Home Care In Chandler, AZ

In a move that expands Pollack Tempe Cinemas’ presence in the Valley’s film community, Michael Pollack is hosting the opening night and weekend of the Chandler International Film Festival.

The festival runs from Friday, Jan. 23, to Sunday, Feb. 1, at a handful of East Valley theaters and features a diverse lineup of films from around the world, along with Q&As, networking events, and red carpet moments.

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Pollack, owner of Pollack Tempe Cinemas, said the Chandler Film Festival’s inclusivity was a draw, not money. Local film festivals strive for exposure, not profits.

“It was strictly about offering filmmakers something that would allow them to compete if they’re fortunate enough to go to a national or international market,” Pollack said.

“A lot of these filmmakers don’t have the opportunity to go to Cannes or Sundance. If they win a few festivals around the country, it sometimes gives them a better way to compete and to get in and show their winners.”

The 10th annual Chandler International Film Festival features more than 150 films at locations including Pollack, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, and Regal Cinemas Gilbert, with the awards ceremony at Chandler Center for the Arts on Feb 1.

“The 10th anniversary of the Chandler International Film Festival brings even more for filmmakers and audiences to experience by expanding to multiple locations around the Valley,” said Mitesh Patel, CIFF president and founder of the festival.

“By expanding to multiple theaters, more people and more films will be able to be included in the festival.”

Aside from the film screenings, the public can have morning coffee chats with filmmakers and actors, attend nightly after?parties in Downtown Chandler, participate in workshops led by industry professionals such as directors and producers, and cap off the weekend with an awards ceremony.

Pollack Tempe Cinemas’ festival highlights include:

The nonprofit Chandler International Film Festival lineup will span genres from romance to horror to historical fiction, featuring directors from around the world.

The collaboration aligns closely with Pollack Tempe Cinemas’ mission to keep film accessible and community-driven. The theater is the only independent cinema in Arizona.

“Our goal has always been to make filmgoing affordable and enjoyable for everyone,” Pollack said.

“Partnering with the Chandler Film Festival gives us another way to do that — by opening our doors to stories and filmmakers that reflect our community’s diversity. It’s not about exclusivity; it’s about inclusion. We want people to feel that Pollack Tempe is a place where anyone can experience great cinema, whether it’s a Hollywood hit or an indie gem from around the world.”

Pollack said he hopes the partnership will inspire others, such as local filmmakers who see their work on the big screen for the first time, or audience members to discover a film that moves them in a new way.

“It’s about connection. We want to help build a community where film can thrive in Arizona,” Pollack said. “I find movies inspirational and, I should say, entertaining. To me, there is still no better experience than seeing a movie on the big screen.”

Chandler International Film Festival

The Chandler International Film Festival runs from Friday, Jan. 23, to Sunday, Feb. 1, at venues such as the Pollack Tempe Cinemas, Chandler-Gilbert Community College and Regal Cinemas, Gilbert. Full festival passes start at $265 for General Admission and $550 for VIP. For more information, visit chandlerfilmfestival.com, check the Facebook page @ChandlerFilmFest, or the Instagram page @ChandlerFilmFestival.

For information about Pollack Tempe Cinemas, visit pollacktempecinemas.com and chandlerfilmfestival.com.

PHOENIX — The woman at the center of a high-profile Chandler animal cruelty case was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison on Thursday, authorities said.

April McLaughlin, who also goes by Sydney McKinley, was sentenced to 3.5 years for fraud involving her mother and two years related to animal cruelty, with the terms to be served concurrently.

She also received seven years of probation, was ordered to pay restitution to her victims and was banned from owning animals, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

The fraud charge stems from McLaughlin’s reported theft of more than $160,000 from her elderly mother’s bank account and charging of more than $20,000 to her mother’s credit card.

McLaughlin previously pleaded guilty to four counts after facing dozens of charges.

She is getting credit for the two years she already served while awaiting trial, ABC15 reported.

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said prosecutors asked for a longer prison term, but McLaughlin’s status as a first-time felony offender played a role in the eventual sentence.

“While some counts were dismissed as part of the plea agreement, under Arizona law, simply having more charges does not necessarily mean more prison time for a first-time felony offender like McLaughlin,” Mitchell said in a statement.

Chandler woman’s animal cruelty case dates back to 2023

Fifty-five dogs were seized from McLaughlin’s home near Cooper and Pecos roads in September 2023.

McLaughlin was taking care of many of the animals as part of her nonprofit rescue organization for dogs with disabilities, the Special Needs Animal Welfare League.

Some of the dogs taken from her home were in such poor condition that they had to be euthanized. The Arizona Humane Society rehomed the surviving dogs with former owners, rescue partners or by adoption.

In the wake of McLaughlin’s arrest, Chandler lawmakers updated the city’s animal cruelty laws.

CHANDLER, AZ (AZFamily) — The Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) Governing Board has approved the majority of the district’s “Staffing for Enrollment” proposal that could lead to more than 100 job cuts.

The plan was presented to the board on Wednesday. The district said that, due to a 3% decline in enrollment, it may eliminate 2.2% of its staff to save $12 million. Right now, CUSD has about 5,430 staff members.

Chandler Unified School District Superintendent Franklin R. Narducci said during Wednesday’s meeting that there’s been a steady drop in students since 2023, citing lower birth rates, fewer people able to afford homes in the Chandler area and competition with charter schools.

CUSD financial officer Lana Berry said she expects the district will lose more than 1,100 students this upcoming school year.

Ultimately, the board approved portions of the proposal that include administrative cuts, reductions to various department budgets, a shift in some funding sources and adjustments to roles such as deans, coaches and other specialist roles. Previously established guidelines would also be used to determine staffing needs for schools based on enrollment.

The approved parts of the plan would result in a $10 million reduction.

Regarding other portions of the plan, board members requested more information and alternative suggestions on possible cuts to tech positions in elementary schools and media specialist roles in elementary and junior high schools. The district is still looking to achieve another $2 million in reductions.

A big concern among teachers is whether this plan stretches the staff too thin.

“I feel like what they’re going to be asked to do is too much for a single person to do because they’re going to be doing essentially the work of three people in the time of one. And I’m very concerned about the sustainability of that,” said one teacher. “I also worry that some families will say, I want a librarian at my school, and they’ll leave and go to charter schools.”

CUSD, which is the second-largest district in Arizona, would still ensure schools maintain a 24:1 staffing ratio, the lowest in the East Valley, and continue to offer competitive salaries and benefits to retain top talent, the district said.

“This proposal is about preserving the excellence our community expects,” said a district spokesperson in a prepared statement before the meeting. “By adjusting our staffing to match our current student population, we ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently while preserving position opportunities for every current CUSD employee.”

The Chandler Education Association, a union representing some educators in the East Valley district, issued an emailed statement opposing the plan before Wednesday’s meeting.

“Arizona public school districts are in an unfortunate and critical position due to the state legislature’s historical underfunding of public education, coupled with nearly $3 billion in taxpayer-funded spending on Arizona’s fraud-ridden ESA voucher program. Our state’s neglect of public education is leading to unnecessary enrollment declines — forcing districts to make dire decisions like cutting beloved staff and closing community schools,” said Laurel Miller, a 26-year teacher who serves as the union’s president.

Chandler Unified noted, however, that current staff would have access to job opportunities in the upcoming year.

An online copy of the presentation is available for the public.

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The East Valley district is planning for a 3% loss in student enrollment.

CHANDLER, Ariz. — One of Arizona's largest school districts is planning to make "enrollment-based staffing reductions" in order to cut $12 million in spending from its budget.

On Jan. 14, the Chandler Unified School District is scheduled to meet and review recommendations to potentially cut staffing by about 2.2% to account for a projected 3% drop in student enrollment in the next school year.

With about 5,430 total employees across the district, about 120 positions would be affected by the staffing adjustment.

The Chandler Education Association has expressed opposition to the proposal, claiming the proposed cuts would have a devastating impact on student services.

If approved, Chandler Unified would be one of several school districts throughout the Valley that has eliminated positions or considered closing campuses in recent years due to declining enrollment. Arizona funds its schools based on a district's average daily membership, so a substantial loss in enrollment means a loss in funding.

With the district experiencing typical staff turnover each year, CUSD anticipates there being openings for the affected staff. A district spokesperson emphasized that current CUSD staff will have access to job opportunities in the 2026-2027 school year.

"By adjusting our staffing to match our current student population, we ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently while preserving position opportunities for every current CUSD employee," the district spokesperson wrote in a statement.

A study session on the "budget and rightsizing" recommendations will be held with the CUSD school board at 4:30 p.m. before the board has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 14.

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Drug testing in Chandler, AZ has shifted from a simple checkbox in hiring to a nuanced part of risk management, safety planning, and organizational culture. Workplace screenings once revolved around a narrow set of substances and rigid procedures. Today, expectations from employers, workers, and regulators have evolved, with greater attention on transparency, fairness, and the practical realities of modern work environments. RPT Labs operates within this landscape, focusing on how testing programs can support both compliance and everyday workplace operations.

