House lawmakers on Thursday approved legislation that links student loan rates to the ups and downs of the financial markets in spite of a veto threat from President Barack Obama.

Dear Debt Adviser: I own my home and have no mortgage or note. I have no debts except a student loan of about $11,000, and I can pay that off right now. I’ve always wanted to be debt-free, and I could write a check tomorrow and do that.

After years in the doldrums, the housing market appears back on track. Home sales and prices are up, and mortgage rates remain near historic lows, reinvigorating the appeal of home ownership.

Editor's note: Claire Hoogenboom is a broadcast major studying journalism at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University.

WASHINGTON — U.S. home prices rose 9.3 percent in February compared with a year ago, the most in nearly seven years. The gains were driven by a growing number of buyers who bid on a limited supply of homes.

About 568 graduates will receive diplomas this year from Mesa's Westwood High School.

WASHINGTON — Americans are more optimistic the job market is healing and will deliver higher pay later this year. That brighter outlook, along with rising home prices, cheaper gasoline and a surging stock market, could offset some of the drag from the recent tax increases and government spending cuts.

Putting herself through school, Shayna Stevens relies heavily on student loans to pursue a degree in secondary education at Northern Arizona University.

“The great Obama is in charge of the sequestration. So what does this guy do? He goes to air traffic controllers and lays them off to cause the most inconvenience he can to American travellers. He could have gone to the nonessential personnel they always tell to stay home when there is a major weather event in D.C. This guy is a real piece of work. I can’t believe there are people that actually think he is doing a good job?”

“Hey, Mesa! How about not ripping up Broadway until you’re finished with Southern? But no, that would make sense!”

“The ‘bathroom bill’ is without doubt the most hateful measure the Legislature has ever come up with. It’s also indicative of a complete lack of understanding of transgender people and the LGBT community in general. To remedy this, I suggest viewing a program called “In the Life” on YouTube. Oh, wait, some people don’t want to understand; they just want to hate.”

Recovery seems to be on the minds of many these days as the economy continues to shake off the after-effects of the recession. Housing prices and sales are climbing, the unemployment rate is falling and near record-low mortgage rates are bringing potential buyers who had been reluctant to make a move during the housing downturn back into the market.

The Mesa Arts Center will have a new outdoor stage for performances and visual art demonstrations in the next year or two, as part of a transformation planned for the 8-year old facility.

Bryan and Kelley Bijonowski’s Gilbert business has seen a lot in nine years.

In celebration of Black History Month, Southeast Regional Library in Gilbert is hosting an exhibit of West African art on loan from local genealogist Joyce Reese McCollum.

Doug Parker has no problem donning rapper Psy's light blue tuxedo for Halloween and performing his own version of Gangnam Style before hundreds of employees. The CEO of US Airways even let a video of his dance get posted to YouTube. He's outspoken, confident, and persistent, and he is very close to being put in charge of the world's largest airline.

WASHINGTON — Arizona earned a D in a national report Wednesday that graded states on their families’ financial security in five broad categories.

Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett spoke to an audience of around 80 Wednesday at the Chandler chamber of Commerce’s economic update luncheon, attempting to shed light on a sometimes murky, sometimes confusing state budget scenario in recent years.

WASHINGTON — Buying your own health insurance will never be the same.

The state's jobless rate jumped a bit last month -- maybe.

High school seniors and their parents can learn more about ways to pay for college and other post-secondary education opportunities during the Chandler Unified School District Financial Aid Night. The event will be held 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 16) at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. Doors open at 6 p.m.

LOS ANGELES — To bring the story of mobster Mickey Cohen's reign over post-war Los Angeles to life, the director of "Gangster Squad" employed Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling and more than 100 irreplaceable vintage American cars.

Attorney General Tom Horne is warning Arizona residents to be on the lookout for a mailer that asks for illegal up-front fees to join a national lawsuit.