I love Arizona’s unique desert wildlife, and the Gila monster is a creature I especially like learning about.
They’re found throughout the Sonoran Desert, but can be hard to spot because they burrow underground to avoid the heat.
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Gila monster climbing rocks through the Arizona desert. (Evelyn D. Harrison/Shutterstock)
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Still, I’m about 95% sure I saw one while hiking last year. I was excited to spot those black and orange scales, but too scared to get close enough to check it out.
And that fear is justified—Gila monster bites are very painful. They’re not typically fatal, though. A man who died from a bite in 2024 was the first documented case of that happening in nearly a century.
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Have you seen a Gila monster before?
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This is the LOOKOUT Lowdown, where once a month we’re highlighting stories from LOOKOUT, a nonprofit newsroom that serves Arizona’s LGBTQ community.
Here are some of their latest stories:
🚨 ICE detained a woman while she was pregnant, and she ended up miscarrying at the Eloy Detention Center—after staff accused her of lying about the pregnancy.
🔭 At the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, the Diverse Universe Wall features a wide range of people who have helped us expand our understanding of space.
🚘 A LOOKOUT and Uncloseted Media investigation found that at least $7 million in revenue from Arizona’s specialty license plates has gone to groups supporting anti-LGBTQ causes.
Want more news like this?
Sign up for LOOKOUT’s newsletter (which includes The Weekly Kiki, a great events roundup!) and check out
membership options.
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Arizona, Activated is your regular roundup of ways to get involved in your community. Here’s one event to consider this week:
May Day Strong
When: Today!
Where: Locations across Arizona and the US
Description: “Together we will flex our collective power in a tremendous day of action—rallying, marching, and taking action to demand a country that puts workers over billionaires, with many refusing business as usual through No Work. No School. No Shopping.”
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Want more? Our friends at Collective Phoenix keep a running list of events related to civics, advocacy, and volunteerism. You can follow them on Instagram for updates.
Share yours: What’s something you’ve done so far this year to better your community? Let me know and I may share some responses!
Here’s an ongoing volunteer opportunity I recently learned about:
“The Joy Bus is a nonprofit organization established in 2011 with a mission to improve the lives of people living with cancer through good food and meaningful connection. Our program exists to relieve the daily struggles of homebound individuals by delivering fresh, healthy meals along with a friendly face. Through weekly personal support and nourishment, we let people know they are not alone and that their community cares deeply for them, especially during one of the most difficult times in their lives.”
Find open shifts here. If you can’t volunteer, you can donate or visit The Joy Bus Diner, a nonprofit restaurant in Phoenix that supports The Joy Bus.
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The light, known as the “Gila Beam,” is an homage to the famous Luxor Light in Las Vegas.
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Twenty-three May Day events were planned for Arizona, including 10 across metro Phoenix. Here’s where.
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From state laws and key supplies to the best places to find geo treasure, here’s everything you need to know about rock hunting in Arizona.
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