The head of the state’s largest hospital system is warning that they’ll surpass their bed capacity by Dec. 4. And ASU is predicting that without more public health measures, holiday gatherings are likely to cause hundreds more deaths by February.

Mexican authorities have confirmed widespread heavy metal contamination in wells in the Sonora River Valley. Residents in the region have been redress for more than six years, since a 2014 mining spill considered the worst in Mexican history.

Masks still offer the first line of defense against the spread of COVID-19. One listener through our Q&AZ project wanted to know if current regulations require Mesa grocery store employees to inform unmasked customers about mask mandates.
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With Arizona hospitals admitting increasing numbers of COVID-19 patients, state health officials said Wednesday that they suspended some transfers of patients from other states.

Wildfires have burned more than 950,000 acres across Arizona so far this year, according to the state Department of Forestry and Fire Management. And Arizona has also seen lower than normal monsoon activity over the last two seasons, which Don Falk says is a problem for those parts of Arizona’s forests that need to recover from wildfire.

The current surge in COVID-19 cases in Arizona has medical officials concerned about whether there will be enough health care workers and enough beds to care for people who develop the most serious symptoms.

Climate change and overuse are causing one of the Colorado River’s biggest reservoirs, Lake Powell, to drop. While water managers worry about scarcity issues, two Utah river rafters are documenting the changes that come as the massive reservoir hits historic low points.

Climate change is an ongoing — and growing concern — around the world, and particularly here in the Southwest as we recently emerged from the hottest summer on record in Phoenix. The Trump administration hasn’t made dealing with climate change a priority, but there are already signs the incoming Biden administration will.

With more than 6,400 Arizona coronavirus deaths, and counting, Maricopa County is seeking medically certified volunteers to help administer vaccines when they become available.