Doing The Lord’s Work In Paradise Valley

A former Mayor rightfully called Paradise Valley, Arizona “the best small town in America.”  Its lifestyle.  Its resorts.  Its low density.  Its architectural diversity.  It all contributes to that appropriate observation. But there are two other reasons.  History and places of worship.  The former is more understood.  The town was the home of American giants like Goldwater, O’Connor and Rehnquist. It has also done an admirable job of … Read More

Axon’s Money Finds Its Way to Whitehead…By Another Route

By Ronald Sampson The Check That Raised Questions A recent Scottsdale Progress campaign finance review of 2026 council candidates contained a detail worth examining closely. Council candidate Solange Whitehead’s first-quarter donor list is topped by a $5,000 contribution from Mike Wagers, identified as Chief Customer Officer of Axon Enterprise. Five thousand dollars. Nearly 20% of her total first-quarter haul. From a senior … Read More

Guest Editorial: Trust Solange to Do What’s Best for Scottsdale

By Betty Janik Sadly, elections have become filled with untruths. Such is the case regarding Axon and the Scottsdale City Council race. Recent attacks have spread further fabrications and questioned Councilwoman Solange Whitehead’s honesty. Here are the facts: ·       When Axon World Headquarters was approved by a previous Council, Solange voted yes – after the residential component was lowered from 2,300 … Read More

DCCC Makes an Official Endorsement in Democratic Primary in Arizona’s 1st District

Via DCCC.org Today, the DCCC announced eight new top-tier candidates added to its highly competitive ‘Red to Blue’ program for the 2026 cycle. This is the first expansion of the group since the announcement of the first round of ‘Red to Blue’ candidates in February. This latest group of candidates will receive strategic guidance, staff resources, training, and fundraising support to ensure they are … Read More

ASU receives $10M gift to endow football coach position

Gift from Brian and Kelly Swette is the largest endowed leadership position at ASU Via news.asu.edu Brian Swette loves college sports and what they mean to a university. “Success in sports is important for the university,” said Swette, who graduated from Arizona State University in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. “It enhances the college experience. It brings a … Read More

Guest Editorial: Negotiating Scottsdale’s Prosperity: A Tale of Two Projects

By Councilwoman Solange Whitehead On the surface, Avala Scottsdale (Modus Companies) and Old Town’s AC Marriott Hotel (PEG) don’t appear related. But both followed a similar path—and show what happens when a Council negotiates hard and delivers prosperity for all in Scottsdale. Both projects are in highly desirable locations—though in Scottsdale, that’s every site. Avala, a single-story, net-zero energy rental … Read More

Paradise Valley’s New Budget Is Bigger. Here’s What You Should Know.

Paradise Valley’s Town Council has approved a tentative $69 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and the headline number tells only part of the story. The vote was 5-2, with council members Scott Moore and Anna Thomasson dissenting, and the final budget won’t be adopted until May 14. It’s a Significant Jump The proposed budget is 12.5% higher than … Read More