Arizona

Arizona’s low-income students getting boost from STEP

Published

1 year ago

August 3, 2023

Arizona’s low-income students getting boost from STEP

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — Arizona non-profit STEP (Student Expedition Program) has helped students in the state for nearly 20 years. They focus on helping high schoolers get the skills, training and experiences to go to college and earn a degree. STEP provides workshops on college prep and beyond.

Tracy Baynes, the Founder and CEO of STEP, was teaching oceanography when she realized most of her students were wealthy. She wanted to give more students the chance to learn after high school. She said there is a “huge need” in this country for more programs to help low-income students become the first in their families to earn a degree. STEP claims only 14% of low-income students earn a degree.

The biggest lesson from STEP may come outside of the classroom. Every summer, they take Arizona students on a three-week sea kayaking trip in Alaska. They are given a bag of equipment for tents and items to endure the cold, rainy weather. There are no bathrooms or cell phones.

Two Valley students who went on the trip say it was difficult at times, especially at the beginning. But they agree it was life-changing.

“I wasn’t confident in myself or my leadership skills, my communication, but at the end of the day, I realized I can be who I want to become,” Bioscience student Naomi Martinez said. “It taught me a lot about myself.” Martinez also says the trip forced her to be comfortable being damp and in a new area. She wants to go to college and study to be an aeronautical engineer.

Buckeye Union High School Student Letom Kpea wants to double major in sociology and criminal justice. She said the Alaskan trip helped her gain the confidence to experience a challenge and overcome it. “I just wanted to see what my potential was,” she said. It was really nice to disconnect and focus on myself and how I wanted to progress as a person.”

STEP says so many low-income families have students with the grades and worth ethic to earn a college degree but don’t end up going. Students have said a lack of guidance and help leads them to shy away from taking the next steps in their education. STEP claims 96% of their students are in college or have earned a college degree.

To learn more about STEP, click here https://www.stepexpedition.org/

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Arizona

Arizona official who delayed county’s 2022 election certification didn’t have immunity, court says

Published

51 minutes ago

December 31, 2024

Press Room

Arizona official who delayed county’s 2022 election certification didn’t have immunity, court says

PHOENIX (AP) — An appeals court has rejected an Arizona official’s argument that felony charges against him for delaying certification of his rural county’s 2022 election results should be dismissed because he has legislative immunity.

In an order Tuesday, the Arizona Court of Appeals concluded Cochise County Supervisor Tom Crosby’s duty to certify the election results wasn’t discretionary. The court also said certifying election results is an administrative responsibility and that legislative immunity doesn’t apply to Crosby’s situation.

Crosby and Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd, both Republicans, were criminally charged after they balked at certifying the results. Two months ago, Judd pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of failing to perform her duty as an election officer and was sentenced to probation.

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Crosby has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and interference with an election officer. His trial is scheduled for Jan. 30.

Dennis Wilenchik, one of Crosby’s lawyers, said his client will ask the state Supreme Court to review the matter. Wilenchik said moving the certification’s date by a few days wasn’t a criminal act and that Crosby should be immunized.

“If it’s just a rubber stamp then why is it (certification) needed at all?” Wilenchik said.

The Cochise County results were ultimately certified past the deadline after a judge ordered Judd and Crosby to carry out their legal duties. Judd and Supervisor Ann English, the board’s lone Democrat, finally approved the canvass, allowing the statewide certification to go forward as scheduled.

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Arizona

Which Arizona grocery stores are open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day? What to know

Published

9 hours ago

December 31, 2024

Press Room

Which Arizona grocery stores are open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day? What to know

Whether you’re going to a party on New Year’s Eve, hosting one or watching fireworks from home, you’ll probably need to stock up on supplies to celebrate the new year. From a last-minute bottle of champagne to an extra box of sparklers, grocery stores offer a host of New Year’s themed products.

But which Arizona grocery stores are open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day? Some have their regular hours, while some are closed entirely. To make shopping easier, The Arizona Republic put together a guide to the New Year’s hours of major retailers from Costco to Walmart to Fry’s.

AJ’s Fine Foods New Year’s hours

AJ’s will be open on New Year’s Eve from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (regular hours). On New Year’s Day, AJ’s will be open 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Aldi New Year’s hours

Aldi grocery stores will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and closed on New Year’s Day.

Bashas’ New Year’s hours

Bashas’ will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. on New Year’s.

Costco New Year’s hours

Costco warehouses will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and closed on New Year’s Day.

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Food City New Year’s hours

Food City locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on both Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

Fry’s New Year’s hours

Fry’s will be open for normal hours on New Year’s Eve and Day.

Sprouts New Year’s hours

Sprouts will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 31. It will be open regular hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on New Year’s Day.

Target New Year’s hours

Target will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and open its normal hours on Jan. 1.

Trader Joe’s New Year’s hours

Trader Joe’s will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and closed on New Year’s Day.

Is Walmart open on New Year’s Eve?

Walmart stores will be open for normal hours on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

Whole Foods New Year’s hours

Whole Foods will be open 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. on New Year’s Day.

WinCo Foods New Year’s hours

WinCo Foods will be open 24 hours as usual on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

Reach the reporter at reia.li@gannett.com. Follow @Reialirui on X.

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Arizona

49ers QB Brock Purdy’s Status is a Toss-up Versus Arizona

Published

17 hours ago

December 31, 2024

Press Room

49ers QB Brock Purdy’s Status is a Toss-up Versus Arizona

Oh boy.

Brock Purdy may have played his final down of the 2024 season for the 49ers after injuring his right elbow in tonight’s loss to the Lions. Purdy suffered the injury in the final minutes of the game and wouldn’t be able to finish because of it. Backup Joshua Dobbs would take over.

Kyle Shanahan revealed that Purdy’s status is a toss-up versus Arizona in the regular season finale. Shanahan says the injury is associated with his nerves, making it alarming. Purdy will undergo further diagnosis on Tuesday when he returns to the 49ers’ facility.

“We’re gonna get an MRI tomorrow and see,” Purdy said. “It doesn’t feel the best, but I’ll just leave it at that. We’ll see tomorrow.”

So, it’s the wait-and-see game with his injury. Hearing that Purdy injured the same elbow that he tore his UCL on is alarming, especially since it’s associated with his nerves. But it could be more of initial pain that can be reduced over time.

“On that sack I got hit on the back side and basically my arm was on fire kind of thing,” Purdy said. “I tried throwing a couple on the sideline and I couldn’t at that point.”

Sounds exactly like the NFC Championship game against the Eagles two years ago. However, Purdy feels confident it isn’t his UCL after he underwent initial testing for it on the sideline. Either way, it is probably best for Purdy to be shut down and not be put at further risk in a meaningless game.

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