"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing aloud for all to hear." Journalists in the Arizona Republic newsroom have taken Buddy the Elf's motto and made it their own in our special holiday episode of Valley 101.
Whether you're a grinch, scrooge or the more elf-tastic type, we have some holiday spirit to sprinkle on your ears as we ask the question, "What's your favorite holiday song?" 
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The best songs to get you in the holiday mood

Whether you're a longtime Arizona resident or a newcomer, chances are there's something you've always wondered about the Valley. From The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com comes Valley 101, a weekly podcast where our journalists find answers to your questions about metro Phoenix and beyond. From silly to serious, you tell us what to investigate. You can submit questions at valley101.azcentral.com or reach us on social media @azcpodcasts. Producers of the show are Amanda Luberto and Kaely Monahan.

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With summer around the corner for Arizona residents, the opportunity presents itself to spend more time at amusement parks and on thrilling rides. However, the theme park scene in the metro Phoenix is scarce — and there are only 10 operating roller coasters across the entire state. 
With a growing population in the Valley and potential space, why doesn't Arizona boast its own version of a Disneyland? 
This week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, pays a visit to both the past and the future to explain the different variables that factor into developing a theme park in the Valley, and how challenges inhibit Arizona's creation of a Disneyland-esque park all its own. 
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Why doesn't Phoenix have a Disneyland?

Happy Earth Day from Valley 101. Today we're resharing our episode on recycling in the Valley. You might have noticed that not every city recycles equally.
Different cities within the Valley have different rules. Why is that? Why is there not an across-the-board set of items you can and can't recycle?
In this episode of Valley 101, Amanda Luberto breaks down the reasons why where you live affects how and what you can recycle.
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What can I recycle in metro Phoenix? Depends on where you live.

When the Cine Capri theater opened in the mid-1960s, going to the movies was a glamorous event.
It was for families, but it was also for lavish decor and a deserved night out. Before the multiplex, one movie a night would be on display. 
It was a high time for films. And here in Phoenix, George M. Aurelius wanted to expand his theater business as that type of theater was going out of style.
They were ready to design a state-of-the-art facility that would blend in well in Uptown Phoenix and also adapt to the changing film distribution style happening at the time. 
This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we draw back the curtains on the history of the Cine Capri theater, how it adapted in the 2000s and its current status as home to the Phoenix Film Festival.
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Cine Capri was an iconic movie experience in Phoenix, so what happened?

While exciting, one should never look directly at the sun, even during a solar eclipse. Instead, make sure you pick up some approved solar eclipse glasses. In recent years, there has been a rise in counterfeit eclipse glasses being sold.
So how do you know if the ones you have are real?
In this episode of Valley 101, producer Kaely Monahan sits down with the Republic's Ultimate Arizona reporter, Tiffany Acosta to chat eclipse safety, viewing spots, and more.
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Are my solar eclipse glasses legit?

April Fools' Day embodies the spirit of pranks, so in honor of the holiday, Valley 101 explored how a prank orchestrated by Arizona State University students went viral in 2015. 
Four ASU students spearheaded the effort to prank the University of Arizona during the football season. It was the fall of 2015, and the Territorial Cup – the rivalry game between the two colleges – was approaching. Ben Kaufman, a senior at the time, was leading the charge and wanted to do something more creative than the usual rival banter. The students decided to take a page out of history and fool Wildcats over a land purchase. 
This week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, revisits the prank between the two rival colleges that went viral and how its elaborate scheme fooled students. 
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The best songs to get you in the holiday mood

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