Arizona

Mesa works to preserve Arizona's fading citrus history

Published

10 months ago

June 1, 2025

Mesa works to preserve Arizona's fading citrus history

MESA, Ariz. – Arizona was founded on the five Cs: copper, cattle, cotton, citrus and climate.

As time has moved on, citrus has fallen off, but the city of Mesa is trying to preserve that part of our agricultural history.

What we know:

More than 200 acres are tucked away in the city of Mesa at Gene Autry Park.

“These are one of the last bastions here of citrus here in the East Valley,” Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman said. “Ironically, this area is one of the last city of Mesa-owned orchards. We’re here at Gene Autry Park. These trees are well over 90 years old.”

The land these oranges are grown on can’t be used for much else.

“We’ve created a safety zone for the aircraft flying back and forth through Falcon Field, and so this area will always be predominantly citrus,” Mayor Freeman said.

So citrus it will remain – beautiful, a great smell when they bloom – but also a history lesson growing right in front of our eyes that started in the 1910s.

“These orchards were established and, remember, there was nothing out here and this citrus here, it was sent all over the world because, predominantly, the competition was between California, Arizona and Florida,” Mayor Freeman explained.

Dig deeper:

Over the years, as Mesa’s population has exploded, orange groves have become more and more rare.

“The land has become more valuable for development, so the landowners that own their land in citrus today are selling to developers for building homes or other things,” Mayor Freeman said.

But, these Valencia oranges will remain.

Once they’re ready, they’ll be sold and shipped to Yuma where they’ll be squeezed for fresh orange juice.

That’s the way it will be, because these trees will grow just like the city of Mesa, and they aren’t going anywhere.

“The protection of our agriculture is so important and Mesa stands ready to preserve that,” Mayor Freeman said.

Map of where Gene Autry Park is:

What you can do:

Click here to learn more about Arizona’s 5 Cs.

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Arizona

Free lockable pool fences offered to qualifying Arizona homeowners

Published

4 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

Free lockable pool fences offered to qualifying Arizona homeowners

MESA, AZ — Swimming pools are a common way Arizona families beat the heat, and a leading safety concern for parents. Public health officials in Arizona say drowning is the leading cause of death for children 4 and under, and a local nonprofit is stepping in to help reduce the risk.

Child Crisis Arizona is offering free, lockable mesh-and-metal pool fences to qualifying homeowners. This group even sends a crew to install the barriers for recipients. The fences surround an entire pool and include locking mechanisms designed to keep unsupervised children out of the water.

“You need some kind of protection around the pool,” said Dustin George, owner of Octopus Pool Service and Repair. “I have children of my own. We put a fence around our pool to make sure they stay safe.”

Caitlyn Sageng, a spokesperson for Child Crisis Arizona, said the fences provide crucial seconds for caregivers. “That pool fence gives you that extra time to say — where did the two-year-old go? — and you’re able to get there before they get to the water,” she said.

To qualify, applicants must be homeowners (renters are not eligible) and have a child age 6 or younger living in the household. Child Crisis Arizona is accepting applications through April 5. Familes interested can apply through the nonprofit’s website.

Pool safety experts stress that barriers are one layer of protection and should be used alongside active supervision, swim lessons and other safeguards.

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Arizona

Vandenberg rocket launch today. How to see SpaceX Falcon 9 in Arizona

Published

16 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

Vandenberg rocket launch today. How to see SpaceX Falcon 9 in Arizona

Will Arizona residents be able to see the SpaceX rocket launch planned today at the Vandenberg Space Force Base?

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is launching today, March 24, from Southern California. Will it be visible from Arizona?

The two-stage rocket will be blasting off from the Vandenberg Space Force Base to help deploy to Earth orbit another batch of the commercial spaceflight company’s Starlink broadband internet satellites.

While a planned southern trajectory may make the rocket a little harder to spot for Arizonans, SpaceX will offer a livestream of the mission on its website.

Keep in mind that postponements due to weather or issues with rockets are common with spaceflight. If you’re going to try to spot the rocket launch, check back with azcentral.com for any updates on the mission.

In the meantime, here’s what to know about the launch from neighboring California, as well as when and where to potentially see the rocket in Arizona.

