Stephanie Bennett

Police and Law Enforcement October 21, 2021

Police departments are struggling to hire new cops

Police departments across the country are struggling to hire new cops and it’s now forcing cities to get creative. The Phoenix Police Department is looking out of state to fill more than 300 open positions. They’re also raising annual salaries, offering hiring bonuses, and turning to social media to spread the word. Everything from politics, to the job market, and overall lack of interest is to blame, they say.

EDUCATION October 8, 2021

School nurses stretched thin amid nationwide staff shortage amid COVID-19

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, school nurses across the country are being stretched thin. Many districts say trying to hire staff is proving difficult, so they’re forced to share nurses between schools.

Drugs September 29, 2021

Arizona community seeing more drug overdoses than COVID-19 deaths, fentanyl seizures spike

More than 93,000 people died of drug overdoses in the U.S. last year, with fentanyl being a major contributor to that high number. In Pinal County, Sheriff Mark Lamb says they’ve had more overdose deaths than COVID-19 deaths last year.

Afghanistan September 21, 2021

Organizations hiring translators as thousands of Afghan refugees resettle in US

Organizations helping resettle Afghan refugees across the country say that as they take in more people over the next few weeks, there will likely be an increased demand for translators.

US August 13, 2021

Back to School: COVID-19 vaccines spark debate at many high schools

The delta variant is spreading quickly throughout the U.S. and some schools are trying to get the upper hand by requiring or offering vaccinations on campus. The Phoenix Union High School District is hosting mass vaccination events for their students and community, even offering it directly on campus. Some school districts are taking things even further. Hawaii became the first state to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for students participating in high school sports. California, is the first state to require all teachers and school staff to be vaccinated or submit to weekly testing.

US July 8, 2021

Western states prepare for post-fire flash flooding

Out west, several states are still fighting wildfires, but now a new threat is emerging in their burn scars. A sudden downpour of rain has ripped through a small Arizona town, leaving some residents without a home.

US June 25, 2021

Several states legalize Fentanyl test strips to help save lives

Across the country more states are beginning to legalize drug testing strips that can detect the presence of the potent opioid Fentanyl to avoid deadly overdoses. Arizona is the latest state to legalize these it, allowing users to see if their drugs have been laced with lethal doses.

Drugs June 17, 2021

US-Mexico border drug trade led by American smugglers

The U.S.-Mexico border has been closed since March 2020 because of the pandemic and it’s not known when it will reopen. However, it’s forcing cartels to change their drug trafficking tactics as they’re now recruiting American’s to do the job.

HEALTH May 20, 2021

Pandemic boosts increase in students seeking public health degrees

During the pandemic, schools across the country have seen a sudden spike in interest for public health degrees, specifically epidemiology.

US May 14, 2021

Tucson Border Patrol agents prepare for busy summer as record numbers of migrant encounters continue upward

The number of migrants trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally continues to rise and so does the temperature along the Southwest border.