Rasta Kari

No, this is not a joke. Kari Lake, who was appointed to head the Voice of America only to then be told to gut it, is being given another much more unusual consolation prize: the Ambassadorship to Jamaica. Strangely enough, in Trump’s first term he also appointed an Arizonan to the Jamaica ambassadorship: Don Tapia. This announcement may not be … Read More

Why Juneteenth Matters in Scottsdale

Scottsdale carries a certain reputation: wealthy, white, politically conservative. But the city is more diverse than that shorthand suggests, and this June, a significant new cultural event will make that case on the public square. The Arizona NAACP State Conference is launching Scottsdale Juneteenth 2026, a two-event series designed to establish a lasting annual tradition of community celebration and civic … Read More

Galán-Woods Picks Up Fontes Endorsement in AZ-01 Race

Democratic congressional candidate Marlene Galán-Woods announced this week that Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes has endorsed her campaign for the state’s First Congressional District seat. Galán-Woods called Fontes a “tireless defender of democracy” who has been on the front lines fighting for election integrity. The endorsement carries particular weight given the two have a working history: Galán-Woods served as … Read More

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