Mold Remediation in Gilbert, AZ

As a brand-new season of American Idol gets underway, one of last season’s standout contestants, McKenna Faith Breinholt, sat down with ABC15's Kaley O'Kelley to talk about the life-changing journey of rediscovering and finding a voice she never knew she had.

GILBERT, AZ — As a brand-new season of American Idol gets underway, one of last season’s standout contestants, McKenna Faith Breinholt, sat down with ABC15's Kaley O'Kelley to talk about the life-changing journey of rediscovering and finding a voice she never knew she had.

When McKenna Faith Breinholt first stepped onto the American Idol stage, she was already a hometown favorite. Her soulful voice captivated Idol fans.

But it was her story of adoption that made her journey unforgettable from the start.

As she waited for the "golden ticket" to Hollywood, Idol producers and her adoptive parents orchestrated a surprise— to bring her birth family into the audition room for the first time.

“It felt like a reunion... because it felt like I’d known them my whole life. I just froze. It was overwhelming in the most beautiful way," Breinholt recalled during her interview with O'Kelley.

McKenna’s birth mother, Amy Ross Lopez, was a singer from Bisbee, Arizona. She was diagnosed with a terminal form of lupus.

Knowing she wouldn’t be around to raise her baby, Lopez made the heartbreaking decision to place McKenna up for adoption.

"She's put me in a place where, I have this beautiful family with these amazing parents who supported me and gotten me to where I need to go, and she's just been my guardian angel, you know, in the background, making it happen, but I felt her like a lot throughout my life," Breinholt explained.

As McKenna performed week after week on one of the world’s biggest stages, she tells ABC15 it was a deep spiritual connection that carried her as millions of Idol fans voted to secure her place in the top 7.

But then the spotlight disappeared.

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"I think you're just exposed to so much excitement and so much fame, and it's go, go, go. So, when the show's over, you kind of just are like, 'What is my purpose? What am I supposed to be doing?' Because that Spotlight's not on you as strong as it was before," Breinholt said.

Then, she was faced with an even greater challenge. A polyp on her vocal cords needed surgery, forcing McKenna into months of painful silence.

For the first time ever, she couldn’t sing, but she says she found her true purpose: connecting with people through her songs.

"I couldn't talk or sing or anything, and just had to kind of refigure out my purpose, and, like, realize that my purpose is not only just music, and also helped me dig into my creative side. So, I started writing a ton," Breinholt added.

Now, as American Idol kicks off Season 23, McKenna is sharing some insight into the show.

"American Idol was really hard! Everyone's so amazing, but it feels like you're in boot camp, like military boot camp. It's pretty crazy, but it's a beautiful experience," Breinholt said.

She also has this message for the contestants just beginning their own Idol journey.

“It’s harder than anyone realizes. You’re exhausted, emotional. It pushes you to your limit. But if you can make it through, it will change your life forever. It's changed my life. American Idol didn't just help my career, it just helped everything," said Breinholt.

McKenna is now performing across the globe and working on her debut album.

She said fans can keep updated on her career by following her on Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok.

You can watch the new season of American Idol on Sunday nights at 7 p.m. on ABC15.

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Tri Pointe Homes, a recognized leader serving the Phoenix market for over 30 years under the name Maracay, has acquired approximately 40 acres of land in Gilbert, Arizona, for $18.2 million. Located at the southwest corner of Pecos and Greenfield Roads, Tri Pointe intends to develop the land into a new residential community named Lusitano that includes 76 preliminary platted homesites, with sales anticipated to begin in 2027.

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“Gilbert is one of the most exciting and connected locations in the East Valley, and with Tri Pointe’s latest land acquisition at Lusitano, we’re proving our commitment to the momentum of this extraordinary city,” said James Attwood, Tri Pointe Homes Arizona Division President. “In just the past year, Gilbert has earned a windfall of national accolades including the number one mid-sized city for economic growth, the third safest and most affordable city in America, and a roster of other outstanding achievements^[1]. That’s a legacy Tri Pointe Homes is proud to support with Lusitano. As Gilbert continues to raise the bar nationwide, we are committed to delivering homes that embody the city’s spirit of excellence.”

