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Fourth grade teacher Sara Stecyk instructs her students on the first day of school.
Education
Kyrene discusses teacher retention following school closures
Chelsey Faggiano, economic development project manager for the city of Chandler, speaks to the City Council at a study session earlier this month about a contract to help bring more young professionals and families to the city.
local economy
City, school districts invest in young families in Chandler
Many of the items that are dropped off at Chandler's  Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility are new or are only slightly used. The city is holding a household hazardous waste redistribution event to promote reusing these items.
RECYCLE, RE-USE, RENEW
Chandler making 'slightly used' recycled items available to publc
Chandler candidates in the Legislative District 13 House and Senate races raised huge amounts of money in the third quarter of 2026.
ELECTIONS 2026
LD13 House, Senate candidates from Chandler raise huge sums in 3rd quarter
A sign that reads 'Kyrene School District' on a blue wall of a balcony at the Kyrene Administrative Building.
Education
Kyrene board discusses 2025 override
Chandler's Own Daily News Source
From the left, Bill Giessing, Roger Edmonds, and Gary and Bonnie Whiting have participated in the RCSL Dictionary Project for 23 consecutive years.

Chandler-area club provides dictionaries to third-graders

Under Rotary Club of Sun Lakes member Roger Edmond’s leadership and with the assistance of RCSL members, other Rotarians, Hamilton High School students and some friends completed a recent project. …
Kyrene School District Superintendent Laura Toenjes.

Kyrene Superintendent wins statewide award

The Arizona School Administrators organization has named Kyrene Elementary School District Superintendent Laura Toenjes the 2027 Superintendent of the Year.  This award recognizes her …
Chandler-area voters will be asked to weigh in and choose new and/or incumbent candidates for local, state and federal offices this month as part of the Nov. 3 general election, in addition to some local city ballot questions.

See where and when to vote in Chandler

Registered Chandler voters are encouraged to vote in the upcoming general election and return the ballot by mail in the paid affidavit envelope provided. All voted ballots must be received no …
The six Chandler City Council candidates combined to take in more than $200,000 in contributions this election cycle, as of the final Sept. 30 reporting deadline.

Chandler Council candidates took in more than $200K during election cycle

Finance reports for the six Chandler City Council candidates that were on the ballot for the July 21 primary showed that while the race wasn’t as heavily invested as larger races, there were still …
Banner Health, in partnership with Champion Schools Chandler, hosted the interactive injury-prevention program “Safety Town” for local elementary students on Oct. 19. Champion Schools’ McQueen Road campus was transformed into a mini-city,

Health organization, Chandler school partner for ‘Safety Town’

Banner Health, in partnership with Champion Schools Chandler, hosted the interactive injury-prevention program “Safety Town” for local elementary students on Oct. 19. Champion Schools’ …
Gilbert Police have put agreements in place with the three school districts that serve Gilbert to put school resource officers, like Officer Ryan Matheson, on campuses.
Government

Gilbert approves school resource officer agreements with three districts

Gilbert Town Council approves agreements totaling $1.46 million to provide school resource officers at 11 campuses in Gilbert, Higley and Chandler school districts.
Lisa and Jason Morris take a selfie in front of the NASCAR Experience at Phoenix Raceway on Oct. 18 in Avondale. The Queen Creek couple was among the Valley residents who were at the Freeway Insurance 500 — one of the two large pro auto racing events held in Arizona each year.
local sports

Valley fans still enjoying NASCAR events

AVONDALE — When Jason Morris found out he and his wife, Lisa, had tickets for the Freeway Insurance 500, it was the latest in a series of Valley entertainment events the couple attended. Jason …
Paving work is taking place along Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Casa Grande.
MARICOPA/PINAL COUNTIES

Crews lay asphalt for I-10 widening between Phoenix, Casa Grande

PHOENIX - Crews have begun laying pavement for the third travel lane being added in both directions along 26 miles of Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Casa Grande, state transportation officials …
Tap N Taco has opened its second location, and first in Arizona, in the former Serrano’s location in downtown Chandler, at 141 S. Arizona Avenue, No. 2, between Chandler City Hall and Boston Street.
NEW BUSINESS

Taco shop takes over former Serrano's site in Chandler

Tap N Taco has opened its second location, and first in Arizona, in the former Serrano’s location in downtown Chandler, at 141 S. Arizona Avenue, No. 2, between Chandler City Hall and Boston …
Queen Creek has entered into an agreement to provide ambulance services to Chandler, which plans to go live with its own fire-based emergency transport system on Jan. 1.
Public Safety

Queen Creek will provide ambulance backup to Chandler

As the city of Chandler prepares to launch its own ambulance transport system, Queen Creek has approved entering into an intergovernmental agreement to provide backup services. The Queen Creek Town …
This diagram shows where landscaping would be planted around most of the planned smaller buildings in the Sun Village Fair shopping center at Alma School and Warner roads. A development plan that allows additional retail-pad buildings in the redeveloped shopping center was approved by the Chandler City Council at its Oct. 15 meeting.
development

Chandler Council OKs plan for long-vacant corner

When a hearing was held in September on a complicated commercial redevelopment proposal, one Chandler Planning and Zoning commissioner asked what happened to including housing in a mixed-use plan. …
Liberty junior running back Gavin Lombardi burrows in for a two-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to give the Lions a 31-7 lead over No. 1 Hamilton in the third quarter of their Oct. 23 game.
WEST VALLEY PREPS

Top-ranked Huskies' undefeated start to season ends in Peoria

A 31-point win in what was expected to be a close showdown does not boil down to one drive. But one drive opened the door for No. 3 Liberty's surprising rout of top ranked Chandler
Gas prices are seen at the Circle K at 99th Avenue and Bell Road in Sun City. Gas prices fell for the second straight week according to AAA Arizona.
ENERGY COSTS

Which Chandler non-club stations have the cheapest gas this week?

