Beginning on Jan. 1, 2023, the minimum wage in the City of Flagstaff will increase to $16.80 and the tipped minimum wage to $14.80 per hour. City of Flagstaff Management Analyst Chris Rhode explained to Flagstaff Business News why the minimum wage increase is not as straightforward as in previous years. “In 2016, voters passed Proposition 414, or The Minimum Wage Act, creating this office to enforce and implement the City of Flagstaff minimum wage,” said the labor standards … [Read more...] about Why the Minimum Wage Increase is Complicated
Local News
Babbitt Ranches Supporting Artemis Missions, Promoting Land-Use Ethic on Other Worlds
On land commonly occupied by Hereford cattle, pronghorn antelope and mule deer, a moon rover prototype cruises at a top speed of eight miles per hour near Black Point Lava Flow. It is here on Babbitt Ranches that NASA, Japan’s space program, JAXA, U.S. Geological Survey scientists, along with engineers and technicians, set up a space camp of sorts. They have been preparing for the Artemis Missions to the moon, with the first launch window for the un-crewed Artemis 1 rocket opening Nov. … [Read more...] about Babbitt Ranches Supporting Artemis Missions, Promoting Land-Use Ethic on Other Worlds
Flagstaff Workers Struggle to Find a Way Home
Clover Jacobs could hardly believe the news when she and her young family had been accepted for a Habitat for Humanity home. She didn’t think she was eligible but then she heard the home would be “a hand up, not a hand out,” and that Habitat helps people get to the next stage in life. Clover shared her story at the Coconino Center for the Arts during the “Arizona Storytellers Presents: Finding Home” event on Oct. 26, a public forum addressing affordable housing challenges in … [Read more...] about Flagstaff Workers Struggle to Find a Way Home
Glamping Resort Immerses Eco-Conscious Travelers into Nature
When Jeremy Budge, founder and CEO of Backland, a luxury eco-resort, discovered a 160-acre parcel of land 36 miles west of Flagstaff, he felt, “This property is special.” He was looking for a place where modern travelers could escape from the hubbub of today’s world and immerse themselves in nature. The rare island of deeded land, surrounded by the Kaibab National Forest, was ceded to homesteader Clyde Moose in 1921. Since then, the hidden ranch, 20 miles southeast of Williams, was used as a … [Read more...] about Glamping Resort Immerses Eco-Conscious Travelers into Nature
Flagstaff Continues to Pursue Air Travel Partners, Services
The City of Flagstaff reports that tourism remains strong as the community’s No. 1 economic driver, with an impact of more than $750 million. In its Annual Stakeholder and Partners Meeting before representatives of businesses and tourist attractions on Oct. 20, Interim Deputy City Manager and Economic Vitality Director Heidi Hansen said the city is focused on attracting a second airline and continued efforts to expand service options. In addition, city officials said 27 local businesses were … [Read more...] about Flagstaff Continues to Pursue Air Travel Partners, Services
Touching the Future through Scholarships
Emily McKenzie has been giving a voice to matters important to her community since she was in elementary school. As a fifth grader, she collected signatures from her classmates and petitioned the school board to put a salad bar in her school’s cafeteria. The board agreed with her case. From then on, lunchtime became a bounty of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers. As a teen, McKenzie studied Human Rights Watch, a powerful non-government organization that seeks to investigate … [Read more...] about Touching the Future through Scholarships
Organic Chocolatier Sarah Ann Lesslie Offers Healthy Treats
A bite full of chocolate makes the herbs go down, and for Chocolita Founder Sara Ann Lesslie, this was the impetus for her specialty chocolates made from 100% plant-based organic ingredients. In her new East Flagstaff store, Chocolita, Lesslie features a low-glycemic array of botanically crafted vegan delicacies. “I was struggling with health issues, so as a long-standing student of herbalism, instead of painkillers, I took herbs. One day, when I was making chocolate, I thought, ‘Why not … [Read more...] about Organic Chocolatier Sarah Ann Lesslie Offers Healthy Treats
TOPS Encourages Weight-Loss Members
Hoping to see less of you,” may not be the kindest way to bid adieu, but for most of the members of Taking Off Pounds Successfully (TOPS Club, Inc.), it’s the hope and goal of this national non-profit hands-on approach to weight loss program. TOPS has been helping and supporting members for more than 70 years. Recently, Northern Arizona held their annual TOPS Fall Rally in Prescott. “We had members from all our nine chapters,” said TOPS Northern Arizona Advocate Mary L. Sylvester. “Payson, … [Read more...] about TOPS Encourages Weight-Loss Members
Honoring our Values, Living a Life of Thanksgiving
After spending a day in the open spaces of Babbitt Ranches with mission-driven engineers, technicians, geologists, journalists and visionaries from organizations such as NASA, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), the U.S. Geological Survey and Babbitt Ranches, I found myself energized, joyful, inspired and grateful to be in this bubble of positive intelligence focused on propelling the human race forward in cooperation and doing so with a land use ethic. In this pop-up aerospace village … [Read more...] about Honoring our Values, Living a Life of Thanksgiving
New Archaeology Center Becoming Popular Attraction
The past few months have seen major increases in visitation to unique educational experiences provided by the Verde Valley Archaeology Center (VVAC) in the heart of Camp Verde. Executive Director Monica Buckle attributes much of that increase to the “phenomenal” new location of the center in its new building at 460 W. Finnie Flat Road in the middle of town. “We ran out of space at our past site, so local donors have been exceptionally generous in helping us fund the new museum … [Read more...] about New Archaeology Center Becoming Popular Attraction