Latest news with #Valley101
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Stargazers are flocking to AZ's 22 Dark Sky Places — and putting astrotourism on the map
Arizona is home to around 22 officially designated Dark Sky Places, making it one of the best spots in the country to look up and get lost in the night sky; however, that accomplishment didn't happen overnight. Flagstaff began safeguarding its skies in 1958 with outdoor lighting ordinances, setting the global standard for how to care for our skies. In 2023, Arizona received 45.7 million overnight visitors, according to the Arizona Office of Tourism. Since then, those numbers have continued to trend upward with the growing popularity of dark sky tourism, commonly known as astrotourism. Adding to its celestial reputation, Flagstaff's Lowell Observatory was recently named one of TIME's World's Greatest Places of 2025 after its expansion with the addition of the Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center. This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and Christian Luginbuhl, board president of the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition, and Josh Coddington, director of communications at the Arizona Office of Tourism, answer the question: How did Flagstaff become the world's first international dark sky city? Listen to Valley 101 on your favorite podcast app or stream the full episode below. Submit your questions to us about metro Phoenix and Arizona for a chance to be chosen for the podcast. Note: Valley 101 is intended to be heard, but we offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio. Subscribe to Valley 101 : Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher Follow Valley 101 and all azcentral podcasts on X, formerly Twitter, and on Instagram. Reach producer Abby Bessinger at or follow her on X, formerly Twitter @abby_bessinger This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona's 22 Dark Sky Places is driving an astrotourism boom
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Does Phoenix really have the worst drivers in the US? Yes and no
Driving in Arizona, specifically around metro Phoenix, is almost necessary. While there are a growing amount of public transportation options, the Valley is really spread out. It's definitely a driver's city. In 2024, the Arizona Department of Transportation counted nearly 6 million licensed drivers in the state. With so many people on the road, it's common to see driving behavior that is unsafe — sometimes even scary. Which leads to maybe the most common phrase you'll hear after "it's a dry heat": "We have the worst drivers." Continuously, Arizona drivers are ranked among the worst in the nation. Just last year, a Forbes study using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Census Bureau ranked Phoenix and Tucson in the top 10 cities with the worst drivers. Another study ranked Interstate 17 as the ninth-deadliest highway in America. So why are the roads in Arizona particularly dangerous, and what is being done about it? This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and about metro Phoenix and beyond, we are joined by Sgt. Eric Andrews, an officer at the Department of Public Safety, to discuss driver safety in Phoenix, explain what AZ DPS is doing to help people on the road and tips for ensuring the safest ride. Also in the episode, Arizona Republic staff share some of their craziest driving stories. Listen to Valley 101 on your favorite podcast app or stream the full episode below. Submit your questions to us about metro Phoenix and Arizona for a chance to be chosen for the podcast. Note: Valley 101 is intended to be heard, but we offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio. Subscribe to Valley 101 : Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher Follow Valley 101 and all azcentral podcasts on X, formerly Twitter, and on Instagram. Reach the producer Amanda Luberto at aluberto@ Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @amandaluberto and on Bluesky @amandaluberto. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What state has the worst drivers? Why Arizona often ranks in top 10
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Arizonans will never forget cult show 'Wallace and Ladmo.' Long-lost tapes reveal why
For Arizonans who grew up with it, "The Wallace and Ladmo Show" holds a special place in the heart. For those who never saw it, there is no doubt befuddlement about why a children's television show that went off the air decades ago is still celebrated in Phoenix. The Phoenix City Council on March 26 approved renaming a portion of McKinley Street as Wallace and Ladmo Way. The street runs in front of the First Studio Gallery, which used to house KPHO-TV, Channel 5, where the show started in 1954. The show lasted for 35 years, ending in December 1989. During those years, it became part of Arizona's culture. "The Wallace and Ladmo Show" was such a fixture that it only celebrated its anniversary every fifth year. For it's 30th anniversary, then-Gov. Bruce Babbitt told the cast he was too busy to sign a proclamation honoring the show. He suggested they take the one he issued for the 25th anniversary, cross out that number, and replace it with 30. A few years after the show went off the air, the main members of the cast ― Bill Thompson, who played Wallace, Ladimir Kwiatkowski, who played Ladmo, and Pat McMahon who played a host of characters, including the spoiled brat Gerald ― sat for interviews with a reporter at the Arizona State University newspaper, the State Press. This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and about metro Phoenix and beyond, you'll hear those conversations for the first time. Guest host Richard Ruelas provides an oral history of one of Arizona's most beloved institutions. Listen to Valley 101 on your favorite podcast app or stream the full episode below. Submit your questions to us about metro Phoenix and Arizona for a chance to be chosen for the podcast. Note: Valley 101 is intended to be heard, but we offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio. Subscribe to Valley 101 : Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher Follow Valley 101 and all azcentral podcasts on X, formerly Twitter, and on Instagram. Reach the producer Amanda Luberto at aluberto@ Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @amandaluberto and on Bluesky @amandaluberto. Abby Bessinger provided audio assistance on this episode. You can reach Abby at This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: New 'Wallace and Ladmo' interviews revealed
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Why do so many pilots train in Arizona? The answer traces back to WWII
After moving to the Valley and meeting pilots more often than usual — young pilots who were flying solo at the ripe age of 18 — I thought: Why is the Valley a hotspot for training pilots? After doing some research, I was surprised to learn that, in 1928, Douglas Municipal Airport in Arizona became the first international airport of the Americas. With that, an entire history of aviation in the Valley began to unravel, dating back to World War II. The area's popularity grew due to Arizona's climate and its year-round blue skies. Additionally, the state's infrastructure made it possible to build airports and runways in nearly every decent-sized city. Yet, according to Women in Aviation International, female pilots represent only 6% of the pilot population. This number, though, is expected to change in the upcoming years. The FAA also said it issued 69,503 new student pilot certificates in 2023, which was up 13,334 since 2022. This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and we tried to answer the question: Why is flight school so popular in Arizona? We spoke with Joe Abrahamson, a retired corporate pilot and president of the Deer Valley Pilots Association; Anthony Wende, an assistant teaching professor at Arizona State University's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering; Anna Ruffly, an air-traffic control student; and Mackensey Culp, an instructor at ATP Flight School in Arlington, Texas, who used to teach in Arizona. Listen to Valley 101 on your favorite podcast app or stream the full episode below. Submit your questions to us about metro Phoenix and Arizona for a chance to be chosen for the podcast. Note: Valley 101 is intended to be heard, but we offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio. Subscribe to Valley 101 : Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher Follow Valley 101 and all azcentral podcasts on X, formerly Twitter, and on Instagram. Reach producer Abby Bessinger at or follow her on X, formerly Twitter @abby_bessinger This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why flight school in Arizona is becoming so popular for pilot training
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
What is a vortex — and can you actually find one in Sedona?
The Grand Canyon in northern Arizona is listed as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The Colorado River, running through it for approximately six million years, has established breathtaking layers of sediment and erosion that is unlike anything else on Earth. Arizona is the Grand Canyon state after all. There's another place in Arizona that feels this way. That, of course, is Sedona. It's an easy one-liner to say there are places in the desert that make you feel like you're on Mars, but the bright red rocks and unique formations in Sedona do feel like you're on another planet. In the last few decades, Sedona has gotten attention from visitors as one of the premiere places to go for spiritual healing. The new age movement brought flocks of people to its buttes, canyons and trails. This is because of its four famed vortexes. But what even are they and does Sedona really have them? This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and about metro Phoenix and beyond, we explore the world of vortexes, if Sedona's claim to fame is real and how it's all impacted longtime Arizona travel writer Roger Naylor. Listen to Valley 101 on your favorite podcast app or stream the full episode below. Submit your questions to us about metro Phoenix and Arizona for a chance to be chosen for the podcast. Note: Valley 101 is intended to be heard, but we offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio. Subscribe to Valley 101 : Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher Follow Valley 101 and all azcentral podcasts on X, formerly Twitter, and on Instagram. Reach the producer Amanda Luberto at aluberto@ Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @amandaluberto and on Bluesky @amandaluberto. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sedona vortexes and where to find them
