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‘Best of the West’ show celebrates businesses PAGE
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INSIDE
This Week
PAGE
October 15, 2020
Peoria’s Hometown Newspaper
DV on the rise during pandemic BY TOM SCANLON
Peoria Times Managing Editor
NEWS..............8 Pence visits Peoria as election season heats up
FEATURES..... 14 Arizona Broadway Theatre’s season begins
OPINION.................10 BUSINESS...............12 SPORTS...................13 FEATURES...............14 RELIGION................17 CLASSIFIEDS...........20
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As it has been for the last three decades, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. While there is an increased attention on physical and psychological harm done by partners or family members, that does not mean it is under control. Indeed, the closures and stay-home measures may be contributing to an increase in domestic violence. According to Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel, “There has been a dramatic increase in submittals of domestic violence-related homicides and attempted homicides.” From January through June, MCAO re-
With domestic violence rising, police provide resources to victims. (Image courtesy Peoria Police Department)
ceived 32 reports from local law enforcement agencies for domestic violence-related homicides or attempted homicide. That was twice the number compared to the same time period in 2019. “This spike is alarming,” Adel said. “The impact that this pandemic has had on victims of domestic violence is real.” Peoria Mayor Cathy Carlat strongly agreed. “This pandemic has amplified the horrors of domestic violence,” Carlat said. “Stressors such as isolation, changes to employment, finances and uncertainty about the future have intensified the use of violence and limited the ability of victims to keep themselves safe. In recognition of DomesSEE DOMESTIC PAGE 3
CARES funds for residents, businesses BY BRIAN CANO SR.
Peoria Times Staff Writer
City grants funneled more than $1 million to businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the Oct. 6 Peoria City Council meeting, Deputy City Managers Katie Gregory and Erik Strunk outlined the city’s wide-ranging response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which included the Small Business Readiness Program. Gregory said the Arizona Community Foundation began taking applications Aug. 17 on behalf of the city for the Ar-
izona COVID-19 Community Response Fund. “With all the uncertainty that came with COVID-19, it put a lot of questions out there for many of our small businesses in the community,” Gregory said. “So having the ability to provide a grant program and that lifeline, in some cases, is really important.” Gregory said the emergency loan program, which was set up to help small businesses pay operating expenses, reached capacity limits in under three weeks. According to Gregory, the city awarded approximately $1.2 million in grant fund-
ing to 77 small businesses that supported over 530 jobs. She said the much-needed territorial distribution was systematically spread evenly across all areas of the city. “Those who run dance studios, pilates, fitness centers, retail, personal services, professional services, even some homebased businesses as well as not for profit,” Gregory said. “We were able to serve 24 of our restaurants in the city with some grants.” The city is also using CARES Act funds for rental and utility assistance, according SEE CARES PAGE 4
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