Phoenix

blue

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Phoenix with Jeremy Duda and Jessica Boehm.

Axios Phoenix

Standard

Phoenix Members

Membership

Phoenix Alerts

Alert

Axios Phoenix Partners

Axios Phoenix Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Charles Barkley blimp returns to Phoenix skies

The Charles Barkley blimp is back as Final Four week begins.

News

Keep an eye on the sky for a rare migratory sighting: The 128-foot Charles Barkley blimp is back in Phoenix for the first time in two years.Why it matters: We&#x27;ve missed Soar Charles (also called: Charles Flightly, The Up Chuck, Air Chuck One and The Ugly Chuckling).

Wildcats make long-awaited return to Final Four

UofA will play fellow No. 1 seed Michigan after beating Purdue on Saturday.

It&#x27;s been a long time coming, but the Arizona Wildcats are back in the Final Four.Why it matters: It&#x27;s their first appearance since 2001.

Krav Mama: A self-defense class designed for new moms

A Tempe instructor created a postpartum workout where moms train with their babies.

<figure><img alt="A gif of a woman holding a baby and kicking a heavy bag in a gym." height="600" id="671d5f45-200d-469c-8060-0a3462c8e142" src="https://images.axios.com/ZstKyMUT41Amr56A_Usmnb3bB_w=/2026/03/26/1774548998563.gif" width="800"/><figcaption>Jessica and her daughter test out Krav Mama. Photo: Courtesy of EVKM Self Defense &amp; Fitness</figcaption></figure>Tempe Krav Maga instructor and new mom Sara Ullenbruch-Zarezadeh has developed a postpartum version of the popular Israeli self-defense training. <ul><li>She&#x27;s calling it Krav Mama.</li></ul>Why it matters: Protecting yourself looks different when you have a baby in your arms or a tot by your side.

Sound off: James Beard snubs AZ restaurants

Which chefs or eateries should have been James Beard Award finalists?

None of Arizona&#x27;s 2026 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="James Beard Award nominees" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/01/21/12-arizona-chefs-and-restaurants-named-james-beard-semifinalists" data-vars-content-id="58261d95-568b-441d-bfa8-11c4f99ed37e" data-vars-headline="Sound off: James Beard snubs AZ restaurants" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/01/21/12-arizona-chefs-and-restaurants-named-james-beard-semifinalists" target="_self">James Beard Award nominees</a> moved on to the finalist round announced yesterday.Why it matters: Our restaurant scene is expanding fast, with inventive <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="chef-driven concepts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/02/13/arizona-center-new-restaurants-steakhouse-cocktail-bar" data-vars-content-id="58261d95-568b-441d-bfa8-11c4f99ed37e" data-vars-headline="Sound off: James Beard snubs AZ restaurants" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/02/13/arizona-center-new-restaurants-steakhouse-cocktail-bar" target="_self">chef-driven concepts</a>, high-end <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="international cuisine" data-vars-click-url="https://www.phoenixmag.com/2024/01/20/dine-around-the-world-without-leaving-the-valley/" data-vars-content-id="58261d95-568b-441d-bfa8-11c4f99ed37e" data-vars-headline="Sound off: James Beard snubs AZ restaurants" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.phoenixmag.com/2024/01/20/dine-around-the-world-without-leaving-the-valley/" target="_blank">international cuisine</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new ventures" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/05/07/taco-boys-phoenix-restaurant-marisco-boys" data-vars-content-id="58261d95-568b-441d-bfa8-11c4f99ed37e" data-vars-headline="Sound off: James Beard snubs AZ restaurants" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/05/07/taco-boys-phoenix-restaurant-marisco-boys" target="_self">new ventures</a> from the teams behind legacy institutions — and it&#x27;s deserving of national acclaim.

Cadbury Easter honors are on the line in baby hippo naming vote

Cadbury says with the right name, Phoenix's new baby pygmy hippo will be their next Easter bunny.

Phoenix could soon be home to the Easter Hippo.State of play: The World Wildlife Zoo recently welcomed a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new baby pygmy hippo" data-vars-click-url="https://ktar.com/arizona-news/baby-hippo-wildlife-world-zoo/5821200/" data-vars-content-id="882057d1-4c27-47ad-8241-13fa233ea5a4" data-vars-headline="Cadbury Easter honors are on the line in baby hippo naming vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ktar.com/arizona-news/baby-hippo-wildlife-world-zoo/5821200/" target="_blank">new baby pygmy hippo</a>, and visitors get to choose the name.

New book tells full story of journalist Don Bolles' assassination

New book tells the full story of journalist Don Bolles' assassination for the first time.

I&#x27;ve got an exciting announcement — my new book, &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Murder in the Fourth Estate: The Assassination of Investigative Journalist Don Bolles" data-vars-click-url="https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Fourth-Estate-Assassination-Investigative/dp/B0FLV6QSRZ/" data-vars-content-id="91f68293-5f35-446b-ac37-5dff59eed23c" data-vars-headline="New book tells full story of journalist Don Bolles&#x27; assassination" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Fourth-Estate-Assassination-Investigative/dp/B0FLV6QSRZ/" target="_blank">Murder in the Fourth Estate: The Assassination of Investigative Journalist Don Bolles</a>,&quot; will be released by publisher Bloomsbury on April 2.Why it matters: Despite its notoriety, there&#x27;s never been a comprehensive history of the Don Bolles case — America&#x27;s most infamous journalistic assassination.

Iconic Phoenix steakhouse Durant's reopens with same classic feel

The new owners' renovation aimed to keep everything fans know and love about the historic steakhouse intact.