Gas prices in the Valley fell 13 cents a gallon this week to $4.51 a gallon as the transition to winter blend of gasoline is underway according to AAA Arizona.
FuelFest, an automotive celebration founded by late actor Paul Walker's brother, returns to the Chandler area on Saturday, Dec. 5.
THINGS TO DO

FuelFest set for Saturday, Dec. 5 in Chandler

FuelFest, an automotive celebration founded by late actor Paul Walker's brother, returns to the Chandler area on Saturday, Dec. 5. Gates at Firebird Motorsports Park will be open from 1–8 p.m. …
ADOT CONSTRUCTION

Two Loop 202 closures in Chandler this weekend

Drivers throughout the Valley should prepare for weekend freeway restrictions from Friday night until Monday morning, state transportation officials said. Here’s what to expect from Oct. …
The only two candidates on the July 21 ballot for Chandler mayor were Jeff Weninger, left, and Matt Orlando. Both stepped up both their contributions, in some categories, and expenditures in the third campaign finance reporting quarter as Orlando won the race.
campaign finance

Increases reported in some financial donations at end of Chandler mayor’s race

When the third quarter of election campaign finance reporting ended on Sept. 30, the intense heat and intense campaigning of the Chandler mayoral race this summer had been over for a couple of …
Sponsored Content

Your new internet and mobile provider Spectrum says ‘hi!’

Spectrum is now the Internet, Mobile, and TV provider for former Cox customers in the Valley. “We’re now part of your community in all of the Phoenix metro area, and we couldn’t be more …
The Southeast Valley Branch of the American Association of University Women welcomes Sarah Lords from the Fresh Start Women’s Foundation as guest speaker at its 5:30 p.m. meeting Monday, Nov. 16 at Oakwood Country Club.
things to do

Chandler-area University Women host speaker, announce scholarships

The Southeast Valley Branch of the American Association of University Women welcomes Sarah Lords from the Fresh Start Women’s Foundation as guest speaker at its 5:30 p.m. meeting Monday, Nov. 16 at …

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Latest Issue

The latest issue of the Chandler Independent pdf eedition

The latest issue of the Chandler Independent

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OPINIONS WITH CIVILITY
OPINION — For first responders, what most of us would consider an extraordinary crisis can simply be part of a Tuesday. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, correctional officers and paramedics routinely face circumstances many people may experience only once, if ever, in their lifetime.
OPINION — Online dating used to mean wondering whether someone’s profile photo was 10 years old. Now there’s a more fundamental question: Does this person even exist?
The Arizona Lottery was created when voters approved Proposition 200 in November 1980. The two biggest games are Powerball and Mega Millions, both multi-state games. Odds of winning are just as …

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ENTERTAINMENT & THINGS TO DO
The Sonoran Sunset Series returns to Veterans Oasis Park in south Chandler.The series involves outdoor concerts, planned for 6-7:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the next several months, through March 18, where the variety will include folk, rock, indie and alternative sounds.

Chandler's outdoor fall/winter concert series returns

The Sonoran Sunset Series returns to Veterans Oasis Park in south Chandler in another season of free outdoor concerts. The series, which began Oct. 15, and is planned for 6-7:30 p.m. on the …
The Vocal Connection Chorus invites Chandler-area women of all ages to join a holiday guest chorus for the annual “Jingle Bell Jam.” Rehearsals will take place from 6:45-8 p.m. Mondays, Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 in Building B of Christ’s Community Church, 1550 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler. The dress rehearsal is Dec. 7 and the performance is at 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12, also at the church.

Chandler women's choral group annual show is Dec. 12

The Vocal Connection Chorus invites Chandler-area women of all ages to join a holiday guest chorus for the annual “Jingle Bell Jam.” Rehearsals will take place from 6:45-8 p.m. Mondays, Nov. …
Ballet Etudes brings The Nutcracker back to East Valley stages this holiday season, celebrating 40 years of the production with performances Nov. 27-Dec. 6 at the Chandler Center for the Arts and Dec. 12-20 at the Mesa Arts Center.

'Nutcracker' 40th production celebrated at Chandler, Mesa venues this holiday season

Ballet Etudes brings The Nutcracker back to East Valley stages this holiday season, celebrating 40 years of the production with performances Nov. 27-Dec. 6 at Chandler Center for the Arts and Dec. …
Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland, top, is congratulated by teammates after kicking the game winning field goal against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026.

Cardinals stun rival Rams on walk off field goal 18-16

NFL teams don’t typically win games exclusively scoring points via the field goal, but that’s exactly what the Arizona Cardinals (2-4) just did, as they took down the Super Bowl favorite and …
The 27th annual Mariachi and Folklórico Festival is set for Sunday, Nov. 1 at the  Chandler Center for the Arts. The day of events, according to a news release, brings together generations of Arizona artists for a celebration of Mexican music, dance, community and Día de los Muertos traditions.

Chandler Mariachi and Folklórico Festival celebrates music, culture and Community

The 27th annual Mariachi and Folklórico Festival is set for Sunday, Nov. 1 at the  Chandler Center for the Arts. The day of events, according to a news release, brings together generations …

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