Play the video above to see these stories on AZ Illustrated Metro for Wednesday, Sept. 4:
READING TO DOGS: The Pima County Public Library has a program in which kids can read to a dog to get more comfortable with their language and literacy skills. Parents and librarians say reading to a dog helps kids feel more comfortable working through their mistakes than with a human audience because dogs don't judge them.
ONLINE SHOPPING: Back in April, there was a Global Retailing Conference in Tucson, which focused on how online shopping is changing the marketplace for business. The annual conference included sessions on the global economy, reinventing the use of store space and the future of bricks-and-mortar stores.
FOSTER CARE CRISIS: More than 4,000 children are in foster care in Pima County, an increase of more than 30 percent in one year driven largely by parental substance abuse, juvenile court officials say. Those who want to help can become foster parents. The process is fairly easy and doesn't cost anything.
MIGRANT DEATHS: The Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner has processed the remains of nearly 100 undocumented border crossers this year. But, a recent report shows demographics of those dying in the desert are changing. More people from Central American countries are found attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border than ever before.
AZ Illustrated Metro is produced by Andrea Kelly. Contact her at akelly@azpm.org.
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