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‘Doing great’: Mat Ishbia encouraged about Phoenix Suns’ future despite sweep

Thu, 02 May 2024 22:15:51 +0000

May 2, 2024

‘Doing great’: Mat Ishbia encouraged about Phoenix Suns’ future despite sweep

PHOENIX – After the Phoenix Suns’ season came to an abrupt end, owner Mat Ishbia and general manager James Jones knew they would have to face the music. They did Wednesday, and it was accompanied by a healthy dose of feedback. “I’m glad that the fans are upset with how the season went, that means they care just as much as we do,” Ishbia said. Reporters grilled the pair after the team finished the regular season 49-33 and were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. After trading for Bradley Beal in the summer of 2023, the Suns had high expectations for the season. But the team fell victim to inconsistencies, both said, because of health issues and players unable to get on the same page. “Guys had to learn a new system,” Jones said. “They had to unlearn and relearn terminology and schemes.” Ishbia noted that “our core guys (Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker) only played about 40 games together.” Beal played in just 53 games, Booker in 68 and Durant in 75. The lack of chemistry proved costly. Speculation about coach Frank Vogel’s future picked up after the first-round sweep but Ishiba said he didn’t want to discuss the coach’s performance because the pair hadn’t talked yet. Jones, meanwhile, voiced his support. “I thought Frank did a great job given the circumstances,” Jones said. “We assembled a really talented team, primarily three scorers. Whenever you try to get guys to adjust and adapt their games, there’s a transition time. It’s sometimes a struggle, but I thought he did a great job this year.” Ishbia also suggested a major overhaul wasn’t in the team’s future. “I don’t think it’s a blow-it-up and all these things people are talking about,” he said. “We were way better than we were last year.” Fans are restless. They hoped to see a team compete for a championship or at least a Western Conference Finals appearance. The Suns’ offense showed promise this season and ranked fifth in field goal percentage, but the team finished in the middle of the pack in defense at 13. Defensive struggles and the lack of a facilitator-type point guard hurt them. Jones confirmed reports that the team wanted a true point guard to help the three core guys become more effective, but added the filling that role is more challenging than people think. “It varies on how they fit with our play style, personalities and who is available,” he said. The Suns’ starters are under contract for at least next season, and the team has its first round pick for five of the next eight drafts. “We aren’t looking for the next best seventh-grader in 2031,” Ishbia said. “We want to win and compete right now with the best roster we can come up with.” He remained optimistic about the team’s future. “The narrative that the house is burning is incorrect,” Ishbia said. “The Phoenix Suns are doing great. Excellent. Not as good as we want to be. Not as good as we’re going to do next year. And that’s what we’re going to figure out – what we’ve got to tweak, modify and adjust to win a championship next year.”

Salton Sea immigrant community experiences high rates of asthma from inhaling dust from the drying sea bed

Thu, 02 May 2024 22:08:24 +0000

May 2, 2024

Salton Sea immigrant community experiences high rates of asthma from inhaling dust from the drying sea bed

