🌱 Toddler Accidentally Shot + Police And Fire Dept. Drones

Good morning, neighbors! It's me again, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Phoenix Daily.

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First, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 73 Low: 49.

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Here are the top 3 stories today in Phoenix:

1. Two-year-old Kayden Lewis was accidentally shot and killed by his father on Wednesday afternoon around 4 p.m. The father, Joshua Lewis, was booked into jail and faces a child abuse charge, with bond set at $25o,000. An investigation revealed that Lewis had kept a loaded gun in an area accessible to the toddler at the family's apartment. The police have not said who fired the gun. (Fox 10)
2. After a six-month closure, Authentic EthioAfrican Kitchen & Bar is back with a bigger space and shinier look. While many restaurants are focused on delivery-only ghost kitchens and meeting takeout demands, co-owners Anduale Hassan and his wife Elsabet Tiruneh are taking advantage of the new vaccine rollout and the return of the community. Hassan describes his restaurant's core value as Pan-African unity: "This is a unity of our heritages. We are not just selling food," he told AZ Central. (AZCentral.com)
3. The City of Phoenix is planning to use drones to assist police and fire departments in dangerous situations or public facility surveying. A three-phased plan was presented on Wednesday on how each department will utilize the unmanned aerial devices. Phoenix firefighters hope to launch their first drones by this summer, followed by the parks department and the police department. (12news.com KPNX)

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Today in Phoenix:

• St. Mary's Food Bank Food Distribution At Brunson-Lee Elementary School (10:00 AM)

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From my notebook:

• The American Red Cross is hosting a Blood Drive at Mesquite Library (4525 E. Paradise Village Parkway N.) from 12 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 18 to combat the current blood shortage. (Facebook)
• The Phoenix Planning & Development Department is seeking contracts for hundreds of landscaping projects across the city. Click for details on how to bid and how the process works. (Facebook)
• The Phoenix Public Library reminds local residents that there's still time to enroll in Marketplace Health Insurance, and many Arizonans are eligible for subsidies to reduce their monthly premiums. The final deadline to enroll is this Saturday for coverage in 2022. (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday off right! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with your next 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.