The Twinkies shelves are quickly emptying across Arizona after Hostess announced it was going out of business.

DETROIT — Twinkie lovers, relax.

“Rush Limbaugh was born to a prominent family of judges, authors and legislators in Cape Girardeau, Mo. At age 16, he became enthralled with radio. Not unlike Reagan, he even did sportscasting. He dropped out of college, not giving studies the requisite seriousness needed. Eventually he took over from Morton Downey Jr. in Sacramento, Calif. Unlike Reagan, he did not pursue politics as an elected official. Rather he pursued it as a self-taught pundit, knowing how to pander to his constitutent listeners, the fools who ‘elected’ him king of the conservative movement.”

LAS VEGAS - Freddie Bell, a forerunner in the 1950s rock 'n' roll era whose toe-tapping versions of "Giddy Up A Ding Dong" and "Hound Dog" inspired Elvis Presley to cover the songs, has died. He was 76.

PRESCOTT - Gov. Janet Napolitano is taking aim at the overly ample waistlines of schoolchildren and state employees.

Let's not panic. We all know that Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Wonder bread and the rest of Hostess Brands' oddly everlasting foods aren't going away any time soon, even if the food culture that created them is gasping its last.

For public-school kids, soda pop, Ritz Bits, Ding Dongs and even Nature Valley Granola Bars are on the way out — along with dozens of other snacks ruled “unallowable” this week by the Arizona Department of Education. On the way in are 100 percent fruit juices, low-fat yogurt and baked — not fried — chips.

At the risk of raising ire from fans and lovers of Hostess snacks, I have to confess: I have never been a fan of Twinkies, Ho Hos, Ding Dongs, Zingers or Suzie Q’s. And I would say, outside of eating a package of powdered-sugar doughnuts on rare occasion, I haven’t touched a Twinkie or Hostess cake in more than 30 years. They were just too sweet for me, and I never liked the taste of them.

Lori Vander-Maten knew one day that she would be involved in a stage version of the MGM classic film “The Wizard of Oz.” “I’ve had a love affair with ‘The Wizard of Oz’ since I was a kid and we would watch it on television when it was on once a year,” said Vander-Maten.

Critics of the BCS are having a field day now that Southern California has left it to Hal the Computer to pick between a one-loss Florida team that hasn’t wowed anyone and Michigan, already a loser to the undisputed No. 1, Ohio State.

Like fine wines, leafy trees and store-bought mayonnaise, men change with the seasons . . .

This is going to sound like blasphemy - especially to the film's target audience - but here goes: "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" is way more involving when it focuses on actual people and the palpable angst of young love rather than the video game-style duels to the death in which the title character finds himself.

When quizzed by reporters for a reaction to the trade request of Shawn Marion, Phoenix players spoke well of their teammate in lock step — expressing their disappointment in his comments, but also singing his praises and gently coaxing him back into the fold.

Can a low-tech modeling compound invented by two guys from Cincinnati survive in a video-savvy market? That’s Play-Doh’s challenge as it turns 50 this year. And our money is on a long run for the colorful goo.

While Thursday’s exhibition game between the Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox was held at Bank One Ballpark, the scene outside and inside the stadium was more reminiscent of ones that play out at Fenway Park in Boston.

WASHINGTON – Since March, someone has repeatedly banged on the front door of Felix Bermea’s Gilbert home, set bushes on fire and written profanities on the kids’ furniture after breaking in.

"Homemade" is being redefined by each generation. Where one group sees it more as agriculture, another views it as the assemblage of store-bought goods. Technology has affected "homemade" — specifically, preservation practices.

"Homemade" is being redefined by each generation. Where one group sees it more as agriculture, another views it as the assemblage of store-bought goods. Technology has affected "homemade" — specifically, preservation practices.

The Birds Nest has been part of the FBR/Phoenix Open since 1972, when a group of Phoenix Thunderbirds hatched the idea while the tournament still was being played at Phoenix Country Club.

Chris Cooley suffered well. In mountain bike-speak, suffering well means when Cooley’s legs ached at 5:30 a.m. and he felt as though he had nothing left to give, he ignored the pain. It’s a warped trait possessed by a few endurance athletes.