Q&AZ - Questions Our Reporters Have Answered

Q&AZ: Why Hasnt Public School Tax Credit Increased To Match Private School Credit?
Today, the private school tax credit has ballooned to $2,213 for married couples and $1,107 for people filing individually. In comparison, the public school tax credit has been largely unchanged since 1997. Married couples can now donate up to $400 through the program. Individuals can give $200.
July 22, 2019
Q&AZ: How do people working outside deal with Phoenix heat?
Summer in Phoenix is upon us and despite a relatively mild June, July is off to a hot start. Most Phoenicians try to stay out of the heat, but what about the people who have to work in the heat? How do they cope? That’s what listener Robert asked via our Q&AZ reporting project.
July 8, 2019
Q&AZ: Where Did All The Green Caterpillars Come From?
In 2014, bright-green caterpillars were swarming Phoenix. One longtime resident witnessed the wrigglers crossing Happy Valley Road and wanted to know what brought them there.
July 1, 2019
Q&AZ: Why Do Tools Rust In Dry Arizona?
Rust is a phenomenon typically associated with damp settings. One listener wanted to know why tools left in a shed in Arizona rust despite the state’s dry conditions.
June 24, 2019
Q&AZ: Are The 5 Cs Of Arizona Still Relevant?
If you attended elementary school in Arizona, you probably learned about the “5 Cs of Arizona.” Copper, cattle, cotton, citrus and the climate were considered the building blocks of our state’s early economy. One KJZZ listener wanted to know: just how relevant are they today?
June 3, 2019
Q&AZ: Where Do Lesser Nighthawks Spend The Winter?
This time of year, Arizona and Mexico residents might spy a graceful lesser nighthawk hunting insects at dusk. One listener wondered where these birds go for the winter.
June 3, 2019
Q&AZ: Is There Legal Liability For Not Getting Your Child Vaccinated In Arizona?
Arizona law says children must be vaccinated in order to attend school, unless parents or guardians get an exemption because of a personal belief or medical condition.
May 27, 2019
Q&AZ: Dust Storm Driving Versus Snowstorm Driving
The 2019 monsoon season officially begins June 15, and the Arizona Department of Transportation is beginning their campaign on how to stay safe if a driver is caught in a dust storm.
May 27, 2019
Q&AZ: How Long Will A New Arizona Travel ID Be Valid?
Arizona residents will need to get a new form of state identification if they want to get through TSA checkpoints in 2020. A listener used our Q&AZ submission form to find out how often the new state IDs will have to be renewed.
May 9, 2019
Q&AZ: What And Where In Phoenix Are The Stack And Mini Stack?
When we talk about traffic in the Valley we often refer to the "Stack" and the "Mini Stack." A listener used our Q&AZ submission form to find out what those terms mean and where in the Phoenix area they are.
May 7, 2019
Q&AZ: Why don’t we see more baby saguaros?
For Arizona hikers, saguaro cacti are an essential part of a Sonoran Desert trek. But one listener said she sees far more young, "saguaro-like" cacti than true fledgling saguaros on her hikes and wanted to know why.
May 7, 2019
Q&AZ: What Is Being Done To Provide More Reasonably Paid Jobs For Older Arizonans?
What’s being done to create more reasonably paid jobs for older Arizonans? One KJZZ listener asked and as part of our Q&AZ reporting series. Alex Juarez, with AARP Arizona, says age discrimination is an issue facing many older adults — which is why AARP created an Employer Pledge Program.
May 1, 2019
Q&AZ: How Do People Build Their Houses On Phoenix Mountains?
In the early 1900s the federal government sold off land in large blocks — a homesteader could arrive to find their land was perfect for farming or they arrived to find a mountain. Decades later, that land was still privately held and homes starting popping up on hillsides, prompting high-profile conversations effort in response.
April 29, 2019
Q&AZ: How can palm trees and pine trees both grow in Arizonas climate?
Arizona is home to a variety of ecosystems and a wide array of plant life. One listener wanted to know how palms and pine trees – plants from seemingly opposite environments – could both grow in the state.
April 22, 2019
Q&AZ: Why Doesnt AZ Have A Bottle Deposit Program?
Ten states have beverage container deposit programs, where customers pay 5 to 10 cents per bottle or can and then get the money back for recycling them — but Arizona does not have a program.
March 26, 2019
Q&AZ: Why Do Cicadas Buzz?
Arizona has more insect diversity than any other state — including four dozen different species of cicadas. Best known for their loud buzzing in the summer, each species of cicada has their own unique call.
March 18, 2019
6 Common Questions About AZ Drivers Licenses
Why does Arizona have the longest license renewal period in the country? And what are the impacts? Many people have asked about Arizona driver’s licenses through our Q&AZ project — so we decided to tackle them all.
March 11, 2019
Q&AZ: How Does Federal Law Affect AZs Medical Marijuana Industry?
The medical marijuana business in Arizona has grown and changed rapidly since voters approved a medicinal program in 2010. But what hasn't changed are federal laws classifying marijuana as a Schedule 1 substance — considered just as dangerous and illegal as heroin and LSD.
The Debate Over Arizona's Medical Marijuana Extract Law Explained
March 7, 2019
Q&AZ: Why Is Mesa Called Mesa?
How did Mesa get its name? A listener wanted to know and asked our Q & AZ project, pointing out that the city doesn't appear to be sitting on a mesa or plateau. Jimmy Jenkins from KJZZ’s East Valley Bureau went looking for the city’s namesake with a local historian.
March 4, 2019
Q&AZ: Arizonas Rest Stops
Last year, the only state-operated rest stop along Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson was closed. A KJZZ listener submitted an inquiry through the Q&AZ reporting project.
March 21, 2019

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