NOGALES, Ariz.- An American woman who was released from a Mexican jail cried out for joy when she crossed the border into Arizona. "I'm home! Finally!" Yanira Maldonado exclaimed.

It has become a real-life soap opera watched by people around the world and dozens of fanatics who camp out on a Phoenix sidewalk in the middle of the night to get into the show. One seat even sold for $200.

Did you catch The Rev. Jesse Jackson the other night on CNN demanding a Senate hearing into why regulators never cracked down on that gruesome abortion clinic in Philadelphia?

It's a given at multiplexes these days that despite switch-off-your-cell-phone announcements and the occasional grumbling protest, whatever's onscreen will have to compete with tiny pockets of light from audience members unable to stay off their handhelds. Watching those glow patches come and go during "Disconnect" reinforces the film's position on how desensitized we've become to these technological intrusions. Not that Henry-Alex Rubin's schematic multi-strand drama is at all shy about articulating its themes.

I wrote a Letter to the Editor last week and got a lot of comments about being racist and questioning a woman- only right to abort a male-conceived fetus at will.

First, Sen. John McCain is for immigration reform, then when it’s politically expedient, he’s against it. With a challenge from his right behind him, he wiggles, squirms and acerbically claims to constituents that he’s for reform once again.

Chris Christie got laughs on the Letterman show last week when he showed up with a doughnut. I get what he was trying to do. People keep goofing on his girth, and a former White House doctor had just told CNN that if Christie were elected president, “I’m worried about this man dying in office.” So he figures that the best way to defuse the issue is to make light of his weight.

Since 1986, the Scripps Celebrity Super Bowl Poll has been asking big names in entertainment, news, sports and pop culture to predict the outcome of the big game. This year, more than 115 celebrities picked between the San Francisco 49ers, led by quarterback Colin Kaepernick, and the Baltimore Ravens, featuring linebacker Ray Lewis.

Here's my annual list looking at 2012:

The party is at your house this year.

Two Arizona gun-rights groups said Wednesday that lawmakers should consider letting specially trained teachers and administrators carry guns into public schools to protect students against future attacks.

Two Arizona gun-rights groups said Wednesday that lawmakers should consider letting specially trained teachers and administrators carry guns into public schools to protect students against future attacks.

Ahwatukee Foothills resident Lisa Campbell is not your average Michael Jackson fan girl.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama won re-election Tuesday night despite a fierce challenge from Republican Mitt Romney, prevailing in the face of a weak economy and high unemployment that encumbered his first term and crimped the middle class dreams of millions.

5…4…3…2... You get the idea.

“Hopefully Sandy’s decision to occupy Wall St. Will have a bigger effect on Congress and the president’s numerous requests to address infrastructure than the 99 percent did. Sandy could be the E.F. Hutton of the 21st century: When Sandy speaks everyone listens.”

NEW YORK — Beneath Bob Schieffer's Southern charm is the tough spine of someone used to dealing with politicians. The moderator of Monday's final presidential debate will need it, because it has been open season on the other journalists who have done that job this campaign.

Maybe it’s just the haze of nostalgia, but it seems that 40-plus years ago when I was trick-or-treating age, we could put the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, civil unrest and the drug culture out of our minds long enough for some good old-fashioned fun.

“If people would give up their Medicare and Social Security we could afford our wars, tax cuts and weapons systems. Wake up, people, and stop being so greedy.”

When a trusting young mother asks me for parenting advice I’m simultaneously flattered and terrified because while it is a compliment, it’s a lot of pressure. I didn’t Ferberize, or do “attachment,” or read Dr. Spock. I let the kids watch as much “Star Trek” as they liked, but I’m not sure that counts, so I don’t feel particularly qualified to be handing out advice.

DENVER — President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney come face to face for the first time in this presidential campaign Wednesday night for a nationally televised debate that will give millions of Americans a chance to size up two fierce competitors in a moment of high-risk theater.

In the latest labor report, 368,000 more Americans have stopped looking for work, artificially skewing the unemployment stats down. The recent report of 8.1 percent tricks the brain of the casual thinker. Try thinking about this: 12.5 million of your fellow Americans are out of work (Labor Department). Perhaps you are one of them or your child. See: www.money.cnn.com (2012 August jobs report).

Lines grew in anticipation outside Apple stores across the Valley Friday morning.

OK, so who got the bounce from the conventions? Obama-Biden did. Initially, they received a national ratings bump of about 4 percent. As of a week later, the bounce had increased to the high single digits.