If the Arizona Diamondbacks truly cared about fans, they wouldn’t let them roast at Chase Field.

What should have been an enjoyable outing at Chase Field for baseball fans to watch the Diamondbacks vs. Phillies last weekend was instead a sweaty, sweltering, miserably hot experience.

Is it asking too much for cheapskate billionaire owner Ken Kendrick to fix the air conditioning? Rather than whine about taxpayers rejecting any more public funding for ballpark improvements?

Fix the AC before fans start cramping up like Zac Gallen did last Saturday night. I’d request a ticket refund, but only true owners who care about the fans would do that.

Kyle Mickel, Phoenix

Are ‘Goons’ or immigrants worse?

Kari Lake and her MAGA crowd seem to be obsessed with what they call “immigrant crime.” I would like to ask her if the “Gilbert Goons” and another adolescent gang in Gilbert, who burned down a barn and harassed teen girls, were immigrants?

From what I’ve read, they were bona fide American teens who seemed to be afflicted with an extreme case of “affluenza.”

I think the only crime stats we have to look at whether “immigrant crime” is really a thing comes from Texas, and their stats show that immigrants commit much less crime than their squeaky-clean American counterparts.

Bob Ellis, Phoenix

$6.89 for milk is highway robbery

I needed some milk to finish some baking. I went to a 7-Eleven to get some, as it’s less than a mile from my house.

I purchased a quart. I paid $6.89. Milk at the grocery store is $1.75. If this isn’t price gouging, I don’t know what price gouging is. 

Michael Scully, Mesa

No wonder we hate government

Cox Communications in Phoenix recently shut down for several hours. I called to ask if my monthly bill would reflect the service reduction. I was told that Cox charges by the day, not the minute/hour.

I tried to complain to the Arizona Corporation Commission and was advised that Cox is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, not the state corporation commission.

More letters: Why did we not learn about this Arizona atrocity?

Try to find a link on the FCC’s site to file a complaint. Not happening, unless it’s hidden in a sub-category that I couldn’t find. In a democracy, complaints against government should never be hidden!

It’s no wonder that citizens get so frustrated with our government.

Page Decker, Avondale

Leave your politics in California

People come to Arizona from countries south of our border and from California in huge numbers. Why are they leaving other countries or states?

Because they wanted a better life or they are looking for work or the taxes were terribly high or they could not afford decent housing or their schools were no good or the socialist form of government was the cause for all of this.

And they vote for Democrats here so they can have all the things that they left.

Craig Holstad, Chandler

Why I sell solar power on the side

As a resident of Phoenix, I’ve seen how our community values sustainability and innovation. The push for renewable energy aligns perfectly with these values and offers numerous benefits for our state.

Arizona’s solar potential is immense. By expanding our solar energy infrastructure, we can lower energy costs and enhance energy security. Renewable energy also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, helping to combat climate change.

The economic benefits are significant. Renewable energy projects create jobs and stimulate local economies. They attract investments in technology and infrastructure, positioning Arizona as a leader in the clean energy revolution.

For me, supporting renewable energy means supporting a thriving, sustainable future.

I’m so passionate about clean energy that I sell solar power on the side, in addition to my work as a bartender in Phoenix. This underscores my belief in the importance and benefits of renewable energy for our community and beyond.

Jill Patsche, Phoenix

Vote for the ideology, not the person

We are in the midst of the dog days of summer and our national election. And it is the same old experience — lies and more lies.

It requires a lot of concentration to sort through the campaign ads to find a scintilla of truth. Most of the time, the entire campaign ad is just yanking our chains.

I would like to believe that we are all smart enough and savvy enough to know when we are being conned. The person we vote for matters less than the political and social ideology we support.

Will you vote for the party candidate who believes that social programs should not exist and wants to pay no taxes? Or will you vote for the candidate who truly cares about you?

We shouldn’t mistake the two by shooting ourselves in the foot. When you select who to vote for, do a bit of research and be sure that your vote does not make your life worse than it is.

Alvin Vasicek, Mesa

What’s on your mind? Send us a letter to the editor online or via email at opinions@arizonarepublic.com.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Donald Trump will be back in the Arizona for a campaign event at Desert Diamond Arena next week, as announced by Turning Point Action.

The former president is scheduled to visit the critical swing state following the conclusion of the Democratic National Convention taking place this week in Chicago.

It will be the Trump campaign’s first chance to fire back at Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, after they deliver their message to the DNC following their late addition to the Presidential ticket.

Trump is expected to take aim at the liberal economic and border policy proposals that Harris has championed throughout her campaign and career.

They are among the top two issues on the minds of voters in recent FOX polling.

Desert Diamond Arena becomes political hotspot

Desert Diamond Arena in the Westgate Entertainment District of Glendale is the same place Harris and Walz rallied on Aug. 9.

It is the former home of the Arizona Coyotes and holds a capacity of 20,000.

Trump’s previous rally in Arizona was on June 6, his first rally after a felony conviction for falsifying business documents in New York.

It was held at the Phoenix Dream City Church, which has a capacity of 3,000 people.

The Harris event drew 15,000 attendees, according to her campaign.

FOX News polling has the candidates neck-and-neck

While there is still more than two months until election day, projections have the two candidates extremely close.

An Aug. 14 poll from Fox shows Trump with a 1-point lead with his strongest support coming from men, evangelical Christians and rural voters.

Harris’ strong support is from women, Black voters and those under age 30.

What to expect on Aug. 23:

Doors to the rally open at 12:00 p.m. and Trump is expected to deliver remarks at 4:00 p.m.

