Phoenix is about to make history. On Saturday, June 7, 2025, Valley Metro and the City of Phoenix will officially unveil 5.5 new miles of light rail with the grand opening of the South Central Extension/Downtown Hub – and they’re throwing a party that perfectly captures the spirit of our vibrant community.
South Central Extension/Downtown Hub Opening
This isn’t just another transit opening. This is a celebration of connection, culture, and community that’s been years in the making. The $1.3 billion expansion represents the largest investment in Phoenix public transit infrastructure since the original light rail system launched in 2008, and it’s about to transform how South Phoenix connects to the rest of the Valley.
A Day of Celebration Across Three Locations
The festivities kick off early with the “Cruisin’ on Central” parade at 7:45 a.m., starting at the Ed Pastor Transit Center and rolling south down Central Avenue to Baseline Road. This isn’t your typical ribbon-cutting ceremony – it’s a rolling celebration that honors the cultural heartbeat of Central Avenue.
The celebration spreads across three vibrant locations, each offering its own unique flavor of Phoenix pride:
Downtown Hub (CityScape) – The urban heart of the celebration
Ed Pastor Transit Center – Featuring a spectacular low rider car show that pays homage to Central Avenue’s rich automotive culture
Baseline/Central Ave Park-and-Ride – The southern terminus where the official ribbon cutting and first rides will take place
More Than Just Transportation
What makes this opening special is how it weaves together the fabric of our community. Local business pop-ups will showcase South Phoenix entrepreneurs, while family-friendly activities ensure everyone can be part of this historic moment. Local food vendors will serve up the flavors that make our city unique, and performances by entertainers of all ages will fill the air with music and energy.
The official speaking program begins at 8:30 a.m. at Baseline/Central Ave, followed by the ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:15 a.m. – complete with daytime fireworks that promise to light up the morning sky. Then comes the moment everyone’s been waiting for: the first official rides on the new extension.
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A New Era of Transit
Starting at 9:30 a.m., light rail service begins along the entire South Central Extension/Downtown Hub corridor, ushering in Valley Metro’s new two-line system. The A Line will operate between Gilbert Road/Main Street in Mesa and the Downtown Hub, while the B Line will connect the Downtown Hub to Baseline/Central Avenue.
This expansion doesn’t just add miles of track – it adds opportunity. The extension connects South Phoenix neighborhoods to downtown employment centers, educational institutions, and cultural destinations like never before. For residents who have long advocated for better transit access, June 7 represents the realization of a decades-long vision.
Getting There and Joining the Fun
Valley Metro has made it easy for everyone to participate, with multiple free parking options including the Baseline/Central Ave Park-and-Ride, Shopping Plaza on Baseline Road, Southgate Center, and Roeser Plaza. Downtown attendees can utilize paid parking garages on Washington Avenue and Jackson Street.
The celebration runs from 8 a.m. to noon, but the impact of this expansion will be felt for generations. Commemorative Copper cards and “Cruisin’ Central” merchandise will be available at all locations, giving attendees a chance to take home a piece of Phoenix transit history.
Looking Forward
As Phoenix continues to grow and evolve, the South Central Extension represents more than infrastructure – it’s an investment in equity, accessibility, and community connection. The extension serves neighborhoods that have been historically underserved by transit, opening new doors for residents to access jobs, education, and opportunities throughout the Valley.
This Saturday, as we watch the first trains roll south from downtown Phoenix to Baseline Road, we’re not just witnessing the opening of a light rail extension. We’re celebrating the power of community vision, the importance of inclusive transportation, and the bright future of our growing city.
Mark your calendars, grab your family, and join us on June 7 for a celebration that’s as unique and vibrant as Phoenix itself. After all, it’s not every day you get to be part of history in the making.—For more information about the South Central Extension opening celebration, visit valleymetro.org or follow @valleymetro on social media for real-time updates.
Rod: A creative force, blending words, images, and flavors. Blogger, writer, filmmaker, and photographer. Cooking enthusiast with a sci-fi vision. Passionate about his upcoming series and dedicated to TNC Network. Partnered with Rebecca Washington for a shared journey of love and art. View all posts
Rod: A creative force, blending words, images, and flavors. Blogger, writer, filmmaker, and photographer. Cooking enthusiast with a sci-fi vision. Passionate about his upcoming series and dedicated to TNC Network. Partnered with Rebecca Washington for a shared journey of love and art.
Hollywood Legend Rob Reiner and Wife Found Dead; Son in Custody
Renowned filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their Los Angeles home in a reported homicide. Police have arrested their son in connection with the case, and tributes are pouring in.
Director Rob Reiner participates in a discussion following a screening of the film LBJ at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas on Saturday October 22, 2016 On Saturday evening October 22, 2016, the LBJ Presidential Library held a sneak peek of Rob Reiner’s new filmÊLBJ, starring Woody Harrelson as the 36th president. The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, chronicles the life and times of Lyndon Johnson who would inherit the presidency at one of the most fraught moments in American history. Following the screening, director Rob Reiner, actor Woody Harrelson, and writer Joey Hartstone joined LBJ Library Director Mark Updegrove on stage for a conversation about the film. LBJ Library photo by Jay Godwin 10/22/2016
Hollywood Legend Rob Reiner and Wife Found Dead; Son in Custody
December 15, 2025
Renowned filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were found dead in their Brentwood, Los Angeles home on Sunday, authorities say. Emergency responders were called to the residence Sunday afternoon, where both were discovered with fatal wounds consistent with a stabbing. Police are treating the case as a double homicide.
Los Angeles police arrested the couple’s 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, in connection with the deaths. He is being held in custody as investigators continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding the incident.
2016 SAMHSA Voice Awards
Reiner was one of Hollywood’s most influential figures, known for his work as a director, producer and actor. His career spanned decades, from early television fame to directing beloved films that shaped American cinema.
Friends, colleagues and public figures have begun sharing tributes and reactions to the news as the investigation is ongoing.
More details will be updated as they become available.
🇯🇵 Japan Earthquake Update — What You Need to Know (December 2025)
Japan Earthquake Update — A powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off the coast of Aomori, Japan, triggering tsunami warnings and a rare megaquake advisory. Here are the latest updates on damage, aftershocks, government response, and ongoing seismic risks as of December 2025.
🇯🇵 Japan Earthquake Update — What You Need to Know (December 2025)
On December 8, 2025, a powerful earthquake — measured at magnitude 7.5 (7.6 by the U.S. Geological Survey) — struck offshore of Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan around 11:15 p.m. JST. The quake was deep enough (about 44 km) to be felt over a wide area, with intense shaking registering across northern Honshu and parts of Hokkaido.
🌊 Immediate Impact — Tsunami & Injuries
Tsunami Warnings were promptly issued along the Pacific coasts of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate. Authorities initially feared waves up to ~3 meters high, prompting evacuations. In the end, only small tsunami waves — up to about 70 cm — were observed, and all warnings were lifted by early Tuesday morning. At least 50 plus people have been injured, mostly lightly, due to falling objects and minor structural impacts from the shaking.
Across the affected prefectures, emergency crews continue damage assessments and are checking roads, buildings, utilities and other infrastructure for safety concerns. Some power outages and transport disruptions (train suspensions) were reported in the aftermath.
🧠 Rare “Megaquake Advisory” Issued
Japan’s meteorological authority, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), has issued a megaquake advisory following the M 7.5 quake — a rare alert indicating elevated seismic risk. This advisory:
Does not predict when (or if) a larger earthquake will occur. Signals that the probability of a more powerful quake (M 8.0+) has increased temporarily for the next several days or week. Specifically, a formerly tiny ~0.1% weekly chance has risen to roughly ~1 %. Applies along a long stretch of Japan’s Pacific coast — from Chiba Prefecture in the south up through Hokkaido in the north — where the Pacific tectonic plate is actively subducting beneath Japan.
Officials emphasize that this is an advisory, not a prediction, and it’s issued to encourage preparedness: securing furniture, reviewing evacuation plans, and keeping emergency kits ready.
🌏 Aftershocks and Continued Seismic Activity
Even after the main quake, strong aftershocks have been recorded in the region — including quakes in the magnitude 5–6 range. This ongoing activity is consistent with a typical aftershock sequence but reinforces the public safety message to stay alert.
Later smaller tremors — including a reported M 6.0 event — have been felt near Aomori and Hokkaido, though none have triggered additional tsunami warnings.
🛡 Government Response & Public Safety
The Japanese government has mobilized an emergency task force to:
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Assess damage and coordinate response efforts across affected regions. Monitor infrastructure — including roads, utilities, and nuclear facilities — for any damage or safety issues. Keep the public informed and ready for possible aftershocks or other quakes.
Schools, businesses and local municipalities continue to evaluate safety conditions and may adjust operations accordingly.
📌 What This Means for Residents & Visitors
✔ Immediate tsunami danger has passed, but vigilance is still needed due to aftershocks.
✔ Preparedness is crucial, especially in coastal and northern regions that felt the quake strongest.
✔ If you’re in Japan or planning travel, follow JMA updates and local government advisories for current regional guidance.
🧭 In Summary
Japan is dealing with the impacts of a major offshore earthquake that shook the northern Pacific coast and prompted widespread alerts. Although immediate tsunami threats were limited and damage appears relatively light so far, a rare megaquake advisory remains in effect — not as a definitive forecast, but as a cautionary alert to stay prepared in the coming days.
Despite this elevated alert level, experts stress that while seismic risk is higher than normal, a massive quake is not imminent and the advisory’s purpose is to keep people ready rather than alarmed.
Links open in a new tab. Please follow official JMA updates for real-time alerts.
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How China cleaned up its air pollution – and what that meant for the climate
How China cleaned up its air pollution: Beijing’s air quality went from hazardous to good while Delhi and Lahore still struggle. Discover how China dramatically reduced pollution since 2013—and why cleaner air may have unintended consequences for global warming and climate change.
Delhi: 442. Lahore: 334. Beijing: 16. These are the levels of PM 2.5, one of the principle measures for air pollution, on November 19. As Pakistanis and Indians struggle with hazardous air quality, in Beijing – a city once notorious for its smog – the air quality is currently rated as good. Ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government was so concerned about pollution that it introduced temporary restrictions on cars, shut down factories and stopped work on some construction sites. The measures worked and one study later found that levels of air pollution were down 30% during the period when the temporary Olympic restrictions were in place. It would take a few more years before the Chinese government implemented a clean air action plan in 2013. Since then, China has achieved a dramatic improvement in its air quality. In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we speak to Laura Wilcox, a professor at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of Reading in the UK, to understand how China managed to clean up its air pollution. But Wilcox’s recent research uncovered some unintended consequences from this cleaner air for the global climate: the pollution was actually helping to cool the atmosphere and by taking it away, it may have accelerated global warming. Wilcox explains:
What we’re seeing is a removing of cooling that’s revealing warming that’s already there. So the air pollution isn’t the cause of the warming. It’s just letting us see stuff that we’ve already done.
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/
Pickleball Kingdom is opening a 14-court indoor facility in Port Richey, FL in early 2026. Discover what Jerry Campbell and Dr. Brian Dahmer are bringing to Pasco County’s pickleball community.
Gemma Ware, Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
