Sky Harbor Airport Museum Tour

Who knew there was so much art at the airport? Thanks to Sharron McKinney and Patt Walker for organizing an amazing tour. 

NHD student Nathan Davies-Venn wins Martin Luther King award

The Historical League and National History Day AZ is proud to celebrate Nathan Davies-Venn, recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Action Award. 

A student of NHDAZ for the past four years, Nathan exemplifies the spirit of Dr. King through his leadership, service, and unwavering commitment to justice, community, and empathy. 

As a member of his school’s Speech and Debate team, Nathan uses his voice to promote racial equality and social justice. He consistently approaches challenging topics with courage and integrity, encouraging inclusivity and respect both in and beyond the classroom.

His impact extends throughout the Chandler community through volunteering at his former elementary school, sharing his musical talents at church, assisting teachers, and giving back through local events. 

Nathan also runs Reenglad Sweets, a family peanut brittle business with his younger brother, Matthew, featuring traditional flavors inspired by Sierra Leone. He hopes to one day pass the business on to his future children and has already used its proceeds to support school programs, education, mentorship, athletics, music, and service.

Nathan’s journey has been guided and supported by his teacher, Stacy Trepanier, who nominated him for this honor. We are incredibly proud of Nathan’s achievements and grateful for the example he sets for the community.

Celebrating Nathan Davies-Venn and his award with family and friends (including Cathy and Tom Shumard) and amazing NHD teacher Stacey Trepanier!!

Eddie Basha oral history tells the story of Basha Grocery Stores

How and why these Arizona grocers outgrew their home state

 Rey Covarrubias Jr.

(Historical League photos not used in article) 

Eddie Basha Historymaker 2001

Arizona Republic.    

Jan. 10, 2026, 5:00 a.m. MT  

Arizona hosts dozens of national grocery and retail chains. Population growth and development continue to draw companies into metro Phoenix.

But which stores still in Arizona were also founded in the state?

Only a handful of major retailers were founded in Arizona and later grew into statewide or national brands. Expansion pushed each company away from local ownership through public offerings or corporate sales. Each company maintained significant operations in Arizona after that transition.

From grocery chains to a national retailer of pet products, here is a look at several retailers founded in Arizona.

Bashas' one of the originals

Bashas’ is one of Arizona’s oldest and most recognizable grocery brands.

The Basha family founded Bashas’ in Arizona in 1932, building the company from a single Chandler grocery store into a statewide supermarket chain, according to the Arizona Historical League’s oral history of Eddie Basha.

Bashas’ expanded across Arizona under multiple store brands, including Bashas’, Food City and AJ’s Fine Foods.

By the early 2000s, it had become one of the largest grocery operators in the state, with more than 100 locations across Arizona, New Mexico and the Navajo Nation.

The chain faced mounting pressure from national competitors and supply constraints, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In October 2021, the Basha family announced it would sell Bashas’ to California-based Raley’s Holding Co. President and CEO Edward “Trey” Basha III said the pandemic highlighted the disadvantages smaller chains face when competing for limited supplier inventory, The Arizona Republic reported at the time.

The transaction ended nearly 90 years of family ownership but kept the brand’s operational base in Arizona.

National History Day Arizona 2026

 Kicking Off 2026: National History Day Registration Is Open

As we ring in the New Year, we’re excited to share that NHDAZ registration officially opens January 1st!

Teachers must register first before students, but don’t worry! If you’re competing without a teacher, an adult can register as a teacher in the system so your account can be linked.

We can’t wait to see how students across Arizona bring the 2026 theme: Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History to life. NHD projects are challenging, rewarding, and full of discovery – and the journey begins now!

Need help or registration instructions? Reach out anytime at nhdaz@azhs.gov. Registration link is in our bio.

We’re here to help and can’t wait to see what these young historians create in the year ahead!

John Graham, 2025 Arizona Historymaker, chairing the committee to update Chase Field

 The Arizona Diamondback's long-awaited updates to Chase Field are moving forward. Arizona Historymaker 2025, John Graham, is chairing a new governing board created to oversee taxpayer funds for Chase Field repairs.

The Historical League consensus is "the ball park is in good hands with John Graham as chair."

Read a more detailed article below by John Leos in Arizona Republic, Jan. 7, 2026.

Arizona Republic

Updated Jan. 7, 2026, 3:30 p.m. MT

• A new governing board has been created to oversee hundreds of millions in taxpayer funds for Chase Field repairs.
• The board was established by a state law that redirects tax revenue to fund stadium upgrades for the next 30 years.
• This new arrangement follows years of conflict between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Maricopa County over the ballpark's future.

The Arizona Diamondback's long-awaited updates to Chase Field edged closer to reality than ever as a new governing board tasked with funneling hundreds of millions in taxpayer money to the embattled ballpark met for the first time.

The meeting marked the start of a new era for the publicly owned facility, which the team has long said is in need of major repairs. To get there, it will need to overcome years of conflict over the ballpark's future.

