🌱 Hospitals Like War Zones + More Flight Delays, Cancellations

Happy New Year's Eve, neighbors! It's me again, Caitlin Sievers, your host of the Phoenix Daily. We'll be taking a break again on Saturday for the holiday, but I'll see you back here next week.

First, today's weather:

Cloudy, showers around; cool. High: 58 Low: 48.

Here are the top stories in Phoenix today:

1. Passengers in and out of Sky Harbor Airport, just like countless others flying to and from other airports across the country, continued to face cancellations and delays on Thursday. There were 200 delayed flights at Sky Harbor Thursday and 31 cancellations, forcing travelers to wait for hours at the airport or to hastily make backup plans. (FOX 10 News Phoenix)
2. Two Phoenix community leaders were recently awarded for the positive and innovative impacts they've made on the community. The owner of The Churchill received the Center City Newcomer Award for his "social rent" contract with tenants, asking them to give back to the community in some way. The executive director and CEO for the Phoenix Revitalization Corporation received the Center City Champion Award for her work helping lower-income neighborhoods advocate for themselves. (12news.com KPNX)
3. A Phoenix doctor compared the state of local hospitals amid the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic to a war zone. She said that many health care workers have quit because they can't take the stress. In the past six months, she's worked in hospitals so crowded that she saw patients in the waiting room, and sometimes even the waiting rooms were standing-room-only. (Arizona's Family)

Today's Phoenix Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Phoenix!

Today in Phoenix:

• Phoenix City Grille Closes Out 2021 with New Year’s Eve Specials (11 a.m.)
• Ring in 2022 with Rusconi’s American Kitchen (5 p.m.)
• New Year’s Eve Celebration at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale (5 p.m.)
• Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse Rings in 2022 with New Year’s Eve Bash (6 p.m.)
• Havana Nights New Year's Eve Bash (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Phoenix Police Department is reminding everyone to enjoy New Year’s Eve safely and legally. The department advises sticking with sparklers, devices that smoke and spinners, since fireworks that shoot into the air are illegal. (Facebook)
• Check with Downtown Phoenix's website or Facebook page to find out the best places to ring in the new year with live music, outdoor parties, multi-course dinners and more. (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Our World Energy — (Visit website)
• Phoenix Online Media — (Visit Website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• Ring In the New Year With 15 Percent Off Beautiful Blooms From FTD! (Dec. 31)
• Social Security Seminar (Jan. 3)
• Estate Planning Webinar (Jan. 4)
• Taxes In Retirement Webinar (Jan. 4)
• Real Estate Seminar (Jan. 4)
• Mike Massé in Concert: Epic Acoustic Classic Rock (Jan. 29)
• Add your event

For sale:

• Custom Fisher Rig Large Single Speed $900 OBO (Details)
• Add your item

Loving the Phoenix Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
• Get your local business listed in front of readers
• Send me a news tip or suggestion at caitlin.sievers@patch.com

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday!

— Caitlin Sievers

About me: I'm a passionate writer and photographer who worked as a reporter and editor for various publications in the Midwest before landing in Phoenix. I have seven roommates. Four of them are cats. Contact me at caitlin.sievers@patch.com with story ideas and feedback.