NORTH SHORE, California – As it deteriorates, the ecosystem around the Salton Sea in Riverside County in Southern California, has been creating a toxic environment that hurts the health of children of immigrant families who live and work there, according to researchers. A 2023 study by the University of California, Riverside, looked at the immigrant population of low-income Hispanic and Indigenous Mexican Hispanic people in communities around the Salton Sea and found that the rate of childhood asthma is 20% to 22.4%, much higher than the California average of 14.5%. The study’s researchers said that the health problems are caused by the dust from the remains of fish that ingested toxic materials from the water in the Salton Sea. “When I moved to North Shore, I started having problems with one of my children because at a young age, 2 months old, he started having breathing problems,” said Solangel Cruz, a resident of North Shore, California, who works in the agriculture fields. “He got the flu and from the flu he got bronchitis.” [caption id="attachment_231408" align="alignright" width="300"] Solangel Cruz’s son had a bad case of bronchitis caused, in part, from the dust from the Salton Sea. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)[/caption] The UC Riverside study showed that when dust from the dried-up seabed is blown by the wind and inhaled, it activates immune responses in nearby residents. “One of the concerns that the community faces around the lagoon is allergies, asthma, respiratory problems, eye problems and nosebleeds,” said María Pozar, an area resident who goes by Conchita and was one of the lead researchers of the UC Riverside study. The Salton Sea, California’s largest lake, is drying at a rate of 1.3 million acre feet per year. A study from the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources tracked the deterioration of the sea and surrounding ecosystem and determined that in addition to evaporation, a lot of water has been diverted to urban areas since 2018. Because of that, the salinity of the water and toxic materials in it have been concentrated in the dust, making it dangerous. “Waste from the water, toxic water, entered here,” Pozar said. The Salton Sea formed in 1905 when the Colorado River, itself a river with high salinity, burst an irrigation canal gate and flooded the area; the lagoon almost had the same salinity as the ocean. It was an important site for fish that tolerate high salinity and it was also an important feeding ground for birds. [caption id="attachment_231401" align="alignright" width="300"] Conchita Pozar works with a research project of the University of California, Riverside, and provides care for residents through the Coachella Valley Free Clinic. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)[/caption] In the 1950s, the Salton Sea was a tourist destination with seaside resorts, marinas and yacht clubs, and it drew both vacationers and entertainers and celebrities. However, there were environmental concerns by the end of the 1960s. In the 1970s, tropical storms and floods damaged tourist areas. In addition, the salt from nearby agricultural sites mixed with irrigation water from the Colorado River. The lagoon started receding as it dried. The fish that the birds depended on either died from increasing salinity or predation from tilapia, according to the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. In the end, only tilapia remained. Today, the dust comes from the dried seabed which includes decimated fish remains. According to Pozar, other problems include illegal dumping and a lack of trees and plants that could help trap the dust before it reaches the community. The respiratory problems persist, but the immigrant community lacks access to health services that could help. “It’s a very large immigrant population, their familiarity with health care systems is usually the Mexican health care system, which is a very different way about accessing health care,” said Ann Cheney, lead researcher of the UC Riverside study, and a medical anthropologist in the Department of Social Medicine, Population and Public Health at the University of California, Riverside. [caption id="attachment_231393" align="alignright" width="300"] Ann Cheney, a research scientist for the University of California, Riverside, helps provide care for residents through the Coachella Valley Free Clinic. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)[/caption] Cheney also said that sometimes parents prefer to take their children to Mexico for treatment, if they can cross the border, instead of to doctors in the U.S. Undocumented people aren’t eligible for Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplace or other forms of public health insurance, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. In addition, 30% of farm workers live below the federal poverty line, and 65% lack health insurance, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. “There’s a fear that providers are going to ask for a form of identification or are going to ask for insurance coverage,” Cheney said. Cheney and Pozar said that the mission of the Coachella Valley Free Clinic, operated by the university and led by Pozar, is to go into the immigrant community and provide treatment for the people who need it. “As a mother, I give myself the obligation to be able to advocate, to be able to do the research that can lead them to a good place,” Pozar said.

¿Cómo los intérpretes médicos ayudan a superar las barreras del idioma?

Thu, 02 May 2024 19:01:22 +0000

May 2, 2024

¿Cómo los intérpretes médicos ayudan a superar las barreras del idioma?

