Valley 101 The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com

The Republic's podcast team is working feverishly on a brand new season of Rediscovering, our investigative podcast series. We're so close to launching as well! Since the team is deep in production, we're bringing you one of our favorite Valley 101 episodes from 2023.
Producer Kaely Monahan explores some odd facts about the 48th state. We hope you enjoy it!
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With Phoenix already experiencing temperatures over 110, many of us are wondering "when will the monsoons start?"
Officially, monsoon season kicks off June 15. But most of us want to know when the rains will come. That depends on how hot it gets. While we might be suffering under a heat dome, the high temps are drawing up moisture from south of the border. And that's what we need if we're going to see rain.
The podcast team sits down with state climatologist Erinanne Saffel to find out how, where, and when monsoon rains will come to Arizona.

Are you a fan of Valley 101? Support our work by subscribing to azcentral.com. Also, if you have a question for the team about the Valley, send it to us at valley101.azcentral.com. Your question just might be the subject our next episode.

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One of the most recognizable writing styles in Arizona history came from Clay Thompson.
The Iowa transplant captured the hearts of readers with his Valley 101 column in the Arizona Republic for almost 20 years. Punctuated by the iconic Rodin statue, "The Thinker," Thompson wrote thousands of quippy columns and answered questions from readers about everything from cactuses to hiccups.
Thompson's writing style was recognizable and even bordered on snarky, calling his bosses "masters" and referring to readers as "you people."
About a year after he passed, this podcast was born to carry on the great work that he created. It was formed to help newcomers and natives alike better understand what makes Arizona so unique. Similarly to podcasting, Thompson had a way to speak directly to an audience.
As Valley 101 rounds closer to its 300th episode, Julia Wallace, Ed Montini and Arizona Republic reporter Richard Ruelas reflect on what made Thompson special and highlight the service he did for Arizona journalism.
In this episode you can hear readings from "Great Big Book of Life," "Occupy Gooberville" and "Try Not to Worry About It," collections of his columns.
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Happy Memorial Day!

The podcast team is enjoying the holiday weekend. So we want to reshare one of our most popular episodes to kick off the summer: five of the best places to beat the heat in the Valley.
hosts Kaely Monahan and Amanda Luberto hash out their top picks for spots to beat the heat. Plus they explore pools of the past and the new water attractions coming to Phoenix.
Let us know if you visit any of these spots, found new ones, or miss some old ones!
Submit your stories and Arizona questions to valley101.azcentral.com.
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Wildfire season historically starts just before monsoon season. However, the period during which a wildfire can occur is now widening and bringing with it more severe blazes near the Valley. In Arizona, wildfires were once expected from late April into the monsoon season. Now fires can start from late February or early March into September.
Climate change is linked to higher-severity fires, and insurance shouldn't be your only protection. Having a safety plan, fortifying your home, and making small but meaningful changes can mean the difference between a house surviving a blaze or burning down.
In this episode of Valley 101, producers Kaely Monahan and Katrina Michalak, explore the ways Arizonans can prepare for wildfires and help fight the bigger challenge of climate change – while debunking some misconceptions about wildfires.  
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The 5 C's are something all Arizona children learn at one point or another. Cotton, citrus, cattle, copper, and climate have long been advertised as positive reasons to come to Arizona. Each of these "C's" represents an important aspect of Arizona's economy. Or at least they did.
Perhaps more important than the 5 C's themselves is the cultural role they play. Even now, students in classrooms across the state are learning about the 5 C's.
In this episode of Valley 101, we ask you what the 5 C's mean to you. Perhaps you have a memory of orange orchards in bloom or driving by miles of cotton fields.
Producer Kaely Monahan sits down with climate reporter Joan Meiners to discuss a large project our environment team is working on. And we want to include you.
Share your Arizona 5 C's memories with us in this survey.
Listen to our previous episodes on the 5 C's here.
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