FLAGSTAFF — Coconino National Forest is planning pile burns today and this week, pending all required approvals and favorable weather conditions. Pile burns are a type of prescribed fire used to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.
Pile burns planned for the area include:
I Heart Pluto Festival
Various Locations
As part of the centennial celebration of Route 66, this year’s event centers around the connection between Pluto and Route 66, as well as the 20th anniversary of Pluto’s reclassification. Various Times.
Dear Museum Friends,
As we move into the new year, I’d like to share why becoming a member of the Museum of Northern Arizona means a deeper connection to the Colorado Plateau you love, as well as belonging to a community of people who share that interest.
Members enjoy all that MNA has to offer with free year-round general admission to the Museum, early access to exhibitions and events, invitations to member-only experiences, and discounts on select programs and in the Museum Gift Shop. Some membership levels also include reciprocal admission to cultural institutions across the U.S. and Canada through the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association—an especially valuable perk for frequent travelers and museum lovers.
WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest will be hiring seasonal employees for the upcoming recreation season and is encouraging local residents to apply.
“Our seasonal employees are the backbone of summer operations—keeping our campgrounds, trails and recreation sites open, safe and welcoming for visitors,” said Kaibab National Forest Supervisor Nicole Branton. “These positions offer meaningful work, hands-on experience and the chance to support public lands close to home.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz – City Hall offices at 211 W. Aspen Ave. will be closed in observance of Presidents’ Day on Monday, Feb. 16. City Hall offices will reopen on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
City of Flagstaff facilities that are closed on Presidents’ Day include:
East Flagstaff Community Library (3000 N. Fourth St.)
Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library (300 W. Aspen Ave.)
Hal Jensen Recreation Center (2403 N. Izabel St.)
Joe C. Montoya Community and Senior Center (245 N. Thorpe Rd.)
Cinder Lake Landfill and Hazardous Products Center (6770 E Landfill Rd.)
On May 19th, registered voters in the city will be asked whether or not to ratify the Regional Plan in a special ballot-by-mail election. Each household with a registered voter will receive an informational pamphlet that includes arguments for and against Question 492.
Get ready to create and explore with Flagstaff’s premier arts educators at Coconino Center for the Arts!
CCA is thrilled to offer Creative Camps, a way for children ages 5-11 to immerse themselves in the arts, with professional arts educators guiding their experience.
2026 Camp Season
BARKING NEWS: At CHS, the dogtor is in
Do you need a moment to decompress? Is life getting a little ruff? We have an important pupdate: High Country Humane and Health Promotion have once again pawrtnered to bring puppies to campus for a little cuddle time. Come to the Health and Learning Center every other Wednesday, where you can sit, stay and play. (And won’t somebody boop that snout already?) It’s a paws-itively perfect way to spend an afternoon.
This year’s Primary Election will take place on July 21, 2026. The move was needed to allow elections officials more time to conduct elections preparations for the general election, including ensuring that military and overseas voters have their ballots in time to participate.
Art Classes and Workshops
at Sedona Arts Center …and Online!
At Sedona Arts Center, creativity is meant to be experienced. Our classes and workshops — from iPhoneography and oil painting to sculpting, stained glass, ceramics, and pottery for teens and beginners — are designed to be welcoming, hands-on, and inspiring. Whether you’re exploring something new or building on existing skills, you’ll learn from working artists in a supportive environment that values curiosity, craft, and creative joy — all in the heart of Sedona.
Recreation Program Catalog
The 2026 Recreation Program Catalog (January – June) is now online! Register for upcoming programs and sessions. There are various classes listed including beginner and intermediate archery clinics, culinary classes, disc golf clinics, and the popular youth summer camp, Fun at the Fort.
FLAGSTAFF — Redemption Counseling Center has announced it is providing bilingual counseling services at 3009 N. West St. Flagstaff.
“At RCC, we are committed to making therapeutic help accessible to all,” said Brianna Snow, LAC. “Our team of Spanish speaking therapists are qualified to work with individuals, couples and families, of all ages. We also have a voucher program available at the moment to help ease any financial barriers.”
Saturday, February 7
10th Annual Flagstaff Chocolate Walk
Flagstaff Vistor Center
Join us in Downtown Flagstaff for a delicious afternoon of chocolate, shopping, and community fun! 11 a.m.
