Arizona voters rejected a referendum to build a $2.3bn mixed-use development that included a new arena for National Hockey League (NHL) franchise, the Arizona Coyotes, nixing the chance to recapture the team that spent last season playing at the 5,000-seat Gila River Arena far to the west. However, the vote marked an exception: the Athletics are demanding a similar ransom from Las Vegas and/or the adjacent state of Nevada. This included two sites for a $1.5bn stadium on the Strip and a demand for $500m from the public, although the proposed price has now fallen to $395m. Unfortunately for voters, stadium-seekers have been transitioning to mixed-use development, as exemplified by the Atlanta Braves' battery of restaurants, shops, hotels, flats and offices next to the team's new suburban stadium largely funded with public money.
The Los Angeles Lakers are in must-win territory after falling down 2-0 to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals. The Lakers have returned home to Crypto.com Arena, where they are 6-0 this postseason, and are in a strong position to make a comeback, with a perfect record at home and the best defensive rating in the playoffs. Backing the Lakers' strong defence, NorthStar Bets predicts that a big defensive effort is their best chance to stop a Nuggets team that has the postseason's best offensive rating and bets on the Lakers at -5.5 (-110).
Navajo leaders plan to send help to hundreds of tribal members who are waiting to get services after allegedly being recruited to illegitimate sober living homes in Arizona over recent years. The crackdown on Medicaid fraud in the state has caused the affected Native Americans to lose access to Medicaid funding or face eviction from the fraudulent sober living homes. As part of the Rainbow Bridge operation, a Phoenix operations center has been equipped with staff to assist community members who have been impacted to find treatment programs and help them reconnect with their families.
Basketball star Brittney Griner made her return to the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) on 7 January, after being detained in Russia for almost 10 months last year. Griner, who was detained on drug-related charges, was embraced by Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the US, during an introduction to the game in LA.
We originally categorised this article under ‘Sports’ but decided to re-categorise it under ‘Incarceration’ due to its focus on Griner’s detainment and subsequent release.
Monument Valley, a Navajo Tribal Park, is a vast expanse of vibrant red sand and striking sandstone formations that reach up to the sky, some as high as 1,000 feet. Using a tour guide here is essential since tourists can only navigate a 27-kilometre loop of gravel road on their own when exploring Monument Valley. Tsé Bii’ Ndzisgaii (“Valley of the Rocks”), as it’s also called by the Navajo, sits on the Arizona-Utah state border, at the north of Navajo Nation, which encompasses essentially private land covering from 71,000 square kilometres across three states, New Mexico being the third state. Navajo guides make exploring this area far more interesting thanks to their historical and cultural context.
Brittney Griner has returned to women's basketball after jail in Russia. The WNBA superstar played her first game in nearly two years with the Phoenix Mercury facing the Los Angeles Sparks. US Vice President Kamala Harris was present along with other notable celebrities, including tennis legend Billie Jean King, to welcome Griner back to the court. Griner scored 18 points and six rebounds but could not prevent the Mercury from slumping to a comprehensive 94-71 loss.
Ogunbowale, Sabally, Howard step up on offence to lead Wings past Dream
CBC
23-05-20 20:04
The Dallas Wings beat the Atlanta Dream 85-78 in the season opener for both teams in the WNBA. Arike Ogunbowale led the scoring for Dallas with 27 points, while Satou Sabally added 25 points and Natasha Howard had 20 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Despite season-ending injuries for Diamond DeShields and Teaira McCowan, the Wings were able to hold on for the win. Meanwhile, Rhyne Howard had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Dream, but couldn't help them catch up after trailing by 17 points at halftime.
The Dallas Wings beat the Atlanta Dream 85-78 in their season opener, with Arike Ogunbowale scoring 27 points. Satou Sabally added 25 points and Natasha Howard had 20 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two blocks for Dallas. In her first game as a WNBA head coach, Latricia Trammell led her team to victory. Atlanta's Rhyne Howard had 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Cheyenne Parker added 18 points and 11 rebounds and Allisha Gray had 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Diamond DeShields, acquired by the Wings from Phoenix via a four-team trade in February, did not play due to a knee injury.
WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner played her first competitive basketball game in almost two years following her release from an incarceration in Russia. Last February, Griner was arrested on drug charges at a Moscow airport during tensions over Ukraine before being sentenced to nine years in prison in August. Last year, she was eventually released as part of a prisoner swap, with tennis legend Billie Jean King, Los Angeles Lakers icon Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and current Lakers head coach Darvin Ham in attendance as she returned to play for Phoenix Mercury.
