Valley 101

Latest Episodes:

Is the 'Valley of the Sun' misnamed? Mar 07, 2022

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Why is metro-Phoenix called "The Valley of the Sun"? Is it actually a valley? Our intern producer digs up the answer in this episode of Valley 101. And what he discovers, might surprise you.

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Revolutionary, advocate, father: the legacy of Dr. Lincoln Ragsdale Sr. Feb 28, 2022

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Lincoln Ragsdale Sr., along with other activists, won a court case to desegregate Phoenix Union High Schools a year before Brown vs. The Board of Education. It was a huge victory, but to Ragadale, it was simply the beginning.

He continued to create change. Alongside his wife, Eleanor, he and his family desegregated the Encanto neighborhood in Phoenix by being the first Black family to move in.

In part two, Valley 101, a podcast from the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, covers more of his civil rights wins for the state, his connection with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and what he was like as a father.

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From airman to activist: the life of Dr. Lincoln Ragsdale Sr. Feb 21, 2022

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In May 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously decided that separating educational facilities by race was unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment. You’ll know this famous case as Brown vs. The Board of Education.

One year earlier, in February 1953, Judge Fred Struckmeyer Jr. in Maricopa County ruled that a law permitting students to be separated by race in the Phoenix Union school district was also unconstitutional.

The court challenge came from a handful of civil rights activists in Phoenix, but one man in particular looked at this as the tip of the iceberg.

Dr. Lincoln Ragsdale Sr. helped fund a lawsuit on behalf of three Black children during the Phoenix Union case, but his time fighting for racial freedoms in the Valley spread much further than high schools.

He was a Tuskegee airman, a business owner, a fighter for civil rights and the man whose name is on the executive terminal at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

This is the first part of a two-part series on the local icon. The second part will be released on Monday, Feb. 28.

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How did Arizona become a state? Feb 14, 2022

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110 years ago today, Arizona joined the United States. But it wasn't exactly a smooth process. At the time, the eastern half of the country viewed the Arizona Territory as unruly and not Anglo enough. It took nearly 50 years for the Arizona Territory to become the state of Arizona. In this episode of Valley 101, we dive into the history leading up to Admission Day, and the process of becoming part of the United States.

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Valley 101 explores how the Pony Express came to Arizona Feb 07, 2022

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As more people rushed their way westward in mid-1800s, communication between nation's two coasts became paramount for the Union. Messages needing to reach their destination faster found horseback riders to be an effective medium, forming the famed Pony Express.

Connecting Missouri to California, the Pony Express crossed eight states. However, it actually bypassed Arizona. Nonetheless, the tradition has lived on in Arizona where riders still deliver mail. The service is the only U.S. Postal Service-sanctioned Pony Express in the country.

In this episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we learn about a special horse-riding unit in northern Arizona that brings down mail to the Valley each year.

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Start your engines: the 50th anniversary of Barrett-Jackson Jan 31, 2022

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Fifity years ago, friends and car junkies Tom Barrett and Russ Jackson held an auction of their personal auto collections. What was supposed to be a one-off event turned into one of Scottsdale's premier occasions each year.

This year, collectors, buyers, and curious onlookers alike were surrounded by more than 1,800 cars at Westworld in Scottsdale. Regarded as one of the world's greatest collector car auctions, auto enthusiasts from all over arrive in the desert in hopes of being the highest bidder.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we bring you the history of the famous car auction and talk with sellers and buyers about why they come to Barrett-Jackson each year.

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Arizona's grandmother of women's sports Jan 24, 2022

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Few laws have influenced high school sports more than Title IX, which turns 50 this summer.

The law prohibits the discrimination based on sex in any programs or activities in all federally funded educational institutions. This includes both middle and high schools in addition to universities.

Before Title IX, there were pioneering women who fought for inclusion and equality in sports. One of those is Ina Gittings.

Gittings was the first director of physical education for women at the University of Arizona. She also homesteaded north of Tucson near Oro Valley. Those familiar with Tucson might spot the connection to Ina Road.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, we explore the story behind the legend of Ina Gittings.

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'For me, it's personal': Why Mesa hosts a Martin Luther King Jr. parade Jan 17, 2022

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Nearly 60 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr delivered the famous "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to more than 250,000 people in Washington, D.C. Today, the nation recognizes his birthday to honor his life and commitment to the civil rights movement in America.

For the city of Mesa, this celebration is close to home. They've been hosting a parade and festival in his memory for 24 years after a long battle to get the holiday recognized at a city level.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we are joined by Keisha McKinnor to discuss the state's history with MLK Day and why this celebration feels personal to her.

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What's Happening With Fiesta Mall? Jan 10, 2022

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In its heyday, Fiesta Mall was "the center of the universe" for the East Valley. That's how Mesa Mayor John Giles puts it. Situated on the western edge of the city, by the US-60 and Alma School, Fiesta Mall was the premiere shopping spot for decades.

In 2017 it closed its doors, with the last holdouts shuttering in 2020. Since then, the 1.2 million square foot shopping center has been boarded up and unusable.

There were talks of converting it into multi-use property with campuses for both education and health, but talks on that stalled.

So the question remains: what is going to happen to Fiesta Mall?

In this episode of Valley 101, we speak with people in the know as well as residents who fondly remember Fiesta Mall in its prime.

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How to protect your plants during Phoenix winters Jan 03, 2022

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Winter is finally upon us. This past Christmas Eve was the wettest since 1944. It is a welcome relief after hotter than average fall. December 1 shattered all previous records with a high of 85 degrees.

Thoughts of frosty nights seem like winter fantasy for Phoenix. However, January is typical the Valley’s coldest month. This has horticultural novices and experts thinking about protecting their gardens..

In this episode of Valley 101 we get to the root of how to over-winter your plants Arizona style.

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