Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman has been elected chairman of the Maricopa Association of Governments, the Valley's regional planning agency. As chairman, Hallman's duties include heading a finance committee, working on its budget and contract selections. Hallman has served on MAG's regional council since 2004 and also is a member of its economic development committee.

Valley volunteers who are passionate about the fight against breast cancer are encouraged to apply to become the 2010 Susan G. Komen Phoenix Race for the Cure Race Chair-Elect.

Shawn Marion loves to watch basketball, but he admitted Wednesday that it’s hard now to take in other NBA games when you are a major player in The Greatest Show on Wood.

MINNEAPOLIS - The stock options scandal claimed its biggest corporate chief yet on Sunday, with UnitedHealth Group saying Chairman and CEO William McGuire would step down because an outside report found that his option grants ‘‘were likely backdated.’’

TOKYO - Sony Corp. named Howard Stringer as its chairman today, a decision that marks the first time a foreigner will head a major Japanese electronics firm and comes as the company seeks to boost its faltering core electronics business.

CHICAGO - Motorola Inc. announced Friday that Christopher Galvin has decided to retire as chairman and chief executive.

WASHINGTON - In late February, Christopher Cox, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, was jolted to learn from news stories that his agency had subpoenaed two financial journalists as part of an investigation.

Benevilla honored the new chairman of the board of directors, Dr. Richard Stuckey, Monday night at Eureka Grill in Surprise. Michelle Dionisio, executive director of Benevilla, a not-for-profit human services agency,  said the board elected Stuckey in December. He replaces board member John Bridgforth as the new chairman.

Maricopa County Supervisor Andy Kunasek has been elected by his fellow supervisors chairman of the Board of Supervisors.

The Chairman of the Pinal County Republican Party has joined Sheriff Paul Babeu’s call for County Recorder Laura Dean-Lytle to resign.

Star Parker: From what I see, the Republican National Committee representatives who picked Michael Steele as their new chairman made a mistake. I think Steele ought to step aside.

SAN FRANCISCO - Intel Corp. chairman Craig Barrett, who steered the company through the dot-com meltdown as CEO and has become a high-profile advocate for expanding computing in the developing world, plans to retire in May, the company said Friday.

The Valley of the Sun United Way has chosen Ben Campbell, chief executive of JP Morgan Chase Bank in Arizona, as chairman of this year’s fundraising campaign.

WASHINGTON - Democrats elected Howard Dean chairman of their national party on Saturday, casting their lot with a skilled fund-raiser and organizer whose sometimes caustic, blunt comments can lead to controversy.

NEW YORK - New York Stock Exchange interim chairman John Reed aired his reform plan Wednesday and nominated eight members for a trimmed-down board to improve regulation. Critics say it may not be enough to eliminate trading abuses and conflicts of interest.

WASHINGTON — The Senate has confirmed Ben Bernanke for a second term as chairman of the Federal Reserve. The Senate voted 70-30 on Thursday to reappoint Bernanke amid criticism of his judgment ahead of the financial crisis and his support for massive Wall Street bailouts. His supporters credited him for engineering a financial industry rescue in time to prevent a catastrophic collapse.