Arizona

In their own words, new U.S. citizens in Arizona look to voting in 2024

Published

2 years ago

January 2, 2024

In their own words, new U.S. citizens in Arizona look to voting in 2024

It was a very proud moment for Nilesh Patel.

“It’s the happiest day of my life,” he said, walking out of the Sandra Day O’Connor U.S. Courthouse in Phoenix earlier this month.

Patel, who emigrated from India nearly a decade ago, had just finished participating in a naturalization ceremony — officially making him an American citizen. And after the ceremony, down the hall from the courtroom, he was able to register to vote.

“[The] U.S. has given a lot to us,” said Patel’s wife, Hatel Patel, who is already a citizen. “I’ve been serving back, now he will get more chances as well.”

Grace Widyatmadja/NPR

And serving back, she says, means voting.

New Arizona voters like Nilesh Patel are registering in a state that next year has key congressional races and could play a crucial role in the presidential election. And many new voters see their eligibility to participate in elections as an impactful and exciting responsibility.

“One of our greatest rights, especially for new citizens, is the power to vote,” said Jeanette Senecal with the nonprofit League of Women Voters, which has reported registering nearly 48,000 new citizens to vote this year at naturalization ceremonies around the country.

In fiscal year 2022, nearly 1 million Americans became naturalized citizens, according to federal data — the highest level in 15 years.

“We want to see every eligible voter registered and turning out to vote,” Senecal said, adding, “It is really important to invite new voices in to ensure we have a representative democracy.”

But becoming a coveted voting bloc that political campaigns seek out is a different step.

“The [likelihood] of a campaign spending money to target [new citizens] and get them to vote is low,” said Arizona Democratic strategist Tony Valdovinos, who’s a recipient of the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

He told NPR it often takes years to go from being a registered voter to a reliable voter that campaigns target.

In their own words

NPR attended two recent naturalization ceremonies in Phoenix and spoke with new citizens and their families about what it means to them to be able to vote.

Grace Widyatmadja/NPR

Karen Perez

It’s hard to miss Karen Perez as she walks out of the courtroom wearing a sequined American flag dress.

“Can you see all the flag?” she joked.

Perez, who is from Venezuela, registered and plans to vote next year. When she thinks about issues that are top of mind, immigration is a priority.

“The treatment of immigrants, no matter what country they are from, Central America, Latin America, from the East,” she said in Spanish, “because sometimes some rights are very difficult.”

For Perez, voting is a duty as a U.S. citizen.

“It is deciding my destiny, and because I am now an American citizen, then it’s also the destiny of the nation,” she said. “You do select a president that could rebuild or create a better country for the United States. That’s why you have to vote because if you don’t vote, you can’t complain.”

Grace Widyatmadja/NPR

Adam Modzelewski

It was hard for Adam Modzelewski to contain his emotions when he finally received his certificate during the ceremony. Originally from Poland, he waited over 20 years to become a citizen.

“That’s why I had tears in my eyes,” he said, surrounded by his family.

He told NPR he’s eager to cast his ballot next year.

“I’m hoping finally people [are] going to wake up and start looking somewhere else than [the] Democrat[ic] Party. They [are] not helping nobody,” he said.

He’s disappointed with President Biden’s first term and plans to focus on the Republican candidates and see how the primary field progresses.

“I hope we can make a change,” he said.

Grace Widyatmadja/NPR

Olga Aguerra

Olga Aguerra hadn’t yet taken her citizenship test when she decided to buy a ‘USA’ T-shirt at a clothing store.

“I bought it regardless of if I passed or not,” she told NPR in Spanish outside the courthouse. “But now I’ll wear it because I’m proud to live in this country and to be a part of this country.”

Aguerra registered to vote that day. At 53, she’s spent more of her life in the U.S. than in her home country of Mexico.

Thinking about next year, she believes her vote can make an impact. “It’s a little grain of sand within many, many people,” Aguerra said, adding, “You can make a difference.”

