Category: Government

Large group of protesters at Flagstaff City Hall joins National Day of Action on April 19. With updated related news stories

by Community Contributor • April 24, 2025 • Comments Off

Story/photos courtesy of www.MosaicNAZ.org

FLAGSTAFF — Local residents once again turned out in force during a National Day of Action rally held on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the Flagstaff City Hall.

With a crowd that easily exceeded 1,000 people, local residents once again assailed the Trump administration with an event that coincided with the anniversary of first shots of the American revolution in Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, along with weekend activities designed to recognize Earth Day, which will be officially to be recognized on April 22.

To recognize those events, a number of protestors carried “No to Kings” signs, as well as a variety of climate change banners, signs and Earth Day flags.

The local event was initially promoted by the Coconino County Democratic Party, with additional support from a variety of groups from Indivisible of Northern AZ, 50501, Catch Fire Movement, Women’s March and others.

SEE MORE PHOTOS, VIDEOS AT WWW.MOSAICNAZ.COM

2025 Coconino County Teacher of the Year winners announced

by Community Contributor • April 24, 2025 • Comments Off

Hosted by Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget, the 2025 Teacher of the Year awards were held Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the High-Country Conference Center in Flagstaff.

The evening honored the exceptional efforts of teachers across the county—highlighting those who go above and beyond in shaping the future of education.

2025 Award Recipients:

Coconino County Teacher of the Year: Dawn Quamahongnewa, Leupp Elementary School
Coconino County Rookie Teacher of the Year: Lesley Littlefield, Knoles Elementary School
Lifetime Achievement Awardees:
Traci Parker, Principal, Tse’ Yaato’ High School
Lisa Barquin, Preschool Director, San Francisco de Asis

Coconino County Board of Supervisors Elects New Chair and Vice Chair

by Community Contributor • April 24, 2025 • Comments Off

COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino County Board of Supervisors will have a new Chair and Vice Chair effective Friday, May 2, 2025.

At the end of their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, the Board elected District 1 Supervisor Patrice Horstman as Chair of the Board and District 2 Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez as Vice Chair of the Board.

The nominations were motioned by District 3 Supervisor Tammy Ontiveros, with a second from District 4 Supervisor and outgoing Chair Judy Begay.

North Rim of Grand Canyon opens May 15 for 2025 season

by Community Contributor • April 22, 2025 • Comments Off

Visitor services, including the campground, Grand Canyon Conservancy bookstore and the Backcountry Information Center will open at 8 a.m. Rangers will be available daily from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. to provide information, trip planning assistance, and Park Ranger Programs at the Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk through October 15. Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim operations, including lodging, groceries, retail, food and beverage services, shower and laundry and the gas station, will also open May 15. The lodge dining room will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with reservations required for dinner service. The last day of the 2025 season for most commercial services will be October 15, 2025.

Prescribed burn planned later this week west of Flagstaff

by Community Contributor • April 21, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — Fire managers with the Flagstaff Ranger District plan on continuing portions of the Horseshoe Maxwell Springs prescribed burn project located 9.5 miles northwest of Flagstaff, just north of Bellemont.

Prescribed burns are always dependent upon multiple conditions, including personnel availability, fuel conditions, weather and approval from the Arizona Department of Environment Quality. Prescribed burns may be changed or canceled last-minute if burn conditions do not meet criteria outlined in advance.

Flagstaff residents brave rain, snow to attend U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego’s Veteran Townhall on April 18

by Community Contributor • April 18, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — The chance of heavy rain or snow did not deter local residents of the opportunity to ask questions about the impact of recent federal funding cuts on local veterans during the U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego’s Veteran Townhall held on Friday, April 18 at the American Legion Mark A. Moore Post 3 in downtown Flagstaff.

During the event, which drew upwards of 60 people, local veterans were able to ask what steps are being taken to protect local veterans who have lost their federal jobs or are seeing a reduction of veterans services due to federal program funding cuts.

