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Teaching to save lives / P24
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Phoenix Council to discuss another water rate increase
INSIDE
This Week
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
P
NEWS .............................. 6 The 417-unit apartment complex on S. 50th Street is heading to City Council.
hoenix City Council this spring likely will be considering an increase in water and sewer rates for the seventh time in eight years. And that hike could include a monthly payment for a pipeline repair insurance program for single-family homeowners that has been voluntary since it was implemented a
One of Ahwatukee’s longest traditions returning Saturday BUSINESS ..................... 30 Eviction cases hitting 17-year highs..
GETOUT ......................... 40 The People’s Open goes into high gear today, Feb. 8, as celebrities hit the links. COMMUNITY ............................. 24 BUSINESS ..................................... 30 OPINION ..................................... 33 SPORTS ........................................ 36 GETOUT ....................................... 40 CLASSIFIEDS ............................... 47
BESTOF
2021
decade ago and would become an opt-out portion of .their water bill. The program currently is billed separately to insured customers. Council’s Community and Cultural Investment Committee last week voted to include the conversion of the Service Line Warranties of America by HomeServe “as part of our discussion about potential changes to the city’s current water and sewer rates.” Water rates rose 3% in October 2021 and
another 3.5% last March. Since 2016, water rates have increased 18%. Around the last increase, Water Services officials said the increase was needed to ensure reliable delivery to north Phoenix and other areas that normally rely on Colorado River water by investing in infrastructure to improve access to banked water and groundwater. see
WATER page 14
Sweet!
BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor
I
t was 21 years ago when staff at God’s Garden Preschool in Ahwatukee decided to host a unique and free community event to entertain children. Transportation Day began modestly with a dozen motor vehicles that children could inspect, sitting inside and climbing garbage trucks, buses and police cars and fire engines, “steering” and blowing the vehicles’ horns. With each year, the event added more and varied vehicles, a helicopter fly-in, a raffle of elaborate baskets, live entertainment, food trucks and an ever-expanding Fun Zone. And each year the crowd grew too, topping see
TRANSPORTATION page 16
Desert Vista senior and hockey team forward Marcello Lane celebrated the Thunder’s stunning victory Feb. 4 over Notre Dame Prep for the Arizona High School Hockey Division 1 state championship. Lane scored the game-winning goal after the team roared back from a 3-point deficit. For the full story, see page 36. (JJ Digos/AFN contributor)
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