The American Society of Newspaper Editors dedicate this week each year as Sunshine Week. Its purpose is to remind Americans that public officials must conduct public business openly for all to see.

A farmer would be horrified over the notion of an Arizona coyote being assigned to watch over his chicken coop. Arizonans should be worried that some public officials think they should be responsible for watching over themselves.

A farmer would be horrified over the notion of an Arizona coyote being assigned to watch over his chicken coop. Arizonans should be worried that some public officials think they should be responsible for watching over themselves.

When East Valley voters go to the polls Tuesday, they will decide whether to support a number of city and school district bond issues and budget overrides.

In some respects, it’s easier to make a case against Proposition 204 than it is to support it. This measure on the Nov. 6 ballot would keep the state sales tax at 6.6 percent with most of the funds from a permanent 1-cent surcharge going to Arizona’s public schools. If it fails, the sales tax drops back to 5.6 percent. And who wouldn’t like to pay lower taxes? Plus, many credible organizations and individuals — from the Arizona Chamber of Commerce to the Goldwater Institute to Craig Barrett, former CEO of Intel — oppose it for a variety of legitimate reasons.

Imagine a downtown with multi-story buildings and sidewalks bustling with young people, professionals, and shoppers. Frequently, a light rail train travels through, stopping to unload passengers from all over the Valley who come to this urban center for work, entertainment and a vibrant nightlife.

Imagine a downtown with multi-story buildings and sidewalks bustling with young people, professionals, and shoppers. Frequently, a light rail train travels through, stopping to unload passengers from all over the Valley who come to this urban center for work, entertainment and a vibrant nightlife.

As a “turnaround” principal, Ray Chavez has a daunting task before him: Transform Mesa’s Carson Junior High School from a low-performing underachiever into an academic success. After Carson was found to be failing for five years under the federal No Child Left Behind law, the Mesa Unified School District was required to take drastic steps to “turn around” the school.

As a “turnaround” principal, Ray Chavez has a daunting task before him: Transform Mesa’s Carson Junior High School from a low-performing underachiever into an academic success. After Carson was found to be failing for five years under the federal No Child Left Behind law, the Mesa Unified School District was required to take drastic steps to “turn around” the school.

As a “turnaround” principal, Ray Chavez has a daunting task before him: Transform Mesa’s Carson Junior High School from a low-performing underachiever into an academic success. After Carson was found to be failing for five years under the federal No Child Left Behind law, the Mesa Unified School District was required to take drastic steps to “turn around” the school.

When Michael Crow became president of Arizona State University, he brought with him a lofty long-term vision, catchy buzz-phrases like “New American University,” and the promise of access, achievement and progress.

The Mesa Unified School District and the Mesa Chamber of Commerce deserve kudos for a new buy-local initiative.

Sometimes you don’t know what you have until you lose it.

The notion that students should be allowed to carry guns on a college campus is a bad idea. No, it is a really bad idea.

The notion that students should be allowed to carry guns on a college campus is a bad idea. No, it is a really bad idea.

The notion that students should be allowed to carry guns on a college campus is a bad idea. No, it is a really bad idea.

The US Air Force needs to hear support from East Valley residents for the F-35 mission at Luke Air Force Base. Luke, located in the West Valley, is contending to be one of the key training sites for the F-35 Lightning II, also referred to as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Arizona’s future is tied to its education system. If our kids are college educated they are more likely to have better jobs with better pay.

Arizona’s future is tied to its education system. If our kids are college educated they are more likely to have better jobs with better pay.

Arizona’s future is tied to its education system. If our kids are college educated they are more likely to have better jobs with better pay.

Every year, Nov. 11 is a day to observe with ceremonies that thank all of those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. But this Friday will be a special Veterans Day because of the promise that American troops in Iraq will be home by the end of the year.

Every year, Nov. 11 is a day to observe with ceremonies that thank all of those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. But this Friday will be a special Veterans Day because of the promise that American troops in Iraq will be home by the end of the year.

Every year, Nov. 11 is a day to observe with ceremonies that thank all of those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. But this Friday will be a special Veterans Day because of the promise that American troops in Iraq will be home by the end of the year.

The conventional wisdom among conservatives is to oppose most regulations that force private businesses to do something they don’t want to do. It would say let the free market work because the market works best without government interference.

It is time for Americans to get comfortable with the idea of getting mail every other day — or maybe not at all.

It is a very complicated issue with matters of law, economics, human dignity, civil rights and just plain civility all playing a part. It is pompous to believe the answers are simple and dangerous when a politician or organization wants to paint any group of people – by religion, race or otherwise – as villains.

From the start, Arizona’s charter schools were pitted against the state’s school districts as lawmakers created them to force competition and stimulate an education marketplace. So it was inevitable that an us-versus-them mentality would develop as traditional public schools suddenly found that their students — and the state dollars that accompany them — had other public schooling options.

From the start, Arizona’s charter schools were pitted against the state’s school districts as lawmakers created them to force competition and stimulate an education marketplace. So it was inevitable that an us-versus-them mentality would develop as traditional public schools suddenly found that their students — and the state dollars that accompany them — had other public schooling options.

From the start, Arizona’s charter schools were pitted against the state’s school districts as lawmakers created them to force competition and stimulate an education marketplace. So it was inevitable that an us-versus-them mentality would develop as traditional public schools suddenly found that their students — and the state dollars that accompany them — had other public schooling options.

It took a lawsuit and courtroom questions from a lawyer and judge to do it, be we finally got our first glimpse of Olivia Cortes on Thursday.

We live in a society that seems to always want the fast and easy answer: Yes or no. True or false. Good or bad.

In an age when research shows adult Americans spend more than eight hours a day in front of screens - computer, TV, cell phone - and are increasingly putting in more hours in a downsized workforce, do we take the time to know our neighbors anymore? The family with the minivan full of kids across the street. The old guy on the corner. The young couple next door. Up and down the block are the pieces of a neighborhood fabric. Separately, they're just pieces. Sew them together and you have a community.

Ten years on, the rubble from the terrorist onslaught has been removed - replaced, as such things always seems to be, by opportunistic tourist stalls as well as genuine tributes.

The questions, accusations and characterizations were pretty direct.

Of all the consumer choices we will make in our lifetime, the decision about where our children will attend school is among the most important.

Of all the consumer choices we will make in our lifetime, the decision about where our children will attend school is among the most important.

Of all the consumer choices we will make in our lifetime, the decision about where our children will attend school is among the most important.

Tribune editorial

When it comes to online businesses, big and small, Arizona is a haven.

When it comes to online businesses, big and small, Arizona is a haven.

This week, thousands of East Valley students and teachers will return to their classrooms for another school year.

Tribune editorial

Tribune editorial

Tribune editorial

Tribune editorial

Tribune editorial

Tribune editorial

Tribune editorial

Tribune editorial

Tribune editorial