Valley 101

Each year when monsoon season hits, so do the headlines about valley fever. But what is valley fever? The answer lies in our soil. There's a type of fungus that lives in the first few inches of the soil in the southwest. When that fungus dries, it turns into microscopic spores. When those spores are swept up in haboobs, we run the risk of breathing them in, which could lead to an infection in our lungs. And it's not just humans who are at risk. Our pets can develop valley fever too. In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, podcast editor Katie O'Connell finds answers about valley fever before monsoon season hit. In this episode you'll hear: What valley fever is and what causes it What are the symptoms of valley fever Options for diagnosis and treatment of valley fever How to tell if your pet might have valley fever Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During monsoon season, from June to September, large dust storms often overwhelm Arizona. The storms grow more severe when the preceding spring and winter seasons are dry, which allows dirt to loosen. When dust storms hit certain criteria, they're considered "haboobs." Haboob is an Arabic word that essentially means big, blasting winds, according to Andrew Deemer, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Phoenix and former linguist. In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast that answers your questions about metro Phoenix, Producer Taylor Seely breaks down the components necessary for a dust storm to be considered a haboob, plus how and when the word entered Arizona's lexicon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this week's episode, we're tackling a more subjective question, "What buildings would you say are the most iconic in the Phoenix skyline?" There are a few ways to approach this question, from either an aesthetic standpoint or by evaluating a building's history. But, thanks to the help of some expert sources, we've crowned one building the winner. Listen to this week's episode, produced by podcast editor Katie O'Connell, to find out which one. In this episode you'll hear: Alison King, founder of Modern Phoenix: The Neighborhood Network Michelle Dodds, city of Phoenix historic preservation officer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The creation of the light bulb in 1879 would forever shape our homes, streets and offices. But by the 1950s, light pollution became a concern, as it effects both natural ecosystems and human health. In fact, studies have shown that light pollution can be linked to breast cancer. Today, the future of Arizona's dark sky could be threatened by light pollution. It's an issue dark sky advocates are working to ease. This week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, breaks down what the Valley is doing to mitigate light pollution. In this episode, you'll hear: The components that make up light pollution. The impacts of light pollution on the state's tourism and economy. The steps communities in Metro Phoenix are making to combat light pollution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are at least seven mountains in Maricopa County with letters whitewashed on the side. Have you ever wondered why they were put in? Or when? We'll give you one hint: It comes down to more than just community pride. This week, Valley 101 digs into the history behind the "<Phoenix" sign on Usery Mountain in Mesa, A Mountain in Tempe and S Mountain in Phoenix. Producer Taylor Seely reports alongside Lucy Bentz, a 12-year-old Goodyear student who submitted the question. In this episode you'll hear from: Brennan Basler, a.k.a. Ranger B Arizona State University archivist Rob Spindler Sunnyslope Historical Society Vice President Pat Wilkinson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anne Ferraioli grew up in Phoenix, but she said she never paid much attention to Dreamy Draw Dam. Then she noticed there wasn't any water in it. And when she started looking into it, the results were surprising. Ferraioli found article after article about a possible U.F.O. landing site at the dam. What she didn't find was much information about its actual history. Given the curious results, Ferraioli asked the Valley 101 podcast to dig into Dreamy Draw Dam's history. Podcast editor Katie O'Connell took her question and ran with it. In this episode you'll hear: How the U.F.O. rumors at Dreamy Draw Dam began Whether or not the director of Open Minds TV thinks the rumors are true The history of the dam and its purpose today Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The stories of how someone became or experiences homelessness are incredibly varied. Lawrence Small, 41, has been homeless for two months after experiencing domestic violence. But this isn't his first time experiencing homelessness. He was also homeless in Seattle when he was 34 years old. "Seattle is different from Phoenix," Small said. "Seattle, they help homeless people out there. The housing, jobs. Phoenix don't do it." Homelessness continues to rise across the Valley. In 2019, there were at least 6,614 people experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County. To understand what it's like to be homeless in Maricopa County, the Valley 101 team partnered with reporter Jessica Boehm and the Maricopa