Mayor Greg Stanton recently announced the members of his staff who will help him advance his agenda of diversifying Phoenix's economy, making neighborhoods safer, injecting renewed sustainability into city operations, enhancing transparency and ethics throughout city government, and other policy issues.

A real estate developer has pulled out of a mixed-use project in downtown Mesa. New York-based Athena Group decided not to move ahead with plans for the southwest corner of University and Mesa drives, city officials confirmed Wednesday.

If the federal government was meant to create jobs, it would have created a surplus of them by now, and unemployment would be far below 7.8 percent -- considering the exorbitant amount of money the Obama administration has, as it says, “invested” to do so.

A sad state of affairs has taken over not only the U.S. but the entire world. Even China, the second largest economy and emerging giant is dealing with unemployment caused by a lack of U.S. consumer demand. Some cry, "low here," while others cry, "low there," all wishing to convince us that they have the answers. But they don't!

For those who were expecting change in Washington it appears to be business as usual. Actually, the status quo goes back much further than the founding of America.

When politicians talk about the economy, let the public beware.

In the past 50 years, the United States gradually lost its franchise for mass manufacturing on everything from plastic toys and metal screws to automobiles and computer microprocessors. Many items we once bought almost exclusively from domestic companies, such as televisions, are no longer manufactured here.

If the federal government was meant to create jobs, it would have created a surplus of them by now, and unemployment would be far below 7.8 percent — considering the exorbitant amount of money the Obama administration has, as it says, “invested” to do so.

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.

A state representative, a doctor, a scout for the Chicago White Sox and several business owners are among the 13 residents who have applied for the Gilbert Unified School District governing board vacancy.

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.

MILWAUKEE - The clock is winding down on what could be one of the worst holiday shopping seasons in decades and recession-hit shoppers are finally starting to feel some pressure to spend.

Victor Adcock isn’t living in Mesa — yet. But the city line is approaching and now stands about a half block away from his home near University Drive, east of Ellsworth Road. When Adcock moved into his home in 1987, he was the fourth house from the desert. Since then there’s been more development than he can keep track of, he said.

A massive tidal wave of bad credit card debt is surging toward Wall Street, prompting more investor panic and pushing more consumers to the brink of financial devastation.

As a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, it has been my opportunity to observe and work with Rep. Russell Pearce. During my service in the Legislature, I have never observed any language or conduct that even closely approximates the vicious attacks recently levied against him.

Registration open for Am I Hungry? workshop series

‘Out Drive Autism' golf tourney benefits student scholarships

Am I Hungry?

Heart-healthy workshop on exercise and conditioning