AZ — Phoenix police arrested a minor for allegedly having a loaded gun on campus a school resource officer at the Laveen Elementary School was alerted by staff that a student reported another student had a loaded gun inside his backpack The student was interviewed and was referred to the Juvenile Corrections Center for a minor in possession of a firearm Report a typo ARIZONA NEWS BY SERENA O'SULLIVAN PHOENIX — A new park in Laveen is set to officially open on Saturday Officials with the city of Phoenix will gather at Farmland Park on Saturday for a grand opening at 8:30 a.m Councilmember Carlos Galindo-Elvira and officials with the city’s parks and recreation department are set to speak at the event The park in Laveen, a Phoenix neighborhood Amenities at the park include a playground two basketball courts and two pickleball courts Those looking to get a free workout can also use the park’s exercise equipment Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here There was an error; please refresh the page or try again There are no events matching your selection community members and City officials gathered to celebrate the highly anticipated grand opening of Farmland Park The event marked a milestone for the City of Phoenix’s efforts to bring more outdoor recreation and parks to the area Farmland Park is the second of three parks planned in Phoenix/Laveen by 2025 following the opening of Harvest Park last year The name Farmland Park pays tribute to Laveen’s rich agricultural roots which have long defined the area’s character and community Once home to thriving dairy farms and cotton fields Laveen’s farmland heritage is celebrated through the naming of this new community recreational space Developed with the guidance of a steering committee and shaped by the input of local residents through surveys and community meetings Farmland Park was created by the community for the community Despite facing setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic ensuring the community had a voice every step of the way "We’re thrilled to celebrate the opening of yet another park in the Phoenix/Laveen area,” Mayor Kate Gallego said “Farmland Park provides an important community gathering space with first-class amenities and a FitPHX walking loop all with a beautifully landscaped backdrop.” "The opening of Farmland Park today is a reflection of the vision we have for District 7 and Laveen—vibrant and full of opportunity,” District 7 Councilwoman Carlos Galindo-Elvira said “We're excited to provide a space where families can gather and everyone can experience the beauty of the outdoors."  Farmland Park offers a variety of recreational features designed to meet the needs of the community “Farmland Park is a true reflection of what's possible when a community comes together,” said Phoenix Parks and Recreation Director Cynthia Aguilar “Every amenity in this park was selected by the community who will use them We’re proud to deliver a space that promotes wellness Phoenix residents are encouraged to visit and enjoy all that Farmland Park has to offer: 2323 S For more parks and recreation facilities near you, visit phoenix.gov/parks/ Subscribe to the monthly Phoenix resident newsletter for updates Contact Form • Phone Directory Do you require an accommodation to participate in a City program, service, or activity? Contact the ADA Compliance Program at least five business days before the event Documents are available in alternative formats upon request. Learn more about ADA Compliance Provide feedback about modernized Phoenix.gov City of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Review our privacy policy and statement of commitment. AZ — Phoenix police are investigating a shooting involving a teenage male in Laveen officers were called to the area of 43rd Avenue and Baseline Road for reports of a shooting When they arrived they located a teenager with gunshot wounds The teen was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries according to Phoenix Police Department officials Police have not said if they located a suspect On Thursday, the county announced that a lawsuit has been filed against Growers Market, also known as Arizona Green Guys, for failing to cease operations as previously ordered at the site near 35th Avenue and Dobbins Road “Businesses are welcome near residential areas but their economic endeavors shouldn’t jeopardize the quality of life of their neighbors,” Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Gallardo (D-District 5) said in a press release Following dozens of complaints from area residents about a foul odor the county says the site was inspected and found to be operating without a proper special use permit The business was notified of the zoning violation in September During last month’s hearing, the county determined that the business was “operating without a proper entitlement” and was ordered to cease operations or face daily fines of $75 The company was also ordered to vacate the property by March 10 “I coach a baseball team on a field two miles from this business and the odor is overwhelming,” Gallardo added “The County received hundreds of complaints and inspected the property many times It is time for the business to wrap up and move to a more appropriate area.” The company later posted a message on the Arizona Green Guys homepage: “We’re moving.. We are grateful to the Laveen community for being home to our first site we will be dramatically scaling down operations at our Dobbins facility We’re sad to slow our efforts to divert green waste from Phoenix landfills Stay tuned for updates on our new location!" the county says it has received recent reports from area residents that operations were ongoing and new materials were still being delivered to the property the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved litigation against the company on Dec The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office will also seek an injunction to enforce the zoning ordinance violation See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description AZ — Maricopa County filed a legal complaint Wednesday night against the operator of a Laveen composting facility Since the summer, ABC15 has been covering dozens of complaints surrounding an ongoing foul smell coming from the area of 32nd Avenue and Dobbins Road a county judgment found the property violated a zoning ordinance for running the business in a rural area without proper agricultural exemption permits Operator Neal Brooks was then given a "cease and desist" order to abandon the business no later than March 10 RELATED: Neighbors complain to ABC15 about bad smell coming from Laveen facility the county said the defendants chose not to abide by the order and to incur the fines The complaint states that a neighbor observed and videotaped mulch being dumped on the property Watch previous ABC15 coverage of this story in the player above the county contacted ‘AZ Green Guys’ where Brooks admitted to bringing additional material on-site which the county explained violated the November order Do you have a concern in your community or a news tip Connect with us: share@abc15.com Facebook | Instagram | YouTube a neighbor observed and videotaped a load of what appeared to be drywall being dumped onto the property The legal filing states complaints about the composting business are daily with Maricopa County air quality receiving over 770 to date the development department receiving more than 55 to date and environmental services receiving more than 50 to date The county alleges that the mulching operation has continued even after the November judgment and the county asks the court to enforce the cease and desist A court hearing will take place on January 7 to decide what moves are next ABC15 will follow that court hearing and bring you any updates AZ — A mulching facility in Laveen is shutting down for good after a lawsuit was filed by Maricopa County ABC15 has been following this story since last year and has heard from many residents who complained of the smell coming from the facility. is shutting down operations per a court settlement Video in player above is from previous coverage The county first filed a legal complaint against the company The settlement means the company is prohibited from operating a composting facility on the property The company also consented to a list of stringent county stipulations to put an end to the business's operations and removal of the offending materials "This settlement is a big win for Laveen community members," said Supervisor Steve Gallardo "This business could have continued operating for months while we waited around for court hearings to be scheduled took action to hold this business responsible AZ — A composting facility that has been the subject of numerous complaints in a Laveen neighborhood says it is leaving the area after being given a cease-and-desist letter was given a cease-and-desist letter after it was found to be operating a commercial business in an area zoned as rural The letter reportedly told the business to leave the property by March 10 The operator of the facility told ABC15 Friday they are "moving ASAP." The operator previously told ABC15 he planned to move the facility to Coolidge next year The operator was reportedly fined $750 for the zoning violation and had options to apply for a special-use permit or stop operating by March 2025 residents have been complaining about odors coming from the facility calling it a "nightmare" and even describing the area as smelling like "an old bottle of wine left out overnight." Residents claim that brewery wastewater at the composting farm is largely to blame for the smell but county officials said the more than 300 complaints have been investigated and handled ABC15 reported in October after dozens of Laveen residents spoke out at a community meeting I'm just a few feet from them and it's been a nightmare," stated Maria Gallegos "I'm the kind of person who loves to be outside with my animals and my plants and my garden and this to me is like when we were in COVID-19 "We called the fire department because it smelled really bad like gas," said Jose Gallegos 'There's something wrong here something is going to explode.' The fire department 'Why did you build your house next to a composting facility?' We were here first!" The man behind the farm told ABC15 he passed every recent inspection that’s come to his door and said he helps deliver more good to the community than harm AZ — Dozens of residents in Laveen came out to a community meeting with Maricopa County and City of Phoenix leaders Thursday night to voice concerns over a composting operation in Laveen Maria and her husband Jose say they have been smelling the composting operation for months "Our concern with the waste was if it was going to attract flies or if flies were going to breed in the waste but it was removed we confirmed it yesterday," an official said responded to ABC15 with a statement saying there is "Zero yeast coming in [we] stopped when we determined that was 'smell.' [Also I don't see any intention of leaving," stated Maria Maricopa County Planning and Development is scheduled to hold a compliance meeting on November 5 to determine if the composting farm is operating a business within a rural zoning district Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPHOENIX (AZFamily) — Authorities have released new body-cam video of a police shooting that left an armed suspect dead earlier this month in Laveen they found people running and jumping the back wall to get away Police went to the back of the home and found 45-year-old Christopher Alan Phillips running away The two officers began following Phillips and attempted to cut him off in their police SUV Video shows Phillips sprinting away from the officers as they got out of their SUV Both officers attempted to chase after him but lost him along Baseline Road There’s a gentleman running away with a gun in his hand,” one officer says on his bodycam The officers requested backup as they went back to their SUV and continued to follow Phillips he turned into the entrance of a gated community An officer riding in a patrol SUV armed with a rifle can be heard on body-cam video telling the officer driving that the suspect pointed a gun at him The suspect then comes into view on camera as the car door opens and appears to be running as the officer fires one round from his rifle The body-cam video shows Phillips immediately falling to the ground Subject is down,” the officer said into his radio The officer involved in the shooting is assigned to the Maryvale-Estrella Mountain Precinct and has been with the department for eight years The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and the Phoenix Police Department continue to investigate the incident WARNING: The attached video may contain strong language and graphic images that may be disturbing to some people Viewer discretion is advised.\n\nThis incident began in the area of 35th Avenue and Baseline Road when Phoenix police officers assigned to the Maryvale-Estrella Mountain Precinct’s Community Action Squad responded to a neighborhood complaint This complaint indicated that there were multiple trespassers in an abandoned home people ran from the home and jumped the back wall of the property Officers went to the back of the home and saw a man running west on Baseline Road.\n\nThe officers drove their marked police Tahoe to cut off the man and contact him \nOfficers noticed the man was carrying a gun in his hand.\n\nThe officers got back in their car and continued to follow the man he turned into the entryway of a gated community \n\nThe man pointed his handgun in the direction of the officers One officer fired one round from his rifle The man fell to the ground.