There has been a lot of recent attention on the expansion of gaming through sports betting and other mechanisms. I am genuinely concerned that in this rush to expand gaming, our leaders are …

When the U.S. government initiated efforts in 2018 to reduce recidivism in federal prisons, the aim was to end the cycle that makes many inmates repeat offenders. To achieve that goal, inmates would …

A lot have been written about both organizations, most of it wrong. Let’s start with the Oath Keepers. If you believe the media, they are a “right-wing, white supremacist, anti-government …

 America's memory of the 1991 Gulf War has faded, but we must remember the 697,000 U.S. veterans who drove the Iraqi army from Kuwait 30 years ago this month -- especially the one in four who lost their health to toxic exposures serving their country. That country refuses to care for them.   Related:NPR "Here and Now."   https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/02/23/gulf-war-illness

This morning there was a message on my landline phone from someone who was obviously very upset about getting phone calls, perhaps multiple times from the same number. After listening to this …

Imagine you go to a hospital for a routine procedure. You’ve made sure your hospital and doctor are covered by your insurance.

I would like to correct Carolyn Copeland’s letter (“Reader says Trump was never impeached”) in which she continues to assert that Donald Trump was never impeached. In the first …

The U.S could — and should — be doing more to get medical innovations to the public more quickly.

It was a year ago when COVID-19 struck and our world changed. Social isolation, masks and hand-washing became the norm. Travel stopped.

It’s only fitting that the theme of the upcoming Social Work Month in March is: “Social Workers Are Essential.”

It was a year ago when COVID-19 struck and our world changed.

I just read on the internet that, “A judge will determine whether the Arizona Senate has the authority to subpoena ballots, tabulation machines and other equipment and data from Maricopa County …

There are so many reasons to be proud to live in the Grand Canyon State — from the “five Cs” I taught to my grade school students to the awe-inspiring scenery that makes us a …

Democrats should include federal funding for cultured-meat research in their coronavirus relief bill. For readers who aren’t aware, cultured meat is grown from cells, without slaughter. …

EPCOR has received a $250,000 grant from the Water Management Assistance Program at the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

Having lived in Sun City since 2004, I have seen and heard much that is good and some not so good. I have noticed the last few months that we seem to have a lot of WCBM going on. Also, that the …

The stock market is one of the benchmarks for every U.S. presidency. Voters often look at how stocks performed during a president’s four-year term as one of the criteria for reelection.

I am appealing for your help. On Feb. 5, the yard that houses Northwest Valley Connect vehicles along with vehicles belonging to Transdev was broken into and vandalized. We lost the operations of …

All Democrats and many Republicans are committed to making prescription drugs more affordable.

House Bill 2772 would expand off-reservation gambling but would turn over control to the Arizona State Department of Gaming. Bad idea. If we are to expand legal gambling, it should be regulated by …

Political acrimony makes easy, familiar headlines. But a confluence of events is presenting a real chance for meaningful bipartisan accomplishments. It will be a tragedy if we — as a nation, as a society — let it pass.

With many people still facing financial difficulties related to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s good to know there are programs available to help in 2021.

In response to the recent article (“County Supervisors still facing threats,” Daily Independent, Feb. 15, 2020), I cannot believe what is going on in our Arizona Senate. Why are the …

Arizona’s mountainous terrain is as beautiful to look at as it is to drive through, but keeping dirt from those slopes off roadways can pose a technical challenge.

By continuing to make Selective Service registration and draft eligibility apply only to men, the Coalition for Men is arguing that the system is violating Constitutional rights of men by sex …

Heart failure is the No. 1 cause of hospitalizations in Medicare-age individuals in the U.S., according to the Heart Failure Society of America.

This is a case of tax dollars well spent. My wife and I recently made three trips to State Farm Stadium for her first and my pair of COVID-19 vaccine shots. The entire experience goes against the …

Tens of millions of children watched last month as Joe Biden swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Yet more and more of America’s schools are grooming their students to do just the opposite.

The Phoenix VA hospital is doing a good job. Dennis Fossey is a Vietnam veteran and a member of the American Legion Post 94 in Sun City West. He serves as their financial officer and is a member …

Last year was a difficult year as the COVID-19 pandemic swept through our country, impacting families and communities nationwide. The health challenges of the pandemic also provided a crucial reminder about the importance of health care

Being the transportation geeks that we are, we get excited about a lot of things: Box culverts, Bid-Wells, bridge girders, etc. And that’s just the Bs! But if we moved down into the Cs, we find something else that makes us excited that we think you will like too: cameras.