Is there a rocket launch today? Next mission from Vandenberg in California

SpaceX is working toward a Tuesday, March 24, launch from Southern California, with a four-hour launch window opening at 4:03 p.m. PT, according to a launch alert.

A Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory suggests a backup opportunity is available the next day if the launch were to be postponed.

Will SpaceX rocket launch be visible in Arizona? What to know about trajectory

The launch will take place from Space Launch Complex 4-East (SLC-4E) at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County.

Because the rocket is due to fly at a southern trajectory, it may not be easily visible from Arizona.

How to watch SpaceX launch livestream

Fortunately for those in Arizona interested in watching the launch, SpaceX also provides a live webcast of its missions.

The launch will be available to stream on the company’s website and its new X TV mobile app, beginning about five minutes before liftoff. SpaceX may also provide updates on social media site X.

What is the Vandenberg rocket launch? Falcon 9 to deploy Starlink satellites

SpaceX will launch its famous two-stage 230-foot Falcon 9 rocket, one of the world’s most active, to deliver 25 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, an altitude nearer Earth’s atmosphere where they’re able to circle the planet quickly.

Where to watch SpaceX Falcon 9 in Arizona

Because of Arizona’s proximity to the launch site, there’s a good chance people there can see the spacecraft streak across the sky, especially at night or very early morning.

Here’s a list of some possible viewing locations compiled by The Arizona Republic, a USA TODAY Network publication.

Dobbins Lookout, South Mountain, 10919 S. Central Ave., Phoenix, Arizona
Papago Park, 625 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, Arizona
Fountain Hills, a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, which in 2018 was designated a Dark Sky Community with little light pollution
Superstition Mountains, located 40 miles from metro Phoenix in Arizona
Cave Creek, a town in Maricopa County about 30 miles north of Fountain Hills, Arizona
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 3400 Sky Harbor Blvd., Arizona, which has a parking garage that is popular for plane-watching
Black Canyon City, an unincorporated community in Yavapai County, Arizona
Any mountain park in Arizona
Estrella Mountain Regional Park, 14805 W. Vineyard Ave., Goodyear, Arizona
Skyline Regional Park, 2600 N. Watson Road, Buckeye, Arizona
White Tank Mountains, 20304 W. White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell, Arizona
San Tan Mountain Regional Park, 6533 W. Phillips Road, Queen Creek, Arizona
Monument Hill, a 150-foot slope on 115th Avenue, in Arizona
Casa Grande, a city in Pinal County, approximately halfway between Phoenix and Tucson
Avondale, a city in Maricopa County bordering Phoenix to the west
Queen Creek, a suburb of Phoenix

Does Elon Musk own SpaceX? What to know about rocket company

SpaceX is the commercial spaceflight company that billionaire Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, founded in 2002 and leads as the CEO.

SpaceX is headquartered at Starbase in South Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border. The site, which is where SpaceX has been conducting routine flight tests of its 400-foot megarocket known as Starship, was recently voted by residents to become its own city.

As a major government contractor, SpaceX serves as the launch service provider for a variety of government missions both civil and military.

For the Department of Defense, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 helps launch classified satellites and other payloads into space. And for NASA, Falcon 9 most often helps propel astronauts to the International Space Station on SpaceX’s Dragon crew capsule – the only U.S vehicle capable of carrying NASA astronauts to orbit.

What is Starlink?

Starlink is SpaceX’s internet satellite business.

With nearly 10,000 satellites in its growing orbital constellation, Starlink has become a lucrative part of Musk’s business empire, serving millions of customers around the world.

SpaceX, which bills itself as the only satellite internet provider with its own reusable rocket capable of deploying the technology, has spent years delivering the satellites to orbit with a regular cadence of rocket launches from Florida and California.

Starlink satellites operate from low-Earth orbit, about 341 miles up, which is much closer to Earth’s atmosphere than other satellites. That not only allows Starlink satellites to offer high connection speeds than satellites further out in space, but to reach rural areas and regions where internet service is not readily accessible.

