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.

US May 7, 2021

CBP's Big Bend Sector harnesses tech to fight illegal border activity

The Big Bend sector is seeing a sudden uptick in illegal border activity. They only have around 600 agents to cover the entire area, so to help combat the issue they're using new technologies to give them the upper hand.

US May 3, 2021

Lifeguards are in high demand as summer approaches

As the weather warms up and COVID-19 restrictions ease up, swimming pools across the country are re-opening but finding enough lifeguards for them is turning out to be tough.

US April 7, 2021

High schoolers feel sense of normalcy after COVID vaccine opens to ages 16, 17

Across the country, states are expanding their COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to 16- and 17-year-olds. Doctors say if teens get their vaccines soon, they hope in-person proms and graduations will be possible.

US March 30, 2021

COVID-19 vaccinations might become mandatory at colleges and universities

Proof of COVID-19 vaccinations might become mandatory for enrollment at colleges and universities starting this fall.

US March 19, 2021

El Paso DEA says there's an influx of drugs coming from Mexico

As thousands of migrants head to the southern border, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is worried drug smugglers might have the same plan.

Texas March 17, 2021

El Paso migrant shelter prepares for dramatic influx of new arrivals

Waves of new migrants, including families and unaccompanied children, continue to arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border daily. In El Paso, local shelters are dealing with not only asylum seekers under former President Trump’s Migrant Protection Protocols program (MPP) but now migrants from other Texas sectors too.

US March 8, 2021

Biden administration leaves border towns on edge

The U.S.-Mexico border remains closed because of the pandemic, but hundreds of migrants are still heading north and it’s leaving several communities, including Nogales, Arizona, on edge.

US February 25, 2021

Yuma mayor says releasing detained migrants in Arizona will inundate city

Overwhelmed border officials are now releasing dozens of migrants into a rural community in southern Arizona and it’s leaving local leaders on edge, saying they’re not equipped to handle it.

Health February 16, 2021

COVID-19 vaccine rollout sees uptick in demand for safe, low-cost needle disposal

An unintended consequence of COVID-19 has been a surge in new trash, from face masks, wipes, and gloves to now used syringes.

Coronavirus February 11, 2021

Firefighters introduce new technology to quell cancer risk

While the coronavirus has been at the forefront of health news over the past year, fire departments nationwide face another crisis in rising cancer rates.

Enforcement February 4, 2021

Border Patrol K-9s get back to work after coronavirus canceled classes

Border Patrol K-9s are getting back to work after their training classes were canceled for months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Coronavirus January 21, 2021

Coronavirus pandemic impacts lettuce industry as farmworkers brace for busy season

Farmers across Southwestern Arizona are hard at work harvesting much of the country’s lettuce supply during their busiest time of the year.

US January 12, 2021

Substitute teachers are in high demand as coronavirus cases rise

The increasing need for more substitute teachers to fill in for full-time teachers calling out sick, resigning or even protesting over in-school learning as coronavirus cases continue to rise across the country has pushed some school districts to temporarily relax qualification requirements.

US December 24, 2020

Food banks see huge increase in demand because of coronavirus – Here's how to help last minute

The Salvation Army says they typically feed 2.6 million Americans at Christmas nationwide but this year that demand is expected to be 6 million.

US December 21, 2020

Firefighters brace for influx of emergency calls over the holidays amid coronavirus pandemic

Firefighters across the country are preparing for their busiest season of the year – with the coronavirus pandemic making their jobs even tougher.

Travel Safety December 15, 2020

More and more Canadian 'snowbirds' deciding against travel to Arizona, Florida, in favor of staying put

COVID-19 has taken its toll on the tourism industry, and as we head into winter, it’s now impacting our snowbirds and part-time residents.

Shopping November 27, 2020

Small Business Saturday more critical this holiday season amid coronavirus pandemic

Sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is Small Business Saturday, a national initiative to shop local and break away from large box stores.

2020 Presidential Election October 22, 2020

Biden vs. Trump: ObamaCare, access to health care in rural US impacts voters' decisions

With only days until the 2020 presidential election, the topic of health care access, insurance and affordability is front and center in the minds of millions of Americans.