🌱 New Birth At Phoenix Zoo + ADEQ New Deputy Director + Real Estate

Good morning, everybody! It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Phoenix Patch newsletter. Let's get this day started off right with a quick dive into everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 83 Low: 61.

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Here are the top three stories today in Phoenix:

1. The Phoenix Zoo welcomed a new addition to its family, as Shawnee, a female desert bighorn sheep, gave birth to a baby girl named Syrena earlier this week. Both mother and ewe lamb are healthy and energetic, with Syrena frequently seen playing, eating, and exploring the butte. Syrena's birth marks the zoo's third hoof stock birth in the past month, following the recent births of two Arabian oryx calves. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the Desert Lives Trail to meet the new arrivals. (citysuntimes)
2. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has named Amanda Stone as its new deputy director. Stone has been with ADEQ for the past 30 years and has extensive experience in the department's programs. She will oversee the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Community Engagement, as well as the Waste Programs and Water Quality Divisions, and will work with the executive leadership team to develop and implement the agency's strategic priorities. (KVOA Tucson News)
3. Phoenix's once-booming housing market has dropped to No. 41 among the hottest housing markets in the US, as the country's residential housing market cools down after two years of fast-rising prices and stiff competition. According to a report by Construction Coverage, metro Phoenix's median sale price is $441,268 — compared to the national price of $409,056 — and its one-year change in the median sale price is -1.4 percent. With home prices rising by approximately 40 percent in a two-year span, many buyers have found themselves unable to afford property, making it more difficult to build up savings and reducing the budget for many buyers. (Arizona Big Media)

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Today in Phoenix:

• Stories & Songs, At North Valley Regional Library (4:00 PM)
• Moon Walker - Tranq Flow, At Sutra Studios (7:30 PM)
• Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night, At Thunderbird Lounge (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Looking to have some fun? Here are some exciting new things to do in Phoenix, including new putting courses, an arcade, trampolines, and more. (Subscription: The Arizona Republic)
• If you're in the market for a new pet, check out these adoptable animals available now at Phoenix-area shelters, including an adorable senior female Boston Terrier named Laci. (Phoenix Patch)
• This tax season, the City of Phoenix's VITA program is here to help low-to-moderate-income individuals and families at no cost. Make an appointment at one of 14 locations or do your taxes yourself from home! To learn more or to see if you qualify, click here. (City of Phoenix, AZ USA via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (March 14)
• Free Zoom meeting about divorce lawyers in Glendale (March 15)
• Friday is FREE FREE Genealogy In-Person Event. Friday is FREE FREE (March 17)
• Forward Together (March 18)
• World Doll Day Show and Sale (March 18)
• Free Zoom Meeting about female divorce attorneys in Mesa (March 25)
• American Diabetes Association Alert Day® — Are You At Risk? (March 28)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with 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.