Surviving Westgate: Glendale mom goes into labor during shooting rampage
A pregnant mother stuck in the chaos last May at the Westgate Entertainment District tells 12 News she didn t know if she or her unborn son were going to make it. Author: Erica Stapleton Updated: 10:14 PM MST February 12, 2021
GLENDALE, Ariz. Stephanie Vasquez just sat down to eat at Westgate Entertainment District. It was supposed to be a night out with her husband Reynaldo, 4-year-old son Damian and some friends, the first time they d really been out since the pandemic started in March.
But this night in May would soon take a sharp turn.
Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps, who was appointed to lead the city in late 2015, will stay in that role for at least another four years with a nearly $40,000 annual raise.
The Glendale City Council on Tuesday voted 6-1 in favor of a new four-year contract for Phelps, with a base salary of $270,000. The contract also includes a monthly vehicle allowance of $450. His base salary was nearly $230,000 previously.
Councilmember Bart Turner was the lone no vote. Turner did not explain his vote at the council meeting on Tuesday and told The Arizona Republic that he would not comment on a personnel issue.
The COVID-19 pandemic was a true global disaster, killing millions around the world.
Though the West Valleyâs year was largely shaped by the devastating spread of the coronavirusâand the shutdowns and slowdowns called by state, county and school officialsâthere was quite a bit of ânon-COVID newsâ in 2020.
Here are some of the top stories of the year in Glendale:
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20. Street racing
A growing trend of âintersection shutdownsâ became an unwanted addition to Glendale, though police said they made multiple arrests and used technology to shut down the shutdowns.
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19. Hot, hot, hotÂ
Even as Westgate Entertainment District expands, a new mini version of it called En Fuego opens across Glendale Avenue.
Rebekah L. Sanders, Arizona Republic
Published
11:43 pm UTC Dec. 30, 2020
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Joel Hernandez Valdez, the 100th patient to recover from COVID-19 at Banner Baywood Medical Center, is discharged on June 5, 2020.
Sean Logan/The Republic
There s no doubt 2020 was memorable. The collective experience of a pandemic, presidential election and historic protests will long leave an imprint on our lives.
Then again, so many big stories dominated the headlines, it s easy to forget everything that happened.
Here are the top news events in Arizona as compiled by The Arizona Republic staff to remind us of all that we ve been through and equip us for all that lies ahead.