“We told her right away … to go register,” said her younger sister, Nancy Tafolla, who became a citizen as a child. “We all live here, and I feel like we all have a voice.”

Grace Widyatmadja/NPR

Brayan Vazquez

For new citizen Brayan Vazquez, thinking about elections isn’t new.

“As a former not only immigrant but undocumented person in the United States, politics have been, you know, overall something that you cannot avoid,” said Vazquez.

Now, registering to vote is a priority for him.

“I think now, for many years, we say, ‘be my vote,’ telling friends and relatives, vote for my interests,” he said. “Now I get the opportunity to really vote for my own interests.”

NPR’s Ximena Bustillo contributed to this report.

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Arizona

Arizona Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for March 3, 2026

Published

6 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Arizona Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for March 3, 2026

The Arizona Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Tuesday, March 3, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers

07-21-53-54-62, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers

2-0-8

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers

02-05-18-27-41

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Triple Twist numbers

11-14-17-19-23-24

Check Triple Twist payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news and results

What time is the Powerball drawing?

Powerball drawings are at 7:59 p.m. Arizona time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

How much is a Powerball lottery ticket today?

In Arizona, Powerball tickets cost $2 per game, according to the Arizona Lottery.

How to play the Powerball

To play, select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls, then select one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball.

You can choose your lucky numbers on a play slip or let the lottery terminal randomly pick your numbers.

To win, match one of the 9 Ways to Win:

5 white balls + 1 red Powerball = Grand prize.
5 white balls = $1 million.
4 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $50,000.
4 white balls = $100.
3 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $100.
3 white balls = $7.
2 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $7.
1 white ball + 1 red Powerball = $4.
1 red Powerball = $4.

There’s a chance to have your winnings increased two, three, four, five and 10 times through the Power Play for an additional $1 per play. Players can multiply non-jackpot wins up to 10 times when the jackpot is $150 million or less.

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Arizona Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $100 and may redeem winnings up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Arizona Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket and a copy of a government-issued ID to P.O. Box 2913, Phoenix, AZ 85062.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID to any of these locations:

Phoenix Arizona Lottery Office: 4740 E. University Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85034, 480-921-4400. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Tucson Arizona Lottery Office: 2955 E. Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85716, 520-628-5107. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Phoenix Sky Harbor Lottery Office: Terminal 4 Baggage Claim, 3400 E. Sky Harbor Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85034, 480-921-4424. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes up to $49,999.

Kingman Arizona Lottery Office: Inside Walmart, 3396 Stockton Hill Road, Kingman, AZ 86409, 928-753-8808. Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes up to $49,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://www.arizonalottery.com/.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Arizona Republic editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Arizona

Autopsies show Arizona teens were both shot in the head while camping

Published

18 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Autopsies show Arizona teens were both shot in the head while camping

Two teenagers were fatally shot while camping northeast of Phoenix in May 2025.
Both Evan Clark, 17, and Pandora Kjolsrud, 18, were shot in the head, autopsy reports said.
A 31-year-old man was arrested and indicted on two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths.

A 17-year-old boy who was fatally shot while camping with a female classmate northeast of Phoenix died from gunshot wounds to the head, according to the first page of his autopsy report.

Evan Clark, 17, and Pandora Kjolsrud, 18, were camping just off State Route 87 near Mount Ord when the two were shot and killed. Investigators discovered their bodies, which had been moved into nearby brush to conceal them, on May 26, 2025.

The first page of Clark’s autopsy report, which The Arizona Republic obtained March 3, found that his death was a homicide with multiple gunshot wounds to the head. The first page of Kjolsrud’s autopsy report also ruled her death a homicide with her cause of death being gunshot wounds to the head and upper body.

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office detectives ultimately arrested Thomas Brown, 31, of Chandler on Oct. 2, 2025, in connection with their deaths. Brown was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder and remained in jail on a $2 million cash-only bond.

