Mack Wilson background, 2025 season

Wilson enters his eighth NFL season and third with the Cardinals. He entered the league in 2019 as a fifth-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns out of Alabama. He played three seasons for the Browns and two for the New England Patriots before signing a three-year contract in free agency in 2024.

Last season, he replaced Kyzir White as the starting “Mike” linebacker and played in eight games before a rib injury at the end of the Cardinals’ Week 8 win over the Dallas Cowboys caused him to miss the final nine games of the season.

In eight games, he had 60 total tackles, three tackles for loss, a quarterback hit, an interception, six pass breakups and a forced fumble.

Mack Wilson contract details, salary cap hit

Wilson enters the final year of his three-year, $12.75 million contract. He will make nearly $3.4 million in salary in 2026 and count more than $4.7 million against the salary cap.

Roster outlook, questions he faces

Wilson is a lock to make the team and is going to be the team’s starting “Mike” linebacker. He is a leader in the locker room and trusted by defensive coordinator Nick Rallis.

Will he be able to lead a better defense? Will he get a contract extension before he becomes a free agent next year?

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts.