Valley 101

People have wondered if we're alone in the universe for centuries. Although men have landed on the moon and probes have been sent outside the solar system, there is still so much to explore. The mysteries of outer space have drawn many people to search for evidence of alien life. But not all researchers focus on looking through a telescope. Plenty others spend their time watching the sky and documenting unidentified flying object sightings. As it turns out, Arizona is a hot spot for UFOs and those who believe in them. In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we explored the unfamiliar world of UFOs and spoke to different people looking to answer the question: "are we alone in the universe?"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seeing fireworks this year is a little more tricky than pulling up to your favorite usual spot on the night of July 4. Some cities around the Valley are forgoing their celebration because of supply-chain issues or other complications.  This week on Valley 101, we share where in the metro Phoenix area you can and cannot see dazzling displays shoot across the sky.  Please remember that if you’re planning on shooting off fireworks from your backyard, be careful! Not only can they be dangerous, but Arizona is in a long-term drought. Setting off fireworks too close to brush is an easy way to start a fire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year Title IX, the law that prohibits sex discrimination in schools, turns 50. The landmark legislation has become synonymous with women’s sports in addition to affecting education.  On June 23, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed the amendment into law.  It says that no person can be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination on the basis of sex under “any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Should any education institution be found in violation, it would lose federal money.  While sports is not specifically mentioned, the amendment has permanently altered the course of women’s athletics.  In this episode of Valley 101, we explore this landmark law through an Arizona lens where we hear from those who’ve seen its passage, implemented it and benefited from it.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anyone in the Phoenix area can tell you that right now it is hot. Really hot. The National Weather Service recently issued an excessive heat warning, keeping an eye on the triple digit temperatures in the forecast. It's summer, and the heat is predicable. But the summer heat also brings monsoon storms and rains, something that is much harder to predict.  In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we are joined by meteorologist Matt Pace to give a preview of what we can expect during the dog days of summer.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With as many streets as Phoenix has, there's bound to be some interesting history behind their names. One that has caught many people's attention is the historical Bethany Home Road. Listeners have asked what the original Bethany Home was or who it was named after. A street name must have some significance behind it. Otherwise there wouldn't be so many streets named after the presidents. In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we tried to dig a little deeper and learn more about Bethany Home's origins. Along the way, we learned why it's so important to keep track of history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the advent of the new "Jurassic World" movie, our producers started to wonder what Arizona looked like 65 million years ago. Turns out, we know very little about Arizona's dinosaur age. It was nearly wiped clean from the paleontological record. But why?  In this episode of Valley 101, we dig up the answers to what kinds of dinosaurs lived here and why there's so few fossil records in our state.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Graduation is a time in your life when you’re getting dressed up in an itchy, shapeless gown and trying to adjust a square hat to your head that simply won’t stay on. It is also a right of passage. Not only does it represent growing up and going on to bigger things, but it’s a celebration of everything you’ve done up until that point. A celebration of your years of education and everyone who helped you achieve that. It’s something almost all of us go through.  But the graduates of 2022 had an educational experience that few can relate to. With the pandemic and virtual learning and everything else that affected them, they are a class that is unique. In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we are joined by The Republic's k-12 education reporter Yana Kunichoff. Together, we visited three graduations at three different stages of life to try and capture this moment in time.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's no secret that Maricopa County is growing quickly. New apartments in Phoenix are being built just as fast as people are moving into them.  The Census Bureau reported that the county added 58,246 new residents from July 2020 to July 2021.  It is now the fastest growing county in the nation.  And even outside Maricopa County, Arizona has seen immense growth over the last year. The census showed that more than 98,000 people moved to Arizona in that year. Only 832 of them came from what is called “natural change," which refers to deaths and births. The rest have moved from other states. In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we want to welcome newcomers to the metro Phoenix area by answering four questions about its history.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, the Western movie genre held sway over the box office. And Arizona featured prominently in many of them. From John Wayne, to Henry Fonda, Clint Eastwood to Kurt Russell, Hollywood’s golden actors flocked to our state to shoot movies. But Arizona’s film history goes beyond the Wild West stereotype.  In this episode of Valley 101, we explore what movies were made in Phoenix and Arizona at large. And we find out why more movies aren't made here now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every year The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com host a wine competition for the vineyards in Arizona. This year, more than 200 bottles were entered to be considered for Best in Show. After hours of tasting the best wines that the state has to offer, the 20 qualified judges granted a bottle of merlot from a brand new winery the Governor's Cup. Cove Mesa Vineyards is new on the scene, but its owners Emil and Cindy Molin have spent years as wine aficionados. After getting a degree from the Southwest Wine Center, Emil set out to buy a winery himself in 2020. To some, this is the perfect story of how Arizona's wine industry is evolving from hidden gem to national recognition.  In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we share what Arizona vineyards have to offer, where you can find them, and how the new kids on the block took the grand prize this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Springtime in the desert is special. For a few brief weeks, the taupe-shaded landscape transforms into a riot of color. The palo verdes don crowns of gold, and cactuses burst with large pink, yellow, purple and white flowers. Daisies nod their heads, beckoning visitors to adore them. Ocotillo open their coral-red buds while wearing coats of green leaves between their thorns.  It's a flurry of activity before the scorching temperatures force every living thing to just endure.  Buzzing, fluttering and twittering among the plants are Arizona’s pollinators. And as they brush up against each flower, a bit of pollen is distributed from one plant to the next, allowing the plants to propagate the next generation.  This week, we find out what you should plant in your garden to attract local pollinators.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In June 1989, the streets of downtown Phoenix became a raceway for the biggest global racing competition: Formula 1. The Phoenix Grand Prix was a chance to show off Phoenix on a world stage, but the race was beset with wide ranging obstacles. Needless to say, it wasn't a smooth ride. Just after three years, Formula 1 pulled out of the Valley of the Sun. This week on Valley 101, we find out why Formula 1 came to Phoenix and why it quickly left. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In December 2020, the first Arizonan received their vaccine against COVID-19. Just nine months after virus took ahold of the state and the rest of the world, health care workers and first responders were able to usher in a new era during the pandemic: the vaccination era. For some it felt like much needed light after a long, dark tunnel. The vaccine roll out expanded first by phases of necessity then by age in Arizona. By April 2021, all adults in the state were eligible to get a dose.  In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we map out the journey from the first shot to today. We spoke with reporters, doctors, and state health officials and track how 61.1% of Arizona residents became fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where is the best Mexican food in the U.S.? It’s a complex question fueled with fiery debates and passionate proclamations.  Tucson boasts 23 miles of quality Mexican food and is an UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Phoenix, however, is more than happy to step into the ring to duke it out on who has the best Mexican food. With literally hundreds of shops, from humble food trucks to exquisitely high-brow dining concepts, Phoenix holds its own as a culinary contender.  In this episode, Valley 101 plays referee between two Mexican food heavy-weights: Phoenix and Tucson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spotting people in Western attire going about their day is typical for Scottsdale. Pieces of public art featuring horses are spread throughout the city. In Old Town Scottsdale, the iconic sign of a cowboy with a lasso welcomes visitors. Western motifs and appreciation for horse culture saturate the city, whose official nickname is "The West's Most Western Town". It's even home to the world's largest Arabian horse show, at Westworld. Which begs the question: Is Scottsdale the horse capital of the Valley? Is it the most cowboy town in the metro area? In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we explore the relationship between the city's increasingly cosmopolitan image and its old West history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices