A dozen state legislators are trying to intercede in the legal fight over whether the Tohono O'odham Nation gets to build a casino adjacent to Glendale.

DALLAS Dirk Nowitzki ended the two-year MVP reign of good friend Steve Nash on Tuesday, picking up the trophy for a great regular season dimmed by a postseason flop.

From mental illness and adultery to football obsession and competitive dance, "Silver Linings Playbook" follows a wily and winding path that consistently defies expectations.

Saying he has a “unique duty’’ to protect the interests of Arizona residents, state Sen. Russell Pearce wants to intervene in the legal fight over a planned tribal casino on the edge of Glendale.

Life doesn't always go according to plan...Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) has lost everything -- his house, his job, and his wife. He now finds himself living back with his mother (Jacki Weaver) and father (Robert DeNiro) after spending eight months in a state institution on a plea bargain. Pat is determined to rebuild his life, remain positive and reunite with his wife, despite the challenging circumstances of their separation. All Pat's parents want is for him to get back on his feet - and to share their family's obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles football team. When Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a mysterious girl with problems of her own, things get complicated. Tiffany offers to help Pat reconnect with his wife, but only if he'll do something very important for her in return. As their deal plays out, an unexpected bond begins to form between them, and silver linings appear in both of their lives. The Weinstein Company presents SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, a family drama, comedy and love story based on the bestselling novel by Matthew Quick, written and directed by David O. Russell (THE FIGHTER, FLIRTING WITH DISASTER). Starring Bradley Cooper (HANGOVER, LIMITLESS), Jennifer Lawrence (THE HUNGER GAMES, X-MEN: FIRST CLASS), Robert De Niro (LIMITLESS, MEET THE PARENTS) Jacki Weaver (ANIMAL KINGDOM), Anupam Kher (BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM), and Chris Tucker (RUSH HOUR, JACKIE BROWN). Rounding out the cast are Julia Stiles, John Ortiz, Shea Whigham and Dash Mihok. For more information, go to: http://www.silverliningsplaybookmovie.com http://www.facebook.com/silverliningsplaybook http://www.twitter.com/silverliningspb

He might not be ready to play NBA basketball yet, but Shaquille O’Neal is more than ready to post up Bill Walton in their recent war of words.

The Oscar season is customarily kicked off by the Academy President and a random star solemnly announcing the nominees in a drab ceremony. The Academy decided to shake up tradition this year however, in one of the most cheerful Oscar mornings we’ve ever had.

Complete list of 85th Annual Academy Award nominations announced today:

David Yount: "The art of acceptance" could serve as the motto of every person who has ever approached strangers on behalf of worthy causes and needy people.

Devon Alonzo and Brianna Brown each scored 19 points for Hamilton, but the Huskies (10-4) couldn’t overcome 24 turnovers and fell to East Lake (Calif.), 68-58, in the semifinals of the Nike Tournament of Champions Wednesday at Basha High School.

‘Silver Linings Playbook’

If you had told me a month ago that my Oscar predictions would look anything like this, I probably would have advised you to go do a little more research. “Argo” poised for the Best Picture win sans a Best Director nod? Unthinkable. Emmanuelle Riva and Naomi Watts as viable Best Actress contenders against youthful powerhouses like Jennifer Lawrence and Jessica Chastain? You’re pulling my leg.

A beloved English teacher in South Jersey, Matthew Quick may have been financially stable, but he was far from happy. With the support of his wife, Quick left his job at age 30, sold his house, and began writing full-time in his in-laws’ unfinished basement for three years. As he battled mood swings and severe depression, Quick became inspired to write “The Silver Linings Playbook,” which became an instant success and earned him a PEN/Hemingway Award Honorable Mention.

“Well, I knew it wouldn’t be long before the greed factor kicked in and (Phoenix-Mesa) Gateway Airport decided to charge for parking.”

Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale's "The Fighter" is a punch-drunk tale whose fitful ramble from Jerry Springer-style family seaminess to "Rocky"-like triumph is elevated enormously by knockout performances.

So many topics, so little room. Let's see how many we can hit:

How's this for a political plot: Good-looking congressman in his mid-40s, married with two young children, known for his inspirational speeches, comes from far behind to clinch the Democratic nomination and face an older, more experienced centrist Republican. If he wins, he's America's first non-Caucasian president.

Houston Friend scored all of his five points in overtime as the Scottsdale Christian boys basketball team beat Arizona Lutheran 55-49 for the 2A Metro Region title Thursday at Phoenix College.

SEATTLE - The final answer to which running back was going to start Sunday against the Seahawks was . . . both of them.

While the girls team from Desert Mountain was blessed with the Midas touch and came away with a gold medal in every event aside from diving, the boys team found itself without a single gold and trailing Phoenix Shadow Mountain by three points heading into the final event of the 5A Division II state meet.

The Scottsdale Desert Mountain teams dominated the field to take home first place in the 5A Division II swimming and diving state championships Saturday at Arizona State’s Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.

"Hop" has one of the cutest bunnies you'll ever see and plenty of other eye candy among its computer-generated visuals, yet there's not much bounce to the story behind this interspecies buddy comedy.

"Hop" has one of the cutest bunnies you'll ever see and plenty of other eye candy among its computer-generated visuals, yet there's not much bounce to the story behind this interspecies buddy comedy.

"Hop" has one of the cutest bunnies you'll ever see and plenty of other eye candy among its computer-generated visuals, yet there's not much bounce to the story behind this interspecies buddy comedy.