The clunkily named USA PATRIOT Act — the moniker is an acronym for "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism" — has prompted a fair amount of anxiety since its hasty passage six weeks after the atrocity of Sept. 11, 2001.

One of the major story lines around the Cardinals since the second day of training camp was who would replace injured right tackle Oliver Ross. At least, it was until last week, when coach Dennis Green tried to shut off the spigot of information.

The House is engaged in an interesting experiment. It is trying to legislate a rumor — that the Bush administration is planning to revive the draft — out of existence.

   The music was loud, especially considering it was only 5:45 a.m.

Xenophobes — those who fear foreigners to the point where they believe immigrants are responsible for any number of society’s ills — probably quivered and quaked Thursday at the news that Hispanics today comprise a greater percentage of Arizona’s population than at any time in the state’s history.

We’ve been reading the words “white supremacist” quite a bit these last several days.

More than five years after the U.S.-led invasion, Iraq is now beginning the process of developing new oil and gas fields.

I find it quite shameful that the Arizona Tea Party would hold a rally at our state Capitol and call it “.223 Second Amendment Rally.” To have a rally named after one of the guns used in the Sandy Hook Massacre is shameful.

LOS ANGELES - Comedian Richard Jeni, who shot himself to death in March, had a history of mental illness and was hospitalized late last year for suicidal depression, according to a coroner's report obtained Thursday. Jeni, 49, died at a hospital after shooting himself in the head at his Hollywood home on March 10, authorities have said.

As a citizen of Gilbert and a utility rate payer, I am concerned and disappointed that replacement funds have been identified by staff and supported by some council members as a potential slush fund, and that rates will be increased to produce a surplus for transfer to the SDF fund. This amounts to rate payers subsidizing growth instead of new development paying its way.

LOS ANGELES - Richard Jeni committed suicide after being diagnosed earlier this year with clinical depression and suffering bouts of psychotic paranoia, the late comic's family said Tuesday.

Colin Fisk, suspected of shooting two longtime friends to death Tuesday in Phoenix, told homicide detectives he liked crystal methamphetamine because it made him sharper.

“Two things stand in the way of what Liberals truly want: citizens with guns and the Constitution, and we shall use the First to defend the Second!”

PHOENIX – Earlier this year, Arizona banned a synthetic substance nicknamed spice sold as incense but often smoked as an alternative to marijuana.

If you had attended as many NRA meetings as I have, you would realize that there is a wide spectrum of personalities among NRA members. About 90% of the members are sensible and rational citizens like me who own guns for home protection and sporting use, and who don’t believe in passing any new laws that cannot be enforced. 90 percent is really a pretty good turnout. Most homeowners’ associations can’t do nearly this well for their annual meetings. The other 10 percent are raving loonies who really ought to have a net thrown over them. Unfortunately, NRA President Wayne LaPierre tailors his message to the ten percenters. In his defense, it should be noted that Wayne talks crazy because we pay him $1 million a year to talk crazy, and he delivers. If he can whip up the hysteria and paranoia to an even greater level, I suppose we will pay him even more. We have always done so before, and this year he seems to be headed for a pay raise of epic proportions.

After an early scare in the state, across the country and around the globe concerning H1N1, it appears that at home at least the pandemic paranoia is fading.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office arrested 24 suspected illegal immigrants at a central Phoenix drop house, but one deputy had Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard on the defensive when he unknowingly parked across the street from the official’s home.

 The Mesa Police Department seeks the public’s assistance in locating a missing 2-year-old boy officers believe is at risk after he was taken by his mother’s boyfriend Thursday morning.

VENICE, Italy - Brad Pitt and his partner Angelina Jolie are ready for another child, the actor said Sunday as he was promoting his new film.

December 29, 2004

You’re sitting in a restaurant with your family when the baby in the highchair flashes a jack-o’-lantern grin, loosens his grip on the highchair rail and sticks a cracker into the gap between his front teeth.

A proposal to make it illegal for some Arizonans to enforce federal gun laws is raising concern by the nation's largest defender of the Second Amendment.