Association of Governments, otherwise known as MAG. Each year, MAG does a Point in Time survey of the homeless population in an attempt to understand patterns and trends leading to homelessness. This year, we went with them during the survey. In this episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, you'll hear three stories from people currently experiencing homelessness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The next time you're beneath a palm tree, see if you can spot a small green bird with a peach-colored face hanging out in its fronds. Those are feral rosy-faced lovebirds. Metro Phoenix is home to roughly 2,000 of them, although they're originally from Africa. A wild lovebird population started growing here in the mid-1980s. Their appearance created confusion and curiosity among local residents, especially those in the birding community. So just how did they get here? This week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, digs in to how they found a new home in the Valley. In this episode, you'll hear: How rosy-faced lovebirds got to the Valley Where you can find rosy-face lovebirds in the valley How they impact our environment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport grounded flights due to extreme heat for the first time in 1990. It happened again more recently in 2013 and 2017. But why can't planes fly in certain temperatures? Turns out, it has to do with performance data provided by plane manufacturers and airline safety procedures. For more on what exactly that means, listen to this week's episode of Valley 101 podcast. In this episode, you'll hear: What it was like in 1990 when Phoenix Sky Harbor grounded flights. What four components are necessary for planes to fly. Kenneth Wood, an American Airline pilot, explain why "performance data" was integral to planes being grounded in high-heat situations. Related reading: Nope, turns out it was technically never too hot to fly out of Phoenix Extreme heat could delay Phoenix flights Flying for the holidays? These hacks will help speed you through Sky Harbor Airport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Celebrities. You love 'em or you hate 'em. Or, you love to hate 'em. We on the Valley 101 podcast team have a few we just absolutely gush over. We're sure we're not swayed by the fact that they're from Arizona. This week, Katie O'Connell, Maritza Dominguez and Taylor Seely each share their favorite celebrity with local ties, plus stories of how the Valley inspired or shaped them. In this episode, you'll hear: How growing up in Arizona David Hallberg into a resilient world-class ballet dancer. How Jordin Sparks became an "American Idol" winner and took to the stage on Broadway. The story of Steven Spielberg's first movie premiere, which happened in Phoenix when he was 17 years old Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Autism is often seen as a “kid’s disorder,” meaning the focus is on helping children – but where does that leave autistic adults? We talked with leaders in the Valley’s autism community about the “services cliff” people with autism often experience at the age of 21 and what Arizona is doing about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We spent most of 2019 exploring the Valley thanks to your questions. We'll be back in 2020 with more. Submit your question today at valley101podcast.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Citrus, cotton, copper, cattle and climate — these are the five Cs of Arizona. They're the five economic drivers that transformed Arizona from a small cowboy town to a growing metropolis. In this episode, you'll hear: How copper helped grow the population in Arizona, and how it's still a major industry in the state. How the cattle industry grew in Arizona and why it's still a major industry despite its downturn post-peak downturn How Arizona has leveraged its climate to attract tourists in the past, and how residents can think about its climate going forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know that Phoenix had one of the most successful local children's shows of all time? "The Wallace and Ladmo Show" ran from 1954 to 1989, collecting fans like Steven Spielberg and Alice Cooper along the way. What made the show a success was its dark humor. Yes, it was a kids' show, but it featured characters like Aunt Maud, who liked reading tragic stories to children. Or Marshall Good, an unemployed "cowboy" from New Jersey who had never ridden a horse. Kids may have tuned in for the cartoon, but high schoolers and their parents got the more offbeat jokes. In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, podcast editor Katie O'Connell explores the history of this Valley original. In this episode you'll hear: Previously unaired interview audio with all three of the show's stars Clips from the show's skits, including one with Muhammad Ali Republic reporter Richard Ruelas, who has written two books on the show, sharing his childhood memories of it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 1990s, Phoenix was in a public controversy over the public art project called Wall Cyle to Ocotillo. The country was going through a recession and the local residents were mad. Mad about the taxpayer money spent on the art, mad about the look of the pots, and mad the city choose out-of-state artists. Eventually the public argument died down, but the curiosity about the project didn't. Almost thirty years later, Phoenix residents still have questions. This week on Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we dig deep into the history of Wall Cycle to Ocotillo, while also looking at the significance of public art. In this episode, you'll hear: Mags Harries and Lajos Heder, the artists who designed Wall Cycle to Ocotillo Edward Lebow, current director of Phoenix's Public Art Program Audio from a student mockumentary parodying the art project Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Metro Phoenix isn’t exactly the idyllic location for Christmas. There’s no snow for building snowmen, the sweaters are often more for aesthetic than necessity, and the hot cocoa? Well, let’s just say Starbucks still keeps their plastic cups fully stocked. But at the very least, locals can create their own holiday wonderland by decorating their homes, hanging twinkle lights, and ornamenting a Christmas tree. Those opting for a real Christmas tree may find themselves wondering: If we live in a desert, where do the real Christmas trees come from? LINKS: For information on how to purchase a permit to cut a Christmas tree from a national forest, click here. For more information on our show, visit: valley101.azcentral.com. Follow our show on Twitter: @Valley101pod Follow our host on Twitter @kailawhite Follow producer Taylor Seely on Twitter: @taylorseely95 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It looks like a tiered wedding cake and is even painted a soft yellow like buttercream. Listen to learn its century-old history (and how to get tour tickets). Click here to see photos and video from inside Tovrea Castle. Note: Those are only for subscribers to azcentral.com. You can subscribe at azcentral.com/join. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, our Valley 101 podcast explored Arizona's five Cs, focusing on citrus and its decline. This week, podcast editor Katie O'Connell digs in on another crop: cotton. The plant was included in the five Cs after its boom in World War I, but it's struggled in recent decades. To uncover more on cotton and its role in our state's identity, Katie spoke to Ron and Russ Rayner, a father-son duo who operate farms in the West Valley. Their consensus was clear. Cotton is still a vital part of the state's identity, bringing in between $400 to $500 million to the state's economy each year. In this episode, you'll hear: Philip VanderMeer, a retired Arizona State University professor of American and Arizonan history Ron and Russ Rayner, farmers from the West Valley Archival audio from an educational documentary from the 1950s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you grew up in Arizona as a young kid, chances are you learned about the five Cs of Arizona in school. But if you didn’t, maybe you’ve heard about them and wondered how they came to be. What are those five Cs? How did Arizona even get this alliteration? This week on Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we dive into the history of the five C's and answer the listener-submitted question, "what happened to derail the citrus industry in Arizona?" We also dig deeper into the impact the citrus industry has on Arizona's economy. In this episode, you'll hear: Philip VanderMeer, a retired Arizona State University professor of American and Arizona history Selwyn Justice, a fifth generation citrus grower in Arizona Archival audio from an educational documentary from the 1930s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Valley Metro light rail debuted in 2008 as a public transportation option that proponents hoped would propel Phoenix into the big leagues of cities. It currently stretches 28 miles long, 8 miles longer than when it first opened. By 2050, Valley Metro plans for it to be 60 miles long. But since its opening, locals have a lots of questions. Reporter Jessica Boehm and producer Taylor Seely answer them. The questions answered in this episode: Why'd the light rail come to Phoenix? Why's the light rail designed the way it is? Why'd Phoenix choose a light rail over a monorail? Does the light rail bring crime and hurt business? What's best for taxpayers' wallets: light rail, bus or car? Has light rail been successful? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the Valley 101 podcast: Spooky edition! You'll hear about graveyards, theater ghosts, and places where children's spirits are rumored to roam. Go on a haunted tour across Phoenix with us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine yourself walking down a dark, twisting staircase. There's light at the bottom, but not much. You come upon a scene as puzzling as it is creepy: fourteen dolls that look like they've been there for years, sitting around a table and lit by a singular bulb. That's what you'll find in the basement of Hanny's, 40 N. 1st St, Phoenix. The downtown Phoenix bar and restaurant used to be a department store, which opened in 1947. The dolls weren't there then, so how and when did they get there? And more importantly, why? That's the topic podcast editor Katie O'Connell will explore in this week's special Halloween episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eighty-eight years ago, Winnie Ruth Judd traveled from Phoenix to Los Angeles with trunks oozing out blood. Initially, police thought the trunks contained illegal deer meat. After flies began circling the abandoned luggage, police opened the trunks, only to discover Agnes "Anne" LeRoi's full body in one and Hedvig "Sammy" Samuelson's dismembered body in another one. The Oct. 16, 1931 murders put the then-sleepy city of Phoenix on the map. The murderous tale and subsequent court proceedings made national headlines. And with so many unanswered questions, the mystery behind Judd's story continues to capture attention. Did Judd alone kill the two women? Why are there still so many questions surrounding the murder? How did she escape so many times from state hospital? In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, producer Maritza Dominguez explores the tale of the "Trunk Murderess." In this episode, you'll hear: Jana Bommersbach, author of the book "The Trunk Murderess: Winnie Ruth Judd", gives a look at Winnie's life before and after the murders. Marshall Shore, the "Hip Historian", describe what Phoenix was like in the 1930's. Winnie Ruth Judd, in a 1969 interview, tells her version of what happened that night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phoenix is known as the land of sunshine and real estate. But every so often you might hear someone compare Phoenix with Silicon Valley, the land of tech startups and innovation and billionaires and Tesla. Some have gone so far as to call Phoenix the "Silicon Desert." But when people talk startups, they usually talk about San Jose and San Francisco, Seattle, New York and Boston. What about us? How big is Phoenix’s startup scene? How is it shaping our metro and our future? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a tower and dome-shaped building south of Interstate 10 near 16th Avenue that seems to always be under construction. It's a church called La Luz del Mundo, or in English, The Light of the World Church. So what is the church and what do the members believe? And why is their church leader, Naasón Joaquín García facing 26 felony charges in Los Angeles County? Reporter Uriel Garcia and producer Taylor Seely find out. To learn more about the church, its history, and ex-churchgoers, read this in-depth article for azcentral.com subscribers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Executive Order 9066 lead to the incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. Two of the largest incarceration camps were located in Arizona. In last week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we examined the history of the camps and what it was like to live in one. In this week's episode, we'll explore what life was like for Japanese Americans who lived outside of the militarized zone. We'll also delve into the closing of the camps and, decades later, a moment the president of the Japanese American Citizens League, Arizona Chapter described as a "bright spot" for our country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Signed by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1942, Executive Order 9066 incarcerated almost 120,000 Japanese-Americans without due process. Internees were sent to one of 10 incarceration camps throughout the country, including two in Arizona. Named the Poston Relocation Center and Gila River War Relocation Center, the camps would become the third and fourth largest cities in Arizona at the time. This week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, explores the atmosphere that lead to the signing of Executive Order 9066 and the construction of the camps in Arizona. You'll also hear what life was like in the Arizona camps from someone who grew up in one. This is the first part of a two-part series on this chapter of history. The second part will be released on Monday, Sept. 23. Subscribe to Valley 101 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts to ensure that you'll hear the follow up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How have Latinos shaped Phoenix's development? Who are the Latinos that led the fight for civil rights in the Valley? It's a broad question, and an essential one: About one third of the people living in Maricopa County are Hispanic or Latino, according to U.S. Census data. We're looking at three stories that illustrate the impact Latinos had in the Valley and continue to have. We take a look into what Phoenix was like before it was developed and during the civil rights movement. September 15th is the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. Celebrate by learning more about Latino history in Arizona with this episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. NOTE: Valley 101 is intended to be heard. But we also offer a transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio. In this episode, you'll hear:The History of the "Mother of Phoenix," Trinidad Escalante SwillingRay Martinez, a co-founder of the American Legion Post 41 and WWII U.S. Navy veteranMary Rose Wilcox, the first Latina to serve on the Phoenix City Council Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Which Arizona team are we in the Valley the most loyal to? And why? People often talk about how long a team has been around or how much they're winning, but there's so much more to it than that. Which team do you love the most and why? Let us know on Twitter @valley101pod. And sign up for our email newsletter at valley101newsletter.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The American Lung Association ranked Phoenix the seventh most ozone-polluted metropolitan area in the United States in April. If you've ever seen a brown haze hanging over the Valley, you too may have questioned the safety of our air quality. While all residents can experience side effects of poor air quality, there are certain groups of people who are particularly sensitive and will endure more severe consequences. What can we all do to protect them? This episode will help you understand more about these pollutants; how they affect human health and who is most at risk; and how Phoenix's air quality has changed over time. LINKS: Subscribe to our Valley 101 Newsletter: valley101newsletter.azcentral.com For more info on the ADEQ vehicle emissions assistance program: azdeq.gov/carhelp Follow Valley on Twitter @valley101pod. Follow Producer Taylor Seely on Twitter: @taylorseely95 Follow Host Kaila White on Twitter @KailaWhite Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you think of when you picture a palm tree? For some, palm trees bring to mind images of beaches, sand and the ocean waves — not the desert. But you can spot the high-rising plant pretty much anywhere you head to in town. That begs the question: Are palm trees native to Arizona? Why does Phoenix have so many? In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, podcast editor Katie O'Connell digs in on this fixture of our landscape. In this episode you'll hear:Liz Makings, collections manager for Arizona State University's HerbariumSteve Blackwell, conservation collections manager at the Desert Botanical GardenBrian Blake, owner of Whitfill Nursery: Main Tree Farm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arizona is home to an array of wildlife unique to the southwestern U.S., including the often-misunderstood javelina. As Mesa resident Jim Albany asked, "Are javelina really dangerous?" This question took us on a journey to the Phoenix Zoo, a taxidermy-filled office room, and the Ben Avery Outdoor Archery Range in Phoenix. If you've ever run into a javelina in your neighborhood and not known how to react, you'll want to take a listen to this episode. Did you know that you can hunt javelina? We break down how it works and talk to local hunter Josh Kirchner about his adventures. To learn more, listen to this episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. In this episode, you'll hear:Devorah Young, a hoofstockkeeper at the Phoenix Zoo, talk about javelinas she takes care of. Darren Julian, of Arizona Game and Fish Department, speak about how to react when you run into a javelina.Josh Kirchner, a local hunter, talk about why he hunts javelina and how to do it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Odds are you’ve driven through the part of Interstate 10 in downtown Phoenix that dips into a tunnel. Phoenix natives call this the Deck Park Tunnel. But that is that is not its real name, and it’s technically not a tunnel. The real name is the Papago Freeway Tunnel and it's a series of 19 bridges. Big surprise, right? To dig in to this controversial history, listen to this episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. This episode contains clips of a video called "Soaring Sculpture" produced by Swartwout Film Productions in cooperation with the Arizona State Highway Department and the Bureau of Public Roads and U.S. Department of Transportation. Thank you to the Arizona Department of Transportation for letting us use parts of that video. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legend City was an 87-acre Arizona theme park located between Phoenix and Tempe near Papago Park from 1963 to 1983. At its best, Legend City was a family oasis filled with fun western rides, talented performers and nostalgic penny arcades. At its worst, it had shoddy maintenance and only remnants of its original western theme. Despite Legend City's tumultuous history, filled with financial mismanagement, rapid ownership turnover and multiple periods of closure, the park was also a source of many fond memories for residents today. Producer Taylor Seely explores the story behind the park in this episode. Follow Valley 101 on Twitter: @valley101pod Follow Taylor Seely on Twitter: @taylorseely95 Find John Bueker's book on Legend City by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Built before statehood, the Arizona capitol building grew in conjunction with the state's population. By 1954, the state legislature realized a third addition to the original structure was necessary. The state contracted with a group called the Associated State Capital Architects, but not everyone was pleased with their designs. Insert Frank Lloyd Wright. The famed architect offered an unsolicited design for the building in 1957, launching a public debate on which plan the government should pursue. And things got heated. Listen to this episode of the Valley 101 podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you drive around the Valley you're likely to see electric scooters on sidewalks, in neighborhoods and in popular areas like Mill Avenue in Tempe or Scottsdale Fashion