The joys of riding South Mountain

It’s only five miles from downtown Phoenix, but South Mountain Park is another world. It’s the largest city park in the country, with acres of saguaros, hiking trails and wide-open spaces. This time of year, it’s an antidote to city life. Except when it comes to the traffic.

Pima Community College passes in-state tuition rates for undocumented immigrants

Some Pima Community College students in Tucson who are undocumented immigrants are getting a break on tuition.  

Banking executive: investment planners expected D.C. stalemate

Financial markets have remained steady this week despite the threat of across the board budget cuts, known as sequestration.

US Airways flight attendants approve new contract, just in time to do it again

Flight attendants at US Airways approved a new contract that wraps up some unfinished business from the airline's 2005 merger with America West. 

Sheriff Arpaio breaks shoulder

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio fell and broke his shoulder Thursday.

Stanton announces gun buyback, School Safety Officers

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton delivered his second State of the City speech Thursday. He announced new pushes for school safety and an effort to get guns off the street.

Arizona universities face growing pains

Arizona’s public universities are usually described as thriving and constantly growing. But that enrollment boom comes with its growing pains.

Arizona lawmakers considering sales tax simplification plan

Governor Jan Brewer has made simplifying the state’s sales tax system a top priority for this legislative session.

State launches Valley Fever education campaign

Some Arizonans who get a lung disease common in the Southwest are not being treated properly by their doctors. But, the University of Arizona and State Department of Health Services have joined efforts to train physicians who may not know a lot about Valley Fever. 

Valley Metro fare hike hits Friday

If you ride Valley Metro buses or the light rail, you better take some extra change starting March 1.  

LDS church changes impact higher education in Utah, Arizona

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has lowered the age of missionaries. That has led Utah's legislature to propose a bill to modify how many out-of-state students are eligible to go to a Utah college or university.

Senator McCain on Sunday mornings

Arizona Senator John McCain is on the Sunday morning talk shows almost every week. Roll Call says McCain has appeared more than any other senator or congressman so far in 2013.

Phoenix: Love it or leave it

People move to Phoenix for countless reasons, and they leave the Valley for just as many. Should the 'creative class' keep trying to change Phoenix or leave for a more established place?

Recall effort targets Sheriff Joe Arpaio again

An effort to recall Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is underway. Has the successful recall of former Senate President Russell Pearce set an important precedent?

Arizona and the Voting Rights Act

Attorney General Tom Horne wants Arizona to be freed from some provisions of the Voting Rights Act, which was created during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.

Changes to remedial education aim to keep students on track and in school

Teaching Arizona’s students is a challenge at every grade level, but perhaps especially so in the nation’s largest community college system. Of recent high school graduates coming into the Maricopa Community Colleges, 40 percent can’t read at a college level, and 30 percent can’t write at a college level.

A lighthearted look at border politics

Immigration reform is a serious issue, but the politics surrounding it can sometimes be humorous. For that perspective, we turn to our resident satirist, and amateur singer, Brian Nissen.

Looming defense cuts have Arizona industry worried

Arizona’s aerospace and defense industry stands to lose big if lawmakers in Washington allow sequestration cuts to start at the end of this week. 

Barber protests closing of Tucson mail processing center

The Morris K. Udall Post Office in Tucson processed outgoing mail for the last time Friday, and U.S. Representative Ron Barber is upset about it. 

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park seeks to improve facilities

After years of budget cuts, officials at the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, north of Payson, are starting to look at repairing and updating facilities. 


Pledge Now
Give Monthly
Facebook logo
Twitter logo

Please read our Contributor Confidentiality Policy and the KJZZ Ethics and Practices guidelines. KJZZ supports Equal Employment Opportunities and works against discrimination in employment. For more information, please see KJZZ's Employment and EEO Information page.
For questions or comments about this website, please contact the KJZZ webmaster. For general comments or questions see the Contact KJZZ page for a listing of contacts by topic. Please note: Station policy mandates that listeners who win on-air giveaways on this station are not eligible to win again for 30 days.
Email regarding NPR's coverage, ethics, and funding can be sent to the NPR Ombudsman, who maintains an informative web page. For comments or concerns regarding NPR programs, listeners with a general inquiry may send an email to nprhelp@npr.org

KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College, and Maricopa Community Colleges.
Copyright© 2013 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD