🌱 AZ Gets An 'F' In Gun Safety Laws + Fatal I-10 Crash Near 75th

Hello again, Phoenix! Important update: You all, as readers, have made the Phoenix Daily so successful that it is my honor to announce the next stage of the newsletter. Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Phoenix Daily. Although I have loved getting to know this community, we want to pass the torch to someone truly local to write about Phoenix long term. So if you're interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

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First, today's weather:

Cool with sunshine. High: 60 Low: 39.

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Here are the top three stories in Phoenix today:

1. The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence has given the state of Arizona an "F" when it comes to its gun safety. The center, co-founded by former U.S. Senator Gabby Giffords of Tucson, gave The Grand Canyon State a failing grade for its weak gun safety laws and ranked it 42 out of 50 in the nation. According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1,136 people died from gun violence in Arizona in 2019. Phoenix alone has seen multiple shooting incidents in the last week, including a fatal shooting of a 33-year-old man on Sunday and a woman shooting her father to death in his home. (Phoenix Patch)
2. Phoenix police are currently investigating a deadly I-10 crash that occurred on Wednesday morning. Around 9 a.m., troopers responded to reports of a crash involving two vehicles in the westbound lanes near 75th Avenue. At least one person reportedly died from their injuries, and the cause of the crash is still unknown. Authorities closed those lanes for several hours during an investigation and they have since reopened. (ABC15 Arizona)
3. If you have a student enrolled in a Phoenix high school, encourage them to apply for the Outstanding Phoenix Youth Leader (OPYL) of the Year awards by tomorrow's deadline. The City of Phoenix says these annual awards "recognize and honor achievements of young people ... and raise community awareness of the positive contributions of youth." Two students will be selected from each of the City's eight council districts to receive a $500 cash award, and two winners will get an additional $1,500. Winning students will also be invited to participate in city-wide programs and make special appearances to promote youth issues, said the award organizers. (Phoenix Patch)

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Today in Phoenix:

• The FRIENDS Experience: The One In Phoenix At Paradise Valley Gateway (12:00 PM)
• Civic Participation in Our Democracy - Is Citizenship Required? (Virtual) Hosted By Arizona Humanities (6:00 PM)
• 202YOU: Finding the Courage to Create a New You (Virtual) Hosted By Phoenix Public Library (6:00 PM)
• The Inaugural Luckys Agave Festival At Luckys Indoor Outdoor (7:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Multiple Phoenix chefs and eateries have been nominated for 2022 James Beard Awards. Is your favorite local restaurant on the list? (Phoenix Patch)
• In celebration of Black History Month, Phoenix Public Library invited K-12 artists from all over the Valley to draw an important person or event celebrating the African American experience. The resulting Celebrate Black Voices Virtual Art Exhibit is now on display here! (Facebook)
• Don't miss out on Phoenix Public Library's "Finding the Courage to Create a New You" program at 6:00 p.m. tonight (Feb. 24). Speaker Peppur Chambers will use discussion, writing exercises, and sharing of experiences as tools to find the courage to create a new you in 2022. (Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.