A new research facility backed by the Arizona Commerce Authority has opened in Tempe that is expected to advance lithium processing technology and support two lithium mining developments in North America including one in Arizona. Australia-based Arizona Lithium Ltd. has opened its 20,451-square-foot Lithium Research Center, which will serve as a "technology incubator focused on the extraction of lithium" from key North American lithium developments, according to a May 31 announcement. Those developments include the Big Sandy Lithium Project in northwestern Arizona and the Prairie Lithium Proje ..read more

Initial move-ins are underway on a new 199-unit apartment tower in the heart of Tempe. Houston-based Transwestern Development Co. announced that construction of Vero, a seven-story apartment building, has wrapped up at 651 E. 6th St. The building is located within the 355-acre mixed-use Novus Innovation Corridor adjacent to Arizona State University. As a residential anchor of Novus, Vero responds to the markets demand for luxury apartments that offer efficiency, affordability and top amenities in a dynamic, mixed-use neighborhood, said Brendan OLeary, partner of Transwestern Development Co. So ..read more

Those who knew Sean Bickings gathered at Tempe Town Lake Saturday evening, remembering the man who drowned there two years ago Tuesday. Body camera footage from 2022 shows Sean Bickings jumping into Tempe Town Lake, swimming away, then eventually going under all in front of Tempe police officers. Its going to be two years Tuesday and to me, it seems like yesterday, everyday, Bickings' mother Turee Toro said. Officers did not jump in to grab Bickings. A review by Scottsdale police validated that decision, citing safety concerns of getting into the water. Since his death, Bickings' family has lo ..read more

Arizona State has named longtime sports business executive Graham Rossini as its next athletic director. An Arizona State alum, Rossini replaces Ray Anderson, who stepped down as athletic director in November. "The ability to lead the athletics department at my alma mater is a responsibility that I am enormously proud to take on," Rossini said in a statement Thursday. "Our entire athletics department will work relentlessly to support our student-athletes and coaches as we compete at the highest level." Rossini had served as chief business officer of Sun Devil Athletics, helping the department ..read more

A new Chick-fil-A location appears to be hatching in Tempe, at the site of a long-time restaurant that closed more than a year ago. Earlier this month, the Tempe Development Review Commission approved two use permit requests that will allow a proposed Chick-fil-A location to be built at 1160 E. University Drive in Tempe, the former home of Chompies. Chompies, a locally founded deli restaurant, operated in a 5,800-square-foot building at that site for 25 years but its ownership, Kansas-based JRI Hospitality, decided it was time to close the location in November 2022. The proposals were submitte ..read more

You may know curling as the sport with the players using brooms on a court of ice trying to slow down the rocks. But did you know wheelchair curling is one of the sports put on by Ability360, too? The center for independent living is running a six-week clinic for those interested in trying out the sport of curling. It doesn't matter what physical challenge one may have, as each member of the team has their own story but it hasn't kept any of them off the ice. Find out more about wheelchair curling and how to get involved in the player above ..read more

The Phoenix Suns announced more details on its new G Leauge team that will play in Tempe. The Suns announced the team will be called the Valley Suns and will play at Mullett Arena. The Valley Suns is the communitys team and will provide fans an energetic and family-friendly atmosphere while developing aspiring talent on and off the court, said Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury and Valley Suns Chief Executive Officer Josh Bartelstein. Were excited to launch the new G League team with a name and identity chosen by our fans and inspired by the unique desert landscape that we call home. The NBA G Leag ..read more

Arizona State University officials say repairs have been made, classes will resume and faculty should return to campus Tuesday following flooding and cooling issues on the Tempe campus. ASU had asked faculty to work remotely and for courses to be moved online Monday after flooding caused a cooling issue on the Tempe campus. The university told ABC15 that, on Saturday morning, a water line break caused flooding in the basement at ASU's Central Plant Facility. "This facility operates essential pumps that distribute cool water, crucial for supporting the air conditioning systems across campus bui ..read more

Police are investigating a deadly shooting near Scottsdale and McKellips roads early Monday morning. Officers were called to the area around 12:30 a.m. for reports of shots fired. When they arrived, they found a victim in the roadway. Despite life-saving efforts, the injured person, who has not yet been publicly identified, died at the scene. Police have not yet released information on any motive or any suspects ..read more

Two Arizona public institutions were once again recognized among the top schools in the world by the largest academic ranking of global universities. The University of Arizona came in at No. 93 and Arizona State University was No. 194 in a global list by the Center for World University Rankings, which included almost 21,000 universities around the world. The two schools ranked in the top 0.5% and 1%, respectively. UArizona moved up two spots from No. 95 in last years rankings, while ASU dropped eight from No. 186. UArizona ranked No. 48 and ASU came in at No. 67 when compared to other institut ..read more