Tri Pointe intends to self-develop the residential community with plans that include new homes, trails, and a small pocket park. Lusitano’s location offers proximity to key destinations, including employment centers in the Price Road Corridor and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, as well as major retail and entertainment hubs such as SanTan Village, Topgolf Gilbert, AZ ICE, and Andretti Indoor Karting & Games. The community is directly across from District Discovery Park, a premier 48-acre recreational destination that features soccer fields, basketball courts, jogging trails, a playground, and lake. Residents can also enjoy proximity to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, Loop 202, and cultural and sports attractions, including the Higley Center for the Performing Arts, Gilbert Regional Park, and Big League Dreams Sports Park.

Sales for Lusitano are anticipated to begin in 2027, with additional details about home designs and amenities to be released as the project progresses.

For more information about Tri Pointe Homes and its communities throughout Arizona, visit https://www.tripointehomes.com/find-your-home/az/phoenix-metro/.

What is the best internet provider in Gilbert?

Cox is CNET's top pick of the best internet provider in Gilbert. It stands out because it offers the fastest speeds and widest coverage. Cox also includes equipment costs in the monthly fee and comes with competitive introductory prices that provide solid value, though prices typically rise after two years. It also offers the fastest speeds in the area, reaching up to 2,000Mbps.

If you want the cheapest internet in the area, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is the most affordable option, starting at $50 per month. You get wireless internet with speeds up to 245Mbps and a price-lock guarantee, which means your prices won't spike after a year or two of service. If you bundle it with a cellular plan, you might be able to bring it down to as low as $35. Cox also has a $30 plan offering up to 100Mbps speeds, but you'll need to quality for that. If you want affordable fiber internet in Gibert, you can find plans starting at $50 per month.

Best internet in Gilbert, Arizona

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Gilbert

The best internet deals and the top promotions in Gilbert depend on what discounts are available during a given period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.

Gilbert internet providers, such as Verizon, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including Cox, Quantum Fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet, run the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Gilbert

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

It doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds, and also take into account real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

Internet providers in Gilbert FAQs

GILBERT, AZ (AZFamily) — Book by book, Laura Sharp is stacking shelves with joy in her new bookstore.

“When you walk into a bookstore, it smells like books,” Sharp said. “And it feels like peace. And everyone is welcome.”

Sharp just opened Literally, A Bookshop in Gilbert. After years of operating as a pop-up, selling books at farmers markets and inside other local businesses, Sharp has her very own space.

“We have been working towards this for almost three years at this point: to get a physical location of a bookstore in Gilbert,” she recently told Arizona’s Family. “So I’m really excited to be sitting in these four walls. It feels unreal.”

The 800-square-foot store is packed with mostly kids’ books: chapter books, graphic novels, picture books, etc. There are also shelves for adults. She tells Arizona’s Family that all the titles were carefully chosen to spark curiosity over judgment.

“We are always looking for books that are creating connection between people,” Sharp said. “I want everybody who walks in to the store to be able to see themselves on the shelves.”

Laura’s store is part of a bigger national trend. According to the American Booksellers Association, in 2023, more than 291 bookstores opened up across the country. While 95 closed, 192 others were in the works. The ABA also says it saw an 11% increase in membership that year.

About 8 miles from Sharp’s store is Wijaya House in Tempe. It was just one of the independent bookstores that opened in 2023. It houses books, flowers, coffee and, most importantly, community.

“There is something about just finding a spot where you feel you just feel comfortable in,” said owner Melati Parker.

Wijaya House has a highly curated collection of books for sale, a book club, flower-arranging classes and other community events. In 2025, it’s clear readers want to do more than just shop. Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom meetings and virtual hangouts are in high demand, while real face time and third spaces are in high demand.

“I used to always call it, when you see the whites of someone’s eyes the conversation changes,” Parker said. “And you are kinder, I feel, when you’re talking to people.”

Arizona’s Family asked Sharp and Parker about their biggest challenges as small business owners. They say simply getting the word out and letting people know they are there is huge.

“We are always facing the threat of big box stores and Amazon and people who can use books as a loss leader,” Sharp said. “That can make it really hard for us to sell books at the publishers marked price, which is what we have to do to become financially viable.”

Here is more information about where to find Literally, A Bookshop and Wijaya House. This is also a website where you can find independent bookstores near you and even shop online.

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