Whether you like it or not, awards season has been thrust upon us. Oscar nominations will be announced bright and early on Jan. 10., with the Golden Globes ceremony only a few days later on the 13th (hosted by no less than the incomparable Tina Fey and Amy Poehler).

As the polls closed and ballots were counted, Tempe’s mayoral race paused Tuesday night with a giant question mark. With the race too close to call, and mail-in and other ballots yet to be tallied, candidates Michael Monti and Mark Mitchell would have to wait to see who would replace Hugh Hallman and become the city’s next elected leader.

Tempe’s mayoral race ended Tuesday night with a giant question mark — a question that is ultimately unlikely to be answered until Friday.

As the four Republican presidential candidates sparred inside the Mesa Arts Center during Wednesday’s nationally-televised primary debate, a healthy dose of political activism and locals raising awareness for various issues and causes took to the streets outside the facility.

Debating in Mesa, the Republican presidential primary candidates blasted the Obama administration on its handling of the key Arizona issue of immigration.

Debating in Mesa, the Republican presidential primary candidates blasted the Obama administration on its handling of the key Arizona issue of immigration.

Debating in Mesa, the Republican presidential primary candidates blasted the Obama administration on its handling of the key Arizona issue of immigration.

For two hours Monday night, Tempe residents gathered in the City Council chambers to hear five council and three mayoral candidates make their case to voters, who will head to the polls on March 13 for the primary election and May 15 for the general election.

Many Arizona university students may find themselves paying more to go to school should a minimum tuition bill, HB 2675 sponsored by Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, become law.

With high foreclosure rates and 13.1 million people unemployed nationwide, stories of financial hardships and missed bill payments are nothing new, but a small group of individuals are meeting throughout the Valley in hopes of changing that and having a new tale to tell.

The Supreme Court has agreed to take up the challenge to the health care law passed in 2010. The law, President Barack Obama's signature legislative accomplishment and ticket to the history books, requires most individuals to purchase health insurance, known as the individual mandate.

When the economy goes south, property values plummet, the unemployment rate skyrockets and foreclosures soar, what does the average American do? Based on new evidence, it seems they turn to their family.

When the economy goes south, property values plummet, the unemployment rate skyrockets and foreclosures soar, what does the average American do? Based on new evidence, it seems they turn to their family.

The morning of Sept. 11, 2001, is one that is forever etched in my memory. Shortly after 7 a.m., my mother woke me — not in a gentle way, but in a sort of panic.

The morning of Sept. 11, 2001, is one that is forever etched in my memory. Shortly after 7 a.m., my mother woke me — not in a gentle way, but in a sort of panic.

The girls volleyball season opened this week with Cactus, Centennial, Deer Valley Ironwood, Liberty, Mountain Ridge, Shadow Ridge and Valley Vista all grabbing their first wins of the season.

While recent news from the financial markets has not been good, there is an upside to the housing market in the Valley:

The debt ceiling debate in Washington raises economic and constitutional questions that are not easily answered.

The debt ceiling debate in Washington raises economic and constitutional questions that are not easily answered.

The debt ceiling debate in Washington raises economic and constitutional questions that are not easily answered.

The “Great Recession” cost Arizona 300,000 jobs and cast a shadow long after it was declared over, but the outlook for the East Valley in 2011 is looking gradually, if tentatively, brighter.