Last Updated on March 25, 2026 by Daily News Staff

Phoenix is the fifth-largest city in the United States, yet its skyline doesn’t resemble other major metros like Los Angeles, Chicago, or Dallas. Despite rapid population and economic growth, downtown Phoenix has long lacked supertall skyscrapers — and until recently, didn’t even have a building tall enough to qualify as a true “skyscraper” under standard definitions.  

The Basics: Phoenix’s Height Reality

The tallest structure in Phoenix for decades has been Chase Tower, rising to about 483 feet. Under the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat definition, a skyscraper reaches at least 492 feet — which means Phoenix has technically lacked one — despite its size and population.  

A new project, the Astra Tower, is planned to rise around 540+ feet when it breaks ground, potentially giving Phoenix its first true skyscraper.  

Airport Proximity: The FAA’s Height Grid

FAA Obstacle Evaluation & Downtown Limits

Phoenix’s skyline constraints are rooted in aviation safety.

📍 Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport sits just a few miles from downtown.

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates building heights near airports so they don’t obstruct flight paths, require planes to alter approaches, or interfere with climb-out safety.
• In Phoenix, this results in a layered set of height limits that vary by location and elevation above sea level — often measured in feet above mean sea level (MSL) rather than simply building height from ground.  

The city’s zoning code divides downtown into multiple contour zones with distinct maximum elevation values (e.g., 1,275 ft, 1,525 ft, 1,700 ft MSL), each tied to how close it sits under airport flight paths.  

That means in some blocks you can’t build above a specific elevation even if ground levels are lower — a regulatory “roof” that varies across downtown.

City zoning also explicitly states that no building can exceed the FAA’s airport height limits, even if other bonuses or zoning allowances exist.  

Phoenix vs. Los Angeles: A Quick Comparison

Los Angeles: Higher Limits, Different Constraints

Cities like Los Angeles also have nearby airports (e.g., Los Angeles International Airport), but their key business districts aren’t directly under major flight corridors.

LA’s downtown has:

• Taller office and residential towers
• A financial core with dense development
• Fewer FAA-driven overlays because the flight paths stretch past the downtown edge

Los Angeles’s tallest buildings — including Wilshire Grand Center (~1,100 ft) and U.S. Bank Tower (~1,018 ft) — were built where FAA restrictions don’t force low ceilings. FAA evaluations were conducted but didn’t cut as deeply into downtown zoning compared to Phoenix.

Phoenix, by contrast, sits right under approach and departure corridors — leading to consistent FAA involvement in almost every proposed mid- or high-rise downtown.

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Economic and Planning Philosophies

Beyond FAA rules:

• Phoenix developed in the automobile era, with vast inexpensive land encouraging horizontal growth.  
• Los Angeles grew earlier with heavier investment in centralized neighborhoods and higher density.
• Phoenix’s village plan long encouraged multiple smaller hubs instead of concentrating all growth in one downtown core.  

These historical differences mean Phoenix didn’t have the same economic “pressure” to build up — even with zoning that allows significant height if FAA permits are met.

What This Means for Phoenix’s Future

Phoenix still has room to grow vertically — but:

• FAA height contours will remain the ceiling unless flight paths change
• Developers must secure determinations of no hazard from the FAA before going taller
• New projects like Astra show demand for taller buildings is rising

As Phoenix’s urban core densifies and land becomes scarcer, its skyline may yet reach higher — but always within the invisible grid drawn by aviation safety.

Related External Links

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Official Website
• FAA Obstruction Evaluation / Airport Airspace Analysis (OE/AAA)
• City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department
• Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH)
• Los Angeles World Airports (LAX Authority)
• Phoenix Skyscraper Database & Diagrams
• Los Angeles Skyscraper Database & Diagrams

Dive into “The Knowledge,” where curiosity meets clarity. This playlist, in collaboration with STMDailyNews.com, is designed for viewers who value historical accuracy and insightful learning. Our short videos, ranging from 30 seconds to a minute and a half, make complex subjects easy to grasp in no time. Covering everything from historical events to contemporary processes and entertainment, “The Knowledge” bridges the past with the present. In a world where information is abundant yet often misused, our series aims to guide you through the noise, preserving vital knowledge and truths that shape our lives today. Perfect for curious minds eager to discover the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of everything around us. Subscribe and join in as we explore the facts that matter.  https://stmdailynews.com/the-knowledge/

If you live in Arizona, chances are you’ve seen or heard about javelinas roaming neighborhoods, especially at dawn or dusk. But what exactly are these animals—and are they dangerous?

Javelinas, officially known as collared peccaries, are often mistaken for wild pigs. However, they’re actually a completely different species native to the Americas.

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They look like pigs… but they’re not 🐗❌ Meet Arizona’s javelinas! hhtps://stmdailynews.com #Javelina #ArizonaWildlife #PhoenixAZ #DesertLife #WildlifeFacts #NowYouKnow #STMdailynews #UrbanWildlife #DidYouKnow #NatureExplained ♬ original sound – STMDailyNews

Not a Pig: Meet the Collared Peccary

The collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) is a small, hoofed mammal with a stocky build and coarse, bristly fur. They get their nickname “javelina” from Spanish, meaning “little javelin,” referring to their sharp tusks.

• Length: 3–4 feet
• Weight: 40–60 pounds
• Color: Gray to black with a lighter “collar”
• Distinct trait: Strong musky odor from a scent gland

Where Do Javelinas Live?

Javelinas thrive in desert environments and are commonly found across Arizona, including the Phoenix metro area. As urban development expands, encounters with humans have become more frequent.

Behavior: Why You See Them in Groups

Javelinas are social animals that travel in groups called “squadrons,” typically made up of 6 to 12 individuals. These groups help protect them from predators and navigate their environment.

They are most active during cooler parts of the day—early morning and evening—especially during Arizona’s hot summers.

What Do Javelinas Eat?

Despite their tough appearance, javelinas are herbivores. Their diet mainly includes:

• Prickly pear cactus (a favorite)
• Mesquite beans
• Roots and desert vegetation

Are Javelinas Dangerous?

Javelinas are generally not aggressive toward humans, but they can become defensive if they feel threatened—especially if they are protecting their young or are approached by dogs.

Important safety tips:

• Do not feed javelinas
• Keep pets on a leash
• Secure trash and outdoor food sources
• Give them plenty of space

Why Are They Showing Up in Neighborhoods?

Urban expansion into desert habitats has increased human-wildlife interactions. Easy access to food—like garbage, pet food, and landscaping plants—also attracts javelinas into residential areas.

Final Thoughts

Javelinas are an important part of the desert ecosystem and usually pose little risk when left alone. Understanding their behavior is the key to peacefully coexisting with these unique animals.

Related External Links & Further Reading

• Arizona Game & Fish Department – Living With Javelina
• National Park Service – Javelina (Saguaro National Park)
• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum – Javelina Natural History
• Encyclopaedia Britannica – Peccary Overview
• Texas Parks & Wildlife – Collared Peccary

Dive into “The Knowledge,” where curiosity meets clarity. This playlist, in collaboration with STMDailyNews.com, is designed for viewers who value historical accuracy and insightful learning. Our short videos, ranging from 30 seconds to a minute and a half, make complex subjects easy to grasp in no time. Covering everything from historical events to contemporary processes and entertainment, “The Knowledge” bridges the past with the present. In a world where information is abundant yet often misused, our series aims to guide you through the noise, preserving vital knowledge and truths that shape our lives today. Perfect for curious minds eager to discover the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of everything around us. Subscribe and join in as we explore the facts that matter.  https://stmdailynews.com/the-knowledge/

Last Updated on March 21, 2026 by Daily News Staff

Woman feeling headache holding a glass of water.Adobe Stock

Why do people get headaches and migraines? A child neurologist explains the science of head pain and how to treat it

Katherine Cobb-Pitstick, University of Pittsburgh Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com.

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Why do people get headaches? – Evie V., age 10, Corpus Christi, Texas

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Whether sharp and stabbing or dull and throbbing, a headache can ruin your day. But your brain doesn’t actually feel pain. So what is going on when it feels like your head is in a vise or about to explode? I am a child neurologist – that is, a doctor who specializes in diseases of the brain in kids. Most of my patients are kids and adolescents who are struggling with headaches. Head pain is complicated, and there is still a lot to learn about what causes it and how it can be treated. But researchers know there are a few key players that take part in generating pain.

What are headaches?

Nerves communicate information like pain through electrical signals between the body and the brain. While the brain itself doesn’t have any nerve sensors to feel pain, blood vessels in the head and structures that protect and surround the brain do sense pain. When these tissues detect injury or damage, they release chemicals that trigger transmission of electrical signals through nerves to tell the brain the head is hurting. The brain will also use nerves to signal the body to respond to pain with symptoms like feeling tired, teary eyes, runny nose, upset stomach and discomfort in bright or loud environments. It’s not clear why humans evolved to feel these symptoms, but some scientists theorize that this can lead to healthier lifestyle choices to decrease the chance of future headache attacks.

What causes headaches?

Often, headaches are a sign that the body is under some kind of stress. That stress triggers chemical and physical changes to the nerves and blood vessels around your brain, head and neck that can cause headaches. Many types of stresses can cause headaches, including an infection, allergies, hormone changes during puberty and menstrual cycles, not getting enough sleep, not drinking enough water, skipping meals or drinking too much caffeine or alcohol. Sometimes, headaches happen with emotional stress, like feeling anxious or depressed. Even pressure in your sinuses due to changes in the weather can cause your head to hurt. One in 11 kids have had a type of severe headache called a migraine. They feel like a pulsing and pounding pain in your head and come with other symptoms, including nausea or being sensitive to lights and sounds. During a migraine, it can be hard to do everyday activities because they can make the pain worse. It is also very common to feel unwell or irritable before the head pain starts and after the pain is gone.

Migraines occur when the nerves and other structures used in signaling and interpreting pain aren’t working properly, leading to pain and discomfort from stimulation that wouldn’t normally provoke this. There are many environmental and genetic factors that contribute to this dysfunction. Some people are born with a higher risk of developing migraines. Most people with migraines have someone in their family who also experiences them.

What can treat and prevent headaches?

Identifying what type of headache you’re experiencing is crucial to making sure it is treated properly. Because migraines can be severe, they’re the type of headache that most often leads to doctor’s visits for both kids and adults. There are several ways to reduce your chances of having headaches, such as drinking plenty of water and limiting caffeine. Eating, sleeping and exercising regularly are other ways you can help prevent headaches.

While painkillers like ibuprofen are often enough to relieve a headache, prescription medications are sometimes necessary to make head pain more bearable. Some medications can also help control or prevent headache episodes. Physical therapy to exercise the body or behavioral therapy to work on the mind can also help you manage headache pain. There are even electronic devices to treat headaches by stimulating different parts of the nervous system. It is important to talk with a doctor about headaches, especially if it’s a new problem or you experience a change in how they usually feel. Sometimes, brain imaging or blood tests are needed to rule out another health issue. Recognizing a headache problem early will help your doctor get started on helping you figure out the best way to treat it.

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Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live. And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best. Katherine Cobb-Pitstick, Assistant Professor of Child Neurology, University of Pittsburgh This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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