Opinion - Civility Learning Lab

Is America in its ‘decline and fall of the Roman Empire’ era?

OPINION — One of the most widely read books of all time is “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.” It’s a historical work, written in 1788 by Edward Gibbon, an English historian and member of Parliament. more

By TR Harry | Scottsdale | 8/23/26

Civility for thee, but not for the rest of Tempe?

OPINION — Re: Tempe council member pushes civility in government at annual government conference: It is comical that Doreen Garlid and Corey Woods speak of civility when Woods specifically (with Garlid present) spoke derogatorily of their own citizens in a secret, illegal meeting in December 2022. more

By Brittany Robinson | Tempe | 8/22/26

Hidden heroes: Three extraordinary women of color who changed the course of history through espionage

OPINION — When we think of spies, we often imagine fictional characters equipped with high tech gadgets, disguises and daring escapes. Yet some of history’s most remarkable intelligence agents were real women of color whose courage, intelligence and determination helped shape the outcome of major wars. more

By E.E. Cummings | Sun City West | 8/22/26

Why is Hamadeh calling out Hobbs when he won’t debate opponent?

OPINION — Arizona Congressional District 8 Rep. Abe Hamadeh sure likes to throw stones at glass houses, but runs away afterward. He called out Gov. Katie Hobbs for not debating his fellow House Republican gubernatorial candidate, Andy Biggs, while Hamadeh running away from CD 8 opponent Bernadette Greene-Placentia’s debate challenge. more

By Bill Eikost | Glendale | 8/22/26

Speak Up: Surprise's removal of Flock Camera draw mixed responses

Here are some comments about stories happening in Surprise. more

Independent Newsmedia | 8/22/26

Sun City West reader questions rec center's golf revenues explanation

OPINION — In this latest example of “let’s hope the residents don’t notice” financial reporting, the unaudited 6/30/26 end of year financial statements indicate glaring deviations from the budget. Residents really should take notice. more

By Frank Bagnato | Sun City West | 8/21/26

$50B in Big Beautiful Bill funding won’t fix rural maternity care without state reform

OPINION — Congress allocated $50 billion through the One Big Beautiful Bill to improve rural healthcare. Many states have identified maternal and infant health as a priority for this funding, and for good reason: most rural hospitals no longer deliver babies. more

By Virat Agrawal and Kamryn Monster | 8/21/26

Costello: It’s time to change how issues are solved in Dover

The problem is that, as long as we rely on the current politicians in Dover and their course of action, nothing will change. more

8/21/26

Oral health is the real magic behind the Tooth Fairy

OPINION — Every Aug. 22, families across the country celebrate National Tooth Fairy Day, honoring one of childhood’s most beloved traditions. more

By Heather Schneider, DMD | Chandler | 8/21/26

Williams: Are Black legislators accountable for their records?

Delaware’s political landscape is changing and diversifying in ways that were unimaginable a decade or so ago. Black legislators now make up roughly 20% of Delaware’s General Assembly, with increased visibility in leadership positions, including speaker of the House and majority whip. more

By Terrell A. Williams | 8/21/26

Is it students or schools that need discipline?

OPINION — Howard Fischer recently reported that a school survey recommended more student discipline . I wonder, is it the students or the schools that need more discipline? School boards and … more

By Scott Mitzner | Sun City West | 8/21/26

What are your storm stories?

Dover and the surrounding areas quickly became a scene of destruction Thursday, Aug. 20, as at least one tornado spun its way through Kent County. Where were you when the storms developed? What actions did you take? Were you impressed with the emergency response? more

8/21/26

EPCOR’s rate proposal: The rest of the story for Sun City

OPINION — There is another part of EPCOR’s current rate proposal that Sun City residents should know about: a new physical connection between the Sun City and Sonoran water systems. more

By Greg Eisert | Sun City | 8/21/26

The Weekly Clothesline: Wisdom in the Letter of James

The Letter of James, while only five chapters in the Bible, is jam packed with practical truth and wisdom. It reads like a how-to book on Christian living. more

By Reverend Elizabeth Nelson
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church | 8/21/26

Congress should maintain defense spending for FY28, not increase it

OPINION — The United States defense budget for this fiscal year, which ends in September, was roughly $1.1 trillion. For the next budget year, the Trump administration is requesting $1.5 trillion. more

By Robert Robb | 8/20/26

We were bitten by Medicare’s IRMA this year; what should I do?

AMAC Certified Social Security Advisor Russell Gloor answers questions about Social Security. more

By Russell Gloor
AMAC Certified Social Security Advisor | 8/20/26

Asbestos, forever chemicals kill — Congress must renew Toxic Substances Control Act fees

OPINION — 9/11. The date is seared into our consciousness forever. We all know where we were and what we were doing when it happened. Some of us are still dealing with its aftermath. more

By Pat Spearman | Nevada | 8/20/26

Bowden: Delaware must act now on dual employment violations

By Bill Bowden Bill Bowden is a retired Verizon Delaware executive and past president of the Delaware Quality Award. He also served eight years in state government as the executive director of … more

8/20/26

Chandler SpeakUp: Many takes on city's Flock license plate readers

OPINION — Here are some online comments about recent Chandler Independent stories involving Flock Safety’s license plate reader contract with the city of Chandler: “Chandler council hears … more

8/20/26

What Sun City should know about EPCOR’s current rate proposal

OPINION — EPCOR has filed a major water rate case with the Arizona Corporation Commission. For Sun City residents, the proposal involves more than the size of the next water bill. more

By Greg Eisert | Sun City | 8/20/26