PHOENIX – Martha Martínez gerente lingüística de Valleywise Medical Center recuerda que hace varios años ella fue a un hospital y que sintió en carne propia a lo que se someten los pacientes que no hablan inglés y a quienes, en ocasiones, se les hace una traducción errónea al momento de ver a un médico. “En una ocasión cuando llegué tenía un dolor muy fuerte y venimos a la sala de urgencias. El doctor dijo que yo tenía una infección urinaria bastante fuerte”, dijo Martínez. “La persona bilingüe que hacía las traducciones dijo que yo tenía una enfermedad venérea. Y no solamente dijo eso, agregó que yo no debería de andar jugando con tanto hombre”. Martínez dijo que se sintió avergonzada, pero ese error de traducción le dio fuerza para prepararse, estudiar inglés y aprender la terminología médica adecuada para poder desempeñarse como intérprete. [caption id="attachment_231383" align="alignright" width="300"] Edificio de Valleywise Centro Médico en la ciudad de Phoenix el 16 de abril de 2024. (Foto de Kevinjonah Paguio/Cronkite Noticias)[/caption] Los intérpretes médicos son esenciales para brindar atención de calidad a los pacientes que no hablan inglés ya que superan la barrera del idioma entre el personal médico y los pacientes, lo que garantiza que ambas partes se entiendan y puedan comunicarse de manera efectiva. Un simple error puede tener graves consecuencias. Martínez señaló que trabajó por un tiempo en el área de limpieza de Valleywise Medical Center, y que sus habilidades bilingües a menudo atraían a los médicos que necesitaban ayuda para comunicarse con sus pacientes. Martínez dijo que se unió a un programa piloto en 1994 en dicho hospital convirtiéndose en intérprete y posteriormente vocera. “Yo encantada”, dijo Martínez. “La pasión me desbordada de los poros para poder ayudar a las personas”. Según recientes estadísticas en los Estados Unidos hay más de 17,526 intérpretes médicos empleados. El 67,6% de todos los intérpretes médicos son mujeres, mientras que el 32,4% son hombres. La edad media de los intérpretes médicos es de 41 años. El origen étnico más común de los intérpretes médicos es de la raza blanca (39,6%), seguido del hispano o latino (35,3%) y el asiático (14,3%). En 2022, las mujeres ganaron el 93% de lo que ganaron los hombres. El 15% de todos los intérpretes médicos son LGBT. Los intérpretes médicos tienen un 80% más de probabilidades de trabajar en empresas privadas en comparación con las empresas educativas. El programa de intérpretes de Valleywise Medical Center ofrece servicios de traducción de documentos médicos. El programa ha ayudado a interpretar en decenas de idiomas. [caption id="attachment_231382" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Martha Martínez es gerente de servicios lingüísticos de Valleywise Centro Médico. “Yo creo firmemente que todas las comunidades, todas las personas requieren recibir su información en su idioma", dijo Martínez en Valleywise Centro Médico el 16 de abril de 2024. (Foto de Kevinjonah Paguio/Cronkite Noticias)
[/caption] “Estoy muy orgullosa de mi equipo”, dijo Martínez. “Es como, es mi espina dorsal los que me apoyan, todo mi equipo. Son personas que tienen la pasión de ayudar”. Para Jhonatan Martínez, intérprete de Valleywise Medical Center desde hace un año y medio, trabajar en el sector médico siempre fue un sueño. Como inmigrante, dijo que cuando era niño luchó por aprender el idioma inglés y adaptarse a la cultura de Estados Unidos. “Vienes a un país nuevo, no hablas el idioma, no teníamos un estatus legal. Son muchas las cosas que detiene la vida de una persona que emigra a un país”, Jhonatan Martínez. Martínez recuerda que cuando era niño y se transportaba en un autobús escolar, el chofer le pidió que cerrara una ventana del autobús. “Era mi primer día de escuela”, dijo Martínez. “Yo no entendía nada y pues todos se rieron”. Ese incidente marcó su vida y lo hizo entender la importancia de ser bilingüe y lo beneficioso que es su trabajo. [caption id="attachment_231384" align="alignright" width="300"] Un letrero en la puerta de la oficina de intérpretes en Valleywise Centro Médico el 16 de abril de 2024. (Foto de Kevinjonah Paguio/Cronkite Noticias)[/caption] “Yo trato de explicar lo mejor que yo pueda para que no tenga ninguna duda porque yo recuerdo como yo me sentía cuando no entendía nada”. dijo Jonathan. Martha Martínez y Jhonatan Martínez utilizaron sus experiencias y las transformaron en algo positivo. Ahora ambos son puentes de comunicación entre médicos y pacientes. Para poder lograrlo utilizaron no solo el manejo eficaz del idioma inglés y español sino también el conocimiento de la cultura. Martha va a las escuelas para hablar con los niños y contar su historia. Dice que quiere inspirar a las nuevas generaciones. “Los niños no se dan cuenta de la importancia de ser bilingües verdad. Entonces quieren dejar su idioma fuera”, dijo Martha. “Yo les he dicho yo hablo dos idiomas y yo gano dinero por eso”. Ser intérprete es una gran responsabilidad dijo Martha Martínez, algo que ella se toma en serio. “Por eso la importancia no solo de ser precisos y claros, esto hace la diferencia en salvar la vida de una persona”, dijo Martha Martínez. “No somos doctores, pero también salvamos vidas”.