Square. Bike-share programs that have docking stations have been in metro Phoenix since 2014. But once dockless bikes popped up in 2017 and dockless scooters in 2018, they immediately drew criticism. You might be wondering: Why are they here? Are they safe to ride? How are they changing the Valley? In this episode of The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com's Valley 101 podcast, we look at all the ways electric scooters and bikes are affecting our cities. In this episode, you'll hear: What it's like to be a charger for electric scooter companies like Bird and Lime.What safety issues scooters are bringing to the forefront in our communities?Whether or not scooters will change transportation as we know it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many major cities across the U.S. have a Chinatown, Little Italy or some other ethnic enclave where immigrants have settled together. Did we ever have an ethnic enclave in metro Phoenix? Yes! We had one. Or, well, two. Listen to this episode of the Valley 101 podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From its time as "Apacheria" to rumors it was once brimming with camels, metro Phoenix is rich with history and myths. In this episode of Valley 101 podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we answer four of your questions about the history of Arizona and the Phoenix area. These include:What state in Mexico was Arizona before the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?Who named Camelback Mountain?What is the most iconic building in the downtown Phoenix skyline?How did Grand Avenue end up diagonal in a grid of roads? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As housing across metro Phoenix becomes more expensive, Valley residents are questioning whether it’s become a crisis, and how effectively cities are tackling the issue. Reporters from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.comhave covered this crisis extensively, finding that eviction rates and homelessness rates are rising every year in Maricopa County. In part, that’s because of an affordable-housing crisis across the Valley. To read the transcript of this episode, click here. Articles mentioned in the episode: – Eviction rate spikes again across Phoenix as affordable-housing crisis worsens – Federal report: Homelessness spikes in Arizona, rising 10 percent in 2018 – Renters in the housing crisis are often stuck between help and affordability – SqueezedOut.azcentral.com Follow us on Twitter: @valley101pod Follow the producer of this episode, Taylor: @taylorseely95 Follow the show host: @kailawhite Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phoenix was built on agriculture. Without the efforts of early settlers to revive the Hohokam canal system to grow crops, we wouldn't be here today. But the abundance of land, good climate and accessible water drew new residents and businesses en mass. The more the population grew, the more land was converted to from agricultural land to residential land. The result? The west valley lost 31% of its agricultural land between 2000 and 2017. The east valley lost almost 54% of agricultural land during the same time. How are urban farmers in the Valley surviving? And what does the future of farming look like? If you're looking for more on this subject, read this story from Arizona Republic reporter Joshua Bowling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Other big cities across the U.S. have been shaped by housing segregation and redlining, but did that happen here? Host Kaila White looks into this issue that reaches back to before Arizona was a state and it still impacts Phoenix today, maybe even affecting your neighborhood. References: - FDR recording “NNV 169-59 [dig].” from 1940 from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. - Ray Martinez recording from Arizona History, A Chicano Perspective (1985). F 820 M5 A77x 1985. Chicano/a Research Collection. ASU Library, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. - President Johnson Signing the 1968 Civil Rights Bill, April 11, 1968 from the LBJ Presidential Library. - Read Elizabeth Montgomery’s article on Lincoln Ragsdale, “the Arizona Civil Rights pioneer who helped integrate Phoenix.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever noticed a clear wire, strung between poles in different parts of the Valley? You can see it at the intersection of Scottsdale and Camelback roads, crossing diagonally along the canal, near Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall. That's an Eruv. A boundary for observant, usually Orthodox, members of Judaism. The wire, which surrounds parts of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, allows the community to carry certain items outside of their homes on Shabbat, otherwise known as Shabbos or the Sabbath. But why does this Eruv allow them to carry things? And why do the rules exist in the first place? Learn all about the Valley Eruv in this week's episode of Valley 101. Read the transcript of the episode by clicking here. Follow Taylor Seely on Twitter: @taylorseely95 Follow Valley 101 on Twitter: @valley101pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It took months of planning, but on the night of December 23, 1944, 25 German prisoners of war POWs escaped from Camp Papago Park