A new state law enables the board to manage a fund for 30 years supported by a blend of sales and income tax revenue. That is intended to pay for infrastructure repairs and upgrades to Chase Field, which is owned by an entity called the Maricopa County Stadium District and previously was governed by the five county supervisors.

The new board was created through the controversial House Bill 2704, which was signed into law by Gov. Katie Hobbs in June 2025. The body features a diverse set of nine voting members appointed by various governmental agencies and representing a wide range of interests in the ballpark's future.

It includes a stable of members appointed by lawmakers who supported the legislation. Senate President Warren Petersen picked Andrew Cohn, a self-described "intermediary" in conversations between the Diamondbacks and the county over Chase Field. House Speaker Steve Montenegro chose restaurateur Teddy Myers. Hospitality groups were among the organizations that supported the bill.

 

But other members were critics or only swapped their opposition stances at the last minute. That includes Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and Sen. Mitzi Epstein, who voted against the legislation.

A lone county representative, Assistant County Manager Zach Schira, is also on the new board. His bosses have long had an icy relationship with the team, a history of bad blood that paved the way for a veiled threat from team owner Ken Kendrick, who said at the start of the 2024 season the team "might run out of time" in Phoenix.

By late 2024, talks between both entities over a new lease broke down entirely. That ultimately prompted state lawmakers to step in.

The board also includes President and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks Derrick Hall, who serves as a non-voting member. 

The first public meeting took place on Jan. 6. The board established a bi-weekly meeting schedule and set up the lengths of members' terms.

At the meeting, the board voted John Graham to serve as Chairman. Graham is the CEO of real estate developer Sunbelt Holdings and was appointed to the board by Hobbs. 

Next, the Stadium District board will be looking to appoint an executive director, address the stadium’s crumbling infrastructure and begin lease negotiations with the Diamondbacks.  

Who is paying for Chase Field Stadium repairs?

HB 2704 secured funding for Chase Field improvements by moving millions in tax revenue generated by the stadium that went towards government services, such as road improvements and K-12 education, toward stadium major improvements like air conditioning, roof and foundation repairs.

The law caps the total amount of taxpayer money that can be used for the stadium at $500 million, but it includes an annual adjustment for inflation that could raise the cost to over $1 billion over the three-decade term. 

The bill passed with an unusual bipartisan smattering of votes. Some conservatives opposed it, viewing it as a subsidy. Some Democrats supported it in hopes that it could mean work for unionized construction crews.

Supporters of the HB 2704 said the commitment to stadium improvements was the only way to ensure that the Diamondbacks baseball team remained in Phoenix after their lease agreement expires in 2027. 

Opponents said the threat of the team moving was a bluff and was only being floated to gain favorable treatment during the stadium improvements negotiations, citing the team’s dedicated fanbase, Phoenix’s large market size and the team’s access to legal sports betting revenue. 

Sen. Epstein was an outspoken critic of HB 2704, objecting to the use of taxpayer money to benefit the Diamondbacks’ billionaire owner, Ken Kendrick, amid an uncertain state budget and the potential for federal funding cuts.  

After reading a poem about “the billionaire beast” during a late-night debate in the legislature, Epstein voted against the bill but was appointed to the board by former Senate Minority Leader Priya Sundareshan, a Tucson Democrat.

“I think that we have an awful lot of plans to make to be sure this remains in the public benefit,” Epstein said after the board meeting. “I want to make sure that the public sees a return for their billion dollars.” 

Republic reporter Sasha Hupka contributed to this article.

John Leos covers Maricopa County for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to john.leos@arizonarepublic.com.

National History Day with Leonard Moody and Emma Weiss on Good Morning Arizona

NHD AZ Coordinator Leonard Moody and Emma Weiss—Arizona Historical Society intern at the Arizona History Museum and former NHD participant—sat down with Good Morning Arizona (AZ Family | KTVK 3TV & KPHO CBS 5) to talk all things National History Day and the 2026 theme: Revolution, Reaction, & Reform.

From student experiences to why this theme matters now, their conversation shows how NHD empowers students to research, think critically, and make history come alive.

Students: Ready to dive into big ideas, tell powerful stories, and compete at the state and national level? Join NHD Arizona for the 2026 season!

January meeting starts off 2026

 The January program featured John Voehl, who, as Abe Lincoln, talked about the 15 Presidents that preceded him, described their importance and his connections with them.  He also provided the highlights of his own 16th Presidency, including the Civil War, emancipation, and Gettysburg Address. 

Personal fact: Abe's favorite treat was Sugar and Ginger Cookies.

Historical League President Jolynn Clarke remarked, "I learned more about history in that program than in my Junior High School History Class."

Abe Lincoln as portrayed by John Voehl. 

Katie Tovar commented, "He is a fascinating speaker and does complete justice to President Lincoln."

Abraham Lincoln was our guest speaker,
thanks to the generosity of Mary and Bill Parker who organized and funded it. 

Historical League members checking into the meeting

Encouraging to see work continuing to happen at AZHC

Nina von Schroeter

Gift shop has colorful new toys

Thanks to Sandy Loeffler for creative table decorations.