Pay Raises for Politicians? Sometimes It’s a Good Thing

There are few things that tick off the electorate more than self-serving politicians. That can come in a number of different forms, but one particular form that seems to truly get under the skin of voters is giving themselves pay raises. After all, the optics are horrible…pulling strings to give yourself more money never looks good. But not all such … Read More

Ember Lounge, a District Dome Experience, Returns to Desert Ridge Marketplace

The Most Enchanting Holiday Experience will Kick Off with Extended Hours, Longer Run Time and the All-New ‘Dome After Dark’ Cocktail Bar Vestar, a leading privately held shopping center owner and manager in the western United States, announced today that its North Phoenix property, Desert Ridge Marketplace, will be bringing back the ultimate holiday experience—Ember Lounge. Inside the striking 50-foot District Dome, … Read More

The End of an Era: Hugely Influential Local Church Leader is Retiring

We don’t talk about religion on this blog too much; politics are generally contentious enough. But when religion intersects with community and personal influence, it is worth talking about. And one of the most important and influential church leaders provides the right moment to give kudos and honor to a special career. Dr. Warren H. Stewart Sr. recently announced that … Read More

Rebirth From Death: The Resurrection of the Paradise Valley Mall

It has been a frequent sign of the times: the dominance of e-commerce, led by Amazon, has led to the decline of other methods of shopping. Main Street shops have shuttered, and perhaps worst of all, shopping malls have borne the brunt of this shift. For many brick-and-mortar stores, the pandemic delivered the death blow that Amazon started, as malls … Read More

Beautiful Tribute To Beautiful Man

NOTE: Repost – original story is here.   If you ever walked with Richard de Uriarte through a downtown Phoenix convention hall filled with all the big names — the newsmakers, the businesspeople, the celebrities — you knew to set aside a good hour or so. Because he knew everyone. If you were with him, you saw eyes and teeth … Read More

Guest Editorial: I’m announcing my re-election campaign

By Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego Since you elected me as your mayor five years ago, we’ve worked to make Phoenix the city of the future— and a great place where families can thrive for generations to come. Together, we’ve delivered. We’ve strengthened our local economy with a $65 billion investment that will make Phoenix the semiconductor capital of the nation, … Read More

The Democratic Exodus from the State Legislature Continues

Remind us if you’ve heard this story before: a Democrat legislator in Arizona leaves their seat, thus providing an opening for someone else to take their place and further upending the caucus. If it sounds common, it’s because it had happened a stunning five times already in this legislative session. Now it’s six, as Representative Marcelino Quinonez announced his resignation … Read More

Beloved Phoenix Venue Closing Down: What Happened?

Our area is a growing one, and while there is always some turnover in the hospitality industry we have largely had the pleasure of having many new and exciting options for eating and drinking. Every once in a while a fantastic and promising option that seems like it’s bound to stay fails however, and it leads us to scratch our … Read More