Capacity crowd turns out for Arizona Attorney General’s Flagstaff Town Hall on April 15

by Community Contributor • April 18, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — With issues ranging from federal funding cuts to local health care, highway construction, homeless shelters, food services, wildfire and flooding prevention projects to staffing cuts at local universities and national parks — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said she wanted to hear it all so she can include the feedback of myriad lawsuits being filed by nearly two dozen state attorneys general against the Trump administration.

Coconino County residents provided that information and much more during Mayes’s Flagstaff Town Hall held on April 15, 2025, at the Coconino Center for the Arts. With a capacity-stretching standing-room-only crowd approaching 300, local government officials, former government workers, community service providers and others shared a variety of stories on how the administration financial cuts and funding delays have impacted the region.

The most heart-wrenching stories came from local residents and veterans who are on the verge of or have lost their government jobs and are forced to fend for themselves as they try to pay for housing, food and medical services, with many saying they will be forced to leave Flagstaff and region to find jobs elsewhere.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: April 14-18, 2025

by Community Contributor • April 18, 2025 • Comments Off

Grand Canyon National Park Night Sky Programming – 2025 Season Kickoff!

We’re excited to kick off our 2025 night sky programming season at Grand Canyon National Park! Join us for our first stargazing event on Friday, April 18 at 8 p.m. at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.

These programs celebrate the park’s stunning dark skies and offer a chance to learn more about the cosmos through ranger talks, telescope viewing, and celestial storytelling. Events will be held throughout the week—not just on weekends—now through the end of the year. Topics, times, and locations may vary.

To stay up to date on upcoming night sky events, scan the QR-code flyer posted in park buildings or visit our webpage directly:

Discover Flagstaff — Earth Jam 2025, NAU Old Main on April 19

by AmigosNAZ.com • April 18, 2025 • Comments Off

Earth Jam is an Earth Day celebration hosted by multiple NAU organizations!! Enjoy live music and performances!! 3 p.m.
Learn More

Coconino County Public Works Online Surplus Property Auction underway through April 25

by Community Contributor • April 17, 2025 • Comments Off

COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County Public Works Fleet Services’ spring online surplus property auction is underway and will run through Friday, April 25, 2025.

The auction is open to the public and features such items as used trucks, heavy equipment, and other surplus County property that has met replacement guidelines.

Photos and information for online auction items are available at coconino county | GovDeals.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Coalition outreach efforts continue with ‘Celebration of Youth’ at Flagstaff Mall, upcoming event in Page

by Community Contributor • April 16, 2025 • Comments Off

COCONINO COUNTY — With a variety of children and youth entertainers performing on the main stage at Center Court, representatives from various community health and welfare organizations— including CCC&Y — shared information with parents at the annual “Celebration of Youth” event on April 11, 2025 at the Flagstaff Mall.

Presented by the Flagstaff Mall, the event featured a number of information tables for parents staffed by representatives from the Arizona Dept. of Economic Security — Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP), Boys & Girls Club of Flagstaff, CHIEC-ECO.Alitas. Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth, Elevated Soft Play, Flagstaff Unified School District Foundation, FIT4MOM Flagstaff, the Foster Alliance, Lived Black Experience in Flagstaff, Meteor Crater Education Alliance in Flagstaff, the Museum of Northern Arizona, Rosewood Music in Flagstaff and the United Way of Northern Arizona.

Fire managers planning prescribed burns across Coconino National Forest next week as a weather window of opportunity opens for safe implementation

by Community Contributor • April 14, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — Up to four prescribed burn projects are planned across Coconino National Forest next week to reduce hazardous forest fuels and reduce the risk of wildfires to many northern Arizona communities (listed below in chronological order).

Should wind and weather conditions become unfavorable, ignitions will be halted, and project plans will be postponed, changed or canceled.

For the latest information at any time of the day, details and updates about all prescribed burn projects can be found on the Coconino NF Prescribed Burn Projects InciWeb page, which is updated any time new information is available.

City of Flagstaff — Cedar Avenue Crossing Project to begin on April 21

by Community Contributor • April 14, 2025 • Comments Off

Lane shifts along Cedar Avenue will be in place during this work to maintain eastbound and westbound traffic along Cedar Avenue. Pedestrian and bicyclist access will be maintained through the area during construction. Motorists are asked to follow the marked signage/detour to get to their destination.

