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Sunset at Monument Valley, Arizona.

Monument Valley's important role in the classic westerns of John Ford & John Wayne.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: A local librarian is recognized for his dedication to youth mental health; and Late Night Radio Hour offers a unique theatrical experience.
Stacks of hay bales sit beside an irrigation canal in Imperial Valley on June 20, 2023. Critics have called for reductions to the amount of alfalfa grown with Colorado River water. The particularly thirsty crop is mostly used for cattle feed.

The Buzz: Arizona/Saudi relations go back long before Fondomonte

We listen to an episode of AZPM's podcast Tapped that traces the link between the two deserts
Illustration of the Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn.

Cassini orbited Saturn 20 years ago this summer

The robotic explorer made historic discoveries about the ringed planet and its moons.
LEFT: Date Palms on the campus on the University of Arizona. July 2024. RIGHT: Arizona alfalfa field with flood irrigation on a sunny day.

From date palms to alfalfa: How Arizona became fertile ground for Saudi farms

What started with a camel handler would grow into a lucrative trade, but eventually ended in exploitation of lax water laws.
Archeologist Dr. Deni Seymour at work in the desert unearthing artifacts.

Discovering dynamic history in "Coronado: The New Evidence".

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Simon Donovan shares a story about a beloved dog named Betty.
Christine Grady Gorder holding the photo of her WWII sweetheart U.S Army Staff Sergeant Ward Sackal who was killed in combat in Europe. The 98 year old has visited has visited his grave in France 11 times.

A tale of true love that began in Tucson in 1943 continues today...

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Visit Valley of the Moon; Marquez Price on "digital detoxing"; and 65 years of local television history in the AZPM Video Archive.
The Central Arizona Project canal just north of CAP headquarters near Phoenix.

A crisis fraught with possibility: How a massive canal set Arizona up for growth

The Central Arizona Project ensured that the states biggest cities had enough water and brought about a farm boom in the middle of the state.
Spanish-language publications such as Justicia, El Machete and additional years of El Tucsonense are available online.

50 historical Arizona newspapers now available online through Library of Congress collection

Publications from several Arizona cities are now publicly available thanks to a National Endowment for the Humanities grant.
The Nazis required everyone to have identity papers. Hellpap went back to Berlin many years after the Holocaust and found a copy of his in an archive. He was 10 years old when this photo was taken.

"The Holocaust and Beyond: From the Boy Who Escaped the Nazis"

Also on Arizona Spotlight: The story of Nick C. Hall, the Mayor of Old Tucson, and a song about spreading love, joy, and hope.
A male elegant trogon displays some of the colors that have made it very attractive for birders.

Tucson Audubon Society Gets Closer to choosing a New Name

Organization wants a future without the controversial "Audubon" associations
A photo of Joe Pera from the poster for season 2 of his Adult Swim television show, "Joe Pera Talks with You."

"A medium guy in general, across the board." Joe Pera talks with Tucson.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Checking in with the Tucson Audubon Society; and a Tucson knitter who is making socks the REAL old-fashioned way.
The Parker Dam in Arizona looking towards California. The electric transmission lines from the dam are all on the California side and provide power to the Golden State. The construction of the dam formed Lake Havasu.

The Buzz: The damming of the lower Colorado River

We preview the new season of Tapped, AZPM's podcast about water in the southwest.
A historic home on Speedway and Euclid is being relocated to a new area in the West University neighborhood to make room for new student housing in Tucson on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.

Historic homes near University of Arizona relocating

Developer Capstone Communities gave Joel Ireland, a resident of the West University neighborhood, the historic homes to be placed on a plot of land he owns.
“Sophie” the Stegosaurus has been on display at the London Natural History Museum since late 2014.

A stegosaurus fossil fetched a record $44.6M at Sotheby's. Should they be auctioned?

NPR's Andrew Mambo talked with Paleontologist Carey Woodruff last month ahead of the auction.
From left to right: Lydia Millet, Molly McCloy, and Gabrielle Pietrangelo.

Sharing lived experience with keen observation.

On this Arizona Spotlight, hear three women who are telling vibrant stories across different mediums.
The Parker Dam in Arizona looking towards California. The electric transmission lines from the dam are all on the California side and provide power to the Golden State. The construction of the dam formed Lake Havasu.

Taming the Colorado

The Colorado River is the most dammed waterway in the US, but what was it like before? We go back to the battle over Parker Canyon Dam and how it changed Arizona's rights to the river's water forever.

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