Pre-programing for the event is expected to start at 2:00 p.m.

General admission tickets are available on the Trump website.

PHOENIX – High temperatures should hover around 110° in Phoenix on Saturday afternoon with winds coming from the southwest around 10 to 15 mph. 

Partly cloudy skies signal a chance for rain, especially later into the evening and into Sunday before our best chance for rain emerges later in the week on Thursday.

Phoenix Sky Harbor will officially tie the record for low temperatures staying above 90° in a single year at 35 days and is on pace to break that record next week.

In the northern parts of Mohave and Coconino counties, flood advisories could impact travelers and storm chances are likely.

Sunrise (5:53 a.m.) and sunset (7:10 p.m.) times for Sunday in the Valley move closer to 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. respectively.

The UV index is 10 in the Valley for both days.

You can always check the latest weather conditions by visiting the FOX 10 Phoenix weather page, or download the Free FOX 10 Weather app, which is available on Apple iOS and Android.

Scroll down this page for satellite and radar, day planner, records, current temperatures, 10-day forecast, forecast highs, and recent rainfall totals, plus live video feeds.

 

The following heat safety information was provided by the Scottsdale Fire Department.

What are Heat Emergencies?

Heat Cramps: Profuse sweating, fatigue, extreme thirst, muscle cramps

Heat Exhaustion: Headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea/vomit, Cool/moist skin

Heat Stroke: Elevated temp. +103 degrees, confusion/irrational behavior, dry/hot skin, rapid shallow breathing, rapid weak pulse (shock), seizures, unconscious

What to do

• Get person into shade or cool location
• Cool person with cool, wet cloths (neck, groin, armpits, head) and fan body
• Sip cool water if person is alert
• For muscle cramps, massage muscles gently, but firmly until relaxed
• *If symptoms worsen, call 911

What not to do

• Do not give anything by mouth if person is vomiting, unable to swallow or unconscious
• Do not underestimate the seriousness of a heat emergency
• Prevention/Preparation for hike/exercise in heat

Know your limitations

• Hydrate (begins day prior to hike/exercise, hour before hike, during and after)
• Wear proper clothing, lightweight and light color, protect head, proper shoes
• Always carry a cell phone and best to hike with company
• Always tell someone where you are hiking and when to plan to return

Preventing heat exhaustion/heat stroke

The Arizona Department of Health Services stated the following precautions can be taken to prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke:

• Stay in air-conditioned buildings
• Find a cooling center/hydration station
• Limit outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day (mid-day)
• Check on at-risk friends, family, and neighbors at least twice a day
• Drink water before, during, and after working or exercising outside
• Check the UV Index
• Check the heat risk map

Driving in extreme temperatures

The Arizona Department of Transportation’s tips for driving in extreme temperatures include: 

Have sun protection: In addition to an umbrella, take sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat and wear loose-fitting, light-colored cotton clothing.

Fuel up: Keep your tank at three-quarters full. Running out of gas, especially in a remote location, is dangerous in extreme heat.

Hydrate: Take a cooler to keep extra drinking water cold, and consider adding several frozen bottles of water to use for cooling off or to thaw and drink if needed. Make sure everyone, including pets, stays hydrated.

Get help: If your vehicle breaks down in extreme heat, call for assistance right away to reduce wait time, and run the AC. If the AC isn’t working, roll down all windows.

Wait safely: If the temperature inside your vehicle becomes too hot, everyone, including pets, should exit carefully and seek out or create a shaded area as far away from the travel lanes as possible. Be careful walking on the road surface, which can be hot enough to burn skin. Keep your shoes on and try to keep your pets’ paws off the pavement. If you are stopped along the highway, raise the front hood and turn on hazard lights. Please keep in mind that parking in tall brush can start a fire. 

Check your vehicle: You can help avoid breakdowns and blowouts by making sure your vehicle is in good operating condition. Check your air conditioner and coolant levels, top off any vital engine fluids and make sure your battery is up to par. Check your tire pressure, as the combination of under inflated tires and hot pavement can lead to a blowout.

Preparing for a severe thunderstorm 

The American Red Cross’ tips for preparing for a severe thunderstorm:

• Put together an emergency kit.
• Know your community’s evacuation plan.
• Create a household disaster plan and practice it.
• Purchase a battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• Discuss thunderstorm safety with members of your household. Be aware that a thunderstorm could produce flooding.
• Pick a safe place in your home for household members to gather during a thunderstorm. This should be a place where there are no windows, skylights, or glass doors, which could be broken by strong winds or hail and cause damage or injury.

Be prepared and stay safe during the monsoon

“Most Valley residents know how quickly and furiously storms can move in and out, bringing strong winds, dust, rain, and flash flooding. These storms can cause interruptions in services, such as water, power, and gas,” stated Captain Ashley Losch of the Glendale Fire Department.

GFD reminds residents of ways they can be prepared and stay safe:

• Have flashlights with extra batteries on hand.
• Have food that can be prepared without the need for cooking or refrigeration.
• Have at least one gallon of clean water for each person in the household.
• Have backup power for anyone requiring power for a medical device.
• Have backup power for cell phones that do not require charging.
• Have a first aid kit ready and accessible.
• Never drive into areas with flowing water; it takes less than 10 inches to wash a car away.
• Avoid flooded areas, such as washes.
• If waters are rising, seek higher ground.
• Do not approach downed power lines, the ground can be energized for up to 200 feet.
• Keep pets indoors during storms.

MORE: https://azdot.gov/about/transportation-safety/severe-weather