Guest Editorial: Water – Lifeblood of the Desert Southwest

By Betty Janik & Sonnie Kirtley The desert southwest has suffered sustained drought since the mid 1990’s and this condition is expected to continue.  Recent winters experienced record setting heat which intensifies the condition. Water from the Colorado River is hurting and by extension, the Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal. The CAP delivers water to the most populated regions in … Read More

Bear Down, Arizona: Why the Wildcats’ Final Four Run Matters Beyond Basketball

When Jaden Bradley’s driving layup tied the game at 42 in the second half Saturday night in San Jose, something shifted. Not just the momentum in a tight Elite Eight against Purdue, but something larger, something that coursed through living rooms and sports bars from Tucson to Flagstaff. The University of Arizona was going back to the Final Four for … Read More

Arizona Axon Bill Constitutional Challenge To Be Heard April 10

Arizona’s Unconstitutional “Axon Bill” Heads To Court April 10 As Voters Defend Their Rights Lawyers, Lobbyists And Legislators Colluded With Axon To Shield Controversial Zoning Decisions From The Voters. The Voters Are Fighting Back (Scottsdale, Ariz.)  Senate Bill1543 also known as the “Axon Bill” makes it impossible to challenge certain rezoning decisions at the ballot box. It was approved by … Read More

So…How’s That Landfill Working Out for You, Tempe?

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

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