Park Moves to Stage 1 Water Restrictions
Good news! Grand Canyon National Park has moved to Stage 1 water restrictions after improved reservoir tank levels. While this shift allows for normal operations, conserving water is still important. All employees, residents, and visitors are asked to continue using water wisely.
We have so much going on this month, I am going to jump right in….
First, Vision + Sound: An African American Experience opens TONIGHT, Friday, February 6 at Celebrate Sedona from 4-6PM. Since the weather will be GREAT, we will be outside. The band, Just Common, is performing and artist, Isse Maloi, is demonstrating. As usual, we will have beer, wine and water for sale as well as some light hors d’oeuvres to munch on.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz — During the Jan. 20, 2026 Council meeting, the Flagstaff City Council approved a grant from the Arizona Department of Public Safety in the amount of $285,000 to fight against drug trafficking, human smuggling and other criminal activity. This funding is not related to, nor will it be used for immigration or the enforcement of immigration laws.
United Way of Northern Arizona invites you to celebrate your Love of Community and be part of our special campaign throughout February to strengthen the place we all call home.
February is a month overflowing with love. There’s Valentine’s Day, of course, but it’s also national Love of Reading Month, and on February 17th, you can celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day.
That makes this the perfect time for heart-centered folks to show their love and create lasting local impact by giving to United Way of Northern Arizona. Love of Community is about each of us playing a part in supporting youth, building stronger families, healthier communities, and a more resilient region.
Every dollar donated stays right here in northern Arizona. Whether you’re giving for the first time or renewing your commitment to our community, now is the time to show that United is the Way to make a difference for our friends and neighbors in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties.
Arizona law provides property tax assistance options for eligible widows and widowers, veterans with a disability and individuals with a permanent disability, commonly referred to as individual exemption programs. These exemptions reduce the assessed value of qualifying property, which may include individually owned real estate, mobile homes and, in some cases, personal property. Applications for individual exemptions are accepted Jan. 1 through Mar. 1 each year.
The City of Flagstaff announces a public art opportunity for artists, graphic designers, and illustrators to create a design for the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library Bookmobile. This project is an opportunity to enhance the visual landscape by using the bookmobile as a canvas for meaningful and relevant visual expression. Artists are encouraged to use a variety of media, including digital imagery, painting, drawing, photography, collage, etc. to develop their proposed designs that will be transferred to vinyl wraps. The artist whose design proposal is chosen will each receive a payment of $4,000.
Application Deadline: February 24, 2026, 5:00 pm (Arizona Time)
through innovative public-private partnerships. The town currently has 1,480 housing units in various stages of development – proof that creative collaborations between municipalities and developers can deliver results.
Last month, Highview at Boulder Creek broke ground on the first phase of what will ultimately be more than 300 factory-built homes as part of a larger mixed-use development on the west side of town. It’s an area with little infrastructure and currently no links to the Town’s water or wastewater systems.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted the plan with one condition: an update to the Future Growth Illustration, which involved changes to the land use designations for four areas within Coconino County jurisdiction.
Click here for more detail on the changes to the map.
At Sedona Arts Center, creativity is meant to be experienced. Our classes and workshops — from iPhoneography and oil painting to sculpting, stained glass, ceramics, and pottery for teens and beginners — are designed to be welcoming, hands-on, and inspiring. Whether you’re exploring something new or building on existing skills, you’ll learn from working artists in a supportive environment that values curiosity, craft, and creative joy — all in the heart of Sedona.
COCONINO COUNTY — Words will take center stage as Coconino County School Superintendent Cheryl Mango-Paget hosts the 2026 Coconino County Spelling Bee, a countywide academic showcase celebrating student excellence, preparation, and poise.
The competition will take place Saturday, Feb. 7, beginning at 10 a.m. at Flagstaff High School’s Cromer Auditorium.
Courtesy MosaicNAZ.org
FLAGSTAFF — A national shutdown is planned for Friday, Jan. 30 as part of the growing opposition to the ICE crackdown operation in Minneapolis, Minn. Under the banner of”No Work, No School. No Shopping. Stop Funding Ice,” organizers hope the action will convince the Trump administration to end their operation in Minneapolis.
“The people of the Twin Cities have shown the way for the whole country – to stop ICE’s reign of terror, we need to SHUT IT DOWN,” the organization reported on its website.
Protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) intensified during the past few weeks following the shooting deaths of ICE watchers Renee Nicole Good on Jan. 7 and Alex Pretti on Jan. 24.
Another protest against ICE and surveillance cameras is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31 near Flagstaff City Hall.
FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff City Council voted in December 2025 to terminate the City’s contract with Flock Safety for automated license plate recognition technology. Following that decision, all cameras covered under the contract were immediately turned off and have not collected any data since.
In Arizona, Native Americans represent 5.3% of the population but just 1.1% of registered nurses. Charmaine Begay is determined to change that. A first-generation student from Crystal, New Mexico, Begay is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in nursing through NAU’s American Indian Nursing Program and helping shape a future in which Indigenous communities get care from providers who understand their culture and values.
Saturday, January 31
SNOWHAUS: Winter DJ Showcase
Arizona Snowbowl
A full day of high-elevation house music at Arizona Snowbowl featuring Polar Bears, Carrie Keller, Ekonovah, and Rich Dietz! 11 a.m.
Phantom Ranch has reopened following the successful repair of multiple breaks along the Transcanyon Waterline, and water service has now been restored to Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, Boat Beach, and the Delta restrooms. Park water utilities crews completed repairs near Manzanita Rest Area and the mule corral near Phantom Ranch, allowing the system to be repressurized and inner canyon operations to resume.
On the South Rim, water tanks are slowly refilling as the system stabilizes. Grand Canyon National Park remains under Stage 2 water restrictions, and residents are encouraged to continue reducing water use wherever possible to support system recovery. Utilities staff will continue monitoring the waterline and system pressures as operations return to normal.
The Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA) water system violated drinking water standards over the past year. Even though these were not emergencies, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we did to correct these situations.
GRCA is required to monitor our drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether our drinking water meets health standards. During August 2024 and the 2nd quarter of 2025 GRCA did not complete all monitoring or testing for Total Coliform, Chlorine, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), and therefore cannot be sure of the quality of our drinking water during that time.
COCONINO COUNTY — Volunteers are needed for the 2026 Coconino County Point-in-time Count.
Click here to apply.
Point-in-time counts are important because they establish the dimensions of the problem of homelessness and help policymakers and program administrators track progress toward the goal of ending homelessness. The first of these counts was conducted in January 2005. Meaning that we have data for every Continuum of Care for the last twenty years.
Story courtesy MosaicNAZ.org
FLAGSTAFF — Anti-ICE protesters braved a chilly and breezy Friday afternoon to take part in a nationwide demonstration in response to a federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
Taking positions in front of the Flagstaff City Hall, the majority of protesters waved a variety of anti-ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) signs on Jan. 23, 2026.
The local protest was organized by Indivisible Northern Arizona in response to ICE activity in Minneapolis, Minn., which included the shooting death of immigrant supporter and ICE watcher Renee Nicole Good on Jan. 7, 2026.
“Thank you to everyone who turned out today in solidarity with Minnesota! Our volunteer counted 550 people at the height of the protest,” Indivisible reported on its Facebook webpage.
COCONINO COUNTY — As the 2026 election season is underway, the Coconino County Elections Department is recognizing Help America Vote Day on Jan. 27. Help America Vote Day aims to inspire greater civic engagement and volunteerism, and help ensure safe,…
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — Grand Canyon National Park is preparing an adaptive approach for the seasonal reopening of the North Rim, evaluating potential impacts from winter weather to park infrastructure after the Dragon Bravo Fire. The park aims to open popular points of interest, including the North Kaibab Trail, on May 15, weather and conditions permitting.
Park officials emphasize that the guiding principle for the upcoming season is: “We will open what we can, where we can, when we can.” This approach prioritizes visitor safety, resource protection, and operational readiness. Park officials are aware of the challenges of local communities, businesses and our visitors in planning for the 2026 season and are committed to providing specific details about the 2026 North Rim season no later than April 1, 2026.
Arizona law provides property tax assistance options for eligible widows and widowers, veterans with a disability and individuals with a permanent disability, commonly referred to as individual exemption programs. These exemptions reduce the assessed value of qualifying property, which may include individually owned real estate, mobile homes and, in some cases, personal property. Applications for individual exemptions are accepted Jan. 1 through Mar. 1 each year.
At Sedona Arts Center, creativity is meant to be experienced. Our classes and workshops — from iPhoneography and oil painting to sculpting, stained glass, ceramics, and pottery for teens and beginners — are designed to be welcoming, hands-on, and inspiring. Whether you’re exploring something new or building on existing skills, you’ll learn from working artists in a supportive environment that values curiosity, craft, and creative joy — all in the heart of Sedona.
