🌱 Yassamin Ansari​ Elected + Make-A-Wish Statue Stolen In Phoenix

Hello, everybody. It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Phoenix Daily — here to impart everything that's fit to print about what's happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Clouds and sun. High: 65 Low: 42.

Business owners and marketers in Phoenix: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories today in Phoenix:

1. On Jan. 4, the Phoenix City Council elected Yassamin Ansari as the new vice mayor of Phoenix. The District 7 council member is the first Iranian American elected to public office in the state who will serve in the position, according to a city release. She is also the youngest woman in the history of the Phoenix City Council to be elected. She will serve for one year. (Daily Independent)
2. On Thursday, a four-vehicle collision involving a school bus sent two people to the hospital, according to authorities. Preliminary information provided by police states the crash took place near Olive and 59th avenues in Glendale, sending the school bus driver and a passenger of a truck to the hospital with serious injuries. No children were on the bus at the time of the accident. (KTAR.com)
3. On Tuesday night, a statue of the first Make-A-Wish child was stolen from the organization's headquarters in Phoenix. The bronze statue was stolen at around 10:00 p.m. and loaded into the back of a truck, according to officials with Make-A-Wish Arizona and Phoenix police. The statue depicts the child who inspired the creation of Make-A-Wish: seven-year-old Chris Grecius, who had his wish granted on Apr. 29, 1980. (ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix)

Today in Phoenix:

• My View From The Back Of The Bus With Merritt D. Long, At Arizona Jewish Historical Society (10:00 AM)
• First Fridays, At The Shops At Norterra (5:00 PM)
• Stories We Love To Tell Exhibit, At Herberger Theater Center (6:00 PM)
• Zen Den Frequency Meditation, At Sutra Studios (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Phoenix Idiotarod Shopping Cart Race is back on Feb. 18! Registration is open now. (Phoenix New Times)
• The Phoenix Art Museum has changed its First Friday offerings, and will now host four PhxArt AfterHours events per year instead. (North Central News)
• If you've been thinking about adopting a canine companion, now is the time! The Arizona Humane Society's s dog adoption kennels are full. Schedule your adoption appointment here to secure the time of your visit. (Arizona Humane Society via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Our World Energy — (Visit website)
• 9 Cent Color Copies — (Visit Website)
• Phoenix Online Media — (Visit website)
• Faceless Digital — (Visit website)
• Jensen Family Law in Glendale AZ — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• Jan 6: Birthday Fundraiser for Competitive Step Dancing Team (January 6)
• Online discussion with Glendale divorce attorneys (January 15)
• Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward (Live)! (January 22)
• Le Creuset Factory to Table (February 2)
• Add your event

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with a new 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.