OPINION — The American Dream is built on a “work hard, move up” narrative. It’s a vision fueled by the Founding Fathers’ recognition of inalienable rights that has taken flight among homesteaders, gold rushers, freedom marchers, Silicon Valley pioneers and a host of others who believed in it. Those seeking life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in 2026 have a problem. With artificial intelligence, the “work hard, move up” narrative is no longer a promise. It’s a gamble. more

OPINION — For those who may not have noticed, it’s time to vote in the primaries. The bombardment of signs is a custom that shows up each election cycle but does little to inform us. Many of us … more

OPINION — On Tuesday, June 16, my daughter and I arrived at 5:15 to sign up for the call to the public, which must be submitted before meetings begin. We, and seven other speakers, sat through four … more

OPINION — When I hire someone, I'm looking for experience and integrity. They must demonstrate why they are the best candidate and why I should hire them – I want experience, not blue sky or … more

OPINION — The Senate recently agreed not to get paid during a federal government shutdown. Missing paychecks would be a big deal for most of us. The median senator is worth $4.4 million, and many are far richer. Holding back their paychecks might help, but there are more effective ways to motivate Congress to get its work done. more

OPINION — Councilman Rick Watts, apparently still smarting from his failed attempt to crash a Democratic Club meeting claiming he’s a “disillusioned Republican,” now finds himself taking an … more

OPINION — I don’t want to sound like the attorney who stated “the facts are these” from “A Few Good Men,” nor even that star witness who famously said “you can’t handle the … more

OPINION — As Paradise Valley residents prepare to vote for town council, I would like to offer the perspective of a former councilwoman and long-time resident of the town. Party affiliation … more

OPINION — Recently there has been a dramatic increase in scooters using the sidewalk of Fountain Park. A few are even motorized. The other morning, a scooter sped by just seconds after our dog … more

OPINION — Water and wastewater rate adjustments to Sun City West are proposed by EPCOR Arizona Utilities and approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission. The last wastewater system adjustment, an increase of about 20% for Sun City West, was approved under a consolidation of systems procedure. more

I recently asked every Fountain Hills council and mayoral candidate a simple question: Did they agree with Jeff Tate's statement I believe was about my Easter letter. It appeared Mr. Tate called it a … more

OPINION — Once again, well qualified Town of Paradise Valley residents have stepped forward to run for town council.  I had the honor to serve on the Planning Commission when Daran … more

OPINION — I have written before so here I am again, same song, second verse. I am requesting that for the sake of safety and enjoyment, the Recreation Centers of Sun City please give consideration to dividing Duffeeland Dog Park into two separate areas. more

OPINION — At the June 23 Council meeting, Scottsdale is poised to purchase 15,000 acre-feet of long-term water storage credits for $8.25 M ($550/acre-ft) from the Vidler Water Company. This equates … more

OPINION —   The Democratic Club’s stated position is, “Our mission: To promote the Democratic community in Fountain Hills; to support Democratic values, goals and activities; to encourage … more

OPINION — Step right up folks! Please don’t crowd! No need to shove, plenty here for everyone! Welcome to the AI boom! Silicon Valley billionaires are now proposing a scheme to deliver an unbelievable windfall to every citizen. Tech titans like Sam Altman of OpenAI are pushing the federal government to create a “public wealth fund” to let us commoners be investment partners in building the AI wonderworld. more

Enforcing the law and getting bad guys off the street resonates with nearly everyone. Flock cameras are an effective tool toward that end, law-enforcement agencies say. But do Flock cameras cross a … more

OPINION — The “stupid hiker law” or similar is something that’s been very much needed here in Arizona, for a long time. There’s been too many tragedies over the years with people hiking in hot weather that could have been avoided if people had just listened and heeded good advice. more

OPINION — Journalism is choking on the low-hanging fruit. Every day, hundreds of newsletters and podcasts flood inboxes. These are almost entirely concerned with political goings-on in Washington. This isn’t to say that journalism is alive and well. more

OPINION — We’ve all experienced mortifying moments. Like a bad case of hiccups in the middle of a wedding service. Or an uncontrollable outburst of the giggles at a high school graduation. Situations that spoil a special moment. more