Arizona Spotlight

Meet Bruce Gungle an ultamarathon runner; learn about the University of Arizona women's triathlon team from triathlete Laura Holanszky; and hear about what it's like to bike almost every street in Tucson.

Learn about the All In for Autism Dino Day and Walk; Pima Community College's Climate Community Day; John Coinman returns to the 40th Annual Tucson Folk Festival; and a new "Stories That Soar!" with some 1st grade humor.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: "A SandHill Day" by nature writer Rebekah Doyle; and the final essay from "The Class of 2024" about how teens help each other through difficult times.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: "A Book I Love" from the 2025 Tucson Festival of Books; "The Class of 2024" continues; and Mary Jo Pollack shares the story of earning her driver's license in 1964.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Tucson architect Paula Holmes at 100, a woman always ahead of her time; and Lilliona from "The Class of 2024" shares an essay about growing up in the digital age.

Kirsten Miller talks about her novel "Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books"; and Mike Stark shares the natural history "Starlings The Curious Odyssey of a Most Hated Bird".

Also on Arizona Spotlight: TIHAN provides kindness and support to those living with HIV or AIDS; and a new Ten-Minute Drama "Haricot Verts."

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Understanding canyons on the moon; and more voices from The Class of 2024.

Listen to stories from a 60-year career largely spent helping people in love build everlasting memories. Bill Medley has one of the most distinctive voices in music history, and now at age 84 is still singing the songs the people love, continuing the legacy of The Righteous Brothers. Also: Marquez Price's new book "The Backcourt"; and "The Class of 2024" continues.

"Stories that Soar!" asks that we look for beauty beyond the screen; and an essay series "The Class of 2024" begins.

Old Pueblo Playwrights take stories to the stage in their New Play Festival; and the Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair celebrates its 70th anniversary.

Hear how Micky Dolenz of The Monkees recent recordings are exploring new ground, and how he celebrates being part of one of the most popular bands of the 1960s. Also: Invisible Theatre's production of "What the Constitution Means to Me"; and how Adiba Nelson's new children's book is a love letter to those seeking representation and a connection to spirituality.

Trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis has always been an ambassador of the purest form of New Orleans jazz. Delfeayo will be performing in the Tucson Jazz Festival at the Rialto Theatre. Also: Three emerging local jazz musicians; and storyteller Jess Losoya shares a story about freedom.

Jazz singer Dominique Eade, rocker Dweezil Zappa, and comedy legend Vicki Lawrence all bring their talents to The Old Pueblo.

We'll take you behind the scenes of the annual “LightsUp!” festival of illumination at Tucson Botanical Gardens. The documentary "Growing Tradition" provides details about this dazzling display that requires more than a million sparkling lights and other decorations. Also: Meet Glenda Bonin a storyteller, magician and puppeteer who shares her "Sleigh Bells" story.

ArtWorks is an all-day program for adults with developmental disabilities. Their art is being displayed at the Joseph Gross Gallery in an exhibit called “Won't You Be My Neighbor”, featuring a series of original house designs that combine imagination with the most important aspects of what makes a house a home. Also: How the Tucson Bird Alliance will be making a difference in 2025; and actor and h...

Learn about an annual art auction event held by BICAS in Tucson - where food and music are also a part of the mix. BICAS is a non-profit bicycle recycling center that helps improve accessibility and independence in our community by making affordable two-wheeled transportation available to everyone. Also: How Ittai Sopher, a former Arizona Spotlight producer, became a "Jeopardy" champion; Marquez P...

Meet the father and son founders of Spotlight Community Theater. It's a place where curious student-age children can learn about all aspects of the performing arts, with no experience required. Spotlight Community Theater is holding performances of “Cinderella” in December to raise money for charity. Also: A tale of true love that started in Tucson in 1943 that continues today; and historian David...

“Children of the Holocaust” is a living-history project launched by AZPM. Project producer Laura Markowitz interviewed 20 survivors who were children during the Holocaust, and later settled in Southern Arizona. This week, hear the story of Paula Bronstein, a survivor who escaped the Nazis by hiding in Holland. It saved her life, but cost her her childhood. Bronstein passed away earlier this month,...

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Lyse Doucet, chief international correspondent for the BBC, receives the 2024 Zenger Award for Press Freedom from the UA School of Journalism; and Richard Cachor Taylor's talks about his book "Birds of Arizona".

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Voices from the Tucson Pride Festival; emerging UA filmmakers take the stage at San Diego Comic-Con; and historian David Leighton shares the star-studded story of Nick C. Hall.

Featuring: The stars of Live Theatre Workshop's "Misery"; Broadway designer David Korins' creations from "Beetlejuice"; a ghost story from "Stories That Soar!"; and the supernatural invades suburbia in the Ten-Minute Drama "The Jack-O-Lantern".

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Find out how the Assistance League of Tucson has been helping people in need for 65 years; and cold blooded critters (and those who love them) gather for the 22nd Tucson Reptile and Amphibian Show..

Jade Beall is a Tucson-based photographer with an eye for finding beauty all around her. Beall talks about her collection called “The Crone Body”, which contains intimate portraits that celebrate the changing wisdom and power of women as they age. Also: "Bad Art Night" at the Arizona Science Center offers people a chance to explore their curious side; and an asylum seeker shares his welcome to Tuc...

Long-time friends Molly McKasson and Susan Claassen have each created lasting legacies in Tucson, and next week they are reviving their sketch comedy act "Mols and Suz" for one night only at the Invisible Theatre. Also: The 3rd Annual Chinese Chorizo Festival celebrates culture, community and food; and Tucson native Jeff Biggers on co-writing "Disturbing the Bones".