KTAR News 92.3 Reporter Stories

The Trump Administration has withdrawn an appeal that would have allowed the removal of millions in federal funding due to DEI-language non-compliance by schools. Superintendent Horne reacts.

Two new introduced bills could change how sex education is taught in Arizona, banning abortion talk and requiring adoption practices to be shared.

State Superintendent Tom Horne speaks about increasing school resource officers and DEI requirements for schools in his State of Education address.

Valley moms like Breanna Wood and Yoleaisa Carwell are both trying to get their families into shelter, as mother of five Wood currently worries everyday about how to pay for a hotel and Carwell says her and her two sons have had to sleep on the streets. Both women share struggles they've had in getting assistance, we also hear responses to those challenges from MAG, the City of Chandler and UMOM.

Arizona does not offer guaranteed paid parental leave for teachers, and that could be a reason for the state’s teacher shortage.

The Arizona Board of Regents and the Cactus League are partnering for the fourth year to get more students in college and in the ballpark.

Reported fatal overdoses are up nearly 16 percent in Arizona over the past year, which ranks as the highest in the country during that time, according to a new CDC report that through Aug. 2025.

The Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) governing board voted last night to approved part of a budget proposal, resulting in around 90 staff positions being cut.

The Cartwright School District voted Wednesday night to switch back to a five-day week schedule after using a four-day school week model since 2023.

Israel's Consul General of the Pacific Southwest visited the state capitol today, exclusively telling KTAR there's a "good chance" Israel's defense minister will visit AZ next month, as the nation and Arizona leaders seek economic partnerships

 Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs spoke out against the state’s school voucher program twice this week, saying Republicans should be “embarrassed” of the program’s waste of taxpayer dollars.

 Two Mesa High School leaders who are under investigation for failing to promptly report a suspected crime to police will not have their contracts renewed.

The Arizona Supreme Court declined to review a lawsuit filed by Supt. Horne in 2023 regarding dual-language courses. 

The Peoria Unified School District Governing Board approved moving ahead with a proposal to close Kachina and Pioneer elementary schools due to a $21 million budget shortfall predicted for 2027.

The Arizona Court of Appeals has issued a ruling in a case regarding transgender students’ identity being revealed to parents, sending the case back to the Arizona Superior Court.

The Valley has been busy building all kinds of industrial space as Arizona's economy continues to boom, but has it been too much too fast?

Buyers had more leverage when it comes to the housing market in 2025. Founder of global real estate firm Immobilium, Sasha Poparic, explains he expects this trend to continue in 2026 with more sellers willing to pay closing costs or help buy down the interest rate. 

Arizona ranks 6th in the nation for hiring optimism over the next six months, according to Lending Tree. The top three sectors seeing job growth are health care, financial services and technology. Chief Consumer Finance Analyst Matt Schulz tells KTAR it's welcome news as the job market remains tough nationwide. 

Superintendent Horne says school boards not reflecting their community's politcal views could be a major reason for increasing school closures. 

Three more elementary schools could be closed after this school year in Peoria Unified School District and Gilbert Public Schools.

Arizona teachers make an average of $62,714 a year, $4,000 below the minimum living wage in the state. Some teachers and school staff make even less, which impacts their lives and desire to stay in the classroom.

Mesa Community College students will be able to become Apple IT experts next semester through a new course.

Arizona State University reached a major milestone, with $1 billion for research funding recorded in fiscal year 2024. 

Every year, plenty of people start the new year off on the wrong foot--and maybe fewer fingers. And it's not just the fireworks that are dangerous--it's the drive home too.