Detectives found Brown’s DNA on gloves inside Clark’s SUV that had Kjolsrud’s blood on them as well, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Partial autopsy reports made available following legal fight

While The Republic has obtained the first pages of both Clark’s and Kjolsrud’s autopsy reports, the remaining pages appeared to remain sealed as of March 3 since Simone Kjolsrud, Pandora’s mother, petitioned to have the autopsy reports sealed or redacted. Simone Kjolsrud argued that various details about her daughter and aspects of her personal life, potentially included in such documents, should remain private and outweigh the public’s right to know.

A Sept. 25, 2025, motion that sought to block the report’s release argued the report could contain information law enforcement hasn’t yet shared and could impair the ongoing criminal investigation.

“Simone Kjolsrud fears that, if released, her daughter’s Medical Examiner’s Report may end up on the internet or be broadcast on the news, which would undoubtedly cause additional trauma and even jeopardize her constitutional right to justice in this case,” the motion stated.

Kjolsrud asked that Clark’s autopsy be sealed as well, arguing that it would likely contain details similar to her daughter’s.

Matthew Kelley, an attorney representing The Republic and other Arizona media outlets, previously objected to the autopsies being sealed and asked that the temporary protective order be vacated.

“To be sure, these killings are particularly traumatic for a surviving family member,” Kelley wrote in his objection. “But the pain felt by a family member cannot override the public’s right to inspect public records reflecting the performance of law enforcement and other public agencies entrusted with investigating such crimes. A veil of secrecy only raises unnecessary speculation about such public performance.”

It was not immediately clear whether Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Geoffrey Fish, who initially ordered the autopsies remain sealed as he reviewed their contents, would unseal additional pages in their entirety or with redactions.

Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at perry.vandell@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-2474. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @PerryVandell.

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Arizona

No. 2 Arizona tops Iowa State to win outright Big 12 title

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

No. 2 Arizona tops Iowa State to win outright Big 12 title

TUCSON, Ariz. — Jaden Bradley scored 17 points, Motiejus Krivas had 13 and No. 2 Arizona clinched the outright Big 12 regular-season title with a 73-57 win over No. 6 Iowa State on Monday night.

The Wildcats (28-2, 15-2) secured at least a share of the conference crown by using big runs in each half to beat No. 14 Kansas 84-61 on Saturday.

Arizona earned it outright by smothering Iowa State defensively to give Tommy Lloyd his 140th victory, most in NCAA history in a coach’s first five seasons.

“The Big 12 is the best basketball conference in the country,” Lloyd said while addressing the home crowd after the game, “and to win it by a couple of games, it’s pretty impressive. So take your hats off to these guys right here.”

Coming off their first home loss of the season, the Cyclones (24-6, 11-6) labored against Arizona’s physical defense, shooting 29% from the field, including 7-of-30 from 3-point range.

During his postgame news conference, Lloyd called out the narrative surrounding his team when discussing the Wildcats’ toughness and physicality.

“I think the narrative that we were soft is lazy. I mean, look at our stats, look at our analytics — we’ve always been a great rebounding team, we’ve always pounded the paint,” Lloyd said. “If you want to just be lazy and not pay attention and say we’re soft because we’re on the West Coast, be lazy, and I’d love to play against you.”

Tamin Lipsey led Iowa State with 17 points, but leading scorer Milan Momcilovic was held to five points on 2-of-8 shooting. The nation’s best 3-point shooter at 51%, Momcilovic went 1-for-5 from beyond the arc.

Neither team could make much of anything, due to good defense and poor shooting.

Iowa State shot 9-of-33 from the field and 4-of-20 from 3 in the first half.

Arizona labored most of the half as the Cyclones focused on defending the paint before the Wildcats closed on a 15-3 run to lead 37-25 at halftime.

It only got worse for Iowa State to start the second half. The Cyclones missed their first eight shots as Arizona stretched the lead to 16.

Iowa State briefly found an offensive rhythm, using a 10-1 run to pull to within 44-37, but didn’t hit a field goal for more than five minutes as Arizona stretched the lead back to 15.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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