It’s a number we are taught as children, a number that no one ever wants to have to dial. However, in the unfortunate circumstance that you have to call 9-1-1, you want to know that help is on the way, and quickly.

Well, here we are, the morning after the special Congressional District 8 primary election. The Big Two have selected their candidates and now, it comes to the big finale April 24. Then, the campaigns start all over again. Before you know it, the primary election in August will pit the same …

There’s no other way to say this: Thank you, our faithful subscribers, for continuing to read our stories and search our ads for products you can trust.

In next week’s paper, we will be publishing an article about public art in Peoria, and the arts in general in Peoria.

Well, summer is over, and City Hall will be gearing up for action. Although we won’t see the agenda for another week, it is almost certain to contain items of special interest to the planning community.

We’re coming up on Independence Day, a day of celebration, picnics in the park, fireworks at the stadium, sharing the pride you feel about all the liberties we have as Americans.

There was a lot of ground covered in Mayor Cathy Carlat’s State of the City address. Not only did she praise council and staff, she mentioned Peoria citizens by name who had given her recommendations and ideas for moving the city forward into a brighter future.

None of us live in a bubble. Everything that happens in our world will eventually have an impact on our lives.

A great number of us are out of touch with the world around us, and much of it has to do with technology advances. So many of us are fascinated with our hand-held window to the world, we ignore people sitting or standing next to us who just want a little attention.

Well, folks, just a few more days and we will have elected a new President of the United States.

In today’s current climate, with a harsh spotlight being trained on law enforcement agencies and police officers being painted with broader and murkier brush strokes, it’s easy to forget that behind the sensational headlines, behind the dramatic short clips of body worn camera videos, behind…

In 2012, Peoria Unified School District (PUSD) voters approved a $180,000,000 bond - the first ever with no new construction. The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) convened by the governing board was provided with needs of $300,000,000 but recommended a smaller amount.

You are worried about the election in November. You are undecided about who you want to be our next President. You fear one, then the other. Another media sound byte beams across the broadcast terrain. You are really feeling overloaded. Then, there’s the debate. That dreaded fear comes over …

A sparse crowd at the Peoria Arts Commission special meeting Tuesday was disheartening. But there were bright spots throughout the discussion of art projects in North Peoria.

What happens when a lawyer is working on your case and gives privileged information about such to another attorney representing his client, who just happens to be your opponent in court?

We’ve come to a point already in the Mesquite district council race, where candidates are either in the offensive or defensive mode.

In what appears to be the never-ending saga of the West Valley casino, otherwise known as Desert Diamond Casino-West Valley, once again, the courts are being called upon to make a decision on the venture by the Tohono O’odham Nation, a venture, we might add, that was made public in 2009.

Sometimes, just making a final decision about how you are going to vote on an issue comes down to the lesser of two evils. That’s a sad commentary on the present state of affairs in Arizona when it comes to education funding.

As you place your food bags by your mailbox this Saturday morning, keep in mind there are thieves out there waiting for this yearly donation to their pantry. Yes, there are actually thieves waiting patiently as the mail carriers make their rounds for the annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive.

Former City Manager Terry Ellis was not referring to any particular city when he said an acquaintance told him recently, “Peoria is viewed as a city that does things right.”

While national politics have been at front and center since July, local election activities don’t really get started until January or February. It should come as no surprise that office-seekers were already pulling nomination papers the first week of January.

Since Peoria Mayor Cathy Carlat took office last year, she has been hard at work on her list of priorities, launching bold initiatives aimed at creating jobs, carefully and thoughtfully planning for future growth, enhancing quality of life and bringing transparency and accountability into lo…

At this point, it should be clear to anyone that an organized effort is being put forth to stop the Desert Diamond Casino-West Valley from obtaining a state-issued liquor license.

You just had to be there. Choosing a vice mayor and mayor pro tem can be a predictable form of entertainment. One tends to know how the vote will go once a nomination is made. So it went for the City of Peoria, as the council went through the motions of voting on the term of each office, and…

I take great pride in telling people Peoria is my hometown. That’s only partially true, however. The first 10 years of my life were spent in a small cotton-farming community called Marinette.

There’s one good reason to vote yes on the overrides put forth by Deer Valley and Peoria unified school districts: They need the money.

One  could make the point that it is time for state officials to “give it up” on the Tohono O’odham Nation’s bid to operate a casino on its property in the West Valley.