City of Flagstaff — Prevent waste by participating in Drop-Off Day and the Fix-It Clinic!

by Community Contributor • April 14, 2025 • Comments Off

The City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office, Flagstaff Police Department, and Coconino County invite the community to attend Drop-Off Day on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Coconino County Health and Human Services building (2625 N King St) to properly dispose of batteries, lightbulbs, expired medications and more. More information is available at flagstaff.az.gov/3379/Drop-Off-Day

Community recognizes April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month with its Field of Hope Dedication Ceremony

by Community Contributor • April 11, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County and City of Flagstaff officials gathered with volunteers from the Exchanged Club of Flagstaff to recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and the 116 children who died in 2024 as a result of child abuse at the “Field of Hope Dedication Ceremony” on Friday, April 4, 2025.

“As you look across the field today and remember each of the 116 precious children who died from child abuse or neglect, remember there are many who have survived atrocious treatment from the adults who were responsible for their care,” Exchange Club officials stated in the program. “Let each of these flags also represent the survivors. The Field of Hope is dedicated today to all children, that they will be nurtured to adulthood in love and safety.”

The flags were first planted on the Coconino County courthouse lawn during a snow storm on April 2, and replanted during the dedication ceremony on April 4.

Gov. Hobbs Issues Statement on Legislature’s Refusal to Hear Nomination of Arizona Board of Regents Appointee

by Community Contributor • April 11, 2025 • Comments Off

Editor’s note: The following statement was released by the Office of the Gov. Katie Hobbs after the Republican-controlled Arizona Senate refused to confirm Board of Regents appointee Elizabeth “Liz” Archuleta, former Coconino County Supervisor and a member of the leadership team of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under President Joseph Biden.

“It is a shame that the (Arizona) Senate refused to hear the nomination of Liz Archuleta, a fiscally conservative and fair-minded public servant and nonprofit leader, to the Arizona Board of Regents. This decision is a loss for higher education in Arizona and an affront to all Arizonans who care about higher education.

“Since I appointed Liz to the Arizona Board of Regents last year, Liz has brought accountability and transparency to the Board when it needed it most. She has helped guide the Board through several important decisions and critical moments, including enhancing financial oversight and accountability, hiring a new university president, managing the University of Arizona’s fiscal recovery, and addressing issues with FAFSA. …”

HANDS OFF Flagstaff! — Largest protest in city’s history jam downtown Flagstaff City Hall

by Community Contributor • April 11, 2025 • Comments Off

Story/photos courtesy of www.MosaicNAZ.org

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes Town Hall to be held April 15 in Flagstaff. More protests to come April 19, May 1 at Flagstaff City Hall.

FLAGSTAFF — Protesters (estimated between 2,000 and 2,500) flooded the zone in downtown Flagstaff for the “HANDS OFF! Flagstaff AZ Fights Back!” rally, part of a national day of protest held on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

The Arizona Daily Sun put the estimated crowd at 2,500 people, who surrounding City Hall from the corner of Humphrey Street and Aspen Avenue south to Route 66 and west to Milton Road.

A small overflow crowd could be seen across the street from City Hall, with others protesting from the traffic islands at the Santa Fe Avenue and Milton Road exits.

Carrying a variety of signs reflecting the organizer’s multi-issue event, protesters took aim at everything from Hands Off Medicaid to Medicare, Social Security, Our Jobs, Our Wallets, Our Books, Fair Elections, Personal Data, Public Lands, Veteran Services, Cancer Research, NATO, Consumer Protections, Clean Air, Schools, Libraries, Free Speech, LGBTQ+ Rights, Immigrants, Courts and other issues.

Coconino County Comprehensive Plan Advisory Group Meeting set for April 14

by Community Contributor • April 11, 2025 • Comments Off

The Coconino County Comprehensive Plan Advisory Group (CPAG) is meeting monthly. This temporary group, invited by the Board of Supervisors, represents the diversity of the County. The role of the CPAG is to provide recommendations on the updated goals, policies, maps, and implementation strategies of the Comprehensive Plan Update, Envision 2045 to the Board of Supervisors, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and staff.

