Editor-in-Chief. A native of Nogales, Mariam has over 20 years of experience in Arizona journalism, including a decade at the Arizona Republic. She is a two-time recipient of the Arizona Press Club's Excellence in Journalism Award.
194 articles published
Arizona’s desert landscape has become a magnet for high-end wellness, from the technology-forward diagnostics at Canyon Ranch Tucson to crystal rituals and desert-inspired bodywork across Sedona and Scottsdale. Five resorts — Canyon Ranch, The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain, Ambiente, L’Auberge de Sedona and Royal Palms — illustrate the state’s range of luxury spa offerings.
Greta Ruekgauer draws on a childhood spent roaming the New Mexico desert and the landscapes of southern Arizona to create block-printed designs on thrifted clothing. Working under the label Stubbornworn, she launched the project in January 2026 and sells upcycled pieces that celebrate cowgirls, bison and mustangs.
As temperatures rise across the Desert Southwest, animal welfare advocates in Yuma are urging city leaders to adopt stronger rules to keep pets safe from extreme heat, including limits on tethering. A petition circulating online has drawn roughly 400 signatures, and a local rescuer whose social media post about a tied dog reached thousands says a council member plans to propose rules similar to recent changes in Phoenix.
A Phoenix homeowner says a faulty city-owned transmitter left his property unbilled for seven months, then produced a $2,777 charge covering 344,000 gallons of water. The homeowner reached a 36-month payment arrangement with the city and contends the utility should share responsibility for the delayed detection of an underground leak.
The City of Phoenix has launched a targeted one-time crisis assistance program offering up to $700 to households that experienced a complete loss of SNAP benefits on or after Oct. 1, 2025. The fund, approved as part of the fiscal year 2026–2027 city budget, provides short-term help for utilities and transportation while money remains available.
Statewide changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have already driven Arizona enrollment down sharply, community health leaders say, and similar federal reforms slated for Medicaid in 2027 could produce comparable declines. Local providers, lawmakers and state officials are trading sharply different views on whether the changes are necessary to curb fraud or will leave hundreds of thousands without coverage.
In his eighth game with Arizona, outfielder Max Kepler produced a first-inning RBI single and a three-run homer in the third to account for four of the Diamondbacks’ eight runs in an 8-0 victory over the San Diego Padres. Kepler’s one-year signing — despite an 80-game PED suspension that keeps him off any potential postseason roster — delivered the power Arizona has been seeking from the left side of the plate.
The U.S. men’s national team was eliminated from the World Cup Monday night after a 4-1 defeat to Belgium, and oppressive summer temperatures across the Phoenix area kept most fans inside air-conditioned bars and homes rather than at outdoor block parties. Organizers and supporters adapted to triple-digit daytime heat and 90-degree nights, trading sidewalks and plazas for televisions, misters and bottled water.
A man was taken to a hospital with serious injuries after a reported stabbing in Phoenix on July 6, 2026. Phoenix police and city personnel blocked off a street near Central Avenue with crime-scene tape as officers worked at the scene.
A California-based tile manufacturer has purchased the long-vacant Sam Levitz Furniture warehouse on East 36th Street and plans to convert it into a production facility and new headquarters. Company co-owner Armen Alajian says operations should begin within a year and the factory is expected to create at least 85 jobs in Tucson.
The National Weather Service has upgraded an extreme heat watch to a warning for much of metro Phoenix, with highs near 114°F expected Tuesday through Thursday and overnight lows in the mid-80s to near 90. Officials say the heat will be driven by a strong high-pressure system, and while moisture will increase later in the week, any monsoon activity is likely to be scattered.
The Arizona Diamondbacks reinstated veteran catcher James McCann from the 10-day injured list after a right quad strain and optioned Adrian Del Castillo to Triple-A Reno. McCann’s return strengthens the club’s catching options behind Gabriel Moreno and offers veteran experience for a pitching staff that has struggled at times this season.
Cities that draw Colorado River supplies through the Central Arizona Project say the Arizona Water Banking Authority is not providing clear information about how stored river water will be allocated. Municipal leaders and water officials plan to press the Water Bank at a special public meeting Tuesday as state and federal negotiations over new Colorado River rules continue.
Arizona State University has begun a 16-month, Department of Energy-funded field campaign to study how extreme heat, urban growth and dust influence monsoon storm intensity across metro Phoenix. Researchers will deploy weather balloons, a new precipitation radar and a suite of instruments to collect roughly 50 types of measurements — from soil moisture below the surface to atmospheric readings as high as the stratosphere — with the aim of improving forecasting and increasing warning times for dangerous monsoon impacts.
Koby Brea has signed a two-way deal to return to the Phoenix Suns after appearing in 12 games as a rookie. The 6-foot-6 guard, a 2025 second-round pick out of Kentucky, will join the Suns for Summer League and remain eligible to play in both the NBA and the G League under the terms of a two-way contract.
Carol Lee Czerniski, 81, of Gilbert, Arizona, passed away at home on April 9, 2026. A devoted mother, community volunteer and organizer, she was active in social and service groups across several states and is survived by her husband, three children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Dennis Buck Wise, an entrepreneur who developed apartment communities and commercial properties across Alaska, Arizona and Washington, died at home on June 26, 2026, at age 85. A longtime philanthropist and avid car collector, he is survived by his wife Mary Conway Wise and an extended family.
Carolyn Flowers, currently vice mayor of Sierra Vista and an eight-year council member, has declared her candidacy for mayor, citing local government experience and deep community ties as preparation for the role. The open seat follows Mayor Clea McCaa's announcement that he will not seek reelection and plans to run for Congress.
An apartment building in Tucson caught fire in the early morning hours, producing heavy smoke and visible flames. The Tucson Fire Department is on scene and investigating the cause while firefighters worked with ladders and hoses to control the blaze.
Local school districts and nonprofit food providers are expanding meal and grocery distributions as families face higher food needs during the summer. The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, Interfaith Community Services, school districts and several community partners are offering regular meal service, summer nutrition kits, mobile distributions and discount produce programs through August.
A multi-vehicle crash on the Loop 202 Santan near McClintock Drive in Chandler early Monday morning resulted in one fatality, authorities said. Troopers continue to investigate the circumstances of the wreck, which caused significant freeway backups before lanes were reopened later that morning.
U.S. 93 was shut down in both directions Monday morning following a crash north of Wickenburg. Officials closed northbound traffic at State Route 71 near milepost 167 and southbound traffic at Interstate 40, and there is no estimate yet for when the highway will reopen.
Phoenix police say a man was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after a stabbing Sunday evening near Central and Oregon avenues. Officers say the suspect remains at large and the investigation is ongoing.
A recent study of small towns across the United States places Paradise Valley at the top of Arizona’s list for wealth, driven by very high home values and median household income. The exclusive suburb, tucked between Phoenix and Scottsdale and framed by Camelback Mountain, combines strict residential zoning with resorts, galleries and expansive lots.
