Kathy Ritchie News Today

For the roughly 159,000 Arizonans living with an intellectual or developmental disability, having someone to help with things from teeth brushing to job hunting is vital. But Direct Support Professionals — DSPs, as they’re known in the industry — are struggling.Low wages, high turnover rates and chronic understaffing plague the workforce, leaving both caregivers and those they

This council was one of the hottest places in Perth during February’s heatwave conditions, so why did councillors vote to revoke its policy to stop trees of significance from facing the chop?

Gov. Katie Hobbs’ administration announced two changes to the state’s Medicaid program that she says will give more Arizona kids access to health care and support families of children with disabilities.A bill passed by lawmakers and signed by Hobbs last year allowed families earning up to 225% of the federal poverty level to qualify for the state’s health-care program for

The state’s largest emergency shelter program may soon have to cut services to people experiencing homelessness. Central Arizona Shelter Services, known as CASS, serves the Valley and its biggest shelter is near downtown Phoenix. Thanks to an infusion of federal funds related to the pandemic and recovery, CASS was able to increase its beds from 470 to 650. But, now, cuts could

Coverage of aging is supported in part by AARP ArizonaMeet Laurie Struna.She’s not a nurse or a trained caregiver. She’s 81-year-old Barbara Struna’s only daughter.Barbara has Alzheimer’s disease. 

Coverage of aging is supported in part by AARP ArizonaSince last fall at KJZZ News, we’ve been taking a closer look at something that often goes ignored in polite circles: menopause.

Arizona state lawmakers and stakeholders are considering recommendations from a recent auditor general’s report for changes to agencies that handle reports of abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults.The House Ad Hoc Committee on Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Adults met Wednesday and heard from the auditor general’s office and three agencies involved in adult care. 

Coverage of aging is supported in part by AARP Arizona

Menopause is a word a lot of us don’t want to hear.For anyone with ovaries, it’s a trying time of life. It’s full of fun symptoms like hot flashes and anxiety, and it comes with the added bonus of feeling like you’re getting old. 

KJZZ's Kathy Ritchie likes to talk about things that make most people uncomfortable — like menopause.