In partnership with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, I’ve directed Recorder’s Office staff to provide the two independent auditors everything needed to complete a thorough review of the tabulation software and hardware used in the 2020 elections.

There has been a lot in the news about the State Senate’s efforts to audit the 2020 general election. But the recent filing in Superior Court by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors seems like one more effort to win not in court, but in the court of public opinion.

COVID-19 has disrupted multiple aspects of daily life, including how people access dental care. That’s in part because many dental offices closed during the early part of the pandemic, and …

I’m familiar with the 75th Avenue interchange along Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) in the northwest Valley. Not because I live in the area. I have a friend who did and he always roped me into hauling off junk because I owned a pickup truck.

This is really simple. Arizona GOP senators have been complicit in a big lie about the election for three months now. This sham subpoena to get access to people’s private ballots is all in service of the big lie.

Staying well requires a strong, balanced immune system combined with reducing exposure to pathogens. Vitamin D is critical to each step of our immune response.

This letter is in response to a letter (“Resident upset with inverted U.S. Flag”) relating to our flag being flown upside down. It very well may be that the resident was in compliance …

More people are asking: Is it worth it?

I’ve seen a lot of comments on social media concerning churches. A lot of the comments center around the desire to tax churches. One of the main reasons churches aren’t taxed is …

The new social media platform Clubhouse has been making waves in recent weeks. Some industry experts are saying it might be the next major social media platform. So, I was eager to accept my invitation to join and see what all the fuss is about.

Believe it or not, your rights listed in the Bill of Rights are absolute. I know, you have been told otherwise. The government has no Constitutional authority to touch our rights ... none. The …

On Wednesday, the Arizona State Senate Judiciary Chairman Warren Petersen, with the blessing of Senate President Karen Fann, crafted a floor resolution to hold the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in contempt of the Senate for not turning over the 2.1 million ballots cast in Maricopa County during the 2020 election.

Doctors from Abrazo hospitals are reminding everyone to use caution when planning those Big Game watch parties this weekend — don’t let it become a super spreader event.

I find it frustrating that the Senate would even consider bringing forward a motion of contempt towards the Board of Supervisors.

I hope our future will get better now that vaccines are available; it’ll take time for the distribution to reach all parts of the country, which means we’ll need some patience.

Innovation today for a post-COVID future is not an opportunity, but rather a necessity. Everything has changed from the way we socialize, shop and work to how we enjoy entertainment and receive health care.

COVID-19 has disrupted multiple aspects of daily life, including how people access dental care. That’s in part because many dental offices closed during the early part of the pandemic, and some people have stayed away since.

Chris Tracy wrote to the editor (“Why no COVID tests, shots in Sun City?”) complaining there was no place in Sun City to get a COVID test. Banner and Safeway were not the designated …

Some were model citizens — until they weren’t.

In her letter (“Resident upset with inverted U.S. flag,”), Sun City West resident Mary Arnot comes across as if the world has ended because a neighbor decided they want to express their …

This time last year, I was already monitoring the COVID-19 virus.

Westmarc is focusing on reaching California’s brokerage and young talent communities. Californians have always been moving to Arizona. This is not new to our state. But increasingly, people and companies are making the value-based decision to relocate to Arizona.

As we approach Valentine’s Day, I’m prompted to ask: Are all romantic relationships love? Where did we discover our conceptualizations of romantic love? I grew up on tales of Prince Charming and Cinderella, which shaped my view of romantic love.

It was my great honor that voters in November elected me to serve as the 30th Maricopa County Recorder.

One of the great things about Arizona is snow is just an hour or two away by vehicle. But it’s important to resist the urge to just jump in the car and go instead of leaving prepared.

I strongly disagree with the opinions Debby Phillips expressed in her recent Letter to the Editor (“Resident not happy with impeach banner,” Daily Independent, Jan. 16, 2021). I can …

I have to ask the question that many people have asked in the past about Pelosi and Schumer, and that is when are these two going represent their constituents? They have spent the last four years …

There are a handful of days in our history that reverberate across generations, defining the story of America. Jan. 6, 2021 — the date insurrectionists attacked the heart of our democracy to stop the orderly peaceful transfer of power — will be one of those days.

In a letter to the editor (“Resident not happy with impeach banner”) Ms. Debby Phillips expressed displeasure at seeing a banner that read, “Impeach Trump, Make America Great …

Singer Jim Croce longed to put time in a bottle. Retirees aren’t always certain what it is they long to do with time, but one day they stop working and find they have a barrelful of it.

On Jan. 19, 2021, on the eve of what we all hoped will be a peaceful transition of power to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, I walked in my neighborhood in Sun City West. This …

In his run for the presidency, Joe Biden laid out a “Plan for Older Americans” that reflected the Democratic party philosophy that health care and living with dignity after retirement are an inalienable right for all.

As a result of President Trump’s recent controversial statements and — especially since the riots at the US Capitol — there have been many concerns expressed in the media, such as …

2020 taught us a lot, and as the clock struck midnight New Year’s Eve, perhaps we all gave thanks we made it to 2021 with our health intact and with a renewed focus on maintaining it.

With the hope of a new start at a new year, it seems clear that the coronavirus has also made a New Year’s resolution to persevere with a vengeance and stick around and mutate.

What do you think Arizona’s K-12 schools will look like in 2031? Does the prospect excite or dishearten you? After a year of countless hardships for families, we could use some positivity.

Last year was monumental to say the least. Life as we once knew it became a thing of the past, for individuals and businesses alike.

Be careful when dealing with online mortgage companies. Many of these companies like LendingTree and Paymybills.com are not mortgage companies, but marketing companies intending on selling your …

The advent of COVID-19 vaccinations is a positive step in the pandemic fight. While more vaccination sites are opening and eligibility for receiving the vaccine is increasing, below are a few basics to know during the vaccine rollout.

In a 4-3 decision with important consequences for online privacy in Arizona, the state’s highest court ruled Jan. 11 that the Arizona Constitution’s “private affairs” clause does not protect individual rights any more than the federal Constitution.

The United States Supreme Court isn't merely one of America's most important institutions, it is also one of the most important elements of our constitutional system of checks and balances, not to …

This is in response to Norman Webb’s letter (“Do not force your opinions on others"). I read your response to a previous letter about the use of the term Happy Holidays. As I read it, …

For many of us, thinking about renewing our driver license rarely crosses our mind. Sure, we update it with a new address when we move, and some change their name after getting married, but the first time most of us will actually renew our driver license is when we turn 65 years old.

Anyone who wants to build a better American future has to recognize that our problems cannot be solved by partisan politics. Washington today is completely out of whack.

Last year was a harrowing time in America’s rich and complicated history. Our great nation was faced with a novel coronavirus and an old, deeply ingrained racial disease aching for healing and remedy.

There is an early warning sign that high-demand jobs may be hard to fill when the labor market fully reopens, even with millions of Americans looking for work.

If President-elect Joe Biden is serious about addressing climate change, preventing future outbreaks of zoonotic disease, or minimizing animal cruelty on factory farms, he should support the nascent …

A study in California revealed that the cost of capital punishment in the state has been over $4 billion since it was reinstated in 1978. Since California has executed 13 prisoners during that time, …

When student learning takes a back seat, students should be able to take their funding with them.

When I was being interviewed for my current job (I’m the pastor of a Sun City West church) the call committee chairman told me, “The most dangerous place to drive is the parking lot at …

For 23 years, the Town of Paradise Valley has had a tradition of honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with an in-person celebration and luncheon, and this year, while dramatically different in some …

I’m always thinking about the future and attempt to glean from the ethers what will happen next. It’s easier to predict the future when you create it, so the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce has taken new action to make sure the future of our community is bright.

How do you pick a single theme for beautifying the 22-mile Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway? That was the question facing the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Roadside Development Section once work began on the new $2 billion freeway.

Alleged irregularities surrounding the 2020 election have many deeply skeptical of the reported results. This skepticism is unhealthy for our republic and if not checked will further erode trust in our government institutions.

In response to the letter from the reader who made election and voting claims, thank you, Daily Independent, for printing the correct facts at the end of her letter. There is so much …

I know that the Sun Cities lean Republican, and Kevin Payne ran an uncontested race for the state senate so he feels that he can ignore Democratic residents in District 21 with impunity. Still, I …

Women are the majority of Americans as well as the majority of voters. What does that mean in practical terms? How did that play out in the November 2020 elections? A record-breaking number of women …

Mr. Barry Spinka (“Resident not happy to hear driveway music”), you really are the Grinch of Sun City. I can’t even believe that you wrote this letter about our driveway concert …

COVID-19 took a heavy toll on the U.S. economy in 2020, causing millions of job losses and forcing many businesses to close. It also affected lots of retirement plans in the process.

As COVID-19 cases climb again around the country, people may be considering skipping visits to the doctor to reduce risk of exposure to the virus.

Regarding your recent letter, (“In response to complaints in Sun City,” Daily Independent, De, 23, 2020), I was born and raised in Glendale, Mr. Foulke. Been in Sun City 15 years. …

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, Arizona citizens voted in support of Prop 207, the Smart and Safe Arizona Act, that has been termed “Recreational Marijuana.”

As vice president of philanthropic services for Jewish Family & Children’s Service, I have the rare privilege of working with individuals and families who transform others’ lives.

Our little company was one of the pioneers of non-profit ownership of newspapers. Fifty years ago, we made a few decisions that were, in retrospect, pretty unusual. To protect their independence, …

Forgiveness does not mean you allow others to take advantage of you again.

I met Jesse Ramirez, Valley View Community Food Bank founder and director, a year ago and am constantly amazed at how much he does with so little. I have a suggestion for all of us that can make …

Nicaragua, Panama, Belize, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Pakistan, Egypt, Cambodia, Burma, etc. received several billions in the new COVID “relief” bill and the American people get …

Beginning January 1, 2021 the use of portable communication devices while driving will become a violation of civil traffic statutes for which law enforcement officers may issue a citation.

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 …

The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 today to direct its attorneys to respond to the subpoenas issued by the Arizona Legislature by filing a complaint in Superior Court. The two subpoenas …

This building in Washington, D.C., houses all documents of our history, both the good and the bad. Our founding documents are on protected display inside the main entrance area: The Declaration of …

We are all excited about the COVID-19 vaccines and the daily updates on the effort to get it to us. However, what is missing is how we will actually sit in a chair and have it administered. All I …

We don’t want to alarm anyone, but Christmas is a week away. If you still have people to shop for but are running low on ideas, maybe we can help.

The Independent reported recently that our Southwest Valley friends claim a proposed solar energy facility will block their view of an ancient cinder-cone volcano (“Southwest Valley residents …

Throughout the COVID-19 response, the Arizona Department of Health Services has continually reevaluated how we are collecting, analyzing and presenting COVID-19 data for cases, hospitalizations, and …

Mark Carlisle wrote a recent article (“Spend it or lose it: Phoenix doles out remaining $43 million in coronavirus relief before Dec. 30 deadline,” Daily Independent, Dec. 12, 2020). In …

As a founding member of the Arizona Human Rights Fund, which has now morphed into Equality Arizona, I have always worked on the issues that have been at the forefront of the LGBTQ …

I just spoke with Rep. Lesko’s D.C. office after receiving a non-response email to my simple election inquiry. I posed a simple yes-or-no question as to whether Joe Biden is our president …

The most magical thing about the holidays is the way we so joyfully give to others. Not just our friends and families — but to complete strangers who are in need.

I respectfully request that Congress pass the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act, H.R. 5434/S. 2602, in 2020. The bipartisan RPM Act protects the right to convert an automobile or …

On R.H. Johnson Boulevard driving home from the store at about 4:30 p.m. with my son the other day, we noticed a pickup sitting half on the sidewalk with its flashers blinking. As we got closer we …

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s latest research finds drivers who have been in at least one crash in the past two years are significantly more likely to engage in risky behaviors like speeding or texting, even when they think the police may catch them.

The 2020-21 flu season is on track to be one of the worst in years, and with COVID-19 still running rampant in Arizona, being infected with both could be dangerous.

Once again, a judge upheld the accuracy of Maricopa County’s election.

I know, I know ... you are sick and tired of hearing about, talking about or being afraid of the COVID virus and I agree with you. But, there are real solutions to this, if you can give me a few …

With the proliferation of clinics that offer vein treatment, how do you choose the one that is right for you? And, do you really know what condition your veins are in?

Why haven’t the top U.S. health officials been educating the American populace that our immune systems are the first source of protection from viruses and COVID? A huge number of us are …

There are many impacts that the holidays can have on COVID-19 in Arizona. With people traveling and gathering with loved ones to celebrate Thanksgiving, we anticipate the cases and the need for hospitalizations to continue to increase over the next few weeks.

COVID-19 has revealed once again how short our nation is of doctors.

I have an idea for an addition to your weekly newspapers that would make it more enjoyable and would make more people read it. In my neighborhood magazine, they always feature someone who has done …