By Ronald Sampson In May 2023, Tempe voters had a decision to make. On the table was a privately funded, $2.1 billion entertainment district built on 46 acres of city-owned land near Rio Salado Parkway and Priest Drive. The plan included a 16,000-seat NHL arena, two hotels, a 3,500-person theater, restaurants, retail, and residential units. The project’s rallying cry said … Read More
The Yankees in the Desert: A Perfect Ending, and a Worried Goodbye
It was a moment worth savoring. The New York Yankees wrapped up their spring slate last week with an exhibition series against the Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa, their first games played in Arizona since 1951, when they briefly called Phoenix home after swapping training locations with the New York Giants. Seventy-five years is a long time between visits, … Read More
Downtown Scottsdale Task Force launches April 21 in heart of Old Town at Western Spirit
Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky is convening the inaugural meeting of the Downtown Scottsdale Task Force on Tuesday, April 21 at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, 3830 N. Marshall Way. The kick-off meeting is from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 21, and marks the beginning of a focused community effort to shape the future of Old Town Scottsdale. … Read More
Guest Editorial: We Are On the Ballot!
By Bob Littlefield Dear Friends: On Monday Kathy and I filed my paperwork to be on the ballot for City Council in the upcoming election. Despite my late entry into the campaign, you all delivered for me plenty of signatures on my nominating petitions to qualify for the ballot. You also gave me a running start on a campaign war … Read More
Guest Editorial: 1,000-Degree Flashover Training with the Scottsdale Fire Department
By Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas As Chairwoman of the Public Safety Committee, I have the privilege of working closely with Scottsdale’s Police and Fire Departments. Nothing compares to the thrill of saying “yes” to rare opportunities that let me witness—and even participate in—the rigorous training for our first responders. Last week, I joined Scottsdale Fire Department recruits for their first live … Read More
Scottsdale Firefighters Association To Host City Council Candidate Forum: What Can You Expect?
The Scottsdale Firefighters Association has announced it will host a city council candidate forum this April, and it is worth paying attention to. The firefighters’ association has long been one of the most credible civic voices in Scottsdale, with a track record of endorsements that carry real weight with voters across the political spectrum. When they put candidates in a … Read More
Is Water Taking a Back Seat in Scottsdale City Governance? A New Development Implies As Such
By Ronald Sampson Scottsdale has long prided itself on being one of the most forward-thinking cities in the American West when it comes to water policy. For a desert municipality that has watched the Colorado River shrink for decades, that reputation wasn’t just a point of civic pride; it was existential planning. Which is what makes a quiet but consequential … Read More
Scottsdale Firefighters Association To Host First 2026 City Council Candidate Forum April 13th At The Civic Center Library
All Candidates Submitting Requisite Number Of Signatures By March 23rd To Be Invited (SCOTTSDALE, AZ) The candidates for Scottsdale City Council will face each other and the public for the first time at a City Council Candidate forum on Monday, April 13th. The event is hosted by the Scottsdale Firefighters Association and will take place from 4:00 PM to 5:30 … Read More
Guest Editorial: What Makes a Good Candidate
By Mary Manross Do you know Solange Whitehead? I have known her for over 20 years. That is why I am proud to serve as Honorary Chair for her campaign for Scottsdale City Council. The first question I have for candidates is what do they believe are the most critical issues facing Scottsdale? Secondly, have they ever shown an ability … Read More
An NBA Star, an Old Town Arrest, and an Old Law: Phoenix Sun Dillon Brooks Highlights Antiquated Arizona Law
By Alexander Lomax Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks was pulled over in Scottsdale around 1 a.m. for a traffic violation and subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. The part that has a lot of people raising an eyebrow: he passed a breathalyzer test, and the DUI arrest was marijuana-related. Body camera footage released by Scottsdale PD shows … Read More