The Chicago Sky spoiled Brittney Griner’s regular-season home debut, holding on down the stretch for a 75-69 win over the Phoenix Mercury. Griner finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots in her first regular-season home game since being released after spending more than 10 months in a Russian prison. Chicago led by 11 in the second half, but Phoenix pulled within 66-64 on Diana Taurasi’s 3-pointer with three minutes left. Breanna Stewart scored a franchise record 45 points and New York beat Indiana, handing the Fever a 20th consecutive loss that matched the WNBA record for futility. Behind Stewart, New York (1-1) built a 62-35 lead at the half and never looked back. DeWanna Bonner scored 21 points, Alyssa Thomas had 14 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and three steals to help the Sun rally from a 12-point deficit to beat the Mystics. Brionna Jones added 15 points and 10 rebounds for Connecticut (2-0).
Brittney Griner made an impressive start to her first regular-season home game for the Phoenix Mercury since being released from a Russian prison. The 6-foot-9 forward completed a three-point play, blocked a shot, took a strong stance against trash talk, and sunk a three-pointer. Despite finishing with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocked shots, Griner and her team lost 75-69 to the Chicago Sky. Griner's homecoming was met with fans sporting her jersey and waving small black towels with "BG" on the front. Before the introductions, a poet paid tribute to her while being surrounded by Mercury's dancers. Griner hugged her teammates and spoke to some Sky players who she previously played with overseas. Sophie Cunningham, one of Griner's teammates, said the team worked to reunite her with her loved ones. Griner ended the game by hugging again the Sky players and the coach and wife Cherelle on the sidelines.
The Chicago Sky secured a 75-69 victory against the Phoenix Mercury on 16 May during Brittney Griner's first regular season game in front of home fans since spending more than 10 months in a Russian prison. Griner netted 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots in the game, whilst the Sky spoilt her return to her home court. The victory saw Chicago move to 2-0 for the season, whilst the Mercury slipped to 0-2. The Sky led by 11 points in the second half before Phoenix clawed back to trail by just two points at 64-66, thanks to a three pointer from Diana Taurasi. However, two turnovers saw the Sky head into the final minutes with a 71-67 lead and the game was sealed with two successful free throws from Rebekah Gardner. Taurasi scored 16 points and Sug Sutton added 13 for Phoenix, while Chicago's Dana Evan and Courtney Williams hit 13 points and 12 points, respectively.
As the Los Angeles Lakers face the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, NorthStar Bets has predicted a +330 same-game parlay on 22 May. The parlay sees the Nuggets offered +7.5 handicap, backing Denver at a number they have covered in all 14 postseason games and in all but one of their past 20 games overall. However, the Lakers have shown a strong postseason form at home, with a 6-1 rating and a +13.7 net rating, which ranks second among playoff teams. Of the other parlay legs, NorthStar Bets suggests backing Austin Reaves over 26.5 points/rebounds/assists, as he has been averaging PRA of 31.0 over his past six games and has cleared this line in each of those matchups. In addition, Michael Porter Jr.’s consistency should be relied on, having been playing big minutes and putting up big numbers on a nightly basis, with two double-doubles in three games during this series.
The cost to taxpayers in Phoenix of a 2013 racial profiling verdict over former Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s immigration crackdowns is expected to exceed $250m by next year, as it approaches a proposed overall budget of $38m in legal and compliance spending for the racial profiling lawsuit. These funds will help pay for the resolve of investigations still building up as a result of Arpaio’s methods during his time as sheriff. The Sheriff’s Office could be forced to pay the taxpayer back for the ongoing legal costs from this matter.
The Donbas city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine appears to have been almost entirely destroyed, with Kiev moving its military focus to the city's outskirts after 10 months of heavy fighting. Reports say the Russians claimed victory last week and Ukraine conceded that only a few of its soldiers remained. However, there are ongoing battles for land surrounding Bakhmut including high ground taken by Russian forces over the winter months. The capture represents Russia's first major battlefield victory in Ukraine since last summer. Climate-related drought and population growth have also played their part in the tribulations of the Ukraine in recent years. Meanwhile, Arizona, California and Nevada have agreed to take less water from the drought-strained Colorado River to avoid jeopardising cities like Phoenix and Los Angeles and, particularly, some of the country’s most productive farmland.