Local employers across Chandler and the broader East Valley now face a more complex environment. Expanding remote work, evolving state laws, and changing social attitudes have reshaped how organizations view drug tests. Many companies still rely on pre-employment screening as a core safeguard, particularly in safety-sensitive roles, transportation, healthcare, and manufacturing. At the same time, programs increasingly incorporate random testing, post-accident testing, and reasonable suspicion protocols, especially where federal regulations or industry standards require documented procedures. RPT Labs supports these needs through structured screening programs that emphasize clear processes and consistent handling of results.

Testing technology and methodology have also moved beyond a one-size-fits-all model. Urine drug testing remains a mainstay in Chandler because of broad panel options and established detection windows. Hair testing plays a growing role in scenarios where a longer lookback period is necessary, such as ongoing compliance or high-risk positions. Saliva testing offers shorter detection windows with faster collection in certain settings, including roadside or on-site scenarios. RPT Labs coordinates these options so panels can be tailored to specific policies, regulatory frameworks, and risk profiles rather than relying solely on default configurations.

Regulatory expectations exert steady pressure on program design. Federal requirements for Department of Transportation (DOT) testing, for example, demand detailed adherence to chain-of-custody, laboratory confirmation, and medical review officer (MRO) procedures. Arizona state law and local Chandler policies intersect with those federal standards, especially around consent, disclosure, and record retention. RPT Labs structures screening and reporting in line with these frameworks, aiming to keep documentation defensible if test outcomes become part of legal or administrative proceedings.

Privacy has emerged as a defining concern for many workers and applicants. Drug tests in Chandler, AZ inherently involve sensitive information about health, medication use, and personal history. As a result, collection environments and reporting practices have become more guarded. RPT Labs emphasizes discreet check-in procedures, secure data handling, and limited access to results, with disclosures confined to authorized organizational contacts or agencies. Careful handling reinforces trust in programs that, by nature, examine highly personal information.

Education around testing has become another focus. Many applicants in Chandler encounter screening as a routine part of job searches, but may not understand panel composition, detection windows, or the difference between screening and confirmation. Employers face similar questions when updating policies or expanding programs. RPT Labs provides guidance on frequently asked topics such as how long specific substances remain detectable, how medical prescriptions are handled by MRO review, and what classifications such as negative, positive, and inconclusive actually mean. Clear explanations reduce confusion and lower the risk of misinterpretation.

Workplace culture also shapes expectations. In many organizations, drug testing is no longer viewed solely through a disciplinary lens. Safety programs, employee assistance initiatives, and wellness efforts intersect with screening practices. Some employers pair testing with access to support resources, counseling, or referral pathways, especially when addiction or substance misuse intersects with job performance and personal well-being. Within this context, RPT Labs’ role extends beyond sample collection and lab work, touching policy discussions and program planning conversations.

Chandler’s growth as a regional employment hub contributes to the demand for structured and consistent testing practices. Semiconductor facilities, logistics centers, call hubs, healthcare providers, construction firms, and public agencies all place different pressures on scheduling, turnaround time, and on-site logistics. RPT Labs works to balance those needs with standardized processes that treat every specimen with the same chain-of-custody rigor, regardless of industry. Faster, electronic result delivery and clear reporting formats help hiring managers and safety officers act on information without unnecessary delay.

Looking ahead, workplace screenings in Chandler appear poised to remain a standard feature of employment in many sectors, but with greater nuance. Panels may adapt as substance trends shift, while courts and legislatures continue to refine rules governing testing in relation to disability, privacy, and state-level law changes. Organizations are likely to keep seeking partners capable of interpreting these developments and aligning operational details with new expectations. RPT Labs, through day-to-day work in Chandler and the surrounding region, reflects how modern drug testing programs can evolve from simple gatekeeping tools into structured, transparent systems that support both safety and fairness in the workplace.

About RPT Labs: RPT Labs is a trusted source for comprehensive Drug and DNA testing solutions. Based in Massachusetts, the company is proud to serve clients across the state and beyond with a steadfast commitment to excellence. RPT Labs embodies the values of customer service, integrity, knowledge, and a passion for the industry, ensuring that visitors receive the highest quality testing services tailored to their needs.

For more information about RPT Labs, contact the company here:

RPT LabsRutvik [email protected] Park Ave, Arlington, MA 02474

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