Opinion - Civility Learning Lab

Pain at Valley pumps, profit at the refineries

OPINION — While crude oil gets most of the blame for today’s sky-high gas and diesel prices, the refiners that turn crude into fuel have quietly been making a killing and driving up costs. more

By Randall Bloomquist | 10/20/26

Welser: Do your part to stop political racism

This must be election season because, suddenly, there is a flood of political ads on TV — mostly negative! Only a few talk about their qualifications and successes (bravo to our older Delawareans’ positive political commercials). more

By Bill Welser | 10/20/26

Why isn't the U.S. protecting Arizona airline consumers?

OPINION — As other countries strengthen air passenger rights, the U.S. Transportation Department is dismantling its rules and forgiving airline fines. more

By Christopher Elliott | 10/20/26

Elliott: Why isn’t US protecting airline patrons?

As other countries strengthen air passenger rights, the U.S. Transportation Department is dismantling its rules and forgiving airline fines. more

By Christopher Elliott | 10/20/26

Two ways everyone can make a difference in Phoenix

OPINION — Phoenix is ready to launch its community survey with questions on a range of topics around life in our community. It asks what residents think is working, where they see a need for improvement and providing feedback that is used to calculate ongoing satisfaction scores. more

By Ann O’Brien | Phoenix | 10/20/26

Scott: Dover residents need access to study they paid for

I read a recent letter by a Mr. William Faust, titled “Study funds could have been used better by Dover.” more

10/20/26

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. more

By Thomas Richard | Sun City West | 10/20/26

The Scottsdale Unified bond provides vital infrastructure

OPINION — We proudly support the 2025 Scottsdale Unified School District bond plan because it directly funds essential infrastructure, such as modernizing schools, technology servers, plumbing and … more

By Julie and Brian Cieniawski | Scottsdale | 10/20/26

Thoughts on a godless heaven

OPINION — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently promised to replace the “frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.” Warmth certainly sounds inviting on a cold day … more

By Gregg Dudash | Fountain Hills | 10/20/26

FCHC invites the community to a maternity care community stakeholder conversation

For 50 years, Florida Community Health Centers (FCHC) has been Okeechobee’s medical home. Since 1976, generations of Okeechobee residents ... more

By Wilhelmina Lewis President
Chief Executive Officer
Florida Community Health Centers | 10/20/26

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. more

By Benjamin L. Gottlieb | Chandler | 10/19/26

Zubia’s stance on Scottsdale’s Farmers’ Market

OPINION — I agree the farmers’ market’s new location is pretty terrific. For the vendors and the buyers. But I was there for the initiation of the Farmers’ Market in Old Town years … more

Raoul Zubmia understands downtown Scottsdale | 10/19/26

Draper: Trump has ruined US in many ways

Do you really understand our national debt and what is driving its increase? more

By Doris W. Draper | 10/19/26

Why experience matters in the Scottsdale school board election

OPINION — Experience matters when making decisions that shape the future of our schools. But not all experience is the same. I'm a mother of six children, all educated in Scottsdale Unified … more

By Amy Carney | Candidate, Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board | 10/19/26

Making a difference in Fountain Hills

OPINION — Today, several volunteers came to my house, including the Fountain Hills Fire Department and Girl Scout Troop 3173, to renew my landscaping. They arrived promptly … more

By Nancy Ogden | Fountain Hills | 10/19/26

Vote yes on 426 and 427 for Paradise Valley

OPINION — Vote yes on Proposition 426 to increase the expenditure limitation in Paradise Valley. There is no increase in any tax if you vote yes on 426. Mayor Mark Stanton and four council … more

By Julie Pace | Member, Town of Paradise Valley Council | 10/19/26

This is one of four decorative stones donated for Willowcreek Golf Course beautification that are missing.

Sun City golfer hopes someone returns Willowcreek decorative stones

OPINION — I think it’s a sad day in Sun City when things are stolen in plain sight. Our Willowcreek women’s league has a beautification person who helps improve the looks of the course as much as possible. more

By Ellen Hansen | Sun City | 10/19/26

Hallock: How are pricing changes scheduled at gas stations?

I would like to see an investigation/story about how pricing works at gas stations. more

10/19/26

Beyond the driving test: Helping Arizona teens become safer drivers

OPINION — Getting a driver’s license means freedom for teenagers, but for parents, it can bring fear and anxiety. In 2024, 2,320 teen drivers ages 15 to 18 died in auto crashes and more than 80,000 were injured. more

By Maria Wojtczak | Scottsdale | 10/19/26

Washington shouldn’t stand between Arizona families and their financial security

OPINION — Most parents aren’t spending their evenings reading legislation moving through Congress. They’re helping with homework, packing lunches, juggling work schedules and trying to make smart financial decisions for their families. more

By Emily Stack | 10/19/26