Valley 101

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It's hot. But how does extreme heat affect us? Jul 25, 2022

Show notes

More than 300 people died last year from heat-related complications. Data collected over the past 50 years shows the average temperature in Phoenix has increased 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

On top of that, there are more days per year when the temperature climbs above 110 degrees in the Valley of the Sun. And the night temperatures have jumped 5.5 degrees, which means it's not cooling off when the sun goes down.

How does this extreme heat affect us? In this episode of Valley 101, we hear from medical professionals, social service workers and city officials about how metro Phoenix is battling high temperatures.

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Exploring summer day trip getaways within Arizona Jul 18, 2022

Show notes

It's officially the dog days of summer.

Not only does it feel like it because Phoenix has seen triple-digit temperatures since early May, but according to the Farmer’s Almanac, the “dog days of summer” run from July 3 to Aug. 11.

It is hot, with no sign of slowing down soon.

While it feels slightly unbearable outside and you might be wondering why you live in Phoenix anyway, this is also the perfect time to pack the car, hit the road, get out of the city and reconnect with nature. Because not all of Arizona feels this hot all summer.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we are joined by Arizona Republic cultures and outdoors reporter Shanti Lerner for recommendations on where you can go to keep things cooler.

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Are we alone in the universe? Jul 11, 2022

Show notes

People have wondered if we're alone in the universe for centuries. Although men have landed on the moon and probes have been sent outside the solar system, there is still so much to explore.

The mysteries of outer space have drawn many people to search for evidence of alien life. But not all researchers focus on looking through a telescope. Plenty others spend their time watching the sky and documenting unidentified flying object sightings. As it turns out, Arizona is a hot spot for UFOs and those who believe in them.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we explored the unfamiliar world of UFOs and spoke to different people looking to answer the question: "are we alone in the universe?"

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Where you can and cannot see fireworks tonight in the Valley Jul 04, 2022

Show notes

Seeing fireworks this year is a little more tricky than pulling up to your favorite usual spot on the night of July 4. Some cities around the Valley are forgoing their celebration because of supply-chain issues or other complications.

This week on Valley 101, we share where in the metro Phoenix area you can and cannot see dazzling displays shoot across the sky.

Please remember that if you’re planning on shooting off fireworks from your backyard, be careful! Not only can they be dangerous, but Arizona is in a long-term drought. Setting off fireworks too close to brush is an easy way to start a fire.

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'Let her play': 50 years of Title IX through an Arizona lens Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

This year Title IX, the law that prohibits sex discrimination in schools, turns 50. The landmark legislation has become synonymous with women’s sports in addition to affecting education.

On June 23, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed the amendment into law.

It says that no person can be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination on the basis of sex under “any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Should any education institution be found in violation, it would lose federal money.

While sports is not specifically mentioned, the amendment has permanently altered the course of women’s athletics.

In this episode of Valley 101, we explore this landmark law through an Arizona lens where we hear from those who’ve seen its passage, implemented it and benefited from it.

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Hot, hot and hotter: Exploring the upcoming summer and monsoon season in Arizona Jun 20, 2022

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Anyone in the Phoenix area can tell you that right now it is hot. Really hot. The National Weather Service recently issued an excessive heat warning, keeping an eye on the triple digit temperatures in the forecast.

It's summer, and the heat is predicable. But the summer heat also brings monsoon storms and rains, something that is much harder to predict.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we are joined by meteorologist Matt Pace to give a preview of what we can expect during the dog days of summer.

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Exploring the history of Phoenix's Bethany Home Road Jun 13, 2022

Show notes

With as many streets as Phoenix has, there's bound to be some interesting history behind their names. One that has caught many people's attention is the historical Bethany Home Road.

Listeners have asked what the original Bethany Home was or who it was named after. A street name must have some significance behind it. Otherwise there wouldn't be so many streets named after the presidents.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we tried to dig a little deeper and learn more about Bethany Home's origins. Along the way, we learned why it's so important to keep track of history.

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Which dinosaurs dominated prehistoric Arizona? Jun 06, 2022

Show notes

With the advent of the new "Jurassic World" movie, our producers started to wonder what Arizona looked like 65 million years ago. Turns out, we know very little about Arizona's dinosaur age. It was nearly wiped clean from the paleontological record. But why?

In this episode of Valley 101, we dig up the answers to what kinds of dinosaurs lived here and why there's so few fossil records in our state.

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Celebrating 3 graduations at 3 points in life May 30, 2022

Show notes

Graduation is a time in your life when you’re getting dressed up in an itchy, shapeless gown and trying to adjust a square hat to your head that simply won’t stay on.

It is also a right of passage.

Not only does it represent growing up and going on to bigger things, but it’s a celebration of everything you’ve done up until that point. A celebration of your years of education and everyone who helped you achieve that.

It’s something almost all of us go through.

But the graduates of 2022 had an educational experience that few can relate to. With the pandemic and virtual learning and everything else that affected them, they are a class that is unique.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we are joined by The Republic's k-12 education reporter Yana Kunichoff. Together, we visited three graduations at three different stages of life to try and capture this moment in time.

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4 questions about Phoenix's history answered for Arizona transplants May 23, 2022

Show notes

It's no secret that Maricopa County is growing quickly. New apartments in Phoenix are being built just as fast as people are moving into them.

The Census Bureau reported that the county added 58,246 new residents from July 2020 to July 2021.

It is now the fastest growing county in the nation.

And even outside Maricopa County, Arizona has seen immense growth over the last year. The census showed that more than 98,000 people moved to Arizona in that year. Only 832 of them came from what is called “natural change," which refers to deaths and births.

The rest have moved from other states.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we want to welcome newcomers to the metro Phoenix area by answering four questions about its history.

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