Opinion

Sometimes partisan politics and legislative jockeying can unintentionally result in good policy ideas.

We encourage readers to submit letters to the editor on issues of interest to East Valley residents. Submissions should be no longer than 300 words, factually accurate and original thoughts of the writer. Please be brief and include name, address, city and phone number for verification. Letters and call-in comments may be edited for clarity and length.

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A movie classic still playing at a theater near you - "The Forbidden Kingdom," starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li - drops among all the ballet-like fight sequences some wise words to the effect of: A man who honors his teachers honors himself.

There are times when I pick up the Tribune in the driveway, and as I read the headlines it takes me back to another time in my life.

Hillary Clinton, 60, Illinois native and Arkansas lawyer, became, retroactively, a lifelong Yankee fan at age 52 when, shopping for a U.S. Senate seat, she adopted New York state as home sweet home.

 We encourage readers to submit letters to the editor on issues of interest to East Valley residents. Submissions should be no longer than 300 words, factually accurate and original thoughts of the writer. Please be brief and include name, address, city and phone number for verification. Letters and call-in comments may be edited for clarity and length.

Submit your letter to the editor

Last week, about 500 people gathered at infilling southern Phoenix to discuss their visions about how Pinal County will fill out.

The price of gasoline: It’s not just a water cooler topic anymore. Our own Sen. John McCain made the issue a part of his presidential campaign three weeks ago, when he introduced the idea of suspending the federal gasoline tax during the summer travel season.

Although like many people who run for school board, Molly Holzer had experience as a dedicated parent activist, she brought to the Scottsdale Unified School District governing board the big-eyed, big-smile enthusiasm and bubbly personality of a high school cheerleader. Of course, merely because one has a decidedly upbeat countenance does not mean that one is incapable of serious and poignant views on issues.

Let’s take a moment to thank the community for a wonderful Spring Training season, congratulate the best and the brightest in Scottsdale education and honor a community leader.

As a frequent visitor to Freestone Park, I appreciate the decision of Gilbert’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (under the direction of the Town Council) to install signs urging smokers, “In consideration of others, please restrict tobacco usage to a reasonable distance from those around you. Thank you.”

There has been a lot of discussion lately concerning whether Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio should notify Mesa Police Chief George Gascón prior to conducting immigration sweeps in Mesa.

I never have understood the complaints of the neighors of San Tan Flat, largely because I’ve just never been that anti-noise. or anti-ambient noise, anyway.

Arizona State University President Michael Crow definitely knows to give a politically correct, if not necessarily accurate, answer.

The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety sent out a couple of news releases Tuesday touting the fact that DUI task forces around the state made fewer arrests in connection to the Cinco de Mayo holiday. Specifically, police made 181 arrests over the weekend compared to 248 in 2007 and 209 in 2006.

We encourage readers to submit letters to the editor on issues of interest to East Valley residents. Submissions should be no longer than 300 words, factually accurate and original thoughts of the writer. Please be brief and include name, address, city and phone number for verification. Letters and call-in comments may be edited for clarity and length.

Submit your letter to the editor

The military government of Myanmar is not as insular, corrupt and oppressive as North Korea but it’s a close runner up. And both governments show a stunning indifference to the welfare of their people.

The state Legislature is poised to adopt a troubling change in how some people escape paying any sales taxes if they buy an automobile from Arizona.

In a free society such as ours, obviously everyone is entitled to their opinion. We’re forever reading assorted news reports and editorials from the mainstream media that have bashed the Bush administration regarding some outlandish government-sponsored conspiracy theory of one form or another.

A serious misstep during Sunday's meeting for Guadalupe residents to debate alternatives for local law enforcement should be a strong reminder that any time a majority of people on a government body gathers to discuss public business, state law requires that the public - including the media - be allowed to witness the conversation.