About
Heidi Hommel is a reporter for KTAR News in Phoenix. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in communication with a focus on documentary film studies from Northern Arizona University. Heidi’s career includes roles as a reporter for the Arizona Daily Sun, a multimedia journalist for NAZ Today, and a national producer for NBC News Radio. Before joining KTAR, she also worked as a real estate videographer.
Heidi covers stories on politics, the economy, energy, and the environment. In her free time, she enjoys yoga and paddle boarding.
Expertise
- Congress and Arizona Legislature
- Environment and energy
- Semiconductor industry
Experience
- KTAR News: Weekend anchor, evening anchor, and field reporter
- Real estate videographer
- National producer and copywriter, NBC News Radio
- Multimedia journalist, NAZ Today
- Reporter, Arizona Daily Sun
Education
- Bachelor’s in Journalism, Northern Arizona University (2017)
- Master’s in Communication, emphasis in Documentary Film Studies, Northern Arizona University (2019)
Certifications
- FAA Remote Pilot’s License
Social Media Profiles
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | Jul 15, 2026Arizona university researchers study how to increase shrinking groundwater supplies
The Arizona Tri-University Recharge Project used satellite-based methods to find where the most water is being lost.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | Jul 8, 2026How did last year’s Dragon Bravo Fire impact Grand Canyon water supply?
NAU researchers are studying how the Dragon Bravo Fire burn scar on the North Rim is changing the quality of the Grand Canyon drinking water supply.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | Jul 1, 2026Amid other struggles, Arizona farmers brace for more Colorado River water cuts
Arizona farmers have been dealing with Colorado River water cuts for years and are bracing for more.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | Jun 24, 2026Scottsdale braces for Colorado River water cuts by looking for new sources
The city of Scottsdale is looking to acquire new water sources as it braces for Colorado River water cuts.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | Jun 17, 2026Arizona agencies take step to buying desalinated ocean water from California
Arizona agencies have taken a key step that could eventually allow the state to buy desalinated ocean water from Southern California.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | Jun 10, 2026Arizona gets $20 million EPA grant to address PFAS, other contaminants in drinking water
Arizona recently received a $20 million grant from the EPA to address PFAS and other contaminants in drinking water.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | Jun 3, 2026How Phoenix leads by example when it comes to water conservation
The city of Phoenix is modeling the behavior it would like to see from its residents when it comes to water conservation.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | May 27, 2026Arizona judge sides with homebuilders in dispute over state groundwater supply requirements
Arizona homebuilders recently scored a legal win in their lawsuit over state groundwater requirements, paving the way for new development.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | May 20, 2026Arizona, lower basin states unveil Colorado River plan to save Lake Mead
Arizona, California and Nevada have struck a Colorado River deal to conserve 3.2 million acre-feet over two years and slow Lake Mead's decline.
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ARIZONA NEWS | May 14, 2026While overdose deaths fell nationally in 2025, Arizona’s deadly drug cases surged by 17%
CDC data shows Arizona overdose deaths rose 17% as U.S. deaths fell. Naloxone use surged as meth, fentanyl and adulterated drugs drove risk.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | May 13, 2026West Valley city drilling 3 new groundwater wells to meet growing demand
The West Valley city of Peoria is undertaking a $40 million project to drill three new groundwater wells to help meet increasing demand.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | May 6, 2026City of Phoenix braces for Colorado River cuts, plans to tap reserves
Phoenix says it's not running dry, but the city will need to tap backup water supplies to meet demand over the next 10 years amid looming Colorado River cuts.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | Apr 29, 2026Can SRP meet Valley’s water demand with reservoirs almost half empty?
SRP is confident that it has plenty of water to supply the Valley despite an unusually warm start to the year and low reservoir levels.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | Apr 22, 2026Volunteers clean up Phoenix’s Tres Rios Wetlands to benefit wildlife, community
Volunteers filled up an entire dumpster with trash following a cleanup operation at the Tres Rios Wetlands earlier this month.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 21, 2026Victims, advocates honored at Crime Victims’ Rights Week award ceremony
Arizona marked the 45th anniversary of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by honoring survivors of violent crime and those who advocate for them across the state.
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ARIZONA NEWS | Apr 15, 2026APS pays $7 million settlement, adjusts disconnection policy following customer’s death
APS was forced to pay a $7 million settlement and adjust its disconnection policy following the 2024 death of a customer.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | Apr 15, 2026New AI tool detects drought conditions at over 80% of Arizona’s rivers and streams
Over 80% of Arizona’s rivers and streams are experiencing drought conditions, and there’s no relief in sight, according to a new AI forecasting tool.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | Apr 8, 2026Could startup company bolster Arizona water supply with undersea desalination system?
OceanWell, a desalination startup company, hopes to gain Arizona customers as the state prepares for more cuts to its Colorado River water supply.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | Apr 1, 2026Arizona’s first wastewater-to-drinking-water plant reaches construction halfway mark
Arizona's first advanced water purification plant is about two years out from taking wastewater and making it drinkable.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | Mar 25, 2026Bipartisan bill aims to speed federal funding for Arizona water projects
Two Arizona communities say federal environmental reviews are adding years and higher costs to local water projects. A new bipartisan bill could cut the wait.
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ARIZONA ELECTION NEWS | Mar 23, 2026Arizona Independent Party governor hopeful submits 3 times the number of required signatures
Entrepreneur Hugh Lytle submitted more than 6,000 signatures in his bid to become Arizona’s next governor as a member of the Arizona Independent Party.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | Mar 18, 2026Arizona tribes seek $5B in federal funding to implement landmark water rights agreement
Sen. Mark Kelly wants Congress to approve $5 billion in funding to implement a landmark water rights deal for three Native American tribes.
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ARIZONA WATER WATCH NEWS | Mar 11, 2026City of Chandler secures $1 million to construct new drinking well
The city of Chandler has received $1 million in federal funds to construct a new drinking water well, officials announced Tuesday.
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ARIZONA HEALTH NEWS | Mar 5, 2026Arizona families left scrambling after Medicaid drops two autism therapy providers from coverage
Arizona families with children on the autism spectrum rallied at the State Capitol Thursday to protest the two largest providers of applied behavioral analysis therapy being dropped by the state’s Medicaid program known as AHCCCS.