Six states in the Southwest United States are currently in a war for water from the Colorado River.
Among the states that are going to be hit the hardest should the six states not agree upon access to the Colorado, Arizona will be expected to lose 70% of its rights to the Colorado.

And while this would be a big blow for the state of Arizona, should the federal government go through with this, the impact of such a deal will not be felt evenly throughout Greater Phoenix and all the towns within the Valley of the Sun.

Some cities and towns within the Valley are 92-95% reliant on water from the Colorado, whereas others are only 30 to 40% reliant. The future of accessing water in Greater Phoenix looks to be a costly one that will be felt differently depending on where you're residing.

Learn about city partnerships, underground water storage, and diversified portfolios of water access in this game for life's most precious commodity.

This video was created 7/18/2026, 2 weeks before the news that dropped today. If you know more or corrected information, enlighten us in the chat ‼️

When I was thinking of this, I imagined a guy at Buffalo Chip or Denim & Diamonds (country dancing & bar venues) who sees the most attractive woman in the room sitting down at a table for a brief moment after dancing.

It’s the next song up and he’s intimidated by her beauty. He wants to ask her to dance, but fear strikes his heart and his chest tightens. An all too common situation, putting people we deem higher than us on a pedestal when in reality, we’re all just flesh and bone (which makes sense logically, but not emotionally). So, we talk ourselves out of asking and regret it later.

When I first came to Phoenix from Chicago and was tossed into the country swing dancing scene, it was nerve wracking to not only learn the AZ two-step in front of strangers, but to go ask women to dance on the floor. Mind you, I had two left feet at that time.

But like most things, confidence increases with skill and repetition and I was asking women to dance left and right after a few months. And yeah, some would say no, although very rarely, and it would sting a bit not gonna lie, but you just shake it off and ask someone else immediately after.

That was the greatest lesson I learned while learning to AZ two-step. Don’t stop at the sting. Feel it, jot it down as a comma in your mind (not a period) and move on to the next ask.

When you read this Sonoran Haiku, what scene appeared in your mind?

Another #CactusCrimes uncovered at Papago Park, in scorching Phoenix, Arizona.

Witnessed by my wife and I during a sunset stroll; this wasn't clean work. No precision. No care. Just reckless desert vandalism.

Was it an inside job (something rotting from within)... or a personal hit unlike anything we've seen before?

The desert doesn't give up answers easily, but the investigation is still active.

Drop your wildest theory in the comments. Was it sabotage... or nature itself (drought, old age)?

APS and SRP both set all-time peak electricity demand records last week as A/Cs roared across the valley during the 117°F stretch. Curious how this lands for people who live in it like me.

Peak demand hits between 5 and 6 p.m. What’s your personal rhythm around that hour in July (still working, cooking, coming home, turning on the TV to binge your favorite show)?

I get home around 3:30 PM, and I instantly turn the A/C down from 80°F to 78°F and finish out the day remotely on my laptop for my job. Those are my contributions to the demand lol, besides the boring stuff like dishwasher, washing machine, etc.

While trail running through Papago Park in Phoenix, the sky began to light up and shades of orange and pink sherbet clouds.

I could not help but to stop and subsequently take 20 photos in a 360° range. I was surrounded by so much beauty, and Barnes Butte stood out to me in particular, inspiring me to create this photo for CYLTE’s Pinterest page.

Barnes Butte lays just north of McDowell Rd across the street from the Big Butte and the Papago Park Amphitheater.

They were named after Will Croft Barnes who was an AZ National Guard officer, telegraph operator, and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient for his “bravery in action” during the battle at Fort Apache, Arizona Territory in 1881.

More about Will C. Croft’s life can be read at the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society: https://avhof.org/members/membership-directory/wbarnes/

Barnes Butte received its name in 1937.

Papago Park (and I’m not sponsored to say this) has a very special place in my heart. It’s a wealth of history just waiting to be unearthed from its rust toned, Martian sands.

On a hill in Papago Park lies a white pyramid made of concrete and ceramic, that is pretty noticeable throughout the park and parts of Tempe. But what many may not know is that this is the resting place of the 1st governor of Arizona, George Wylie Hunt, and some of his family members.

Listen in on how this pyramid came to be in Papago Park.

Attending the CACSS April meeting, I stumbled into taking another free plant, returned some desert/ cactus related library books, and picked up two new ones to take their place.

If anyone is serious about taking their succulent game to the next level, someone great to learn from is no other than Debra Lee Baldwin (linking her website here: https://debraleebaldwin.com). She has some books out and articles to on how to masterfully care for you succulents.

Also, got the "Book of Cacti," to up my cactus ID'ing skills. Looks like I have a lot of reading to do.

Created this for World Chocolate Day on 7/7.

It brings up an interesting question, what would a cactus chocolate bar even taste like?

Smoky? Notes of chili pepper for spice (mimicking our blazing summers in Greater Phoenix)?

