Valley 101

Holidays are all about traditions. Sort of. They're also about whatever person or event you're celebrating. Beyond watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade and then eating too much turkey and falling asleep during football games, what else is there? This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, Betsy LaVoie from the Fountain Hills Thanksgiving parade, Alan Collier fr...

You've probably heard the jokes — being a meteorologist for a Phoenix TV news station must be the easiest job in the world. Today it's hot, tomorrow it's hotter, that kind of thing. And while there is some truth to the joke (Arizona doesn't exactly have a lot of wintery weather), the last few summers have changed things. The last two summers have been the hottest on record in Phoenix. That's chang...

It's Scorpio season. Yes, the zodiac sign. So what better way to honor this water sign than by learning about the historic creatures that share its name. With more than 50 known species in the Valley — including the giant desert hairy and the Arizona bark scorpion — these eight-legged creatures are far more noticeable than you might think, especially under a blacklight. This week on Valley 101, a...

For a long time, Arizona was not always in the political spotlight — or if it was, it was for controversies like former Gov. Evan Mecham, who was impeached and removed from office, or SB 1070, the legislation that made being in the country illegally a state crime, and made it illegal to fail to carry immigration papers, among other things. How things have changed. Now Arizona's a swing state; pres...

Dia de los Muertos is a popular holiday in Arizona, and really everywhere, but also one that many of the people who celebrate it may not know much about. And while there my be no technically wrong way to celebrate, there is definitely a right way. So how do you celebrate Dia de los Muertos respectfully? This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we find out. I sp...

Everybody loves a ghost story, but do they love ghosts? The Copper Queen Hotel in Bisbee, Arizona's most haunted hotel, has been captivating visitors since 1902 with its ghoulish activities and eerie tales. In this week’s episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, host Bill Goodykoontz dives into its ghostly history by answering the question is the Copper Queen Hot...

The Arizona Cardinals notoriously known for their ups and downs have faced their share of challenges over the years. However, with the right strategies, talent, and teamwork the Cardinals may see a new fate. In this week's episode of Valley 101 a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, Host Bill Goodykoontz discusses the historic nature of this NFL team and the prospects for its future...

For the first time in nearly three decades, Arizona is not gearing up for hockey season. At the end of the 2023-2024 season, the Arizona Coyotes announced their relocation to Salt Lake City, Utah, ending professional hockey in the state.  This wasn't the first time the Coyotes had dealt with ownership instability or rumors of relocation. The team has been riddled with complications since they arri...

Many debates arise over the topic of Mexican Food. Tacos or Burritos? Corn or flour tortillas? and when it comes to authenticity which city reigns supreme, Phoenix or Tucson? But with Mexican cuisine representing a large portion of Arizona's food scene, which city takes first place? In this week's episode of Valley 101 a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we discuss this culinary s...

Over 100 years ago, North Phoenix's main road, Bethany Home Road was just a small path that served a specific community. Bethany Home sanitarium was considered a safe haven helping those with tuberculosis. Although, the sanatarium did get renamed a few years later its legacy lives on today. In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we discuss the hi...

Before it was left empty, this state-of-the-art building was home for two seasons of horse racing. The Phoenix Trotting Park was expertly designed and opened in 1965. Attendees filled the beautiful grandstand to watch trotting style racing, but not for very long. Today, we bring you the history of Goodyear, Arizona's Trotting Horse Park. This vibrant hotspot was the talk of the town in 1965, and w...

It's a record year in Phoenix when it comes to the heat. But it's always been hot here: Phoenix is considered to be the nation's hottest city — but even now the early mornings and late nights cannot always guarantee a break from high temperatures. Yet despite it all, Arizonans live their lives here. They go to work, they walk their dog, they see their friends. They survive in the heat day after da...

Kaely Monahan is onto a new job so we wanted to take the time to thank her and showcase her best work. The Arizona Republic podcast team hopes you have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend and we'll be back next week with a regular episode of Valley 101. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While September 22nd is the "official" end of summer, Labor Day is often marked as the unofficial end of the season. But summer is one of the most nostalgic times of the year. And there are certain activities or experiences that Arizonans try to get in every year. This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, members of our newsroom wax poetic about their summer tra...

Drive about 45 minutes southwest of the Phoenix Valley, and you will reach an expanse of the Sonoran desert with a long, rich history. The Gila River runs through this area, which was once lush with flora and fauna. Now, with the river dammed up, the water doesn't always flow. Nonetheless, the region is still home to an abundance of people, wildlife and historical treasures. These three aspects ar...

Power grids in the United States are struggling. As temperatures increase and populations grow, so does the stress on systems that keep our electricity running. For the West, electricity is most important in the hot summer months. It keeps our cool air-conditioners pumping. Going without air conditioning for too long can be not only an annoyance, but also a major health risk, especially in states...

Vice President nominee JD Vance rubbed some Americans the wrong way when a clip from a 2021 interview surfaced recently. He derided some voters as "childless cat ladies" in a now infamous quote, Vance said the country is run "via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made and so they want to...

After the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and after digging into Arizona's prominent role in the plot to overturn the 2020 election, Republic reporters repeatedly heard questions we couldn't quite answer. What is going on in Arizona? Why does this state seem to have people willing to push the political envelope further than almost anyone else? Hosts of Rediscovering season 4, The Roots of Radica...

In the world where business and film collide, many states have lucrative film tax incentives that attract big production companies to their sites. Arizona's previous tax program closed its curtains in 2010, but a new initiative, the Arizona Motion Picture Program, went into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, that reinstated film tax credits if a production meets certain criteria. Despite the absence of bigge...

Something Arizonans hear a lot is that we're running out of water. While the state has enough water to not induce complete panic yet, conservation methods are being put into place and Arizona's long-term water supply is being considered more often by policymakers. The state's water supply comes from three sources: surface water, reclaimed water and groundwater. These sources are then broken down i...

While it may not be the state first thought of when considering Black history, Arizona has a diverse and rich history of African American stories dating back to the 1800s. Yet most of the archives, stories and icons are not being preserved or celebrated. Today, about 5% of Arizonans are Black and some community leaders and activists are working to ensure the buried history is uncovered. From acade...

Across the nation, Fourth of July is marked by friends and families gathering to watch firework displays – or in some cases, set off their own light shows. Under Arizona law, only some types of fireworks can be legally used and sold during certain times of the year. But some illegal fireworks still make their way into the sky, and it's sparked a debate between Valley residents on what the law shou...

It might be hot out, but we have a cool and cute episode for all you dog-lovers. Today we revisit one of our favorite episodes from former podcast producer Taylor Seely, on how to hike safely with your dog. Now, it's probably too hot to hit the trails here in the Valley, but that just gives you the perfect excuse to hit the road and seek out cooler elevations with your pooches. Taylor Seely speaks...

The Republic's podcast team is working feverishly on a brand new season of Rediscovering, our investigative podcast series. We're so close to launching as well! Since the team is deep in production, we're bringing you one of our favorite Valley 101 episodes from 2023. Producer Kaely Monahan explores some odd facts about the 48th state. We hope you enjoy it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

With Phoenix already experiencing temperatures over 110, many of us are wondering "when will the monsoons start?" Officially, monsoon season kicks off June 15. But most of us want to know when the rains will come. That depends on how hot it gets. While we might be suffering under a heat dome, the high temps are drawing up moisture from south of the border. And that's what we need if we're going to...