Category: Featured News

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Tucson nonprofit seeks to save the leopard from extinction

Despite infrequent spottings, the United States’ last remaining jaguar is thought to call the tall peaks of southern Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains home.

“Sombra” (Spanish for “shade”), as the male cat is known to wildlife researchers, wanders around hunting for food and searching for a mate – which, without the Northern Jaguar Project, might presently elude him.

The Tucson-based nonprofit remains mission-driven to preserve and recover the world’s northernmost population of the panthera onca (also called tigre americano) by restoring its natural habitats in hopes of more cats wandering north from Sonora, Mexico, where a small population of these endangered cats survives.

– Hannah Van Sickle, The Arizona 100

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BMW backs down from charging a subscription fee for heated seats

I love Bimmers – especially those of the spicy M variety – but there’s no denying that BMW HQ has made some controversial decisions lately. Most infamously, in 2022 they tried charging customers $18/month for heated seats that were already installed on their cars.

Backlash was swift and vicious, and to their credit, BMW backed down. They said their intention was simply to let customers activate their hardware later to avoid paying $500 upfront.

That kinda makes sense, but the sentiment across BIMMERPOST and Reddit seems to be that allowing automakers to remotely deactivate parts of your car sets a dangerous precedent.

– Chris Butsch, Contributor

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Imperfections need not mean the death of effective leadership

I often joke that “Lost in Translation” is gonna be on my tombstone – a fitting epitaph, I’ve decided, for someone equally fueled by imagination and innovation.

As a highly creative human, I often find myself bursting with a million ideas – All. At. Once.

From time to time, things CAN get lost in translation amidst the enthusiasm (something my wife and daughter remind me of, often), which presents fertile ground for self-reflection.

Embracing all of my qualities ultimately allows me to see myself more clearly and also allows for continual growth and evolution – a true win-win.

What would your epitaph be?

– Jeff Arnold, Founder, RIGHTSURE

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Looking ahead to the Arizona Jazz Festival

Come Oct. 20-22, The Venue on High Street (5415 E. High St.) is where it’s at for a three-day, jam-packed weekend of live jazz at the Arizona Jazz Festival.

This year’s lineup features a full slate of fabulous performers – from Trombone Shorty and Brian McKnight to Kenny G and Spyro Gyra – with 20+ acts in total throughout the weekend.

Located in the heart of the Phoenix-Scottsdale corridor, the open-air concept venue is fun for the whole family. In addition to nonstop tunes, enjoy restaurants and retailers plus food vendors, beer and wine.

Get in the groove today with this playlist.

– Hannah Van Sickle, The Arizona 100

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What are the fastest (and slowest) selling cars of 2023?

Now that production has finally caught up with demand, which cars are selling the fastest (and slowest)?

According to iSeeCars, the venerated Tesla Model S – once the hottest new car in existence – is now the slowest-selling used car of 2023, spending an average 88 days on-market. Pre-owned Honda HR-Vs sold the quickest at just 34 days.

As for new cars, the Toyota Grand Highlander sold the fastest, while the Jeep Cherokee languished on dealer lots for an average 129 days. Curiously, my beloved Mazda Miata is the fifth slowest-selling car of 2023, meaning you can probably negotiate a heckuva deal.

– Chris Butsch, Contributor

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Creating ties that bind

Today’s workforce includes individuals from a whopping five different generations, which means folks at the helm of these diverse teams – spanning Baby Boomers to Generation Alpha – will inevitably encounter a range of abilities, beliefs, work habits and communication styles.

In the (refreshing) absence of a one-size-fits-all approach, I’ve got some ideas about understanding and engaging each cohort – one of many topics I explore in my recent book, “Leading Across the Generations.”

If I’ve learned anything over the past three decades, it’s that leveraging the strengths and perspectives of each generation is the key to creating more innovative and dynamic teams.

– Jeff Arnold, Founder, RIGHTSURE

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Save the date for HopeWalk Arizona

Looking to make a difference in the lives of medically challenged children across the Grand Canyon State? Lace up your shoes and join in the fun at this year’s HopeWalk Arizona.

Create a fundraising team today and then show up on Saturday, Oct. 14 – at Notre Dame Prep High School in Scottsdale – and “Dance Through the Decades” for a great cause.

Folks of all ages are invited to join in on the fun – including an accessible 5K with mascots, plus games, music, snacks, activities and more – and prove that HOPE is indeed a powerful medicine.

Contact cindy@hopekids.org with questions.

– Hannah Van Sickle, The Arizona 100

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Have you tried Turo, the Airbnb for cars?

In 2014, after years of renting boring beige sedans from Enterprise, I finally decided to try Turo. After spending a week in a yellow Porsche Boxster for just $60 per day, I never looked back.

Turo allows you to rent other people’s interesting cars for less than you would pay at the airport rental site. I’ve rented pickup trucks for moves, Priuses for road trips and a Mustang convertible for touring Honolulu.

The platform also has high quality standards and superb customer service – I recently had a host cancel last minute, so Turo upgraded me to an Audi for free.

– Chris Butsch, Contributor

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Leading with intention

With summer vacation in the rear-view mirror, I’ve been reflecting on the power recharging my battery has on creating a positive work environment – for myself and the many teams I lead.

So much of my role these days (no matter where I’m involved) lies in keeping the energy levels high and helping folks maintain focus.

From the soccer clubhouse to any of the companies I run, teammates have questions they want answered and problems they need solved. As for my job? I’m not the chief problem-solver, I’m the chief asker-of-questions – and regular downtime invigorates me to keep thinking this way.

– Jeff Arnold, Founder, RIGHTSURE

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History of Labor Day

In 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed the law designating the first Monday in September a holiday for workers. Two decades later, Rosa McKay was elected to the Arizona State Legislature where, in July of 1917, she began fighting for miners on strike in Bisbee.

McKay’s support of laborers got her run out of town, but not before House Bill 3 was passed – a minimum wage act for women – signed into law by Gov. Thomas E. Campbell on March 8, 1917. When she died (in 1934, at the age of 53), the Grand Canyon State flag flew at half-mast in honor of McKay.

– Hannah Van Sickle, The Arizona 100