KTAR News 92.3 Reporter Stories

The Town of San Tan Valley now has it's first town council, selected by the Pinal County Board of Supervisors. We hear more from one of those new councilmembers, Tyler Hudgins, who also led the push to incorporate San Tan Valley in the first place.

Students and families in the Kyrene school distinct can now report safety concerns anonymously.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is getting an uprade that will make the process faster and simpler for students and their families. 

Last month the U.S. Department of Education pulled back guidelines on english language learning, rolling back a playbook teachers have used since 2015.

High schoolers are working on semiconductors in the classroom in Hamilton High School's new Career and Technical Education (CTE) program that partners with local colleges and chip plants.

Major companies are looking to the classroom to solve their problems in a new 3DE learning model. The partnership between Phoenix Union High School District and Junior Achievement of Arizona incorporates business dilemmas into the curriculum, making classes more relevant to the student's communities and future.

Paradise Valley Community College is joining the Unlocking Opportunity initiative, a program that aims to increase wages and outcomes for students post-graduation.

The Arizona Board of Regents is offering funding to Arizona high schoolers that have 50% of its students complete the FAFSA form.

There are reports that detainees inside Arizona ICE detention facilities are not being given medical care. A legal permanent resident detained in Eloy has leukemia but is not getting treatment. A Flagstaff resident and Mexican national died at the Florence facility August 31st. ICE has confirmed his death but has not provided any detail on what happened. 

ICE says comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay. 

 Local nonprofit Valley Leadership is launching a new program, Leaders for Literacy, which places volunteers in the classroom as substitutes so teachers can attend literacy trainings.

State Superintendent Horne announced he will request $180 million dollars from the state to further fund the school safety program.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs and State Schools Chief Tom Horne are at odds over non-educational purchases made with Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) money, blaming each other for the fraud.

ARIZONA OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS GATHERED TO DISCUSS THE IMPACTS OF THE EXTREME HEAT ON OUR STATE'S CHILDREN- SPECIFICALLY IN THEIR SCHOOL LIVES. 

The East Valley Institute of Technology's new STEM Academy partners with local companies like Boeing and Honeywell to create a curriculum that sets kids up for the workforce.

SRP and Friends of the Verde River are teaming up to conserve water. The River Friendly Living Grant Program will give homeowners up to $1,000 and businesses up to $5,000 for completing water conservation projects. SRP uses hydropower from the Verde River to bring power to millions in the Phoenix Metro area. 

You can enroll in the River Friendly Living Program at VerdeRiver.org\grants. 

Teen violence is up across the Valley. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell held a forum in Chandler Wednesday night to look at some alarming trends. She says youth violence has been on the rise since a 2020 dip due to the pandemic. Mitchell adds juvenile crimes are becoming more violent and increasingly involve a weapon. 

Families of inmates in Arizona prisons are terrified for their safety. That's what Executive Director of Middle Ground Prison Reform Donna Hamm said at Tuesday's joint legislative committee on correctional practices and facility safety. Hamm told elected leaders staffing shortages at Arizona prisons make corrections officers and inmates less safe. 

A statewide essay contest will result in 20 Arizona kids receiving $529 dollars for their college savings plan.

According to a new study from Harvard, kids participating in Big Brothers Big Sisters' mentorship program are 20% more likely to attend college.

A WWII hero and Valley legend is being recognized for her role in breaking gender, race, and even logistical barriers.

Sukhjeet Singh is a 7th grade teacher and a member of Gen Z, something he says helps him relate to his students. 

Real estate tech firm, Bonus Homes, is opening its headquarters in Phoenix to expand their Home Appreciation Partnership. Founder Kyle Kamrooz explains they'll pay you all the equity you've built on your property so you can move out, while you stay on as the owner. Bonus Homes manages the property as a long-term rental until you're ready to sell and collect 1/3 of the profits. 

The Arizona Supreme Court has issued a warrant of execution for convicted killer Richard Djerf. He's set to be executed by lethal injection in October after killing a Phoenix family in 1993. Following a review of death penalty procedures, former federal judge David Duncan found there are transparency issues with drug procurement and unqualified staff carrying out lethal injection. 

There were not major issues reported when the state resumed executions in March. 

West MEC, a trade school in Glendale, is training the next generation of aircraft mechanic, filling in an industry shortage. 

On the first floor of the Phoenix Children’s Hospital is 1 Darn Cool School, a classroom that serves kids in the hospital while they are missing school.