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com

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Arizona

Vote for best girls Arizona HS track and field athlete, March 16-21

Published

1 day ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Vote for best girls Arizona HS track and field athlete, March 16-21

Here are The Arizona Republic’s picks for the top 10 high school girls track and field athletes from the fourth week of the 2026 (March 16-21). Vote in our poll for the athlete you think had the best week. The poll closes on Friday, March 27, at 6 p.m. Print readers can find the poll online at azcentral.com/sports/high-schools.

Top Arizona girls track and field athletes

1. Ava Davis, Goodyear Millennium, sprints, So.

She won both the 100 (11.80 seconds) and 200 meters (24.02) at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, setting the state lead in both events.

2. Aulani Gleason, Gilbert Mesquite, sprints, Fr.

The burgeoning superstar is beginning to make a name for herself, running 54.70 to win the 400 at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21 to move up to No. 2 in the state. Gleason is now No. 10 all-time in Arizona and becomes only the second freshman in state history to go under 55 seconds, per the MileSplit database. She also came in second in the 200, running 24.23 to move up to No. 2 in the state this season.

3. Brooke Zuluaga, Chandler Seton Catholic, throws, Sr.

She won the javelin at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, throwing 145-10 to set the state lead and move up to No. 3 in the nation.

4. Nicole Ripperdan, Queen Creek, mid-distance, Sr.

She won the 800 at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, running 2:10.64 to set the state lead. Historically, Ripperdan is tied for No. 10 all-time in Arizona.

5. Taylor Drewry, Chandler Basha, distance, Sr.

She won the 1,600 (4:56.25) and came in second in the 3,200 (10:31.81) at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, setting the state lead in each event She is the first in-state athlete this season to go under 5:00 in the 1,600.

6. Rebekah-Jhade Garrett, Phoenix North Canyon, hurdles, Sr.

She won the 100-hurdles at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, running 13.52 to retain her top state ranking.

7. Imani Galera-Young, Chandler, hurdles, Sr.

She won the 300-hurdles at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, running 42.67 to set the state lead and move up to No. 9 in the nation.

8. Kyra Hogarth, Chandler, jumps, Jr.

She won the pole vault at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, clearing 12 feet, 1 inch to set the state lead.

9. Milanni Pedraza, Tucson Catalina Foothills, distance, Jr.

She came in third in the 1,600 at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, running 4:57.65 to move up to No. 2 in the state.

10. Kylee Blair, Queen Creek, sprints, Sr.

She came in second in the 100 (11.90) and fifth in the 200 (24.40) at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, moving up to No. 3 in the state for both the 100 and 200.

11. Audra Huempfner, Gilbert Highland, distance, Sr.

She came in fourth in the 3,200 at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, running 11:00.86 to move up to No. 2 in the state.

12. Tatum Lee, Phoenix Desert Vista, throws, Sr.

She won both the shot put (38-3) and discus (134-3) at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, moving up to No. 3 in the state for the shot put.

13. Jaiden Ware, Chandler, jumps, Sr.

She won the long jump at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, hitting 18-6 to move to No. 5 in the state.

14. Christina Keller, Scottsdale Christian Academy, jumps, Sr.

She won the high jump at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, clearing 5-6.

15. Nora Fincher, Tempe McClintock, throws, So.

She came in fourth in the javelin at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, throwing 131-3 to move up No. 4 in the state and No. 2 in the nation for sophomores.

16. Lizzy Gannon, Phoenix Desert Vista, jumps, Sr.

She came in third in the triple jump at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, hitting 37-1 (+3.5 wind) to move up to No. 2 in the state for all-conditions.

17. Victoria Williams, Vail Cienega, throws, Sr.

She won the discus at the Thomas Meixner Lancer Invitational on March 20, throwing 130-11 to move up to No. 3 in the state.

18. Ella Bonnette, Gilbert Highland, distance, So.

She came in fourth in the 1,600 at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, running 5:04.58 to move up to No. 3 in the state.

19. Kennedy Frakes, Phoenix Xavier Prep, distance, Sr.

She came in sixth in the 3,200 at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, running 5:04.58 to move up to No. 3 in the state.

20. Maclane Clark, Gilbert Perry, hurdles, Sr.

She came in second in the 300-hurdles at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, running 44.05 to move up to No. 4 in the state.

Vote: Who’s No. 1?

Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at logan.stanley@usatodayco.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.

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