Arizona Office of Indian Education presents the Tribal Regalia Graduation Toolkit for students and families!

by Community Contributor • April 10, 2025 • Comments Off

Research, recommendations, and resources included!
The Arizona Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education is thrilled to launch the Tribal Regalia Graduation Toolkit for Students and Families! This invaluable resource has been developed through extensive collaboration with Tribal Leaders, State Leaders, community partners, and Indigenous families. It is a heartfelt effort designed to honor and protect Native American graduates during this significant milestone.

Inside this toolkit, you will find:
Arizona laws and other relevant legal protections
Information about tribal regalia and its significance during graduation
Visual examples of tribal regalia worn by community members across the State
A self-advocacy letter template for students and families
Additional resources from the ACLU, Native American Rights Fund, and more!

Grand Canyon National Park announces updates to construction closure schedule and planned re-opening updates for 2025

by Community Contributor • April 10, 2025 • Comments Off

GRAND CANYON, AZ. — Grand Canyon National Park will reopen the Bright Angel Trail and Campground for public use beginning May 15, 2025.

Multiple inner canyon areas were closed last fall for Transcanyon Waterline project construction activities. The Phantom Ranch Canteen and Lodge reopened on schedule, April 1.

The River Trail, between River Resthouse and the South Kaibab Trail junction, Silver Bridge and Plateau Point Trail, between the Tonto Trail West junction to Plateau Point, originally scheduled to reopen in May, will remain closed until Oct. 1, 2025. The Bright Angel Campground group sites will remain closed until Oct 1, 2025.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — City of Flagstaff employees gain valuable System Change information to help them become more resilient at work, home

by Community Contributor • April 9, 2025 • Comments Off

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

COCONINO COUNTY — From dealing with day-to-day tasks and public service requirements, to assessing and meeting community needs such as building permits, parks and recreation programs, library services, to addressing housing, fire and police response, to responding to and working to prevent emergency including wildfires and floods, City of Flagstaff employees often face a wide range of community stressors and traumatic events each day.

Each individual has their own stress and trauma that they may be dealing with on top of the complex work they are tasked with. To support the City of Flagstaff employees, CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie recently presented “Trauma in the Workplace” as a live workshop.

“The research is clear that what happens to us impacts our behavior and interactions with others. When we are in a trauma-responsive environment we not only understand this, we make simple changes that can improve outcomes and relationships as opposed to creating further stress or trauma,” Watahomigie said. “Organizations and systems who are on the frontlines of our community’s deepest needs are supported when they understand the behaviors they and others are experiencing.”

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) Action Alert — Regional Plan Open Houses Next Week

by Community Contributor • April 8, 2025 • Comments Off

The 60-day public review of the Draft Regional Plan in late 2024 generated over 2,000 comments and led to substantial revisions to the Plan. The review revealed some important topics and issues that merit additional input from the community to guide the next steps of revising the plan.

Join City staff at one of the two Open Houses next week to learn about the public’s comments and discuss how the Plan has been revised. The community also can provide feedback via the public survey (see below), and learn about the next steps for adoption of the Regional Plan. The Open Houses will take place at the following dates and locations:

Tuesday, April 15: 5:30-7:30 pm at the Flagstaff Aquaplex, 1702 N. Fourth St.

Thursday, April 17: 5:30-7:30 pm at the Boys & Girls Club of Flagstaff, 301 S. Paseo Del Flag

Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library events for the week of April 7, 2025

by Community Contributor • April 7, 2025 • Comments Off

Connect with your community

Flagstaff Regional Plan – Survey and Events

by Community Contributor • April 7, 2025 • Comments Off

Click here to start the Spring Survey on the Regional Plan
Weigh in on revised plan content and key topics, including the plan’s priorities, neighborhood density, commercial development, gentrification, and creating a sense of place.

Coconino County Board of Supervisors recognize April as ‘Sexual Assault Awareness Month’

by Community Contributor • April 4, 2025 • Comments Off

COCONINO COUNTY — At this week’s regular meeting of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors, the Board unanimously approved a proclamation recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Coconino County.

