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

Tempe reader: Trump squandered his chance, now he should resign

OPINION — I've been a Christian Conservative Republican my entire adult life (I'm 77 years old). I worked hard to get Donald Trump elected in 2016 and 2024. I've worked hard for decades to elect Conservative Republicans. Trump and his administration bear the overwhelming responsibility for the Republicans' disastrous midterm-election results.

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

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

The trouble with license plate readers is the architecture, not just some users

OPINION — Wherever Marci Bakely went, her ex-boyfriend seemed to know. When the Georgia single mother drove to the grocery store or a date, he often texted within minutes. According to a Washington Post investigation, Bakely’s ex-boyfriend, Braselton Police Chief Michael Steffman, searched her license plates and those of her teenage daughter roughly 600 times through Flock Safety, a company that makes and operates networks of automated license plate readers, or ALPRs.

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.

Opinion

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 …

Opinion

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.

Opinion

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.

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Your Community Your Voice

Feeling safe again can take time after domestic violence

Safety can change in a moment, but feeling safe again can take much longer. This is something I have come to understand through my work as a therapist in Arizona with individuals who have experienced domestic violence and other forms of trauma.

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.

Prop. 424 would provide funds for fighting crime in Tempe

OPINION — Everyone deserves to feel safe in Tempe, and to know that if they experience sexual assault, law enforcement has the resources needed to pursue the person responsible. Crime data Tempe reported to the FBI and Arizona DPS show 681 forcible rapes since 2022 and 28 arrests — about 4%. The national arrest rate is nearly 28%.

Tempe must vote no on 424, resident says

OPINION — Any reasonable person supports children, public transportation and public safety. Supporting these goals does not mean giving City Hall a blank check. When government asks citizens to tax themselves — especially a regressive tax that places a greater burden on lower-income residents — we have a responsibility to ask hard questions.

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 …

Kyrene candidate wants to serve district that invested in him

OPINION — Kyrene schools helped shape who I am and provided me with the skills to succeed. I am running for the governing board to give back to the community and district that invested in me. At a time when public schools face serious challenges related to funding and red tape, Kyrene needs leadership that advocates for students and staff.

Why I’m taking my mail-in ballot to be ID-verified

OPINION — I will take my completed mail-in ballot to a voting center, have the sealed envelope ID-verified, drop the ballot in the drop box and await acknowledgements from the sign-up tracking system that my ballot has arrived at the processing center and has been counted.

Prop. 424 a practical way to keep Tempe safe, moving

OPINION — As a former Tempe City Council member and small-business owner, I’ve spent years listening to families, first responders and local employers talk about what they need to succeed in our city. It always comes back to the same basics: safe neighborhoods and ways to get around that work. That’s why I strongly support Proposition 424.

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 …

Why Tempe must pass Prop. 424

OPINION — Tempe faces a significant budget challenge after the Arizona Legislature eliminated the residential rental tax, revenue the city relied on to provide transportation, education, public safety and other services. It created a gap in Tempe’s long-term funding.

Building a more connected and resilient Tempe

OPINION — The decisions we make today shape the way Tempe grows tomorrow. Good stewardship means making thoughtful choices about how we use our resources to strengthen our community today while preparing it for the challenges ahead. Proposition 424 is an opportunity to put that principle into practice.

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.

Tempe hasn’t earned public’s trust for Prop. 424

OPINION — Sound public policy is defined by how revenue is raised, who bears the burden and whether spending comes with real accountability. Tempe’s Proposition 424 fails on all three counts.

Why we’re voting no on Tempe Prop. 424

OPINION — Funding for preschools, public safety and transit all sound appealing on paper, but Tempe’s leadership hasn't earned the trust to wisely and fairly spend the millions that this permanent tax hike would cost us.

A new era in learning

OPINION — A few years ago, online learning was almost always discussed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sudden shift to virtual classrooms delivered a huge range of experiences and reactions as parents, teachers and students adjusted to an unfamiliar setting. After all, the transition was abrupt and unexpected. But now, years after the return to in-person schooling, online education hasn’t faded as a passing trend.

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 …

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.

Your politics won’t protect you from the 'surveillance state'

OPINION — Erica Schwartz, the newly appointed director of the Centers for Disease Control, made federal priorities clear during her recent confirmation hearings: “Abortion surveillance is absolutely a critical component of what the CDC is currently doing.” She assured members of Congress that she would ensure that states weren’t “hiding abortions” under the auspices of “emergency care.”

Wildlife advocate: Vote Catherine Miranda for state Senate

OPINION — Arizonans saw countless attacks on our state’s beautiful wildlife this year in Phoenix. Bills designed to weaken protections for native wildlife, decimate Mexican gray wolves and prioritize cruel management practices over scientifically backed ones were on the table this year.

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.

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, …

Gen Z women don’t owe America babies

OPINION — Gen Z women like me are having fewer babies. That shouldn’t be a surprise. With prices for everything going up, our parents’ steady jobs, white picket fences and retirement packages feel much less attainable for us.

Tempe Police Department needs top-to-bottom outside assessment

OPINION — Tempe city elected officials are presenting a new police oversight initiative, the Public Safety and Community Oversight Committee. The panel will be led by newly elected Councilmember Bobby Nichols, who was supported by the Democratic Socialists of America, and includes Mayor Corey Woods and newly elected Councilmember Brooke St. George.

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 …

As Valley heat keeps rising, it takes all hands to keep pace

OPINION — A few weeks ago, a family of four was brought to our doors by a Phoenix firefighter who had responded to a heat-distress call in a parking lot where the family had been living out of their car. That handoff, from first responder to shelter provider, happens more often than most people realize.

Why early reading intervention can’t wait until parent-teacher conferences

OPINION — Across the country, educators continue to grapple with a literacy crisis that began before the pandemic and has only become more pronounced in its wake. In Arizona, just 36% of third graders met proficiency on the state’s English Language Arts assessment in 2025, according to data from the Arizona Department of Education.

9/11 memories: The Valley looks back on terror attacks

You didn’t have to be in New York City, Washington, D.C, or rural Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001, to be profoundly impacted by the terror attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people and changed both America and the world forever. Here are memories shared by 14 current and former Valley residents.

Everything you wanted to know about the World Series … but were afraid to ask

Imagine you’re at an outdoor dinner party (yes, COVID-friendly). It’s October, and the conversation steers towards the World Series. While you are generally culturally literate, you know …

Christensen: Health literacy more important than ever for Arizonans in ongoing COVID-19 crisis

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted millions across the country, and Arizona has not been spared. This virus and its resulting economic fallout have put a harsh spotlight on rising health care …

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