Despite an $11.8 billion unfunded liability owed by more than 300 Arizona municipalities, counties and state agencies, some encouraging trends are emerging in the system that provides pensions for nearly 60,000 retired first responders, corrections officers and qualifying elected officials.

Gov. Doug Ducey’s office of education demanded a change in Peoria Unified School District’s COVID-19 mitigation strategies for the upcoming school year, stating it was unlawful.

Stay safe during monsoon

Man with dementia drives the wrong way on 303

Tony Vining has returned to the Peoria Unified School District as the Raymond S. Kellis High School principal. 

With the city of Peoria having recently completed a string of community engagement opportunities, officials are continuing to plan for further development of Paloma Community Park.

Peoria Firefighter Charities is giving away backpacks filled with school supplies in a drive-thru giveaway at the Community Center parking lot from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 31.

Richmond American Homes, Pulte Homes and David Weekley Homes are selling in phase one of Northpointe at Vistancia, the fourth and final lifestyle community within the award-winning 7,100-acre Vistancia master-planned community.

Several West Valley organizations are set to receive increased funding after the Peoria City Council authorized the reallocation of unspent federal coronavirus relief funds. 

The Peoria Fire-Medical Department has purchased a hazmat robot to avoid tragedies like the 2019 explosion at the APS McMicken energy storage facility that injured four Peoria firefighters.

The Arizona Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Foundation was granted $60,000 from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (AZGOHS). 

Fairmont Village hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newly constructed and recently renovated memory care and behavioral memory care neighborhood in Peoria. 

The University of Arizona recently launched a new game, in which the public can estimate rain measurements during the monsoon season and win prizes. 

A new principal has been appointed at Raymond S. Kellis High School. 

The Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Council elected a new chair, Mesa Mayor John Giles. The Regional Council is MAG’s governing body.

Arizona advocates are breathing “a sigh of relief” this week after the Supreme Court again refused to invalidate the Affordable Care Act, a decision that should preserve the health care program for at least several years.

Despite gains in some areas, Arizona continued to rank among the worst states in the nation for education, according to the latest version of a national report that measures children’s well-being across several areas.

Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers have played two shows at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe and a pair in Mexico since the pandemic restrictions began to life. 

Ashin Tricarico, 19, has been indicted on several charges stemming from a string of drive-by shootings earlier this month. 

West Valley Art Museum

The city of Peoria and the Peoria Unified School District are working together to host Pfizer vaccination events for those 12 and older at Peoria High School this summer until July 30. 

Walmart recently expanded its Community Academy to its Peoria store near Grand Avenue and Cotton Crossing.

When 19-year-old Ashin Tricarico allegedly terrified the West Valley with a string of drive-by shootings, many residents were shocked.

The Arizona Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Foundation received a $20,000 grant from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to help promote a helmet assistance program that will help individuals garner a quality DOT full face or modular helmet.

The Arizona Association for Economic Development has honored a trio of legislators as 2020 Economic Development Champions. 

Peoria allows for closely monitored fun this Independence Day. While there are permitted public fireworks displays, many households also like to celebrate at home. If any community members plan to purchase and use fireworks before July 6, consider these guidelines.

Liberty High School graduate Brandon Caserta walked to the flight line at Naval Station Norfolk on June 25, 2018, and said, “I’m sorry you have to see this.”

Youth summer meals are here 

Richmond American, Pulte and David Weekley Homes are selling in phase one of Northpointe at Vistancia, the fourth and final lifestyle community within the 7,100-acre Vistancia master-planned community.

Arizona Christian University acquired the Glendale/Peoria YMCA, which is another step in expanding the liberal arts school. 

The Peoria Unified Governing Board tapped Landa Tartaglio to lead Peoria High School as its new principal during the governing body’s May 27 meeting. 

In its 40th year, Benevilla offers free essential home services for older adults who may need extra help in maintaining their independence at home. 

One of the Valley’s next new freeway traffic interchanges is taking shape along Loop 303 in north Peoria. Crews have installed bridge girders at the future Jomax Parkway interchange as part of the Arizona Department of Transportation’s project to widen Loop 303 north of Happy Valley Parkway. 

Health care is a thriving sector in the West Valley, and by all accounts, the region’s industry boom has only just begun.

Registration is open for the first Urban Heat Leadership Academy developed by the Nature Conservancy, Phoenix Revitalization Corp. and other partners. The academy is free and open to Valley residents.

Each year, the Western Maricopa Coalition hosts the Economic Development Summit. Amid the coronavirus, it was only fitting that this year’s summit was titled “2021: A Year of Transition. What’s on the Horizon for the West Valley?”

Brian Peters loved to learn. If his children, wife or friends needed anything, he could figure out how to do it. 

Thanks to the pandemic, communities are relying on their local parks and recreation departments for outdoor recreation, health and wellness, and safe open spaces. Well-run parks systems support the local economy. 

Officer-involved shooting claims man

Scorpion Bay Marina is hiring for the 2021 season with positions ranging from charter boat captains, dockhands and deckhands, general store attendant, marina office, receptionist and boat dry storage attendant (boat launch and retrievals).

The Trilogy at Vistancia Veterans Club works to engage military veterans within its gated community. 

The Peoria City Council will vote on the proposed $695 million budget Tuesday, May 18, that maintains core citizen services with small, but necessary, adjustments to utility rates and without any increases to taxes, said Peoria City Manager Jeff Tyne.

Benevilla is hosting the West Valley Life Enrichment Day Program open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, at the Church at Cactus, 8133 W. Cactus Road, Peoria.

The Peoria-based Arizona Motorcycle Safety & Awareness Foundation handed out its Visionary Awards to community partners at its Share the Road/Riding for the Long Haul event in May. 

The members of local AARP Historic Chapter No. 1 in Youngtown presented President Jesse Ramirez with $150 and over 312 pounds of food collected during its community food drive for local nonprofit Valley View Community Food Bank.  

To many people, professional sports are simply entertainment. They provide an arena for athletes to play the games we played as kids.