Cultivating wellness for women farmers
Hidden underneath the tough exterior of women in agriculture lies a growing mental health crisis shaped by isolation, financial pressure and relentless farm stress. Gayle Gratop, a doctoral student at NAU and a farmer herself, is finding ways to offer support, filling in the gaps where existing systems fall short.
Engage directly with F3’s Executive Director during F3’s Coffee Conversations. Learn what F3 will be up to in 2026, share your thoughts about Flagstaff issues, get updates on ongoing issues, and meet other citizens and members who are or want to be engaged with issues in Flagstaff.
CALL TO ARTISTS
Juried Friends Show & Sale —
The Face of Friendship
Exhibit Dates: March 6 – April 15, 2026
Opening Reception: March 6, 2026 | 4:00–6:00 PM
Location: Sedona Arts Center, 15 Art Barn Road, Sedona, AZ
Deadline to Apply: February 1, 2026
Notification: February 6, 2026
Our Valentine’s Day Jewelry auction will be closing soon! This auction will close on Friday, January 30, 2026, at 12:00 pm (MST) to allow us time to ship any items and ensure that they will arrive before February 14th.
If you have been looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift, look no further than MNA’s virtual auction, featuring 20 stunning jewelry pieces! What’s more, all auction proceeds will benefit MNA’s educational mission, so you can give a lovely gift and support the museum at once.
CALL TO ARTISTS — Culture Connection AZ is hosting an exhibition during the month of March in honor of Women’s History Month. Titled Resilience Revisited: The Women Continuing the Legacy, the exhibition will honor both the experiences of women in Northern Arizona, and specific women who have carried on the legacy of the groundbreaking women honored in the original Resilience exhibition.
Saturday, Jan 31, 7:30 pm
Jake Allen has toured globally, is endorsed by Takamine Guitars, and has shared stages with guitar legends such as Andy McKee and Mike Dawes. As a solo artist, Allen utilizes impeccably timed live looping to create a captivating one-man show, with his hypnotic command of the guitar bringing every inch of the instrument to life.
Online Learning at Sedona Arts Center
Sedona Arts Center’s online classes and workshops bring the depth, creativity, and expertise of our School of the Arts directly to you — wherever you are. Designed for students who can’t travel but still want a rich, hands-on learning experience, these courses offer expert instruction across a range of visual art disciplines. Learn from working artists, build real skills, and stay connected to a vibrant creative community — all from home.
COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County is launching a new Roadway Safety Action Plan and inviting residents, workers, businesses and visitors to help improve safety on County roads by sharing their experiences and concerns through a brief online survey
“Improving roadway safety is a shared priority for County leadership, our residents and everyone who travels our roads,” said Christopher Tressler, Coconino County Public Works Director. “The Roadway Safety Action Plan gives us a clearer, data-driven way to identify, evaluate and prioritize needed improvements—bringing us closer to our goal of eliminating traffic-related fatalities on Coconino County roads. Public input is essential, and we encourage everyone to participate in the online survey.”
FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff City Council voted to cancel the City’s contract with Flock Safety for automated license plate recognition technology in December 2025. The cameras included in the City of Flagstaff’s contract were deactivated at that time.
As of January 2026, City staff and Flock Safety representatives are working to facilitate the physical removal of the cameras as soon as possible.
Policy & Program Updates Webinar – You’re Invited!
Monday, January 26 – Learn about AZ Tribal Consultation and Exceptional Student Services.
Monday, February 23 – Hear updates about state and national policies affecting Native American education.
From 10-11am MST. Visit website for information and register for the Zoom event!
New Name: After January, the P&P webinar will be renamed to OIE Connect!
She Kills Monsters — Theatrikos Theatre
In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and 90s pop culture, acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all. Fr.-Sat. 7 p.m. Sun. 2 p.m.
Over the last week, Grand Canyon National Park water utilities crews successfully repaired multiple pipeline failures along the North Kaibab Trail that temporarily disrupted water service in the inner canyon. Two pipeline breaks near Manzanita Rest Area were fully excavated and repaired, followed by successful excavation and repair at the Xanterra mule corral site near Phantom Ranch. With all damaged sections addressed, the Transcanyon Waterline is now being repressurized.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff receives Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds annually from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Flagstaff utilizes CDBG funds to provide various public services as well as housing, infrastructure and public facility improvements.
