🌱 Dozens Rallied At District Board Meeting + Phoenix Diocese Lawsuit

Good morning, everybody! I'm back in your inbox this morning with your fresh edition of the Phoenix Patch newsletter. Let's get this weekend started off right, with a quick review of everything you need to know about what's happening in town these days.

But first, today's weather:

A t-storm around in the p.m. High: 97 Low: 78.

From our partner:

For Phoenix resident Gary Yeager, 73, age really is just a number. Here's what he had to say about competing in the 2023 National Senior Games, presented by Humana.

Here are the top three stories in Phoenix today:

1. At a Laveen Elementary School District board meeting, dozens rallied in support of a 10-year-old who was allegedly physically subdued by former district assistant superintendent Kathy Davis. Although the district claims the involved administrator no longer works there and violated policies, Danielle Jordan, the boy's mother, expressed outrage over the handling of the incident, highlighting that her son's ribs were bruised and alleged neglect in following up on her son's wellbeing. As the district aims to find a resolution, the Phoenix Police confirm an ongoing investigation into the April incident. (Arizona's Family)
2. The Arizona Court of Appeals has ruled that a lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, which alleges a cover-up of sexual abuse by the now-deceased ex-priest Joseph Henn, can proceed. This overturns a trial court judge's dismissal that had sided with the church's claim that the allegations were not sufficiently pleaded. The lawsuit, filed by an individual identified as John ND Doe in 2020, is one of several stemming from an extended statute of limitations on child sexual abuse, highlighting the church's alleged role in concealing Henn's multiple offenses over the years. (TucsonSentinel.com)
3. On Thursday, an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) special agent was killed during a training exercise at a Phoenix federal gun range when accidentally shot by a colleague. The FBI's Phoenix field office is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident, the results of which will be reviewed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The deceased was part of the IRS's Criminal Investigations unit in the Phoenix Field Office, a division responsible for probing tax violations and related crimes across four states. (Arizona's Family)

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Today in Phoenix:

Saturday, August 19

• Youth Job Fair At Carl Hayden High School (10:00 AM)
• Bubbles & Beats At Sutra Studios (12:00 PM)
• Splash In The City Pool Parties At The Clarendon Hotel and Spa – Oasis Pool (1:00 PM)
• Valley Sol Series Featuring Joel Del Rosario At Egyptian Motor Hotel (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Mark your calendar, book lovers! On Aug. 24, the Phoenix Burton Barr Library will host a public tour of the Rare Book Room at 5:30 p.m., featuring rare items such as first editions by Henry David Thoreau and Jane Austen. Register here. (KJZZ)
• Planning on taking a drive this weekend? Be aware that I-17 in north Phoenix and Loop 303 in north Valley will have closures lasting through Monday at 5:00 a.m. (KTAR.com)
• The City of Phoenix Water Services Department is hiring an Infrastructure Asset Management - Utility Specialty Technician. This independent role performs time-sensitive, specialized work within the water distribution or wastewater collection system. If you're interested, apply by Aug. 22 here using Job ID: 51144. (City of Phoenix Water Services Department via Facebook)

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• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Free Stuff And Great Perks Every Week (August 22)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— 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.