Durant&#x27;s is reopening under new ownership after a nearly year-long renovation that aimed to keep everything fans know and love about the central Phoenix steakhouse intact.Why it matters: In a city long defined by rapid growth where everything seems new, Durant&#x27;s Steakhouse is a historic institution.

Arizonans were on the move last year

Nearly 13% of Arizonans moved last year while the U.S. saw record low mobility.

Arizonans were among the country&#x27;s most mobile people last year, as the United States saw fewer moves than ever. The big picture: Roughly 1 in 9 people (11%) changed residences nationally last year — a record low in data going back to 1948.

Connecting Native youth and elders to save Indigenous language

A new project helps Native youth use podcasts and film to preserve language and culture.

A new storytelling project aims to connect Native American youth with their elders and preserve <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Indigenous languages" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/latin-america-indigenous-language-tech-preservation" data-vars-content-id="10c33132-83ff-47f6-ba52-c6e9cab0ab66" data-vars-headline="Connecting Native youth and elders to save Indigenous language" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/latin-america-indigenous-language-tech-preservation" target="_self">Indigenous languages</a> and cultures through modern media.Why it matters: Culture, history and language have been passed down orally in Native communities for centuries; but geographic separation has made it harder to continue these traditions, leading to youth isolation and the disappearance of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Native languages" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/06/16/navajo-is-arizona-s-third-most-popular-language" data-vars-content-id="10c33132-83ff-47f6-ba52-c6e9cab0ab66" data-vars-headline="Connecting Native youth and elders to save Indigenous language" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/06/16/navajo-is-arizona-s-third-most-popular-language" target="_self">Native languages</a>, according to Diné activist Allie Redhorse Young.

See the Sonoran Desert in a whole new way

This fall, you can take in the Sonoran Desert in a whole new way at Desert Botanical Garden — through the eyes of machine imaging.

Culture

<div data-sponsor-disclosure="&quot;{&quot;logoUrl&quot;:&quot;https://images.axios.com/bxjLiGte_b9fXhUAwhOC_DNpxHI=/2025/10/10/1760103457245.jpg&quot;,&quot;headline&quot;:&quot;A message from: Desert Botanical Garden&quot;}&quot;"></div><div style="display:none"></div>This fall, you can take in the Sonoran Desert in a whole new way at Desert Botanical Garden — through the eyes of machine imaging.

The Format rocks sold-out return in Phoenix

Their first big show in years became a love letter to local fans and early 2000s music.

The Madhouse on McDowell was rocking with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nostalgia" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/27/axios-cannes-event-consumer-nostalgia-brand-marketing" data-vars-content-id="cd12603b-20e2-4139-8fe8-843010e16610" data-vars-headline="The Format rocks sold-out return in Phoenix" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/27/axios-cannes-event-consumer-nostalgia-brand-marketing" target="_self">nostalgia</a> and local love Saturday night as Phoenix-band-gone-big The Format took the stage after a nearly two-decade hiatus.The big picture: Throughout the 90 minutes of pure millennial euphoria, Peoria natives Nate Ruess and Sam Means delivered a plentitude of hits, snuck in a couple of new songs and paid homage to other iconic Arizona bands.

Locals find ways to fake fall in the Valley

From pumpkin spice to fake cobwebs, locals create their own autumn vibes.

Fall technically started Monday, though we&#x27;ll forgive locals for not noticing amid the Valley&#x27;s triple-digit highs.What you&#x27;re saying: So <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="we asked our readers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/09/17/autumn-what-autumn" data-vars-content-id="70a76f10-b764-47b4-9885-065383a46929" data-vars-headline="Locals find ways to fake fall in the Valley" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/09/17/autumn-what-autumn" target="_self">we asked our readers</a> what they do to embrace the season when they can&#x27;t count on colorful foliage and brisk temperatures. Here&#x27;s what you told us:

Arizona loves chihuahuas

Labrador retrievers are the country's most popular dog breed, but the chihuahua is tops in Arizona.

It&#x27;s National Dog Day, and the chihuahua is the top dog breed in Arizona, according to a new U.S. News &amp; World Report analysis.Zoom out: French bulldogs took second place in Arizona, with Labrador retrievers in third.

Former reporter's new novel features Valley institutions — including Axios Phoenix

Christina Estes' new mystery novel, "The Story That Wouldn't Die," available now.

Christina Estes&#x27; new mystery novel is chock-full of local references, including one that&#x27;s especially near and dear to our hearts — a fictional Axios Phoenix reporter.The big picture: &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Story That Wouldn&#x27;t Die" data-vars-click-url="https://www.amazon.com/Story-That-Wouldnt-Die-Mystery/dp/1250364132/" data-vars-content-id="ff85a0d5-6e02-4392-9ed7-0d4293590ac0" data-vars-headline="Former reporter&#x27;s new novel features Valley institutions — including Axios Phoenix" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.amazon.com/Story-That-Wouldnt-Die-Mystery/dp/1250364132/" target="_blank">The Story That Wouldn&#x27;t Die</a>,&quot; Estes&#x27; second book featuring tenacious television reporter Jolene Garcia, was officially released Tuesday.

Poll: Vote for the best animal story in America

Philadelphia

A U.S. map shows the percentage of residents who changed their residences in 2024. Alaska had the highest share, at 14%, followed by Oklahoma and Colorado at 13.5% each. States with the highest shares are mostly in the western part of the country. The state with the lowest share is New Jersey with 7.8%.