Unhittable: Pitching powers propel GCU softball to record season, WAC crown

Thu, 02 May 2024 17:41:29 +0000

May 2, 2024

Unhittable: Pitching powers propel GCU softball to record season, WAC crown

PHOENIX – Earlier this season, GCU coach Shannon Hays said pitching was a bright spot for the 2024 GCU softball team. His words remain true with three games remaining. Grand Canyon softball is performing exactly how the team envisioned as the reigning WAC champions. Behind a program record 42-11 and a 20-3 record in conference play, the Lopes earned their fourth regular-season championship and have all but clinched the top seed for the upcoming WAC softball tournament, which begins Wednesday. Since March 15, the Lopes have posted a 22-4 record while losing just one conference game behind their strong arms. In GCU’s 22 wins, pitchers allowed three runs or less in 17 of those games with a strong collective effort. The team’s six pitchers posted a staggering 1.17 WHIP and 2.48 ERA, numbers that cemented GCU’s dominant run over the last six weeks. “The cool thing about our staff is they’re all different,” said pitching coach Maribeth Gorsuch. "We can use them as starters, we can use them as relievers, and they all work really well together.” One person stepping up is senior pitcher Hailey Hudson, who has become a critical piece in helping Grand Canyon stay in games when the offense stalls. Despite being overshadowed at the beginning of the year by teammate and Preseason WAC Pitcher of the Year, Meghan Golden, Hudson appeared in a team-high 29 games for the Lopes this season and posted 17 starts. She holds a 13-4 record as a starter and ranks highest in innings played, with over 100. “Hailey in particular really has had a 180-degree shift in her game from last season to this year,” Gorsuch said about Hudson. The difference between this season and the last is simple. “Last year I put a lot of pressure on myself, and this year, I trusted in my team and defense,” Hudson said. “That’s helped me tremendously this year just knowing I have such a great team to back me up.” [related-story-right box-title="Related story" link="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2024/04/03/grand-canyon-university-sotball-shanon-hays-kristin-fifield/" image="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/04-07-22-GCU-Softball-Practice-7-1.jpg" headline="Grand Canyon softball’s WAC defense in full-swing after most successful season in program history"] The Lopes pitchers keep hitters guessing through their versatility as a rotation. Each player brings a different role and style to the game. “With players like Hailey, we can move her anywhere. She can play any way that is successful,” Gorsuch said. The connection and bond between the Lopes pitchers is evident at practice, where they are always together, talking and working to get better. At the plate, power hitters Kristin Fifield and Ashley Trierweiler lead the way but the duo is far from the only one stepping up to the plate. One of those players is Kayla Rodgers. Rodgers, another senior, is a transfer from Yavapai College in her second season with the program. The outfielder is batting .380, which sits third on the team in batting average among players with more than an at-bat. “I think as a whole team we’re doing really well. We’re together as a whole and coming together offensively,” Rodgers said about the season. A big reason for success is how the team capitalizes on big moments that are presented, and Rodgers has certainly been involved in all of them recently. The last trip to Nacogdoches, Texas, saw the Lopes complete a three-game sweep over the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. Game 1 went the distance, all the way to nine innings. Hudson played a complete game, gave up zero runs total and allowed just three hits. Rodgers scored the winning run for a 1-0 clutch win. The Lopes followed that thriller with shutouts, giving up zero runs on the weekend. Rodgers, who had hits and RBIs in all three games, is continuing to terrorize pitchers at the plate. She’s recorded hits in 12 straight games and RBIs in nine of the last 13 games. After losing Tuesday to Arizona, 3-2, GCU returns home Friday and Saturday to host senior weekend against Abilene Christian University.

Older adults face homelessness at high rates. Here’s how governments, organizations are responding

Thu, 02 May 2024 17:15:09 +0000

May 2, 2024

Older adults face homelessness at high rates. Here’s how governments, organizations are responding

PHOENIX – Homelessness is an ongoing issue in the state and around the country. As the number of unhoused individuals rises, government and nonprofit organizations continue to assist those impacted – with the help of federal funding. Arizona older adults in particular have difficulties with housing and may be limited in generating new income. A 2022 report from the Arizona Department of Economic Security indicated that more than 4,500 individuals ages 55 and older received homelessness assistance, more than any other age group that year. Rachel Milne, director of the Phoenix Office of Homeless Solutions, said older adults are a fast-growing subgroup in the unhoused population, with unique challenges. “Seniors are typically on a very fixed income. Whether they're receiving a little bit of assistance, they have what they have, and that number is not going to change,” she said. “So they need to be able to find a unit that will fit within their budget knowing that they're not anticipating getting raises.” Milne said in May 2023, the city used $5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to buy an old Super 8 near Northern Avenue and Interstate 17. Then in March, Sens. Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema announced that $3 million in federal funding would go toward converting the hotel into a permanent housing option for older adults. [caption id="attachment_231367" align="alignright" width="300"] Robert Chayrez gets a haircut from Adriel Romano. Chayrez says he’s been coming to Justa Center for four years and has been able to get biweekly haircuts from volunteers. (Photo by Crystal N. Aguilar/Cronkite News)[/caption] Other sources are also financing the project, Milne said, including a grant from Maricopa County and general funds from the city. Milne said that shelter services are a major focus for the city, which solves homelessness for older adults only in the short term. The hotel conversion project, she said, is meant to be a longer-term solution. “Shelter doesn't end homelessness,” she said. “It helps people stabilize, certainly, but we're really happy to have this housing so folks will have their own leases at this site. This will be their home for as long as they want to and without risk of losing it due to rising rents.” Kelly and Sinema also announced $850,000 in federal funding for the Justa Center. The Justa Center in downtown Phoenix has worked for years to assist unhoused older adults in the community. The organization works toward getting older folks a place to go for the day. Justa Center started in 2006 and provides shower and laundry services, a dayroom, a health clinic and digital skills training. Also, the nonprofit serves two meals a day for most of the year. During the summer months, it serves three meals a day and provides heat relief. The center provides case manager assistance and a director of housing solutions who can help older adults find shelters or housing facilities. Dean Scheinert, executive director of Justa Center, explained why the organization is unique among nonprofits looking to help an aging unhoused population. “There are many organizations that provide services to either seniors or people who are experiencing homelessness, … but they do a lot of other things. So that (unhoused older adults) is our one and only mission,” Scheinert said. John Dean, a Justa Center visitor, has lived in Phoenix his whole life and said the center has been valuable in getting relief. Dean said that he became unhoused after his apartment caught fire and burned down. “I lost a lot of things,” Dean said. “It was awful.” "I'm just trying to get a place," Dean said, who spends nights in a motel and relies on Justa Center primarily for its food and housing resources, which have helped him through a difficult process. [caption id="attachment_231366" align="alignnone" width="1024"] John Dean frequents Justa Center for help finding housing while he stays at a motel, after a fire forced him out of his apartment. He says he likes the center because it’s easy to talk to everyone due to their shared experiences. (Photo by Crystal N. Aguilar/Cronkite News)[/caption] “It’s very hard. Very hard. You have nowhere to go, you know? It’s real hard,” Dean said, in reference to the difficulty of being unhoused. Dean said that he is also receiving assistance from Central Arizona Shelter Services as he looks for permanent housing. “I’m going to CASS right now,” Dean said on a February morning. “I have a case manager, so she’s working on it.” Scheinert said there are a number of reasons older adults experience homelessness. “One is, obviously, the lack of affordable housing. Seniors are often on fixed incomes,” Scheinert said. “When you’re a senior and you’re homeless and you haven't been diagnosed for many years, they (mental health challenges) become exacerbated. The summer is a big issue – things like that.” Scheinert said that though awareness surrounding the issue is improving, there has been a lack of “core focus for public policy.” Scheinert said Justa Center’s approach has served thousands of people and that it has created a close community whose members help each other through the process of gaining housing. “We’re like a family,” Scheinert said. “We have a small staff – there are 13 people here – some of whom have lived experience … and a lot of people who work here are seniors, so it could be any of us.”

