Neighbors

Mesa prepares for dire city service cuts

By Jim Walsh, Tribune Staff Writer Parks, museums, libraries and the Mesa Arts Center likely will become the first casualties of Mesa’s financial crisis from the recession wrought by the COVID-19 epidemic. All city facilities...

Cardinals player helps Mesa woman in a jam

By Zach Alvira, Tribune Sports Editor Danielle Ferguson thought she was out of options and in a mode of panic. As a hairdresser, Ferguson rents a chair at The Bespoke Salon in Old Town Scottsdale and as the coronavirus began to...

Virus hotline launched, teen number expanded

AFN NEWS STAFF The worsening coronavirus pandemic has given rise to a new hotline for Arizonans and prompted expansion of another for anxious teenagers. Gov. Doug Ducey on Sunday launched a statewide COVID-19 Hotline through $2...

Arizona jobless claims soared in just one week

By Howard Fischer Capitol Media Services The number of Arizonans applying for jobless benefits jumped by a factor of seven this past week, providing the first clear indicators of the effect COVID-19 is having on the state...

Masks on the way for Mesa first responders

By Jim Walsh Tribune News Staff Mesa and Phoenix have joined forces to order four million masks to protect firefighters and police officers against COVID-19. Fire Chief Mary Cameli told Mesa City Council last week that...

Virus adds urgency to growing homeless crisis

By Jim Walsh, Tribune Staff Writer The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a spotlight on the growing homeless problem in the East Valley, bringing a new urgency to helping a highly vulnerable population that includes the elderly. With...

Mesa high schools to begin remote learning Monday

By Zach Alvira Tribune Sports Editor Nearly two weeks after Gov. Doug Ducey closed schools, Mesa Public Schools is prepared to roll out remote learning Monday – but only for high school students. Elementary and junior high...

Mesa Council OKs controversial utility ordinance

By Jim Walsh Tribune Staff Writer A unified group of six Mesa City Council members voted to approve a controversial new utility ordinance as Mayor John Giles triumphed over Councilman Jeremy Whittaker, who cast the lone...

Mesa officials detail ASU campus financing

By Jim Walsh Tribune News Staff Nearly two years after a split Mesa City Council approved the Arizona State University@mesacitycenter project, the innovative building continues to generate controversy. Councilman Jeremy Whittaker...

State’s jobless benefits will stay at minimum wage

By Howard Fischer Capitol Media Services Arizonans forced out of work by COVID-19 may get jobless benefits – but not more than the minimum wage, no matter how much they were earning before. State lawmakers provided additional...