INI CIVILITY LEARNING LAB

Who fact-checks the fact-checkers?

OPINION — A reader recently wrote to thank us for emphasizing the importance of fact-checking information that you may read on social media or hear in conversation. We recommended actions to …

Opinion

Veterans help power the U.S. economy; how can we help them?

OPINION — After serving in their nation’s military, they’re now serving in America’s economy. Veteran-owned businesses generate $1.3 trillion in annual sales and employ 4 million workers ... leaders of veterans service organizations say some of the men and women behind that economic success are still struggling to find stable housing, get mental health care or translate military experience into a civilian career.

OPINION

Chandler SpeakUp: Election results, $2 street tacos, prison sentence

OPINION — Here are what readers are saying about some recent Chandler Independent stories. Man apprehended by Chandler Police gets 43.5 years in prison "Thank God! What a perve." — …

Question of the Week: Did midterm election attack ads sway your vote?

Nov. 3 brought a merciful end to nonstop political attack ads by candidates and political action committees in the run-up to Election Day. They unfold predictably: tear down the opponent with the …

Opinion

Honoring those who served: Why I still do this work after 30 years

OPINION — Every Veterans Day, there is a moment that reminds me why I do this work. It isn’t the marching bands, the magnificent floats or the thousands of spectators lining Phoenix streets.

Opinion

Midterm elections were an enormous populist blowout

For years, Americans have been viciously divided according to race, religion, immigration status and gender identity by politicians dead set on making us fight each other rather than them. In a year where real people’s struggles were impossible to ignore, that effort fell short. It’s hard to overstate the scale of Democratic victories in this year’s midterm elections.

Opinion

‘It’s your money’ should be every school boards’ mantra

OPINION — A simple principle should guide every entity’s vote on how to spend public funds: It’s your money. That principle matters because taxpayers entrust school boards with funds to educate students, support staff, maintain buildings and keep schools safe. Fiscal responsibility means spending wisely.

Opinion

How healthy is the air in Valley schools?

OPINION — Millions of American children spend time in classrooms that are often inadequately designed and maintained, and that school districts spend $78 billion annually to operate. In the classrooms where students learn, there is one thing most parents and some school administrations probably haven’t checked: the indoor air quality.

Question of the Week: How often do you fly for pleasure or work?

A new terminal is coming to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport west of Terminal 3 by 2033, the airport’s first new terminal since 1990. That suggests anticipated continued increase in …

Opinion

Arizona teachers constantly evaluated; bureaucrats around them, not so much

OPINION — I never expected to become a teacher. After serving in the Navy and spending more than three decades in federal law enforcement and public service, I went back to college and later taught eighth-grade social studies at an Arizona public school.

Opinion

What first responders carry home after the call ends

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.

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Civility Checklist

How to engage in respectful, honest & civil dialogue about public issues.

Checkmark Take the high road. Respond to the topic — not the person. Refrain from demonizing others for their opinions. Assume those you disagree with are, like you, genuinely interested in improving the community.

Checkmark Be respectful. Bullying, public humiliation, insults, name-calling, harassment, and threats directed at another person — or that person's race, gender, religion, ethnicity, etc. — have no place in civil discussions. Find ways to respectfully disagree without questioning someone's character or motives.

Checkmark Be truthful. Base your opinions/arguments on facts. Value honesty. Make only accurate statements when making your point and avoid exaggeration and stereotypes. When appropriate, cite your sources of information that others may question.

Checkmark Don't misrepresent. Always identify your opinions as opinions (not stating opinions as facts). Never misrepresent the views of others or falsely claim your opinions represent someone else. If quoting the words of others, identify and credit the source.

Checkmark Listen & learn. It's both polite and respectful to listen to those we disagree with (as well as those we support) and be genuine in our attempts to understand their point of view. Expand your mind by thoughtfully seeking out views that don't agree with your own.

Checkmark Look for common ground. When disagreeing with others, look for even small areas of agreement — which can be the gateway to working together for the greater good.

Checkmark Respect privacy. Keep private things private — whether it involves your own information or those with whom you disagree. Revealing private information about someone else is rude, unethical, potentially harmful and, in many cases, illegal.

Checkmark Set a good example. Practice civil behavior online as well as in public and in your interaction with others. Encourage others to practice these civil behaviors. And it's OK to challenge disrespectful behavior — but be courteous, respectful and helpful in your approach.

Now that you've read the checklist, take the Civility Pledge.

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Your Community Your Voice

Love at first byte: Is your next date human — or is it AI?

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?

Question of the Week: Do you still play games in the Arizona Lottery?

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 …

Arizona’s fentanyl overdose statistics are alarming; free Narcan training can help

OPINION — While deaths from drug overdoses across the United States declined during each of the last three years, they have surged in Arizona. From September 2024 to September 2025, our state recorded a 17% increase in overdose deaths — twice the national average — according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fiscal caution should apply consistently at Chandler Unified School District

OPINION — Fiscal responsibility is among a school board’s most important duties. It must be applied consistently. At its Sept. 9 meeting, the Chandler Unified Governing Board approved school resource officers for Payne Junior High and Perry High School. Board President Patti Serrano cast the lone dissenting vote, as she had on an August agreement covering nine Chandler middle and high schools.

Healthcare shouldn’t be so hard; health literacy can help

OPINION — A visit to the doctor may get you a diagnosis. A trip to the pharmacist fills the needed prescription. Your health plan has all sorts of information about benefits. Healthcare. Straightforward and easy to understand, right? Eye roll. Laugh stifled.

Enough of GOP from Gilbert, time for legislative change

OPINION — I’ve been a Gilbert resident for 16 years, and I’ve watched our state government go from bad to really bad. Our legislature has been controlled by Republicans for the whole time I’ve lived here, and what do we have to show for it?

Property owners: Get to know Arizona’s new anti-squatter law

OPINION — Imagine returning home from vacation to discover that the locks have been changed and an unauthorized occupant is living inside your property. For Arizona property owners, removing that occupant has not necessarily been as immediate or straightforward as many people would expect.

Question of the Week: Does your family participate in Halloween traditions and fun?

There was a time when nothing signaled the onset of autumn like Halloween, the annual cultural celebration observed on Oct. 31, which features trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and carving …

Fighting hunger also means prioritizing nutrition

OPINION — When most people think about hunger, they picture an empty pantry or fridge. Yet, for families struggling to make ends meet, the challenge is often more complicated than simply having enough food to eat.

Congress should pass the Major Richard Star Act to keep its promise to combat-injured veterans

OPINION — When Americans are injured in combat, we have a responsibility to make sure they receive the benefits they earned through their service and sacrifice. For tens of thousands of veterans, we are falling short of that promise.

LD 14 Senate choice is crystal clear: Stephanie Walsh

OPINION — As a 16-year Gilbert resident, I’m quite concerned about the cost of, and access to, water and energy, as I’m sure many of my neighbors are. The status of the Colorado River is getting dire, and I’ve seen it with my own eyes while driving to San Diego. Energy and water costs continue to escalate, hurting middle-class Arizonans.

Question of the Week: Should the Pentagon livestream the execution of former U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Hasan?

Former Army Medical Corps psychiatrist Nidal Hasan is scheduled to be executed by firing squad Dec. 3 at Fort Hood, Texas, for the 2009 mass shooting that claimed the lives of 13 soldiers and wounded …

Chandler SpeakUp: Concert Truck, home-invasion case, robotic surgery, new Chuck E. Cheese concept

OPINION — Here are some recent comments on Chandler Independent stories: 'Concert Truck' in Chandler for third straight year "I'd like to hear 2w·Maricopa, AZ Classic country, Doo …

Walsh supports increased accountability for ESAs

OPINION — Education is foundational to our community and economy, which is why I am voting for Stephanie Walsh for State Senate to represent Legislative District 14. She will provide a strong and consistent voice supporting our public schools.

Walsh believes in Arizona children, healthcare, schools

OPINION — As a pediatric registered nurse, I have spent much of my life caring for children and advocating for their well-being. I believe healthcare should be accessible to everyone, and I believe just as strongly that every child deserves access to a quality public education.

Six years later, accountability still waits

OPINION — More than six years have passed since the underlying events at a Chandler Unified School District high school, yet a serious professional-conduct matter involving a district administrator still lacks a final public resolution.

Chandler SpeakUp: Gas prices around Chandler on Oct. 3

Here are some of the comments we received on our Oct. 3 story "Where are some of this week's lowest gas prices around Chandler?"

Peace has a face in Chandler

OPINION Peace is a big word, and one of the hardest to turn into everyday action. So, this Peace Week, instead of talking about peace in the abstract, we honored people in Chandler who practice it. …

Question of the Week: Are you voting by mail this year or going to the polls Nov. 3?

There has been plenty of bluster about mail-in voting, some of the negative coming from President Trump — who votes by mail himself. Do you believe in the integrity of voting by mail through …

U.S. vs. Mexico: ‘War’ that ends at final whistle in Glendale

OPINION — On Saturday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m., the United States’ men’s soccer team will play Mexico at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. On paper, it is a friendly. Nobody in my family has ever used that word for this game. Mexico can lose to the United States in almost any sport and take it well. Basketball, baseball, a bad night in the ring. We shake hands and go to dinner. Soccer is different.

Question of the Week: How are you observing Hispanic Heritage Month?

Arizona’s population of Hispanic or Latino heritage is 32.5% — nearly one-third, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. President Lyndon B. Johnson established Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 and …

Why Stephanie Walsh is the state senator LD 14 deserves

OPINION — As a resident of Legislative District 14 for 20 years, I want leadership that reflects the everyday priorities of our community, not partisan talking points. That is why I am supporting Stephanie Walsh for the Arizona State Senate, and why I find it troubling that Mylie Biggs is being considered a viable candidate to represent our families.

Finding hope within heartbreak

OPINION — Our daughter Collyns Belle — “Colly” — was born in 2021 after an uneventful pregnancy. She joined her two brothers and sister, and when she arrived, our family felt complete. Her first year was very typical. She did everything her three older siblings did. She rolled, sat, smiled, babbled and even crawled. Colly was overflowing with life, and her personality sparkled.

Valley Gen Xers won’t be able to rely on Social Security

OPINION — For Gen Xers rapidly approaching retirement, the old playbook no longer applies. With Social Security nearing insolvency, Gen Xers will find they can’t retire as their parents did.

Arizona lawmakers should kill the legislative subpoena

OPINION — According to Arizona law, a subpoena can be issued by the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House and the chairman of any committee. The Legislature has over 30 committees.

The importance of routine PSA testing in combatting prostate cancer

OPINION — Prostate cancer often is called a “silent disease” because it rarely causes symptoms in its early, most treatable stages. Unlike a broken bone or a bad cough, there's no obvious signal that tells a man that something is wrong. And by the time symptoms like difficulty urinating, blood in the urine and pain occur, the disease often has progressed.

Zyriek understands firsthand the value of Kyrene schools

OPINION — As a lifelong educator, I am pleased to endorse Franklin Zyriek for Kyrene Governing Board.

Question of the Week: Are Valley communities planning wisely?

Metro Phoenix remains among the fast-growing areas in the country. But are its communities doing the best job of regulating growth and development? Are they planning wisely for housing, schools, …

The educator behind the library desk

OPINION — Public education has many people doing important work out of sight. I met one recently at Casteel High School after taking junior high students into the library to find books they might want to read. That sounds simple until you are standing next to a student who has no idea where to begin.

Chandler school board should reconsider land acknowledgement

OPINION — To the Members of the Chandler Unified School District Governing Board: I am writing as a Chandler resident who is deeply concerned about the direction of our school district and, …

What will the Valley of the Sun look like in 2035?

OPINION — Greater Phoenix’s architectural landscape is ever-changing. For decades, we’ve seen business developments, lifestyle hubs and communities sprout up across the desert. But as we look toward 2035, the next chapter of Valley growth may look very different from the last.

Let’s make suicide something we discuss and prevent

OPINION — In my office, a conversation about suicide may start with a patient saying they cannot sleep, a parent mentioning that their teenager has withdrawn from friends or an older adult struggling with pain, illness or the loss of a spouse. None of these concerns necessarily means someone is considering suicide, but each is a reason to ask more questions.

Question of the Week: Are freeways the best way to get from here to there?

Since the mid-1980s, the Valley has built its regional freeway system, which moves tens of thousands of people every day. Population continues to grow. Lane expansion is inevitable. New freeways are …

Chandler councilmember: This is not goodbye, so stop me and say hello

As I neared the end of my eight years of serving the residents of Chandler, I wanted to thank you for the humble opportunity to represent you and our city to improve the lives of our residents. My …

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