Chris Picciuolo

News reporter

(480) 274-7252 - Chris.Picciuolo@SRPMIC-nsn.gov
Chris Picciuolo is from Aurora, Illinois. Previously, he worked as a photojournalist for the Ak-Chin O'odham Runner Newspaper in Ak-Chin, Arizona, and as news editor and production specialist at NCTV17 in Naperville, Illinois.

SRPMIC, Valley Municipalities Take Action on Unlawful Sober Living Homes

For the past few years, many sober living homes across the Valley that were meant to provide behavioral healthcare services for people experiencing problems with substance abuse have been operating illegally. The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS, Arizona’s Medicaid insurance program) has determined that these sober living homes are often managed by unlicensed […]

March 11, 2024

SRPMIC Day Celebrated at Spring Training Home Opener

There’s nothing quite like the sound of the crack of the bat echoing around the ballpark in the spring. Baseball is officially back at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. On February 23, the Colorado Rockies hosted the 14th Spring Training Opening Day with the Colorado Rockies vs. […]

March 7, 2024

“Make a Date to Vote” Valentine’s Day Event

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community’s Office of Legislative Affairs and the Get Out the Vote Ad-Hoc Committee brought the love for voting to the Round House Café on February 14 for the Make a Date to Vote on Valentine’s Day outreach event. Throughout the morning and afternoon, staff and committee members handed out swag […]

February 22, 2024

2023 Service Award Program Luncheon

A total of 303 employees were recognized on February 2 for their years of service to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The employees were honored at the 2023 Service Award Luncheon at Talking Stick Resort, which was attended by the honored employees, their supervisors and Community leadership. The 2023 Service Award Recognition Program was […]

February 22, 2024

Gilbert Road Bridge Construction Update

Updated as of February 9 Work continues on the Gilbert Road Bridge at an accelerated schedule with a goal of reopening travel over the Salt River, from Thomas Road north of Loop 202 to State Route 87 this summer. Following last year’s historic rainfall and water releases by the Salt River Project (SRP), which heavily […]

February 21, 2024

Mesa Jackrabbits Defeat Westwood Warriors 55-19

After sitting out a few games before becoming eligible to play on the varsity basketball team after transferring to Mesa High School, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community member Israel “Izzy” Loring is happy to be suiting up as a Jackrabbit. O’odham Action News followed Loring as the Jackrabbits played at Westwood High School vs. the […]

February 20, 2024

Ivan Makil Speaks at American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Arizona Luncheon

A sold-out audience of American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Arizona (AICCAZ) chamber and board members gathered at the Courtyard by Marriott Scottsdale Salt River on January 26 to hear former Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community President Ivan Makil speak at the January Networking Luncheon. Since it was established in 1995, the AICCAZ has been […]

February 20, 2024

Arena Poker Room Now Open at Talking Stick Resort

An exciting milestone is being celebrated at the Talking Stick Resort, an enterprise of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The exclusive pre-opening party for the brand-new Arena Poker Room was held on February 7 for SRPMIC Council members, Gaming Board directors and media. After a few years of planning, the room is now fully […]

February 14, 2024

Big Wheel Day at the Early Childhood Education Center

Rolling up to the Early Childhood Education Center, a ladder from one of the Salt River Fire Department fire engines stood tall in the sky. Then came the honks, beeps and engine roars from the vehicles at Big Wheel Day on January 26, which brought joy to the many enrolled ECEC children, their families and […]

23 of 68

Jacob Butler Becomes Chair of Native Seeds/SEARCH

After serving on the board of Native Seeds/SEARCH since 2017, Community Garden Coordinator Jacob Butler will now serve as chair of the board for the nonprofit seed-conservation organization based in Tucson. Butler has a big presence in the Community, having served as Community garden coordinator for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community for 16 years. […]

Taté Walker Talks ‘The Trickster Riots’ and Collaborating With Family

Salt River Schools Communications and Public Affairs Director Taté Walker (Lakota citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota) has released a new poetry collection called “The Trickster Riots” with illustrations by their 14-year-old child, painter and graphic artist Ohíya Walker (Lakota citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe/Red Lake Ojibwe/Mvskoke Creek). For […]

Indigenous Chef Pyet DeSpain Wins ‘Next Level Chef’

Indigenous chef Pyet DeSpain (Prairie Band of Potawatomi/Mexican) recently made her mark on the culinary world by winning Fox’s latest cooking show competition, “Next Level Chef.” In the show, 15 contestants from around the country went all in with their cooking skills on three levels of kitchens, each level with its own degree of difficulty, […]

River People Health Center Opens to Community Members

The River People Health Center (RPHC) is now fully open to Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members, all other tribal enrollees and their family members under the age of 18. All services are now open, including primary care (family practice, pediatrics and internal medicine) as well as dental, optometry, podiatry and physical therapy. “The only […]

Latest Issue