Top stories
transportation
Ironwood Drive lane restrictions begin Jan. 18
Subscriber exclusive
Report highlights crime on Chandler-Gilbert Community College’s Mesa campus
Emerging Trends
What innovations will stick around in Arizona real estate beyond the coronavirus?
VALLEY OF THE SUN
entertainment

Zao Theatre presents ‘Songs for a New World’ Jan. 29-Feb. 14

“Songs for a New World” is the next musical production to be presented at Zao Theatre in Apache Junction. Performances are Jan. 29-Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Fridays; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. …
entertainment

Duo Parnas, rising stars of violin and cello online March 18

Presented by Mesa Arts Center as part of the Performing Live series, Duo Parnas, rising stars of violin and cello will be in an online event at 7:30 p.m. March 18. Purchase tickets for $10 …
racing

Arizona Speedway serving hot wings Jan. 22-24

Advanced reserved seats for the inaugural Wild Wing Shootout presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts at FK Rod Ends Arizona Speedway are available for online purchase The 410 c.i. Winged Sprint Car …
entertainment

Jazz pianist Matt Herskowitz presented by Mesa Arts Center online Jan. 21

Presented by Mesa Arts Center as part of the Performing Live series, jazz pianist Matt Herskowitz performs online at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21. The performance will be prerecorded for Mesa Arts …
entertainment

New exhibit at Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum

Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum will open “A Murmuration of Found Feathers in Flight” by Arizona artist Alexandra Bowers on Friday, Jan. 15. Ms. Bowers is known for her intricate nature …

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MESA NEWS & OPINION
Local news
First responders

10 burglaries reported Jan. 3-7 in Mesa

The Mesa Police Department took reports of the following burglaries Jan. 3-7: Burglary at a residence/home, reported Jan. 5 in the 500 block of East Eighth Avenue. Burglary at a convenience …
PHOTOGRAPHY

Readers can submit Scenic Arizona photos for Daily Independent at YourValley.net

The Daily Independent at YourValley.net is publishing submitted photos that highlight the community and showcase Arizona’s beauty.
COVID-19

5,055 new COVID-19 cases in Mesa in last week

The Arizona Department of Health Services on Jan. 13 reported the number of COVID-19 cases in Mesa is 48,037 in ZIP codes 85201-85210, 85212, 85213 and 85215. That is an increase of 5,505 from a week …
Public health

Sen. Sinema volunteers at Dignity Health’s Southeast Valley COVID-19 vaccination site

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema volunteered Jan. 12 at Dignity Health’s Southeast Valley COVID-19 vaccination site, helping Arizona health care workers vaccinate Arizonans in Phases 1B and 1A of …
Subscriber exclusive

Report details crime at Mesa Community College campuses

      Report details crime at Mesa Community College campuses By Richard H. Dyer Independent Newsmedia There were nine crimes reported in 2019 — up from six in …

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OPINION

It’s tempting these days to believe that once COVID-19 is contained, the U.S. economy will bounce back quickly, replenishing jobs and incomes lost in the pandemic. Yet there is an early warning …

One of my favorite songs as a teenager was “Only Shades of Gray.” It was more than the harmony; the lyrics of the song drove a deeper message into my youthful psyche. I remember it …
The idea of maintaining civil discourse when debating public issues of the day is more than lip-service at Independent Newsmedia. At Yourvalley.net, which is powered by the work of local …
Neighbors
Gonzaga offers 75 fields of study, 23 master’s degrees, four doctoral degrees in one college and six schools. The photo is from Facebook @GonzagaUniversity.

3 Mesa residents named to dean’s list at Gonzaga University

Mesa residents Katelin Herrmann, Jennifer Wirth and LeeAnne Wirth have earned placement on the Gonzaga University dean’s list for fall semester 2020. Students must earn a 3.5 to 3.84 …
Bethel University is a private, not-for-profit university affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in McKenzie, Tennessee, offering both on-campus and online courses.

Jenah Park of Mesa on Bethel University’s honor roll

President Dr. Walter Butler recently announced Bethel University’s College of Arts and Sciences and College of Health Sciences Fall Semester 2020 honor roll and dean’s list student …
A Little Library is a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange. They come in many shapes and sizes, but the most common version is a small wooden box of books.

‘Love Your City Little Library’ raffle slated in Mesa

Mesa residents are invited to participate in the “Love Your City Little Library Raffle” through Jan. 19. One winner will be chosen at random from each of the six Mesa City Council …
The Good News Girlfriends Club meets 3-4 p.m. Fridays.

Mesa Chamber of Commerce hosts virtual ‘Good News Girlfriends Club’ Fridays

The Virtual Good News Girlfriends Club hosted by the Mesa Chamber of Commerce meets 3-4 p.m. Fridays. The next one is Jan. 8. “Homework is the best part of this club — be on the …

First Place AZ continues to build upon vision of a place for all with neurodiversities

A lot can be said about how a society treats its aging, vulnerable and disenfranchised communities, but at First Place AZ advocates there are seeking a holistic approach to day-to-day life for those …
Mesa Education & Business Reporting
Education
education

AppleCare technician training at Mesa Community College

Mesa Community College, the only college in Arizona to offer the AppleCare Technician certificate program, offers two eight-week, for-credit, evening AppleCare courses this spring. The courses …
Subscriber exclusive

Mesa schools board approves agreements to promote multigenerational learning, postsecondary education

Mesa Public Schools signed on to two agreements in December designed to promote multigenerational learning for families at four elementary schools and to better prepare low-income students attending …
subscriber exclusive

$3.9M synthetic turf for 2 Mesa high schools approved

Bonds approved by voters will fund the $3.9 million cost for artificial-turf fields at Mountain View and Mesa high schools. A contract with General Acrylics Inc. to install the turf was approved …
Subscriber exclusive

EVIT board approves $88K in COVID-19 training, classroom preparation stipends

More than $88,000 will be distributed to 203 EVIT high school instructors and classified staff as a COVID-19 training and classroom preparation stipend. Amounts range from $31.25 for a certified …
education

Mesa Community College holds drive-through graduation celebration

Mesa Community College recently hosted a drive-through graduation celebration to honor its 2,645 2019-20 graduates. The celebration Dec. 17, postponed from May 2020 due to pandemic restrictions, …
education

Empire Southwest partners with Mesa Community College, NAU to advance employee careers

A local business is partnering with Mesa Community College and Northern Arizona University to help its employees continue their education and earn college degrees. The collaboration with Empire …
education

Mesa Community College joins AWS Academy, an Amazon Web Services program

Mesa Community College is participating in the AWS Academy, an Amazon Web Services program that provides higher education institutions with a ready-to-teach cloud computing curriculum. Beginning …

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Business

CBRE recently announced the $15.1 million sale of 454 West, an 80-unit multifamily property in Mesa, to a private capital investor from Los Angeles.

CBRE recently announced that Skybridge Arizona has pre-leased its first hangar to Cardinal Associates, a private jet operator in Mesa.

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Your Health
Entertainment
Spring programs include swim lessons, lifeguard training, tennis lessons, spring break camps, adaptive sports and special-interest classes.

Register for Mesa Parks and Recreation spring programs

Although cooler weather prevails right now, spring will be here before you know it. Registration is underway for Mesa residents for the city’s parks and recreation spring programs. Registration …
Warming fires at the Lost Dutchman Marathon.

2021 Lost Dutchman Marathon a virtual event

Did the Lost Dutchman really run a marathon? Many say that he did, but that’s as unknown as the location of his lost goldmine. What is known is that in 2001, a small group of Apache Junction …
Merry Main Street will again feature the Winter Wonderland Ice Rink with more than 5,000 square feet that will attract skaters taking to the ice under the stars.

Merry Main Street continues through Saturday in downtown Mesa

For the sixth consecutive year, Merry Main Street brings holiday revelry to downtown Mesa. The celebration is Nov. 27-Jan. 2. Mesa’s nearly four-story tall Christmas tree is again on …
Runners at the Lost Dutchman Marathon, celebrating 20 years on Feb. 14, 2021.

2021 Lost Dutchman Marathon a virtual event due to COVID-19 restrictions

Did the Lost Dutchman really run a marathon? Many say that he did, but that’s as unknown as the location of his lost goldmine. What is known is that in 2001, a small group of Apache Junction …
Merry Main Street will again feature the Winter Wonderland Ice Rink with more than 5,000 square feet that will attract skaters taking to the ice under the stars.

Merry Main Street continues through Jan. 2 in downtown Mesa

For the sixth consecutive year, Merry Main Street brings holiday revelry to downtown Mesa. The celebration is Nov. 27-Jan. 2. Mesa’s nearly four-story tall Christmas tree is again on …

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Obituaries

Jo Ann (Rosanbalm) Griffis

Our beautiful mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother Jo Ann Griffis was reunited with her beloved Jerry on November 21, 2020 at age 84.Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers …

Kenneth ‘Ken’ Stanley Mowry

Kenneth of Sun City, Arizona died on Friday, November 27, 2020 at the age of 87. After several months of declining health and complications from a fall, Ken passed peacefully with his wife …

Anita Lucille (Welch) Allen

Surrounded by loving family at her Newcastle Place home in Mequon, Wisconsin, Lucille Allen (Cille to her friends) passed away peacefully on December 21, 2020 at the age of 99. A beloved wife, …

Florido Katsanos

Florido was born December 17th 1932 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In his youth, Flo was known as a hellraiser, whose wild side was only tamed when he met the love of his life at a school dance. He …

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