Bobby Winkles enshrined in bronze at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, cementing ASU baseball legacy

Thu, 02 May 2024 16:43:53 +0000

May 2, 2024

Bobby Winkles enshrined in bronze at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, cementing ASU baseball legacy

PHOENIX – Bobby Winkles, Arizona State baseball’s first varsity head coach, has a permanent home at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Immortalized along the third baseline and revealed on April 10, the former ASU coach's statue is decorated with his countless accomplishments while guiding the program from its infancy to an annual powerhouse. The statue was funded by 70 former Sun Devils baseball players who played under Winkles. Before the statue’s unveiling, former players recalled laughable moments and his impact on and off the field. “Winks was an unbelievable person,” said Fred Nelson, a 1967 national champion and Sun Devil Hall of Famer. “(He was) loved by the players (and) loved by the fans.” During his 13 seasons coaching at ASU, Winkles amassed 524 wins and coached the team’s first three national championships. [caption id="attachment_231355" align="alignright" width="300"] The Bobby Winkles statue was funded by 70 former Sun Devil players who played under the legendary coach during his 13 seasons at ASU. (Photo by Tyler Bednar/Cronkite News)[/caption] The 1964 Sun Devils team produced one of the more memorable years with a 44-7 record, a Western Athletic Conference title and their first College Baseball World Series appearance, where the team finished sixth. ASU baseball held a 60th anniversary ceremony for the team before first pitch, where numerous players attended and were honored. One season later, the Sun Devils finished 54-8 and earned their first national championship but didn’t stop there. The Sun Devils established themselves as a college baseball dynasty by winning the national championship in 1967 and 1969. Winkles was named NCAA Coach of the Year in 1965 and 1969, in addition to the Sporting News Coach of the Year in 1965, 1967 and 1969. He was inducted into the ASU Hall of Fame in 1982, the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006 and his No. 1 is retired. Quickly into his speech, Nelson spoke about Winkles’ desire to teach the game’s fundamentals, sometimes with a little sarcasm. “He said, ‘Boys, I’m going to tell you. They’ve been playing the game of baseball for 105 years and not one guy has ever been thrown out at the mound, so get your (butt) off the mound and get over,’” Nelson said. ASU coach Willie Bloomquist, a Bobby Winkles Award winner, says his impact still resonates with the program to this day. “I can only hope and imagine that my players look at me one day the way that you guys look at him,” Bloomquist said. “I have the honor of trying to fill the footsteps of the foundation that he built here. He was the founder, the godfather that put this place on the map, which made Arizona State the greatest place to play baseball.” [caption id="attachment_231354" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The front of Bobby Winkles’ statue represents his immense accomplishments as the former Arizona State baseball coach. (Photo by Tyler Bednar/Cronkite News)[/caption] After many players told their favorite stories of Winkles, the group walked back down the third base line to see the unveiling of his statue. His family members revealed the statue, including his grandson, Parker Gatewood, who cut the ribbons and threw out the game’s first pitch. “I think the thing that I go back to every time when I talk about granddad is that he molded who I am, personally, as a man and my life’s philosophy, because all I wanted to do was be like him,” Gatewood said. “All you can do is try to do that to the best of your ability. If I ever come out, just half the man that Grandad was, I’ll consider that a success.” It was a busy weekend for the Winkles family. Winkles was one of seven people inducted into the 2024 Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. “This weekend means the world to our family,” Gatewood said. “We just are so honored and feel so privileged to be able to share, in his legacy playing out here at Arizona State, the Hall of Fame and statue dedication. It means more than words can even express just the fact that we get to talk about and share and the love that we had for our granddad. The granddad himself, Bobby Winkles, is just an absolute blessing.”