in Phoenix. They crawled through a handmade tunnel with hopes of heading home via Mexico. Later known as "The Great Papago Escape," it was the largest POW escape on American soil during World War II. And it happened in our backyard — literally. There are houses now where the camp existed. In this episode, editor Katie O'Connell explores what happened that fateful night. And what can we learn from it now? Follow Katie O'Connell on Twitter: @katieoc If you have additional questions about this story, you can reach out to historian Steve Hoza directly by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you love restaurants or cooking shows, or you care about Arizona’s farmers, ranchers, or tourism, or you just want people to know our state is cool, you should know about the James Beard Awards. Considered the "Oscars of the food world," the James Beard Awards are the top award American chefs can win. So why did Arizonans stop winning? In this episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, host Kaila White teamed up with The Republic's dining editor Lauren Saria to explore Arizona's history and future with the James Beard Awards. Read the transcript of this episode by clicking here. This transcript is created in part by audio transcription software and lightly edited by a producer, so there may be slight deviations from the podcast audio. Follow Lauren Saria on Twitter: @lhsaria Follow Kaila White on Twitter: @kailawhite Follow Valley 101 on Twitter: @valley101pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If the saying goes, "You are what you eat," then Chicagoans are deep-dish pizza or Chicago dogs, Philadelphians are Philly cheesesteaks, and perhaps New Mexicans are green chiles. But what about Arizonans? Does the Valley have a food to call its own? And if it does, what does it say about our culture? Producer Taylor Seely finds out on this episode of Valley 101. And be sure to submit your questions at Valley101.azcentral.com. Follow Taylor on Twitter: @taylorseely95 Follow Valley 101 on Twitter: @valley101pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Almost two million people in Arizona live in some sort of community association. How did we get here? The answer goes back to how the city developed after World War II. Valley 101 editor Katie O'Connell talked to real estate experts to find out the answer on this episode. Want your question answered? Submit it at valley101podcast.azcentral.com. Follow Katie O'Connell on Twitter: @katieoc. Follow Valley 101 on Twitter: @valley101pod. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the federal government systematically took Native American children from their homes and shipped them to boarding schools across the U.S. to assimilate them into western society. Arizona is home to one of those boarding schools. How did it change from 1891 to 1990, to become more academic and even a point of pride for Native American students? And what was it like to be a student through the ages? Listen to this episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, to find out. Special thanks to The Heard Museum, for allowing Valley 101 to record in its exhibit and the audio of musician Russel Moore to be included in this episode. This story was reported by Shondiin Silversmith and produced by Taylor Seely. Follow Shondiin on Twitter: @DiinSilversmith Follow Taylor on Twitter: @taylorseely95 Follow Valley 101 on Twitter: @valley101pod Submit your questions to Valley 101 at Valley101.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legend has it, the concrete pad and stone wall are all that's left of an upscale restaurant called Cloud Nine that mysteriously burned down in the 1960s. Who built a restaurant up there and how? What was it like in its heyday? And what led to its demise? Valley 101 host and producer Kaila White dug into newspaper archives and public records to find the truth, encountering some interesting characters along the way. Music in this episode includes “Arizona Moon,” “La Costilla,” and “El Tajo” by Blue Dot Sessions. Want your question about metro Phoenix answered? Submit it at valley101podcast.azcentral.com. And follow us on Twitter @valley101pod. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we talked about in last week's episode, the Valley is going to grow. For part two in our exploration of our population, we're looking ahead. Just how many people are we talking about adding? And what will that additional population mean for our economy and housing? What about our transportation and water? Want your question about metro Phoenix answered? Submit it at valley101podcast.azcentral.com. And follow us on Twitter @valley101pod. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've been collecting your questions for more than two months now and one topic keeps coming up: the Valley's population. So we're taking two episodes to answer your population-related questions. In this week's episode, we look at how Phoenix and the Valley got so big. When did we start growing? And what fueled that growth? Be sure to listen next week when we explore the future population of the Valley. Want your question about metro Phoenix answered? Submit it at valley101podcast.azcentral.com. And follow us on Twitter @valley101pod. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices