“Nothing,” said a General Motors spokesman last week, “has changed relative to the GM board’s support for the GM management team during this historically difficult economic period for the U.S. auto industry.” Nothing? Not even the evaporation of almost all shareholder value?

Vernon Parker: Republicans used to be the party of less government, with an eye on shrinking government. Oddly, some now seem afraid to do so. I am not.

A new restaurant next to the Mesa Arts Center. Free admission to Mesa museums on Sundays. An annual arts and cultural festival. Mesa Arts Center director Johann Zietsman threw out some big ideas Wednesday for the future of the arts in Mesa.

The holiday season is here. So what kind of gift are you planning to give to the outdoors enthusiast in your life? No idea? Don’t fret.

A baseball complex, more public transportation, and a large destination are some of the ideas that came from a PlanPHX meeting at Pecos Community Center on Thursday, Oct. 11.

We know about the successes of the internationally recognized city of Scottsdale, but not many people know about the well-greased bureaucracy wheels of Chandler.

All you dads out there can thank me later. OK, mom, kids, gather around, I have an announcement to make: Dads don’t want a wine bottle resealer or a mixed case of “beers from around the world” for Father’s Day.

State agency chiefs say they can reduce their budgets by up to 20 percent - but only by eliminating all services to the developmentally disabled, selling off aircraft and reducing the number of people getting state-paid health care.

“I don’t think I’ve been more angry, and I’ve had some bad-ass days since I’ve been here, believe me,” Arizona coach Dennis Green, after the Cardinals’ 16-14 loss to St. Louis Sunday.

Father’s Day is just 10 days away, and as we all know by now, buying dad a gift is no easy task.

Pricey gasoline and farflung developments are fueling interest in a new way of moving people around the Valley: A commuter rail system.

It’s being billed as a legacy for one of Mesa’s favorite museum showpieces — and for the city itself.

Soon both parties — the Democrats in Washington, the Republicans here in Arizona — must stop talking and actually produce “change.” Unfortunately, as with TV shows, vegetables and furniture, it’s easy to convince people to demand something different, but much harder to guess what they want instead.

For this whole debt-ceiling mess, I squarely blame the Tea Party - Stupidi-Tea, Duplici-Tea and Infantili-Tea! - and the Republicans they've dumbed down: Boehner, McConnell and Cantor. With no revenue, only cuts, and none for the rich, how is that "balanced"?

If anyone is looking for a gently used Barry Manilow boxed set or a copy of “Minnie Riperton’s Greatest Hits” (sorry, I’ve already got dibs on “The Best of the Starland Vocal Band,”) contact the Diamondbacks.

Find yourself with a lean wallet and a craving to do something different this weekend? One of these outings might be your ticket.

East Valley residents have one last chance to tell San Tan Mountains Regional Park planners which features they would like to see when the park’s master plan is submitted to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors for approval.

The Gilbert Town Council decided Tuesday night to continue discussing the idea of adopting a 1.5 percent use tax. It would be charged on items purchased outside of Gilbert without a local sales tax imposed but used primarily in the town. These taxes are charged by most other East Valley cities and generally are pursued only on automobiles and other big-ticket items.

The pressure from the Obama administration for Arizona to expand our Medicaid program is enormous. Gov. Brewer is on board and even some legislative conservatives seem to be wavering. But legislators should take one more look before they make what could be a fateful leap.