The Lopes’ leap: GCU’s esports powerhouse fuels Arizona’s collegiate gaming boom

Wed, 01 May 2024 20:05:39 +0000

May 1, 2024

The Lopes’ leap: GCU’s esports powerhouse fuels Arizona’s collegiate gaming boom

PHOENIX – In 2019, ESPN hosted the inaugural Overwatch College Esports Championship, matching up the country's best universities for an Overwatch tournament. Airing on one of the nation's biggest sports networks was a huge moment for college esports, but the event was the start of an esports culture shift in the Valley. That year marked a rare opportunity for a university that joined Division I sports just six years earlier in 2019. “ESPN picked up the tournament, and as a result, GCU Esports was featured on ESPN for the whole world to see, including the president of GCU,” GCU esports operations supervisor Tyler Galvin said. “That success of a relatively small club at GCU earned a major commitment from the university to help our program continue to grow.” The early support for esports shown by the GCU faculty and staff has blossomed into arguably the strongest community on campus, said GCU esports director Jay DeShong. GCU is home to an esports lounge on campus, which takes up the entire second floor of the technology building. In a 3200-square-foot room, GCU has invested thousands of dollars in over 72 gaming PC setups, along with six TVs dedicated to console play on Playstation, Xbox or Nintendo Switch. The massive space can cater to not only the competitive gamers but also the casual gamers, – a decision that has been a huge success. The lounge now plays host to daily events in an attempt to get isolated gamers who play by themselves in their dorm rooms to engage in their community. GCU’s esports community had around 500 members when the renovated space opened in 2019, according to the school. In 2024, the community has grown to 2,000 active gamers. “You can ask any of our 2,000 members, and they’ll tell you it’s a second home to them,” DeShong said. “Especially the workers and especially people who are here more than one day a week to play video games. It’s a home for everybody. It’s one for me, it’s a home for my staff. It’s a second home.” A key reason for the lounge’s success is creating a “second home” for everybody, women on campus. DeShong and his staff have created a program titled “Women’s Wednesday.” Every two weeks, the lounge opens its doors for women only from 6 p.m. to midnight. As a result, the percentage of female members jumped from 1% of the club to 25%. “It’s beautiful for everybody who likes video games on some level to be able to get together and talk about the things that they love,” DeShong said. “Whether it’s video games, whether it’s what’s going on in the news, whether it’s what they’re talking about on social media, whatever it is, we all share the common theme of gaming, and that allows us to kind of get to know each other better.” While the casual community is strong, GCU still values the competitive side of esports. In mid-March, the Lopes hosted the inaugural Western Cactus League Tournament. The WCL was the first time Arizona’s four major universities – GCU, ASU, Arizona and NAU – played an in-person LAN Tournament. The schools competed in four games – Overwatch, Valorant, Super Smash Bros Ultimate and Rocket League – with the winner of each tournament qualifying for Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup 2024, a national LAN tournament also known as May Madness. [caption id="attachment_231344" align="alignnone" width="1024"] GCU's 3,200-square-foot esports lounge, complete with 72 gaming PCs and console setups, has become a second home for the university's 2,000-member gaming community. (Photo by Sammy Nute/Cronkite News)[/caption] “In order for esports to grow, especially collegiate esports, the scene is at a point where, yes, other schools are technically our rivals,” DeShong said. “We’re all going to compete to be the best in Arizona, obviously. But it’s also important for us to have this event where everyone gets that level so we can all grow together.” The WCL is just the beginning of what DeShong thinks could be an esports consortium in Arizona, starting at the top with the major universities and trickling down to local junior high and high school events. However, if that consortium ever comes together, it will need more schools at the top. GCU has changed the esports game with its early entry, and other schools are catching up. “Esports is number two to basketball for reasons why students come to GCU, and you can imagine what that means for us,” DeShong said. Arizona State is on its way to joining GCU as another elite esports program in the state after its performance at the WCL tournament. The Sun Devils entered the tournament as the No. 6 ranked team in the country, according to the Overwatch College Ranking Association. ASU earned three dominant sweeps to guarantee its spot at May Madness, a National Overwatch Competition held in Dallas Texas at the beginning of May. However, the Sun Devils succeeded without the same support and funding as GCU. GCU has the advantage of being a private school, resulting in more accessible funds for clubs like esports. ASU does have an esports lounge, but the ASU esports teams have run into trouble consistently booking for practices and events. Despite the challenges, the Sun Devils believe they can become the powerhouse to lead Arizona and Southwest esports. “I feel like it comes down to, ‘Well, you guys are already successful, so why invest more into something if you’re already doing well,’” ASU Overwatch competitive director Asad Jamal said. “But for me, it’s that level of pride that as a school, if we had funding, I have no doubt in my mind that we could instantly be the number one school in esports.” Without an athletic director in place and a move to the Big-12 on the horizon, the Sun Devil athletics department might have too much on its plate to organize funding for ASU’s esports program, but proof of the concept is across town in Phoenix. GCU has created an amazing community full of contributing students being brought together by a love of gaming largely because of the school’s early commitment but the task was far from easy. “Esports can be a daunting commitment for a lot of universities because very few have the necessary expertise to run their program at a high level,” Galvin said. “When done incorrectly, an esports program can be quite expensive and yield relatively minimal returns for the school. “What GCU has done differently is hire people who are highly familiar with esports and gaming culture and give us the freedom to operate our teams in the most effective possible way. GCU is the prime example of a university doing esports the right way and how that can be a major benefit to the school.”

San Antonio oncologists tackle rising rates of cancer deaths in Latinos

Wed, 01 May 2024 20:04:25 +0000

May 1, 2024

San Antonio oncologists tackle rising rates of cancer deaths in Latinos

SAN ANTONIO – Cancer is now the leading cause of death for Latinos, accounting for 20% of all deaths, and according to a news release from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Latinos could face a 142% increase in cancer cases in coming years. Those were among the concerning statistics discussed by researchers and health care providers at a conference focused on Latino cancer care, hosted by the Mays Cancer Center and the Institute for Health Promotion Research earlier this year at the University of Texas Health San Antonio. Despite progress in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, cancer disparities persist. Compared to white patients, Latinos have more incidents of stomach, liver and cervical cancer and are twice as likely to die from liver and stomach cancer, according to 2019 figures from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. The American Cancer Society identifies cancer is the “leading cause of death among Hispanic people,” accounting for 20% of deaths. Cancer experts at the San Antonio conference said lack of early screening in the Hispanic population plays a large role in higher rates of cancers like cervical cancer. [caption id="attachment_231337" align="alignright" width="300"] Amelie G. Ramirez, associate director of cancer outreach and engagement at Mays Cancer Center, discusses the leading cause of death for the Hispanic community, on March 27 in San Antonio. (Photo by Maria Garcia/Cronkite News)[/caption] “Cervical cancer is something no one should die of anymore,” said Amelie G. Ramirez, associate director of cancer outreach and engagement at UT Health Mays Cancer Center. “Yet, we have higher rates of unscreened and people losing their lives to cervical cancer because they're not coming in early enough.” Early screenings can detect cancer in the cervix, breast, colon and lung before they cause noticeable symptoms and, in some cases, improve the chances of successful treatment. Delays in cancer care could decrease survival rates, increase costs of care and prompt additional health problems. For cervical cancer, women are encouraged to begin regular Pap smears at 21 years old, regardless of their sexual activity. Recommended screening ages for breast and colon cancer have been lowered as health providers see an increase of those cancers in younger patients. The U.S.Preventive Services Task Force now recommends breast cancer screening start at age 40, and colon cancer screening start at 45. Dr. Emmalind Aponte, oncologist and hematologist for Texas Oncology, a statewide private oncology practice, noted the Hispanic community lacks access to care and education on cancer screenings and its benefits. While Aponte believes that expanding access could bring more patients in for early screenings, she found that other problems could stand in their way, like language barriers, cultural traditions and lack of transportation. “Being able, for patients, to actually have health insurance,” Aponte said. “Many Hispanics do not have health insurance, and another one would be something as simple as transportation; patients don’t have a way to get where they can do the screening.” In 2013, Maricarmen D. Planas-Silva was diagnosed with thyroid cancer after doctors found a 9 centimeter malignant tumor. Prior to her diagnosis, Planas-Silva hadn’t regularly gone to a doctor because her time and energy were focused on being a caregiver. Treatment involved the removal of her thyroid and hormone medication to replace the hormones she can no longer produce naturally. [caption id="attachment_231339" align="alignright" width="300"] Oncologist and hematologist for Texas Oncology, Dr. Emmalind Aponte, returns to work on March 28 at Gonzaba Medical Group’s Woodlawn Medical Center, where she provides care to numerous Hispanic patients in San Antonio. (Photo by Maria Garcia/Cronkite News)[/caption] After surviving cancer and watching a close friend from her native Peru die from breast cancer, she realized Hispanics need help getting through cancer. Planas-Silva provided that help by founding Angelmira’s Center for Women with Advanced Cancer, a volunteer group of female patient advocates dedicated to helping other women with metastatic cancer. “We try to be an extra hand and extra heart for those who are struggling with cancer,” Planas-Silva said. “We have a lot of Latinos that are, you know, going through cancer, and they don't have insurance, and they don't have resources. So we have been helping them.” Advocates at Angelmira’s Center work with stage 4 patients and their families, helping them navigate paperwork, insurance, transportation, language barriers, groceries and more. Even though Houston is Planas-Silva’s home base, she and other advocates throughout South Texas offer their advice, comfort and training to patients at the Mays Cancer Center in San Antonio. For the first time, the San Antonio conference, Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos, included a group of Latina advocates discussing their cancer experiences and advocating training. Over 280 individuals attended the conference. Advocates and researchers stressed the importance of diverse representation in clinical research, trials and daily provider care. “Having the information from diverse communities helps us better understand the type of cancers that Latinos are being impacted by the most and then sort of what interventions we can do,” said Erica Martinez Zumba, director of community and participant engagement at the All of Us Research Program at the National Institute of Health. Hispanic involvement in research could help improve cancer care access and education, according to Zumba and Ramirez. Yet, those involved in cancer research and care want more action. “We need more answers,” Ramirez said. “I used to call liver cancer, stomach cancer, gallbladder cancer, kind of orphan cancers because nobody was really doing research in them … but those are the cancers that are affecting our community.”

‘You’re Goth, welcome to the club’: Arizona’s Goth scene is gaining prominence due to events, exposure

Wed, 01 May 2024 19:29:23 +0000

May 1, 2024

‘You’re Goth, welcome to the club’: Arizona’s Goth scene is gaining prominence due to events, exposure

As Arizona shifts into warmer weather, beware of rattlesnakes, experts say

Wed, 01 May 2024 16:53:07 +0000

May 1, 2024

As Arizona shifts into warmer weather, beware of rattlesnakes, experts say

PHOENIX – As the temperatures rise and the sun casts its golden glow over the Arizona landscape, more and more people are drawn outside to embrace the beauty of the outdoors. However, amid the breathtaking scenery and rugged trails, there’s a potentially dangerous cohabitant – the rattlesnake. Bryan Kuhn, a toxicologist from the Banner Poison & Drug Information Center, cautions adventurers about the increased encounters between humans and snakes as temperatures climb above 80 degrees. "Generally speaking, once we get consistent temperatures in the Valley above 80 to 85 degrees, we start to see a dramatic increase in the number of encounters of snakes and people who are out in the territory in which snakes are. That could be in your home or in rural areas," Kuhn said. In Arizona, where the desert stretches far and wide, 13 rattlesnake species make their presence known in both rural areas and even occasionally in homes, especially from March to October, according to the Arizona Game & Fish Department. But fear not, for knowledge is the key to safety, according to Cale Morris, the venom manager at the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary. He advises hikers and residents alike to stay vigilant and always mindful of their surroundings. A simple rule emerges – never reach into the unknown as rattlesnakes may be lurking nearby. [related-story-right box-title="Related story" link="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2019/06/24/snake-safety-classes/" image="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/snakes-500x800.jpg" headline="It’s rattlesnake season. Are you prepared?"] "As far as being safe hiking around, safe around your home, paying attention to your surroundings, you know you're in the desert and rattlesnakes are around you, be mindful of that,” Morris said. “Don’t ever put your hands down into bushes or into spaces where you can’t see where they are.” Barbara Postorino, an experienced hiker, shared her encounters with the slithering neighbors. She said she aims to respect their space and allow them to continue on their path undisturbed. "We hike all these mountains around here and some longer hikes, and in the dead of summer, they are really out a lot then,” Postorino said on a hike at Pinnacle Peak in April. “They’ll be there and they’ll coil, and you just let them have their space, and they turn around and go the other way or go where they're going. But occasionally we have had to take a rock, and you throw it in their direction and they move much quicker.” In the event of a snakebite, swift action is paramount, Kuhn said. He emphasized the importance of seeking medical attention promptly, urging individuals to head to larger hospitals equipped with the necessary antivenoms. He said it's crucial to stay calm and let experts handle the situation. “We want all of these patients to present to an emergency department at a larger hospital, not at a freestanding emergency department or urgent care. At our facilities we have the ability to administer one of the two antivenoms,” Kuhn said. With a 3-foot strike zone, rattlesnakes command respect. Yet, with a step back, the average adult can safely evade their reach, allowing both human and serpent to coexist harmoniously. If you encounter a rattlesnake in your yard, garage, or home, get away and call a professional to come and safely remove it.The Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary can remove the rattlesnake from the property for a fee. More information can be found on the organization's website or by calling (602)-550-1090.