CDBG funds are a vital resource for strengthening communities and improving quality of life. The City of Flagstaff invites residents, community stakeholders and local organizations to participate in the upcoming public meeting and public hearings regarding the HUD Community Development Block Grant Annual Action and Consolidated Plans.
Why was Japan’s 2011 earthquake so deadly?
A new seafloor study coauthored by an NAU faculty member revealed one reason for this unusually devastating earthquake and tsunami. Learn what happened on the seafloor off Japan and how this study could help scientists understand and respond to other intense earthquakes and tsunamis.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for staying connected and engaged with planning projects and information in Coconino County! Planning helps to guide the future of our communities. In this newsletter the Planning and Zoning Department has two important updates to share:
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff invites artists and artist teams to submit Statements of Qualifications to design and execute a large-scale mural on a water tank at Buffalo Park, located at 2400 N. Gemini Road. The application deadline is Feb. 17, 2026, at 5 p.m. Mountain Time.
The highly visible project envisions an artwork that will become a defining visual landmark for Buffalo Park and the surrounding area. The mural could reflect Flagstaff, Northern Arizona, the current activity and/or history of the park, or the communities that utilize this natural and recreational resource among other ideas.
At Sedona Arts Center, creativity is meant to be experienced. Our classes and workshops — from iPhoneography and oil painting to sculpting, stained glass, ceramics, and pottery for teens and beginners — are designed to be welcoming, hands-on, and inspiring. Whether you’re exploring something new or building on existing skills, you’ll learn from working artists in a supportive environment that values curiosity, craft, and creative joy — all in the heart of Sedona.
FLAGSTAFF — City Hall administrative offices at 211 W. Aspen Ave. will be closed on Monday, Jan. 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. City Hall offices will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 20 with regular hours.
Other City of Flagstaff facilities that are closed on Jan. 19 include:
Coconino County’s Administrative Center, County Manager’s Office, County Attorney’s Office, Coconino County Superior Court and Coconino County Health and Human Services office and clinic will be closed Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
An Animal Services Officer will be available from 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Contact the CCHHS Animal Services office at 928-679-8756 to leave a message and an officer will return the call. Call 911 for emergencies.
Waterline Repairs Continue After Multiple Failures in the Inner Canyon
This week, a series of three pipeline breaks along the North Kaibab Trail has temporarily disrupted water service in the inner canyon. Two of the breaks occurred within 50 feet of each other just north of the Box, with a third near the Xanterra mule corral at Phantom Ranch.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Flagstaff Sustainability Grant cycle. The Flagstaff Sustainability Grant is a competitive grant program that funds up to $7,500 for community projects related to food, community health and climate resilience, energy, transportation, and waste.
“We can’t wait to see these community-led projects come to life each year! We want to applaud these awardees for their vision for a more sustainable Flagstaff,” said Mayor Becky Daggett.
The 2025 grant recipients and their projects are as follows:
When we listen to youth, powerful things happen.
That’s why one of the core commitments of your United Way of Northern Arizona is bringing our community together around programs and projects that provide local youth with the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
I’m excited to share two items that will make a difference to teens this winter. The first is the grand opening of The Bijou Teen Center in Holbrook, a project for youth by youth that has been several years in the making.
his past year, the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona has worked on the region’s behalf to promote the greater Flagstaff area, Sedona, Winslow and Camp Verde.
We took the story of the opportunities available in northern Arizona to conferences around the country – the ICSC Retail Show, the national Site Selector Guild, SEMI-CON, and the Flinn Brown Bio Capital Conference.
ECoNA lent its support to applications for funding for work on the I-40 corridor, the Northern Arizona University Venture Studio, and infrastructure improvements along the BNSF railway in Flagstaff.
We also fielded 62 qualified leads that resulted in 34 competitive bids with the potential of added more than 3,000 jobs and $1.8 billion in capital investments to our area. Almost half of these businesses were in the manufacturing sector, with the rest being a mix of retail, office, transportation and bioscience.
Do you know someone who is making a meaningful impact on STEM education in our community? Now is your chance to recognize and celebrate them!
STEM City is now accepting nominations for the STEMMY Awards, honoring individuals and organizations who help STEM thrive in Flagstaff.From innovative classrooms and inspiring students to dedicated teachers, businesses, and community partners, the STEMMY Awards shine a spotlight on the people who make STEM possible in Flagstaff. Help us celebrate the changemakers who spark curiosity, creativity, and connection through STEM—submit a nomination today!
We are accepting nominations in the following four categories:
