🌱 Amtrak Service In Phoenix + 100th Mile Of Cool Pavement Installed

Hello all. It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Patch newsletter. Here's what you need to know about what's happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Sunshine. High: 95 Low: 71.

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Here are the top three stories in Phoenix today:

1. Amtrak has applied for $176 million in federal funds from the Federal Railroad Administration to enhance its long-distance network, including restoring service to Phoenix. The CEO of Amtrak, Stephen Gardner, expressed frustration at the absence of service to such a significant city, emphasizing the need for improved transportation options. Representative Greg Stanton, who supports the initiative, highlighted the potential benefits of the updated route, including economic growth, reduced pollution, and improved road safety. Additionally, the Arizona Department of Transportation is seeking a state grant of $3.5 million to study a route between Phoenix and Tucson with three daily trips. (Arizona's Family)
2. On Tuesday, the City of Phoenix reached a milestone by installing its 100th mile of Cool Pavement in Laveen. This special street coating, composed of water, asphalt, polymers, and filler minerals, has been applied to Lower Buckeye Road and Durango Street between 83rd and 79th avenues. Since the Cool Pavement program's inception in 2020, researchers have observed that areas with the coating experience surface temperatures 10-12 degrees cooler during the hottest times of the day, while nighttime air temperatures are slightly lower as well. By the end of 2023, the city aims to have a total of 118 miles of Cool Pavement installed. (ABC15)
3. The Arizona Department of Education has granted $1.2 million in safety funds to a cluster of Phoenix high schools, including Cesar Chavez, Maryvale, Metro Tech, North, South Mountain, and Trevor Browne. These schools applied for the funds to employ law enforcement officers on their premises, as part of a safety plan that was recently approved by the district's governing board. Recent data collected from the Phoenix Police Department indicated approximately 1,000 calls for service at Phoenix Union campuses during the 2022-2023 school year, encompassing incidents such as shots fired, assault, persons with a gun, sexual abuse of a juvenile, and stolen vehicles. (Fronteras: The Changing America Desk)

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Today in and around Phoenix:

Thursday, June 8

• St. Mary's Food Bank Food Distribution At Brunson-Lee Elementary School (10:00 AM)
• Mexican Folk Art Crafts At North Valley Regional Library (3:00 PM)
• LGBTQ Book Club At 11335 W Buckeye Rd, Avondale (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Now through Jun. 11, the Arizona Humane Society will be offering $0 adoptions! Fees for pets over the age of 1 year and older will have waived during this time due to an overflow of pets at the shelter. Click the link to view photos of some of the adoptable pets and click here to learn more about how to adopt. (Arizona Humane Society via Facebook)
• Congratulations to Vitaly Serebriakov, of nearby Scottsdale, for being named a Yamaha Artist. Serebriakov is the Artistic Director at Desert Hills Community School of Music. (Scottsdale Independent)
• The City of Phoenix's FitPHX virtual fitness series is back! The free, family-friendly workouts — suitable for all skill levels — are happening each Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. through Jul. 18 (except Jul. 4). Interested attendees can preregister here. (City of Phoenix, AZ USA via Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.