The proclamation reads, in part: “Sexual Assault Awareness Month,’ which officially began being observed nationally 24 years ago, is intended to raise public awareness to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and has public health implications for every community;”

Hundreds of local residents expected to take part in national ‘HANDS OFF! Flagstaff AZ Fights Back!’ protest at Flagstaff City Hall on April 5

by Community Contributor • April 4, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — Hundreds of Flagstaff residents are expected to pack the lawn and street in front of the Flagstaff City Hall at noon Saturday, April 5 as part of a national HANDS OFF! Flagstaff AZ Fights Back! protest.

Other HANDS OFF! events are planned for that same day in Sedona, Prescott, Payson, Show Low, Kingman and elsewhere in Arizona and nationwide.

A growing number of protests to Trump administration policies have taken place at Flagstaff City Hall including a protest against Rep. Eli Crane, R-Arizona on March 24; a Presidents’ Day protest on Feb. 24; an an immigrants rights protest on Feb. 7. Crowds have ranged from a 200 to 500.

Indivisible Northern Arizona touts the event as HANDS OFF! — Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Our Jobs, Our Wallets, Our Books, Fair Elections, Personal Data, Public Lands, Veteran Services, Cancer Research, NATO, Consumer Protections, Clean Air, Schools, Libraries, Free Speech, LGBTQ+ Rights, Immigrants, Courts, More

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: March 31-April 4, 2025

by Community Contributor • April 3, 2025 • Comments Off

Northern Arizona Weather Outlook: Navigating Drought, Fire Season, and the Anticipated Monsoon

Northern Arizona, including Grand Canyon, faces ongoing weather-related challenges. While March brought some relief, an exceptionally dry winter has left much of the region grappling with severe to extreme drought conditions. Flagstaff’s snowfall, at just 46.8 inches, represents only 56% of the average through March, and overall precipitation wince October 1, 2024, has remained below 50% of normal across the region.

Looking ahead, the forecast indicates a high likelihood of drier and warmer-than-normal conditions throughout Arizona during the fire season from April to June. This combination elevates the risk of wildfires. However, there is an anticipation that a warmer and drier spring could lead to an earlier or more intense monsoon season from July to September, with projections favoring above-normal precipitation alongside warmer-than-average temperatures.

Want more information on weather and fire projections for 2025? The National Weather Service-Flagstaff Office recently compiled this outlook in the attached powerpoint here.

City of Flagstaff Beautification, Arts & Sciences announces news, opportunities

by Community Contributor • April 3, 2025 • Comments Off

The City of Flagstaff and Arizona Public Service (APS) have partnered on a pilot program to transform 10 utility cabinets into stunning works of art. Building on the City’s highly successful traffic signal cabinet program, this initiative continues to turn utilitarian cabinets into colorful, community-centered art. Now in its fifth year, the program has introduced a variety of designs to Flagstaff’s streetscapes, from imaginative scenes of northern Arizona’s flora and fauna to playful abstract compositions.

City of Flagstaff announces selected Accessory Dwelling Unit designs for Model Plans Library; Public invited to vote in Community Choice Awards

by Community Contributor • April 3, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff is pleased to announce the winners and runners-up of the City’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Model Plans Request for Informal Proposals (RFIP). ADUs can help advance the City’s adopted climate action and housing goals as ADUs are smaller housing units that have the potential to offer lower rent and monthly utility costs, provide additional income opportunities, and increase the available housing stock.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Join us for our next Prevention Council Zoom meeting on April 3 to share your story

by Community Contributor • April 2, 2025 • Comments Off

Please join CCC&Y for its next Prevention Council Zoom meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 3. Our meetings provide our Coalition partners with the opportunity to share the latest news about their projects that support children, youth and their families in Northern Arizona.

Scheduled guest presentations include the United Way of Northern Arizona on FUSD’s KinderCamp and Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona’s “My Career Advisor” program.

The Council meets the first Thursday of the month.

Want to be a guest speaker at our next meeting? Send an email to CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie at coalition@coconinokids.org to be placed on the agenda or to receive a Zoom link to our next meeting.