Colton Krolak

Phoenix

Reporter at KTAR-FM (Phoenix, AZ)

News Reporter for KTAR 92.3FM (@KTAR923) ASU Cronkite Alumni (@Cronkite_ASU)

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Articles

AI-generated victim impact statement used in Chandler case

6 days ago | ktar.com | Colton Krolak

CHANDLER, Ariz. (AP) — There were dozens of statements submitted to the court by family and friends of Christopher Pelkey when it came time to sentence the man convicted of shooting him during a road rage incident. They provided glimpses of Pelkey’s humor, his character and his military service. But there was nothing quite like hearing from the victim himself — in this case, an AI-generated version. What’s the significance of AI-generated victim impact statement?
Project Connect homelessness services event held in Tempe

2 weeks ago | ktar.com | Colton Krolak

PHOENIX — Dozens of community organizations came together at a Tempe church on Tuesday to offer a wide range of services to people experiencing homelessness. It was Tempe’s fourth year hosting Project Connect, a one-day event where attendees can address basic needs like getting a hot meal and a shower and receive more complex support like housing assistance and access to health care.
Arizona expert explains why saying thanks to AI is costly

2 weeks ago | ktar.com | Colton Krolak

PHOENIX – When it comes to artificial intelligence, being polite can be expensive, according to an Arizona computer science expert. Every response generated by a large language model like ChatGPT uses significant resources to power the complex computations required to complete a task, according to Yezhou “YZ” Yang, an associate professor at Arizona State University’s School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence.
St. Mary's Food Bank hands out 2K turkeys, hams for Easter

4 weeks ago | ktar.com | Colton Krolak |Shira Tanzer

PHOENIX — St. Mary’s Food Bank surprised hundreds of Arizona families in need with full Easter turkeys or hams on Wednesday. “Our hope today is that we’re able to provide an Easter meal for folks who are feeling a little stressed — and a great opportunity to bring their families and friends together for an awesome meal,” said Milt Liu, president and CEO of the Valley nonprofit. It was the first time St. Mary’s handed out turkeys and hams for Easter.
Affordable housing solutions in Phoenix leaders are using

4 weeks ago | ktar.com | Serena O'Sullivan |Colton Krolak |Balin Overstolz McNair |Payne Moses

PHOENIX — Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said there are multiple strategies city leaders are taking to provide a wide variety of affordable housing options to residents. “It really is a priority to make sure folks can afford a good place to call home,” Gallego said during KTAR News 92.3 FM‘s Highlight on Housing special show on Wednesday.
Mobile home fire in Phoenix sends woman to hospital

4 weeks ago | ktar.com | Kevin Stone |Colton Krolak

PHOENIX – A woman was hospitalized in serious condition after a mobile home fire in north Phoenix on Tuesday night, authorities said. Crews responded to the scene near 26th Street and Beardsley Road just after 8:30 p.m., according to the Phoenix Fire Department. What happened at scene of Phoenix mobile home fire? They encountered a large mobile home engulfed in smoke and flames. A woman who escaped from the home before crews arrived suffered smoke inhalation and burns.
Is now a good time to buy?

4 weeks ago | ktar.com | Colton Krolak |Balin Overstolz McNair |Payne Moses

This is the third installment in a three-part series on the state of the Arizona housing market. Read part one here and part two here. PHOENIX — Many Arizonans put the American dream of homeownership on hold as prices and mortgage rates skyrocketed in recent years. Is now a good time to buy a home? Experts say anyone thinking about taking the plunge need to take multiple factors into consideration.
Cactus League drew nearly 1.7 million fans in 2025

1 month ago | ktar.com | Colton Krolak

PEORIA — The Cactus League drew nearly 1.7 million fans across 224 spring training games in the Valley in 2025, officials announced Wednesday. Despite several challenges, attendance grew by more than 65,000 fans compared to 2024, marking the fourth straight year of growth. “Spring training is resilient.
Evacuation orders issued for eastern Arizona community

1 month ago | ktar.com | Colton Krolak |Arizona Central

PHOENIX – Authorities issued evacuation orders on Tuesday for an eastern Arizona mountain community due to a fire threat. The fire is located near Alpine, about 7 miles west of the Arizona-New Mexico border in Apache County. Alpine Village East south of US 180 and east of US 191 was designated as an evacuation zone around 12:30 p.m., according to Apache County Emergency Management and Preparedness. Alpine is a small community on the eastern end of the White Mountains, about 25 miles south of Eagar.
What's the outlook from officials?

1 month ago | ktar.com | Heidi Hommel |Colton Krolak

PHOENIX — State leaders are poised for an early start to the Arizona fire season this year. Fire Officer John Truett with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management said carryover vegetation from a dry fall has dried out even more due to lack of rain during the winter and spring. “We’re coming off of several years of drought, we’re experiencing a very extreme dryness out in our vegetation this year,” Truett said during a Tuesday news conference.