Opinion

340B drug pricing program needs to return to its roots — serving vulnerable patients

OPINION — No older adult should have to choose between filling a prescription and paying for groceries or keeping the lights on. Yet that’s precisely the choice too many older adults in the United States face, especially Hispanic adults.

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

Rec center ‘master plan’ more of a ‘master guide’

OPINION — I am responding to Frank Bagnato’s recent critique of the Sun City West master plan (Our community is fabulous; RCSCW master plan isn’t, Oct. 22). The analysis has been done. The master plan has been presented. So, we just need to do it, don’t we? Not so fast.

Opinion

Evidence-based recommendations to help Valley veterans live their healthiest lives

OPINION — Veterans Day is a time to express our gratitude to the women and men who have proudly served in the military to preserve our freedoms. For many, the holiday can mean a parade or celebration, but for millions of veterans it can be another day struggling with a serious health issue tied to their service.

Veterans Day 2026

Remembering fellow Americans who served

Opinion

Loud exhaust sounds increasing in West Valley

OPINION — What is with the loud exhaust? What used to be just a few annoying exhaust sounds from motorcycles, cars and trucks has now increased in frequency to where a walk outside or an evening rest on the back porch sounds like an afternoon at the Indianapolis 500.

Opinion

PORA plays important role in Sun City West

OPINION — Regarding the recent utility rate increase meeting at Palm Ridge, the Property Owners and Residents Association greatly appreciates the Sun City West Independent and the important role the paper plays in keeping our community informed.

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

What it took for Trump to lose Republican support

OPINION — I always wondered what President Trump would have to do to make him lose Republican support. Now I know: Lose an election decisively. Up until they lost the midterms, his policies and behavior appeared to be acceptable to most Republicans.

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.

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Your Community Your Voice

A reminder to pedestrians: Stay on the sidewalk

OPINION — Arizona’s glorious weather has finally returned, after a long, blazing summer. And with this nice weather, many of our seasonal guests have returned, too. As a result, we’ve seen many, many people walking around getting their health steps in, walking their animals, getting fresh air but it’s where some are walking that is disturbing.

West Valley Symphony board thanks supporters; mourns Phoenix Symphony's season suspension

OPINION — The West Valley Symphony would like to thank residents for their continued support, for attending our concerts and for their commitment to live orchestral music, which helps sustain an important part of our community’s cultural life.

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 …

Do ESA vouchers really provide a better education for Arizona students?

OPINION — As a retired public-school educator, I have always been interested in the latest trends and challenges that are happening in public schools throughout our country. Most recently, I have been watching what has especially happened here in Arizona.

There are great people in Sun City West

OPINION — I’d like to extend a big thank you to the gentleman who recently found and delivered my cell phone.

Maintaining mobility an investment in Valley residents’ independence

We may all lose just a little bit of the spring in our step as we age, but slowing down a little does not mean we need to give up our independence. Taking time to work on your mobility and balance is a key part of the strategy for aging well and moving confidently into the future.

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.

Shouldn’t campaign finance outrage apply to Hamadeh, too?

OPINION — Campaign finance outrage? Apply it to Abe Hamadeh, too. Jacquelyn Loiselle’s October 7 letter asks whether Bernadette Greene-Placentia’s financial reporting problems reflect “incompetence or something worse.” That insinuation outruns the evidence she presents.

Accessibility isn’t a luxury in Sun City West

OPINION — At RCSCW’s Oct. 8 facilities meeting, I asked whether the doors to Ping Pong, Zymurgy and Racquetball at lower R.H. Johnson were included in ADA survey recommendations. Unlike other clubs I’ve visited, these have no automatic door openers.

Sounds of Autism founder endorses Donna Davis for MCCCD Governing Board

OPINION — I am proud to support Donna Davis’s reelection to the Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board.

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?

Don't let technical rule thwart delivery of cutting-edge drugs to Valley patients

OPINION — For years, some of the most effective cancer and immune therapies came with a hidden cost: an afternoon in an infusion chair. That is changing ... a proposal pending at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services could put that progress at risk.

Donna Davis is our choice for MCCCD Governing Board

OPINION — We are writing this letter in support of Donna Davis who is running for re-election to the Maricopa County Community College Governing Board. She has served as an MCCCD board member for four years.

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 …

Hamadeh’s $10,000 reward for information on rival’s attackers rings hollow

OPINION — Abe Hamadeh and Bernadette Greene-Placentia are running for the Congressional District 8’s U.S. House seat. Personally, I default to believing women who come forward with news of an assault. Sadly, I am seeing horrific comments online by Hamadeh supporters.

Reader ponders north Peoria roadway projects

OPINION — The El Mirage Road extension north from Loop 303 to Jomax Road has been a top priority to ease traffic congestion in north Peoria. Certainly, the Happy Valley Parkway and Vistancia Boulevard intersection is in need of change to accommodate rush-hour traffic.

Big snag with GLP-1 program

OPINION — When President Trump and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz announced the creation of the GLP-1 Bridge Program last year, many Americans might have thought the administration had cut a deal that would drop the price of GLP-1 medications to $50 per month for anyone looking to lose weight.

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.

What a coyote might say to its neighbors

OPINION — If a coyote could have a cordial conversation with its neighbors in The Grand, I imagine that this is what it might say: My name is Wyly, and I would like you to know that I have as much right to be here as any of you, perhaps more.

Our community is fabulous; RCSCW master plan isn’t

The “unveiling” of the Recreation Centers of Sun City West comprehensive 10-year master plan is over, the “celebration” has ended. What did we get for our $275,000 that we paid a consultant to do it? I’ll tell you: The emperor has no clothes is what we have.

Are Gingrich, McConnell and Roberts king-makers?

OPINION — What would a dairy farmer do with a stool that had one or more broken legs? The Constitution established our Democratic Republic like a three-legged stool: Executive, Legislative and Judicial legs to provide a strong foundation for the freedom of all Americans.

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 …

Can’t we all come together as Americans?

OPINION — Paul Cahill’s recent letter in the Independent left me feeling sad. I think we want the same things, but I feel like we live in two different worlds.

Arizonans with dementia shouldn’t be driving

OPINION — I’ve lived in Sun City West for 17 years. I recently had a strange encounter at the Post Office. The drive-thru drop box for mail has one entrance and one exit. I was in it when suddenly there was a woman in a large sedan facing me.

Peoria reader: My values align with Rep. Hamadeh’s

OPINION — My most cherished freedom is the freedom to openly serve my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. Next is my freedom to vote, a right that gives each of us a voice in the direction of our nation. This election requires each of us to exercise that freedom and choose leaders who will stand for the principles we believe in.

Arizonans should vote out Republicans who failed us

OPINION — I think most will agree that it's time for a change. I come from a family where most, but not all, leaned Republican. I am an independent and believe that our leaders should work to benefit the people they represent over large contributors who try to buy their votes. I miss true bipartisanship, where both sides would meet and try to resolve issues together, even by compromise when needed.

Are things worse now than under Biden? I think not

OPINION — Jeff Hostetler’s recent letter regarding the state of the country argues that most things are now worse than during the previous administration. These statements require some objective review.

Why I must vote Republican

OPINION — I believe in God, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. I also believe in capitalism, where hard working people can get ahead. Most people of the world don’t have that choice. Many want to come here for that reason.

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.

Four years of tax hikes and one new cop; our community colleges need new priorities

OPINION — Most voters never reach the bottom of their ballot. This year, the Maricopa County Community College District board race deserves the trip.

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.

Urging voters to vote out MAGA Trump loyalists

OPINION — To vote is the greatest privilege and responsibility that goes with living in a democracy. I am perplexed by the fact that many Americans will sit on their hands in the face of the greatest threat to our democracy: President Trump’s willingness to break rules to hold power.

Fears new federal rule will harm seniors who get prescriptions by mail

OPINION — U.S. Customs and Border Protection has a dangerous new rule with an Oct. 22 compliance date that will threaten the healthcare of millions of Americans. The rule, “Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments,” will effectively end Americans’ ability to personally import their prescription medicines.

Senior thanks Rep. Hamadeh for tax relief

OPINION — After working and paying taxes for many years, seniors deserve a break on taxation of their retirement financial resources. Many live on fixed incomes that are affected by rising costs. Tax relief can provide the extra cushion to make the “golden years” a little more stress-free.

Will you vote in your own self-interest this year?

OPINION — Why do we continue to vote against our own self-interest? Is it because we are from a family of life-long Republicans or Democrats, or do we pay attention to political commercials that are fabricated and paid for by billionaires? Are we pouring all of our attention into media that manufactures outrage dividing us as a nation?

Military widow: Rep. Hamadeh’s office solved my problem

OPINION — I’m not really into opinions. Facts and actions are what count. My experience as a 40-year military widow was mightily reaffirmed recently. I must share.

EPCOR consolidation, rate hike aren’t a done deal; let’s fight

OPINION — I don’t blame Sun City and Sun City West residents who are ticked off because EPCOR is pushing to raise our water costs by roughly 30%, or maybe I do!

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 …

Contract negotiations between unions, school boards bolster education

OPINION — I am writing in response to Joe Pasta’s recent letter citing his opposition to labor unions in Arizona, specifically in the area of education. He alleges that the nation’s second-largest education union “has done little to promote better education practices or better classroom conditions,” but he offers no proof for that claim.

Trump the only threat to mail-in voting

OPINION — When I became eligible to vote by mail, I did it. Voting by mail originally was restricted to active-duty military personnel, the disabled and elderly, election workers and voters who were temporarily out of town.

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