\n\nFollowing the shooting officers rendered aid to the man prior to him being transported to a nearby hospital The man did not survive his injuries.\n\nA handgun was recovered next to where the man fell to the ground \n\nRead the full story here: https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/police/3337 AZ — One person is dead after a house fire broke out Thursday morning in Laveen Phoenix fire officials say they were called to the area near 43rd and Southern avenues for reports of a structure fire they found flames and smoke coming from inside a home Firefighters found one person in their search of the home The person was pronounced dead at the scene Fire crews did keep the fire from spreading to another home No firefighters were hurt battling the blaze This was the first of three deadly fire in the Valley in three days On Friday, a woman died in a double house fire near 83rd Avenue and Thomas Road in west Phoenix Then Saturday morning, Mesa firefighters found one person dead inside a travel trailer that caught fire near Country Club Drive and Broadway Road Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInLAVEEN VILLAGE AZ (AZFamily) — A woman is dead after she was struck by a car in Laveen Village on Sunday night Phoenix police have identified the woman as 35-year-old Marche Zelita Mercado Around 7 p.m., officers responded to 51st Avenue north of Baseline Road and found Mercado suffering from serious injuries Investigators believe Mercado was crossing 51st Avenue mid-block Police say the vehicle involved remained on scene The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office confirms the driver is an employee who was off-duty and in their personal vehicle The deadly collision remains under investigation A suspected home invasion in Laveen Village last month resulted in one man's death and another being jailed on murder charges while police continue to search for additional suspects was charged on a count of first-degree murder in the shooting death of 28-year-old Carlos Pardo Espericueta officers responded to a shooting in the area of South 54th Lane near West Southern Avenue Police said they learned multiple suspects broke into a home and exchanged gunfire with someone at the home was found by officers on the ground outside the home with one gunshot wound Crime and justice: Arizona man faces federal charges in possession of endangered Asian fish forced entry into the home with multiple victims inside None of the home occupants were seriously injured Detectives used multiple pieces of evidence to identify Valles as a potential suspect Valles surrendered later that day and was booked on multiple charges Jail records show that aside from the murder charges Valles is facing multiple charges on suspicion of aggravated robbery Valles was booked Thursday on the murder charges Valles was being held on a $1.25 million bond at a Maricopa County jail and his next court appearance is set for Feb It is unclear whether police suspect Espericueta was shot by Valles a suspect may be charged with murder if someone dies while a dangerous crime is committed regardless of whether the accused intended to kill the deceased Detectives think there are multiple outstanding suspects in the incident noting additional information is part of an ongoing investigation PHOENIX — One person has died after a shooting involving officers in Laveen Friday morning Phoenix police say the shooting occurred near 35th Avenue and Baseline Road around 11 a.m when a community action squad was responding to a trespassing call at a vacant home Police provided an update on the shooting Friday afternoon: Police say they found several people inside the home and one man ran away Officials say the man was armed with a handgun and at some point while running away from police he allegedly pointed the gun at officers who were chasing him That is when the officer-involved shooting occurred identified as 45-year-old Christopher Phillips Police say a gun was recovered from the area No officers were injured during the incident 35th Avenue was shut down in the area for several hours as police investigated This is the first shooting involving Phoenix police officers of 2025 Phoenix police officers were involved in 18 shootings LAVEEN, AZ — Seattle-based Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) has bought a 220-acre site in Laveen for a potential data center campus in Phoenix Amazon acquired the site for $277 million in cash through its subsidiary Amazon Data Services, according to land records and Tempe-based real estate database Vizzda It paid more than $1.2 million an acre in the deal An Amazon Web Services spokesperson confirmed the land purchase in a statement to the Business Journal and said "we are constantly evaluating new locations based on customer demand.” Amazon Web Services, the company's cloud-based computing platform, has invested more than $108 billion since 2011 to expand its cloud computing infrastructure, according to its 2023 economic impact report first considered for its Phoenix manufacturing complex Read more of this story from the Business Journal. The Phoenix Police Department released partial bodycam footage of an officer fatally shooting a man in Laveen on Jan A Phoenix officer shot and killed 45-year-old Christopher Alan Phillips near Cesar Chavez Park after he allegedly pointed a gun in the direction of two officers pursuing him officers responded to a complaint about trespassers at an abandoned property in the area of 35th Avenue and Baseline Road Multiple people ran from the home after officers arrived with some of them having jumped the back wall of the property when they approached him in a marked police car and got out to make contact Phillips continued to run and officers noticed he was carrying a gun in his hand The officers then got back in their car and continued to pursue Phillips until he turned into the entryway of a gated community an officer fired one rifle round at Phillips at which point Phillips fell to the ground bodycam video captured the officer commenting that Phillips had pointed his gun at him A handgun was allegedly recovered next to where Phillips had fallen The officer involved in this shooting is assigned to the Maryvale-Estrella Mountain Precinct and has approximately 8 years of service with the department This incident is the subject of a criminal investigation to be reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office as well as an administrative investigation AZ (AZFamily) — A suspect has died after a shooting involving Phoenix police officers late Friday morning in Laveen when officers responded to a neighborhood complaint about trespassing at a vacant home near 35th Avenue and Baseline Road Police say several people were inside the home when officers arrived and that one person later identified as 45-year-old Christopher Alan Phillips During a foot pursuit in the area of 35th Avenue and Park Street police say Phillips pointed the gun in the direction of officers One of the officers then fired a shot from their duty rifle and hit Phillips Police say 35th Avenue is closed in both directions near the shooting scene Phoenix Police is working an officer involved shooting in the area of 35th Ave and Baseline Rd. The suspect has been transported to a nearby hospital. There are no injuries to officers. A PIO is heading to the scene. Follow here for updates on this incident. pic.twitter.com/m7qsWpY2al This is the second officer-involved shooting in Maricopa County and the third in the state this year Phoenix Police is working an officer involved shooting in the area of 35th Ave and Baseline Rd. The suspect has been transported to a nearby hospital. There are no injuries to officers. A PIO is heading to the scene. Follow here for updates on this incident. pic.twitter.com/m7qsWpY2al BY JEFF GIFFORD/PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL Salt River Project is able to move ahead on its South Mountain Transmission Project now that the Arizona Corporation Commission has approved it 15 to approve a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility for the project which will support growth and development in the Laveen area along the Loop 202 The area could see development such as retail residential areas and an industrial and technology park “The South Mountain Transmission project represents an important milestone for the Laveen community and we appreciate the consideration of the ACC to approve this plan,” said Rick Hernandez “The project will help SRP support the Valley’s economic and residential growth with affordable The SMT Project envisions a new 500/230/69-kilovolt substation in Laveen two sets of approximately four to five miles of new overhead double-circuit 230 kV transmission lines and a half-mile of two new overhead 500 kV transmission lines The decision comes months after SRP announced it was launching a series of open houses and other efforts to get public feedback on the project and its proposed routes for transmission lines This story is posted in partnership with Phoenix Business Journal. Click to read the full story. Cloud company buys land in Laveen area of city Amazon has bought a 220-acre site in Phoenix Citing real estate database Vizzda, BizJournal reports Amazon acquired the site in Laveen for $277 million in cash through its subsidiary Amazon Data Services An Amazon Web Services spokesperson confirmed the land purchase in a statement to the Business Journal and said "we are constantly evaluating new locations based on customer demand.” The Maricopa County property is located near the Loop 202 and Dobbins Road No details on any planned data centers have been shared sold the site to Amazon after buying the property for a total of $100.9 million IDM paid $36m to Smith Trust for 70 acres and nearly $65m to Williams Family Trust for 148 acres Nate Nathan and Courtney Buck of Nathan & Associates Inc facilitated the Smith Trust sale and also represented the buyer in the Williams Family Trust sale George Quinif of Peak Group LLC and Dave Fretz of Fretz Realty & Investment represented the Williams family in the sale to IDM Cos Cushman & Wakefield was involved in facilitating the land sale to Amazon Further east, Amazon is developing four other data centers on two sites in Phoenix Each plan calls for two 227,000 sq ft (21,090 sqm) data center buildings on land owned by Amazon One of the proposed data center sites is on 42.9 acres off Elliot Road next door to the Apple data center in Mesa The other is located on 71.3 acres at 10464 E just east of the Legacy Park sports complex BJ reports Amazon acquired both Mesa sites in December 2021 The company paid $16.9m for the Elliot Road property; the Pecos property cost just over $18m Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia Army veteran is facing deportation proceedings after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement last month just days into the new Trump administration Forty-five-year-old Marlon Parris appeared for a hearing in immigration court Thursday morning in Florence, Arizona. As reported by the Arizona Republic, Parris was detained a few minutes from his family’s home in Laveen Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse told reporters he’s been held at the Central Arizona Florence Correctional Center since then “This isn’t someone who doesn’t belong here this is not the situation that they are trying to push out into the media,” Hartwell-Parris said Parris is from Trinidad and Tobago originally and has been in the United States with a green card for nearly 30 years He was incarcerated for a nonviolent drug offense more than 10 years ago and released in 2016 — when he was given a “no-interest letter" from ICE saying he wouldn’t be deported a customs agent questioned the letter and took away Parris’ green card when the couple returned from a vacation abroad They’ve been in legal proceedings over the issue ever since Hartwell-Parris said her family was worried about the new Trump administration and how it would impact her husband’s case “Based off of everything that’s changed we of course prepared for the worst just because he does have everything that he is supposed to have to be here,” she said said Parris was already communicating with the government when he was detained suddenly in January “It’s our position that Marlon is eligible to be an American citizen just like all of us he’s laid down his life on two separate occasions for this country,” he said Parris was given what’s called a deferred admission upon returning to the U.S which means the customs agent didn’t make a decision about whether he could enter the country and instead referred him to an ICE field office He says he and Parris had already been to the field office and a court hearing for the case by January he can’t be released on bond due to his classification as an “arriving alien.” they tagged him as an arriving alien – because he’s seeking admission — so they’re treating it as though he’s coming in for the first time even though it was vacation,” Kouffie said we were in communication with the government … we’ve done everything.” Kouffie says he doesn’t know why ICE chose to detain Parris now especially because the agency gave the no-interest letter during the first Trump administration “It’s difficult for me to say that it’s a new policy because they were in office at the time that they gave him that letter of no interest the same government comes back and takes it away I couldn’t necessarily tell you what has changed since then but he certainly hasn’t done anything wrong since then,” he said At the Florence Immigration Court on Thursday morning Judge Frank Travieso asked the government to reformulate and clarify its charging documents against Parris and scheduled a new court appearance for the case on March 24 ICE did not respond to questions about Parris’ case or the circumstances of his detainment Four candidates are competing in the November 2024 election for three four-year seats on the Laveen Elementary School District Governing Board: Mekell Bell Kayla Parra and incumbent Jennifer Goetzke Though school district governing board races are toward the bottom of the ballot their outcomes have real consequences for the more than 880,000 children who attend public school districts across the state The individuals voters select will help create policies choose curricula and educational materials and oversee superintendents candidates are competing for governing board seats in 33 school districts Some voters may also see other school-related questions on their ballot: Three districts in the Phoenix area are seeking approval to sell district-owned property and 26 are seeking approval for funding measures The Laveen Elementary School District is seeking voter approval for a $50 million bond measure to help fund safety and security improvements; facility and grounds improvements; construction acquisition and additions for new and existing schools; and transportation vehicles The estimated yearly tax rate for the bond is $0.66 per $100 of assessed property value The district is also seeking voter approval to renew a district additional assistance budget override to help fund technology and instructional materials security and safety infrastructure and transportation vehicles The estimated yearly tax rate for the district additional assistance budget override is $2.03 per $100 of assessed property value The district is also seeking voter approval to renew a 15% maintenance and operations budget override to help fund full-day kindergarten The estimated yearly tax rate for the maintenance and operations budget override is $2.29 per $100 of assessed property value Here are the Laveen Elementary School District Governing Board candidates' responses to The Arizona Republic's candidate questionnaire What will voters decide in 2024? Who will be joining Maricopa County school boards? would inform your role as a school board member Mekell Bell: My most important role is mother to my five children I can empathize with parents and their concerns because I am one first-hand look into the district and its strengths and struggles because four of my five children attend a school in the district personal interest in the success and safety of our children because they’re mine I also have a master’s degree in education and have been a teacher since 2006 math and PE to students from all walks of life but I specifically loved working with higher-risk students as I taught at a residential treatment center for students with addiction Teaching is my passion and advocating for all kids and families is something I take seriously and have made my life's mission Jennifer Goetzke: I was appointed by Maricopa County Schools Superintendent Steve Watson as a LESD Governing Board member in February 2024 I have dedicated individual hours at each of the nine elementary schools and learning about each unique campus.Some of my most memorable moments this term include cheering on Paseo Pointe during the Read to the Final Four championship celebrating Desert Meadows A+ Certification observing special education classrooms at Laveen Elementary coaching Girls on the Run for Vista Del Sur Accelerated Academy and attending the Arizona School Board Association to hear our very own Laveen chief financial officer give a breakout presentation on budget.Watching students thrive in a safe and engaging learning environment has provided me evidence that we are the best elementary school district in the state Robert Olmstead: During 10 years as a high school wrestling coach I have seen firsthand the importance of discipline teamwork and mentorship and how strong support systems can empower students to reach their full potential Over 20 years as a Boy Scout leader have deepened my commitment to community service and youth development I am dedicated to fostering the qualities of leadership and resilience in our youth.Throughout my more than 30 years as an emergency responder I have worked closely with governing boards and have completed all Arizona state-mandated basic training for fire department governing boards This training has reinforced my understanding of governance accountability and the role of governing board members.As a member of the senior leadership team in my organization I am and have been responsible for both developing and administering policies and budgets in a tax-supported organization Kayla Parra: I am a former classroom teacher with a B.S in mathematics for secondary education and a master's in mathematics for adult learners I am also a mom of two children with exceptional needs and want to do everything I can to ensure the success of these kids my highest priority will always be doing whatever possible to help our kids be successful in their learning and keep them safe in their environment I feel that success in academics looks like individual growth and improvement for each child and it also means the school and its staff work with the parents and families to make a whole growing child inside and outside of school It means that each child has its needs met in the classroom by providing educated and highly trained teachers and staff as the district works to help and improve families by providing mental health services and community outreach programs Successful education also starts with every student and staff (member) having the right to feel safe in their learning and working environment Safety for our kids will be my highest priority as a mom myself with kids in these schools Goetzke: My primary focus is ensuring the safety of our students safety measures and create safe environments for all I believe that ensuring all students have a school learning environment that fits their interests is crucial to their success and readiness for high school I look forward to supporting Superintendent Sprout in continuing the great programs that have been developed in the Laveen Elementary School District I am committed to examining new ways to expand the educational opportunities for our students in new areas that are not currently being offered and that will be of benefit to them as they move forward in their education and in life.I believe that it is a positive thing to have choices in educational opportunities and my goal as a board member is to help ensure that the Laveen School District is the best choice for the students in Laveen Parra: Work collaboratively to ensure the success of each student How would you work to ensure students are college- or career-ready How would you work to support students learning English and students with disabilities I think the way to ensure students are college- or career-ready is not only by teaching them the approved curriculum but also in daily application of the subject material to regular life As students see how the things they are learning apply to their everyday life it becomes less about memorization and more about important skills that they are acquiring to lead to their growth as people and to improve their families and futures supporting students who are learning English is also exceptionally important to me as is supporting our students with disabilities and their families we should always bear these diverse needs in mind as we plan and make decisions and I commit to doing that and being a voice for all especially those that feel marginalized or underrepresented Goetzke: I firmly believe that strong communities build strong youth Our youth are the key to a successful future for not only Laveen but our entire country building and maintaining a high-quality curriculum we can ensure our students have the necessary tools to achieve their dreams With signature programs at each of the Laveen Elementary schools every child has a place in the community to express their interests and explore their talents Olmstead: I am an advocate for both college and career readiness programs I believe that offering the knowledge that will effectively prepare our students for a career in the trades is every bit as important as that which will show them a track to a career in STEM During a meeting with Superintendent Sprout I suggested that the district consider the addition of a program that would offer foundational knowledge to expose students to the trades We can offer our students experiences that will help them determine if WEST-MEC may be a good choice for them to continue their education as they move forward Parra: Students need real-world experiences to be college/career-ready Ensuring students have access to these opportunities in the classroom would be a top priority English language learners and learners with exceptional needs are just as capable of success with the right supports in place I want to help ensure each student is receiving the support they need to achieve success How would you work to help recruit and retain quality educators Bell: Having quality educators is paramount to a successful district Recruiting and retaining quality educators in our district starts with hiring knowledgeable hands-on principals who have worked in the classroom and who are advocates for their students and teachers alike and who make a positive working environment for teachers and staff I will take hiring principals as part of my role very seriously because I know it can make or break a school because I’ve seen it first hand as a teacher teachers want to stay long term and want to perform their best and then help improve student achievement in the process I will also commit to keeping our district competitive with its pay schedule in order to recruit and retain quality educators and allow for the possibility of moving upward as our first priority should be promoting from within and recognizing achievement engagement and opportunities for growth are the critical components to retention Laveen is committed to being one of the top-paid elementary districts in the state Our superintendent and his incredible team are advocating for the best environment for our staff and teachers Students thrive when provided a stable support system teachers/administrators and environment allows students to focus on what matters most — education recruitment and retention are critical issues People want to work in a place where they and their voices are valued While salary and benefits are a critical component of that value it is also manifested in the ability of employees to express themselves and offer input that is received and acted upon I believe that Superintendent Sprout and his staff have done excellent work in this area I would continue to support the programs that are in place to recruit and retain excellent educators while looking for opportunities to innovate in our compensation and benefit plans ensure teachers are able to complete their responsibilities within their designated contract hours and ensure teachers have adequate resources to perform their duties What is your position on behavioral health programming and access to counselors in schools Bell: If we want our kids to be successful in the classroom and those basic needs include mental and behavioral health I have worked in schools that have provided mental and behavioral health counseling and services and I can tell you firsthand that my students having access to these services not only helped them in their mental health and with behavioral issues but it also helped them in the classroom because they were able to work on struggles that otherwise would potentially be distractions to their learning When their mental health was addressed and taken seriously and when behavioral issues were helped and managed these students blossomed and became amazing students Every student is capable of learning and being successful and providing these services helps all students see personal growth and improvement and strengthens classrooms and schools as a whole Goetzke: Every student deserves a safe place at school The ability to have behavior health programming and counselors is crucial to the development of all students I strongly believe that even students who are not directly involved in a behavioral health program also benefit from students who are Every student has an individual past and experience and should have the ability to thrive in an environment equal to their peers Learning to process emotions and control behaviors at a young age will provide students with communication skills that last a lifetime Olmstead: I believe that the area of behavioral health is becoming more and more important for our youth Many of our students are struggling in areas that can benefit from counseling with a mental health professional While I believe that it is important to support our youth in this area I am firm in the position that any counseling of this nature should occur with the knowledge of the parents of the student to the extent that the law allows It is imperative students have access to a counselor during school hours A child cannot learn if all their needs are not being met Do you support seeking additional funding for school facilities and operational costs via voter-approved and taxpayer-funded bond and override measures Bell: It is imperative that our schools receive additional funding via voter-approved and taxpayer-funded bond and override measures in order to keep meeting the ever-growing needs of our children The greatest thing that we as a society can invest in is our future we definitely should get a say in how our money is being spent vote to approve and support bonds and override measures we are directly impacting the schools in our areas and the services they are able to provide the students and the staff they are able to employ we quite literally vote to improve and strengthen our neighborhood and community I know of no better way of making a direct impact to our life than supporting schools and their ability to educate and help children and families because that directly impacts every person and community Goetzke: I think it is important to understand the reasons and proposals for additional funding in any circumstance Being fiscally responsible and transparent with the community will in turn earn trust when taxpayer-funded bonds and overrides are requested Olmstead: As Laveen Elementary has a bond on the ballot As someone who works for a taxpayer-funded organization I am very familiar with the rapidly rising costs of capital projects wages and benefits and how difficult it is to address those needs I believe that when taxpayer funds are used to operate an organization the expenditures should always be kept to a minimum where they can be it is very difficult to continue to attract and retain quality educators while maintaining existing infrastructure and building for the future growth that is coming to Laveen Bonding can be a fiscally viable option to increasing the tax rate in order to generate capital for the expansion and replacement of facilities I also believe a percentage of the funding should always be allocated to increasing teacher salaries Reach the reporter at mparrish@arizonarepublic.com AZ — Salt River Project is able to move ahead on its South Mountain Transmission Project now that the Arizona Corporation Commission has approved it Read more of this story from the Business Journal. A Laveen composting company sued by Maricopa County for making mulch on land not zoned for the activity is set to shut down this month The operators of Arizona Green Guys have agreed to a settlement But the work violates zoning regulations and got the property labeled a public nuisance Now the owners can’t bring any more compostable material onto the property Work to accomplish this is only allowed during daytime hours on weekdays Sifting has to stop and a grinder must be taken away by Jan Supervisor Steve Gallardo said Maricopa County had to act because company operations were affecting the health and wellbeing of residents By David BakerPublished: Jan. 3, 2025 at 5:32 PM MSTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPHOENIX (AZFamily) — A teen is in custody while other suspects are still on the run weeks after a deadly shootout inside a home during a break-in in Laveen Phoenix police revealed on Friday that one suspect According to police, multiple people broke into a house near 55th Avenue and Southern Avenue around 1:15 a.m Investigators said one man inside the home got into a gun battle with the suspects No one who was originally inside the home suffered serious injuries Detectives said they found evidence that led them to identify Valles as a possible suspect Valles was rebooked on Thursday on a first-degree murder charge Police said they were still looking for other people involved in the home break-in A man is dead and another man is in police custody after a shooting early Friday morning in Laveen according to the Phoenix Police Department police responded to reports of a shooting at a home near 51st and Southern avenues Officers at the scene learned that 27-year-old Luis Eduardo Beltran Arteaga suffered a gunshot wound at the home and was transported by family members to the hospital where he later died Witnesses at the scene told police that the man accused of shooting Beltran Arteaga fled from the home on foot and into the neighborhood Police deployed a helicopter to locate 23-year-old Jose Luis Fajardo Police said they learned that earlier in the night Fajardo and an adult woman who lived in the house where the deadly shooting took place were involved in a separate fight near 47th Avenue and Van Buren Street in which Fajardo fired a handgun several times but did not harm the woman After the woman returned to her home near 51st and Southern avenues Fajardo went to the home early Friday morning and forced his way into the residence "Fajardo is in the process of being booked on multiple felony charges for the two incidents that occurred overnight to include murder," Scherer wrote in an email "Additional details related to this incident remain part of the ongoing investigation," Scherer added This is a developing story; check back to azcentral.com for more details What to know: Phoenix police officer fatally shoots armed man on Thanksgiving night AZ — Jeanette Arnds sets up her tent in Cesar Chavez Park It's full of brochures and pamphlets from organizations across Phoenix that help with addiction and homelessness "Redeem Neighborhoods," sets up in the park at least once a month Arnds believes the road to recovery doesn’t start with Narcan or a pamphlet She tries to instill hope in people who are at their lowest points as she has struggled in her past with the things they are struggling with now “I personally have been through addiction," Arnds said and I have lost loved ones due to addiction.” Her approach to support could be what makes a difference in the lives of the people coming up to her in the park today and they make us feel like we’re not being judged," Tracy it’s hard to focus on those things and get help with those things when you have to focus on surviving," Jay the effort is worth it for Arnds if she can help just one person break the cycle of addiction individuals are overclouded by this addiction," Arnds said Redeem Neighborhoods is always looking for supplies and volunteers. If you'd like to help Arnds and her organization, click here building and renovating retail centers all over greater Phoenix in 2025 providing residents new places to shop and dine without having to drive far from home The projects span Maricopa County: Verrado Marketplace in Buckeye Paradise Valley Mall in Phoenix becoming PV Fiesta Mall in Mesa becoming Fiesta Redefined and Metrocenter becoming The Metropolitan Developments are also in the pipeline in south and north Phoenix They will accompany a rapidly growing population: The Phoenix area is projected to hit nearly 5.8 million residents by 2030 and 6.5 million in 2040, up from 4.9 million today, according to data from the Maricopa Association of Governments the developer of Desert Ridge Marketplace and Tempe Marketplace The 50-acre project will be an open-air shopping center like the company’s other major projects The mall will be anchored by Target, Safeway which includes a movie theater and other family entertainment activities Vestar also announced a slew of new tenants to the development Retailers on board: Ground breaks on $275M Verrado Marketplace in Buckeye Vestar is planning a 40-acre development at 59th Avenue and Dobbins Road It's part of a larger 90-acre project that is slated to include housing There will be two large anchor stores and several other restaurants and shops Vestar CEO David Larcher told The Arizona Republic in May Vestar is also planning to partner with another developer to develop a portion of the site into housing Plans call for about 375,000 square feet of retail buildings on the site The development will be designed to honor the agrarian feel of Laveen The development had planned to include rehabilitating and reusing a farmhouse on the site into a restaurant, but the farmhouse was severely damaged in an April 30 fire Upcoming: Phoenix shopping center developer plans long-awaited project in Laveen up-and-coming urban village planned in Phoenix where the former Metrocenter Mall once stood It will be accompanied by a retail plaza park called The Loop at The Metropolitan It connects to the Valley Metro light rail service The 68-acre project is at Interstate 17 and Peoria Avenue where Metrocenter Mall is being demolished What is The Metropolitan? What to know about the new urban village in Phoenix The former Paradise Valley Mall at Tatum Boulevard and Cactus Road is being demolished to make way for apartments Phoenix-based RED Development bought the mall from Macerich a national operator of major malls and shopping centers The mall officially closed shortly after the sale, and most of the mall was demolished in July 2021 The first phase of new development is expected to open this fall and will include a handful of restaurants and stores Businesses opening at PV this fall include: TEN Sushi + Cocktail Bar The first phase also includes a 400-unit luxury apartment complex called AVE Paradise Valley What's happening: What new stores, restaurants will open at old Paradise Valley Mall? Verde Investments began demolishing Fiesta Mall along Alma School Road and Southern Avenue and now aims to reinvent the 80-acre parcel as "Fiesta Redefined." It's one of the largest vacant land sites in west Mesa The project is slated to bring high-density housing high-end retail and open green space for residents It will be less about cars and more about pedestrian and bike traffic spokesperson David Leibowitz told The Republic in October The Mesa City Council unanimously approved a rezoning request for the project in December What to know: Fiesta Mall site development project moves forward Vestar is proposing a grocery-anchored shopping center totaling about 160,000 square feet of buildings on a 20-acre site in north Phoenix along with attached ancillary retail and five stand-alone buildings at Black Mountain Parkway and Deer Valley Road Construction on the site will likely begin in early 2026 with businesses in the center expected to open in early 2028 It is too early in the process for Vestar to share the names of the businesses that could go into the center including which grocer is planned for the site The site is controlled by the Arizona State Land Department and Vestar will have to bid on the land at a public auction in order to follow through with its plans The Phoenix City Council unanimously approved the project in December Underway: North Phoenix shopping center gets green light from city despite opposition Taylor Seely covers Phoenix for The Arizona Republic / azcentral.com. Reach her at tseely@arizonarepublic.com or by phone at 480-476-6116 A minor was arrested for assaulting a police officer at a Laveen high school dance on Saturday night BY ROXANNE DE LA ROSA PHOENIX — A minor has multiple charges after threatening students and assaulting an officer during a high school dance on Saturday night Officers received a call around 8 p.m. about someone having a gun at Betty H. Fairfax High School near 59th Avenue and Baseline Road A parent allegedly called 911 after her daughter told her that multiple male students were flashing guns during a campus school dance witnesses led them to two young men who were outside the dance but there weren’t any guns in their possession School staff informed police about another young man wearing a gray hoodie who had a gun during the dance and was allegedly threatening students As soon as officers attempted to detain the suspect A police officer suffered minor injuries during the struggle but did not require hospitalization The minor was medically cleared and taken to a juvenile center for aggravated assault on a police officer If you are trying to schedule a bulk trash appointment and do not see available dates, all appointments are currently booked. We encourage you to check the online portal frequently or call our office at 602-262-6251 for assistance If you need to cancel a bulk trash appointment please call us at 602-262-6251 no later than three business days before the scheduled appointment Appointments that are canceled at least 3 business days ahead of time will not count against your four total appointments for the year Some communities schedule bulk trash collection for their entire neighborhood at once. Before trying to schedule your pickup, check here to see if your neighborhood already has a community appointment arranged.​​ Set bulk items out in a single pile no larger than ten (10) cubic yards per residence​ on the edge of your property parallel to the street or curb All material should be placed no more than 5 feet from the street/curb or front edge of the property Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPHOENIX (AZFamily) — A man has been indicted for stabbing and killing another man during a child’s birthday party in west Phoenix earlier this year Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced that Hunter Strawbridge was indicted for the murder of 29-year-old Jake Carbonell The attack happened on Jan. 25, 2025, at a home near 75th Avenue and Broadway Road Carbonell was hosting a child’s birthday party with his family when a cousin showed up with her boyfriend Witnesses reportedly told police that Strawbridge had been disrupting the party including waving a knife in a woman’s face and was asked to leave investigators say a fight broke out outside of the home between the two men and Strawbridge stabbed Carbonell in the neck Strawbridge also allegedly stabbed two more people who tried to break up the fight The two other victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries Strawbridge is being charged with second-degree murder disorderly conduct and tampering with physical evidence He is being held on a $1 million cash-only bond according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office