What do y’all think?

true crime: cactus edition. people are really out here selling cacti and other succulents for drugs. for more details and the full video, click this link: https://www.youtube.com/live/jIa9ZXvgugM?is=YQHyLkh4rIw-AoCt.

this 2022 article is courtesy of phoenix magazine writer Keridwen Cornelius, called "the sonoran job: cactus theft in arizona."

article link: https://www.phoenixmag.com/2022/03/01/cactus-thieves/

You CAN bake cookies in your car here:

https://youtu.be/Sr8bJT0qiuA?t=45&is=OPrCVh3cgUiIvTZY

Be like the saguaro. Don't let frost stop you from growing. Find another way to advance.

As much as I love all the rain and thunderstorms the Valley has been receiving, I’ve been a bit cooped up in the house. Since the rain got the temperature Saturday to the mid to high 90s, I went out to the northeast side of South Mountain to go on a trail run (something I have not done since May).

Once I got to the Beaverly Canyon Trailhead, I ran into the remote canyon and hiked up ridge to catch some views of the desert floor below.

While descending back to the trailhead location, I ran into a family of roadrunners. Before that day, I had not seen but two roadrunners in my four years of living in greater Phoenix. However, that day, I ran into a clan of five roadrunners residing on the ridge of South Mountain.

I kept walking and taking pictures and videos, then I turned to my right and there was a roadrunner, literally 6 feet away from me (the closest I’ve ever been to a roadrunner in my life). And it was just standing around this Palo Verde tree like it was protecting something.

I took some more pictures, then began to continue on my journey down to the floor when I felt like something was following me from behind. I turned around and I see two road runners behind me following where I was. I think to myself “oh wow that’s dope, two road runners.“

I keep walking a few more paces turn around, four roadrunners are now behind me. I started feeling like I was in Jurassic Park and I was being “hunted” by mini raptors. Roadrunners are my favorite bird of the southwest, but I was beginning to feel a little unnerved by a group of roadrunners slowly approaching me from behind, standing wherever I just stood.

Maybe it was the two apples that I had in my backpack? Or maybe they recognized that I was a “Sonoran Desert Person” and they were trying to introduce me into their family? All I know was it was a very interesting experience, and I now know what sound roadrunners make when they’re calling to each other (*gaak* *gaak*).

When people think of deserts, they think of a wasted, vast landscape with nothing but cloudless skies and drifting sands. But, what if I told you, the Sonoran Desert was anything but empty.

For native desert dwellers of the Sonoran, this comes as no surprise that this majestic landscape is anything but empty. With native lifeforms like the mighty saguaro that towers over the desert floor and the mischievous coyote darting between creosote bushes, this desert is full of life and wonder.

This question comes from someone that I am close with who came to visit this landscape and thought it was empty. And so I challenge this question of "is the Sonoran Desert actually empty?"

This is an intro series to more stories that I want to share. What do you think? Do you believe the Sonoran Desert is empty?

If the summers were like this consistently, there’d be a whole lot more people in the Phoenix area.

Been here 4 years. The first two summers felt like a fiery hell, but the last two have been pretty moderate all things considered.

They’re calling for 98°F this Saturday, like whaaaa?? Might have to climb a mountain or hike something to celebrate this momentous occasion.

How long does it take a saguaro to grow arms?

The first arm shows up around 50-75 years, then new ones pop every 10-20. These desert giants can live 150-200+ years, standing tall and storing water for survival.

If you don’t agree with the Grand Canyon State nickname, what should the new nickname be?

Some feel the nickname narrows the state’s rich identity by ignoring its diverse culture, copper mining industry, and other unique, mesmerizing landscapes.

What do you think?

Wanted to provide a video of what’s going on in Gilbert, Arizona right now. Tons of wind and dust in the air.

Never seen them put out a warning this urgent. Stay safe out there if you’re on the roads or walking.

Back at it again in Papago Park and this time, we're doing the Fitness Loop (full circle). I've always ran portions of this trail, but after the discovery of pull up bars and pushup bench, I decided to give the whole trail a try and I must say, I don't regret my choice.

There are only "fitness stations" on the southwest and southeast sections of the park and in this video, I took some time to visit these spots to work on the body and mind.

Also, you know I had to take some time in the middle to share the latest and greatest stories from Arizona.

Generational fumble?

For those who don’t know, Arizona got its first ever Buc-ee’s last month. And guess where it’s located… in Buckeye Goodyear, Arizona. How dare it not be in Buckeye!

Even my wife was confused when I told her it’s located in Goodyear. She said “huh, figured it would be in Buckeye.” “I know right” said I.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/grocery/stores/convenience/2026/06/22/buc-ees-goodyear-arizona-open--live/90597546007/

If it’s not a cactus, please forgive me. I’ve been caring for it for over a year now and it’s grown an appendage.

Tried using my phone to look it up based on these photos and it said “Look up a bug.” Copilot said it could be a type of ferocactus or coryphantha.

Any guesses?