City of Flagstaff announces public art opportunity for Spruce Wash Wedge

The artwork will be a visually striking and durable installation that enhances the cultural and aesthetic landscape of the neighborhood and Flagstaff. This public art installation, known as the Spruce Wash Wedge Artwork, is a part of the Spruce Wash Watershed Improvements flood mitigation project. The site-specific piece will integrate with a reconfigured promontory, which includes a new retaining wall and expanded sidewalk landing. It will serve as a distinctive icon, engaging community members and passersby.

Coconino County Attorney’s Office Announces Formation of New Cold Case Unit

“We are determined to ensure that every case, regardless of how long ago it happened, deserves justice,” said Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker. “Our Cold Case Unit reflects our unwavering commitment to work as a team with partners at the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, the Flagstaff Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies to solve cases and bring violent criminals to justice. Our law enforcement partners at the Sheriff’s Office and Police Department are using modern forensic techniques to solve cold cases, and when that happens, it is time for my office to bring charges and prosecute the case in court. Through our collaborative efforts, we are confident that we can deliver justice for victims and their families who have sought accountability for so long.”

The NAU Review — How wildfires affect the climate + have fun while helping the environment

Right now, the most effective carbon sink in the world is dirt—specifically the permafrost in boreal and tundra ecosystems in the northern parts of the world, which store twice as much carbon as is currently in the atmosphere. As the climate warms and increasingly severe wildfires disrupt those soils, this carbon can be released into the atmosphere. Biologist Xanthe Walker received a $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation to determine just how serious this loss could be in the coming years.

United Way of Northern Arizona opens grant applications for 2025-2027

FLAGSTAFF — United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA), in partnership with the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County, will open its 2025-2027 grant application process on March 3, 2025. Applications are due by March 31 at 11:59 pm.

This funding cycle includes UWNA’s Community Investment Fund, as well as grant opportunities from the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County. Grants will be awarded for one year, with a potential one- year extension, subject to fund availability and program performance.

Community garden plot applications opening soon for the 2025 growing season

FLAGSTAFF — Members of the public are invited to submit applications for community garden plots starting on Saturday, March 1. Applications will remain open until March 31 or until filled. Returning gardeners will have priority to secure their plots from the previous season, and remaining available plots will be offered to new gardeners on a first-come, first-served basis. New gardeners who do not have access to growing space at home or those who qualify for SNAP benefits will be given priority for remaining available plots through the application process.  

County Residents Needed to Fill Vacancies for the Commission on Trial Court Appointments

COCONINO COUNTY — Looking for a way to get more involved in Coconino County? Consider applying to serve on the Commission on Trial Court Appointments (Commission) or to be part of the Nominating Committees.

These bodies are the first steps in the merit selection process of appointing new superior court judges. In 2018, Coconino County voters approved a measure to change from a partisan election of superior court judges to a merit selection process.

Flagstaff joins nationwide 2025 Presidents’ Day protest rallies

FLAGSTAFF — More than 500 people took part in a National Day of Protest event at the Flagstaff City Hall on Feb. 17. The protests were part of a nationwide demonstration against the Trump administration and its ongoing efforts to close federal agencies and fire thousands of federal workers.

The event in Flagstaff also included a rally to Support Federal Works and Public Lands.

See more photos and related stories.

Coconino Community College — Congratulations to Dawson Hernandez & Noah Stone for being nominated for the All-Arizona Academic Team

FLAGSTAFF — Coconino Community College students Dawson Hernandez and Noah Stone have been nominated for the All-Arizona Academic Team as part of the prestigious All-USA Scholarship competition, sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa!

Dawson plans to transfer to NAU to study psychology and philosophy, paving his way to law school. Noah has been accepted into NAU’s 2025 Compressed Nursing Program, working toward his goal of becoming a flight nurse.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Feb. 17-21, 2025

Expect Longer Wait Times at Entrance Stations: Spring Operational Changes Take Effect March 1

As spring break approaches, visitors and park residents should be prepared for long lines and full parking lots. Traffic congestion is expected at all entrance stations, with the heaviest delays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Parking lots near the Grand Canyon Visitor Center will begin to fill by noon. The South Entrance webcam (updated every five minutes) is a great way to monitor park traffic. To help reduce congestion, we encourage visitors to purchase entrance passes in advance, use lane 1 at the South Entrance, explore alternative transportation options, and arrive early or visit later in the day.

We want to express our heartfelt appreciation to all the entrance station staff for their continued hard work and dedication. We recognize long lines and heavy traffic can be challenging and your professionalism and commitment make an incredible difference in providing visitors with a positive experience. Thank you!

African Diaspora Advisory Council announces 2025 Black History Month Essay Contest

The 2025 Black History Month Theme is “African Americans and Labor.” This theme highlights the impact of Black people’s work and how it shapes the experiences of Black people and the societies in which they live.

This year, students will be asked to answer a prompt in a short essay that focuses on their own future job goals and a historical or modern figure from Black History who shares and has excelled in that profession. ADAC will provide a list of various jobs and figures from Black History who have served in those roles that students can choose from as the subject of their essay. A scoring rubric will be provided for teachers to assist them in helping students to write strong essays.

Minimum wage Impact Study in Coconino County released

This comprehensive analysis provides key insights into the economic effects of the minimum wage policy in our region. The study’s findings aim to support informed decision-making by local, state, and federal policymakers while guiding our workforce and economic development strategies. Specifically, this report will help:

Address potential challenges and mitigate negative impacts of minimum wage policies.
Identify and promote strategies that benefit both employers and workers.
Develop workforce initiatives that ensure a resilient and adaptable labor market.
Provide insight into job and skills training needs to better prepare the workforce.
Coordinate efforts to expand entrepreneurial training and microenterprise services.
Deliver technical assistance strategies to help small and emerging businesses thrive.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Variety of upcoming education opportunities (Literacy Fair, Summer Camps, Summer Reading) available for youth in region

From participation in a Literacy Fair this coming weekend in Flagstaff, to registration for upcoming summer camps and reading programs, a variety of educational opportunities are available for youth in Coconino County.
The United Way of Northern Arizona and Read On Flagstaff will present a Literacy Fair from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 22 at Killip Elementary School, 2300 E. 6th Ave., Flagstaff.
The event will feature literacy activities for children up to age 8, resources for parents and workshops. Free books for everyone.
The fair is supported by The Literacy Center, the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth, Northern Arizona University, Culture Connection AZ and the Flagstaff Unified School District

Sedona Arts Center — Call to Artists

Sedona Plein Air Festival
October 20-26, 2025

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 15, 2025
The Sedona Plein Air Festival takes place during the best weather period of the year at the height of tourist season and is supported by a group of very experienced and enthusiastic staff and volunteers. Sedona is a sublime environment with stunning beauty, and the Sedona Arts Center has roots going back 66+ years to the founding of Sedona.

The NAU Review — Meet the influencers of the Cretaceous Era + making an impact at Meteor Crater

The original Cretaceous influencer

Just how much did dinosaurs 65 million years ago affect the Earth as we know it? A lot, and NAU researchers just discovered one more way. New research led by ecoinformatics professor Chris Doughty shows that the evolution of fruit—and the evolution of fruit-eating primates, the early ancestors of humans—was influenced by the “ecosystem engineering” of large sauropods. 

United Way of Northern Arizona — $171,632 – The Magic Number to Change Lives

Maximize your impact by supporting us today with an Arizona Charitable Tax Credit-designated donation. You can give up to $470 as a single filer or $938 as a married couple filing jointly by April 15 and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for the 2024 tax year. (Use QCO Code 20726 on your AZ Form 321 when filing your state income taxes.)

When you give, you have the security of knowing that your donation is combined with others so that we can give meaningful support to proven programs that make an impact in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties.

Guest contribution — American Immigration Council — This Week in Immigration

LATEST ANALYSIS Sending Migrants to Guantánamo Bay Is a Costly, Optics-Driven Shift in Immigration DetentionPresident Trump ordered the Secretary of Homeland Security to expand immigration detention at Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, Cuba to house up to 30,000 people. Since then, U.S. Immigration & and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has transferred at least two flights of migrants from the United States to its detention facility there.  Breaking Down Trump’s Attempt to End Birthright CitizenshipOn his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for babies of undocumented immigrants and for people with temporary status in the U.S. Executive Order 14156: Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship departs from over 125 years of precedent as it sought to abolish the United States’ longstanding policy of unrestricted birthplace-based citizenship.  FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW Last week, people in states across the country held protests in support of immigrants. From California to Georgia and Illinois to Texas, thousands rallied to fight back against mass deportation, ICE arrests, and the use of Guantanamo Bay as a detention center. 

Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) to hold next meeting on March 5. Seeking new members

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) will hold its next meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March. 5 at the Coconino County Health and Human Services Building, 2625 N. King St., Flagstaff, Ponderosa Conference Room.

The meeting can be attended in person or via Zoom Link Below:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85359174121

Meeting ID: 853 5917 4121 Phone: + 1(408) 638-0968

… CHAC, which is current seeking new members, serves as an official liaison and communications link between the Hispanic community and the Coconino County Board of Supervisors, so please bring any concerns you may have about equal education opportunities, fair employment, juvenile justice, political representation and other issues.

Coconino County approves $19.5 million grant from USDOT for flood mitigation improvements to HWY89

“Closures to Highway 89 are not just an inconvenience,” Judy Begay, Coconino County District 4 Supervisor and Chair of the Board said. “They create a barrier to employment, health and safety, by forcing people to drive extra hours around the Grand Canyon or Hopi lands to get to work and appointments, which has resulted in a loss of employment for some residents.”

City of Flagstaff — Uranium ore hauling

FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff City Council continues to advocate against the mining of uranium and its transport in and through our region, including passing multiple resolutions and supporting federal legislation that would restrict uranium mining and transport.

While the Flagstaff City Council opposes the transport of uranium ore through our community, the City Council does not have jurisdiction over federal or state highways.

Sedona Arts Center’s Uptown Gallery Shop featuring Betty Carr, Geo Stebila, and Iris Yang

Sedona Arts Center represents over 100 professional local and regional artists. The Art Gallery on campus is a dynamic, ever-changing display of local talent in all dimensions and forms. Part of that dynamic is the bi-monthly featured artists program where a section of the overall gallery allows for a special group exhibition of selected artists.

NO SALES TAX – FREE PARKING – UPTOWN SEDONA
Sedona Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization that offers all purchases without sales tax
SedonaArtsCenter.org

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — The Impact of Forestry on Our Safety – and Our Economy

Northern Arizona’s rich, dense forests are among the many reasons why people love to live and work in our region. But the beauty and recreational opportunities of these endless acres of green come with a risk in an area that is known for its dry and often windy conditions – the threat of wildfire.

Numerous entities are dedicated to reducing that risk. Northern Arizona University’s School of Forestry specifically offers a BS in Applied Wildland Fire Science; APS has a dedicated Forestry and Wildfire Mitigation team; and the 4FRI project continues to use thinning and prescribed burns to lessen the threat of wildfires – and post-wildfire flooding – to communities throughout northern Arizona.

The work of these entities not only impacts our safety – it also has an economic impact for the region.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Feb. 10-14, 2025

Cultural Demonstration 2025 Season Begins Tuesday, February 18

Grand Canyon National Park, in partnership with Grand Canyon Conservancy, is excited to announce the start of the 11th season of the Cultural Demonstration Program, beginning next week. Inaugurated in 2014 by the Grand Canyon Intertribal Working Group, the program began with just four demonstrators and has since expanded to include over 200 participants.

Starting February 18, cultural demonstrators will be returning to the Desert View Watchtower, providing demonstrations in the View Room Tuesday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 2025 season will be launched by three talented Diné artists: Laverine Greyeyes, Diné weaver; Cristoff Keyonnie, Diné painter; and DeMaudrei Yazzie, Diné seamstress.

City of Flagstaff seeks lead arts agency and grantmaking agency for arts, culture and science programs

The lead arts agency will act as the coordinating body for arts, culture and science initiatives in Flagstaff. Responsibilities include long-term planning, sector leadership, and collaboration with local and external partners to address infrastructure needs and opportunities. The agency will also promote community engagement, enhance funding through grants and other means, and provide technical support and training to individuals and organizations. Additionally, it will contribute directly to the cultural landscape by producing exhibitions and events that foster community vitality, expand participation, and encourage both public and private investment. Programs and offerings will be reviewed annually to align with the community’s evolving needs. 

Coconino County Comprehensive Plan Advisory Group to meet Feb. 20

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.