Loan delinquencies are soaring among local credit unions as more consumers are losing control over their finances. Leading the way is Arizona Federal Credit Union, which saw total loan delinquencies of two or more months jump from $16.5 million in first quarter 2007 to $56.5 million in first quarter 2008.

A union is trying to organize Valley hotel workers, launching that effort with a boycott of a Scottsdale-area resort, The Phoenician.

Chandler-based grocery giant Bashas’ closed a supermarket in Oro Valley and added a couple of self-checkout lanes in a Yuma store, angering union leaders who say they weren’t consulted about the changes.

When last we left Scottsdale’s firefighters, they were headed into contract negotiations with their employer, the private Rural/Metro Corp. Still stinging from an overwhelming ballot-box defeat in May when they attempted to oust Rural/Metro as the city’s fire protection provider, in June firefighters sat down to start talks with the company.

A flier mailed to East Valley homes by a local union — suggesting that the new chain of planned Tesco stores sells beer to children — has unsettled some residents.

There is no news to report about Mansel Carter. He has been dead now for nigh unto 17 years.

The FBI's Bank Robbery Task Force is seeking the public's assistance in identifying a person known as the Color Me Bad Bandit, who is responsible for four East Valley credit union robberies.

Southern California members of the striking United Food and Commercial Workers union brought their fight to Arizona on Thursday, urging Valley consumers to boycott Albertson’s stores until the California labor dispute is settled.

Business briefs around the East Valley.

Outlook: To Donnie Yantis’ credit, this will be the sixth consecutive trip to the playoffs for Paradise Valley, but a tough region schedule has the Trojans on the bottom of the bracket, and facing the defending 5A-II state champions.

After vigils held Friday, a crowd of protesters marched Saturday through downtown Phoenix to mark the third anniversary of the Iraq war. “It was a pretty varied crowd,” said End the War coordinator Herb Rubin. He estimated more than 200 people turned out for the march and rally on Saturday.

The number of Arizona homeowners falling behind on mortgage payments continued to swing upward in recent months as tighter lending guidelines limited refinancing options.

The number of Arizona homeowners falling behind on mortgage payments continued to swing upward in recent months as tighter lending guidelines limited refinancing options.

Temple Emanuel of Tempe, part of the Union of Reform Judaism in the East Valley, has announced that its Judaica Shop has undergone several renovations.

President Bush will return to the Valley on Wednesday as part of a multistate tour to pitch the initiatives he outlines in his State of the Union address, White House officials confirmed Friday.

News items from around the East Valley and Arizona.

Local and federal law-enforcement agencies are joining efforts to combat an increase in bank robberies across the Valley.

News reports from around the East Valley

Arizonans will have to forgive Idaho’s population for wandering around the Valley in a blue-and-orange haze this week. Boise State’s selection to play Monday in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Glendale is the biggest thing in Idaho since the invention of french fries — seriously.

With North Korea launching a missile that apparently is capable of reaching the United States and with Hezbollah rockets raining down on northern Israel, interest is growing in America’s efforts to develop a defense system to block such attacks.

With North Korea launching a missile that apparently is capable of reaching the United States and with Hezbollah rockets raining down on northern Israel, interest is growing in America’s efforts to develop a defense system to block such attacks.

Find all the support group meetings, classes, prayer times and more around the East Valley.