The 12-member International Care Ministries children’s’ choir will perform in the Valley next week as part of their current North American visit. International Care Ministries is a partner of Feed My Starving Children, which has a packing site in Tempe.

The decision by the IRS to take a closer look at Tea Party finances apparently did not affect some key organizations in Arizona.

Kismet and Karma chase each other back and forth in their “penthouse.” The kitten and puppy stop to play with a two-legged visitor, then their game begins anew.

“Mesa judge Markel [Mark] Chiles was issued a citation for shoplifting recently. Will another judge give him the six months in jail and $2,500 fine just to set the punishment at a level others could receive? Watch for a slap on the wrist.”

The 2013 legislative session began with a unanimous vote in the House and the Senate to appropriate emergency funding for additional Child Protective Services staff. With that vote, lawmakers affirmed child safety as a top priority.

“Mesa judge Markel [Mark] Chiles was issued a citation for shoplifting recently. Will another judge give him the six months in jail and $2,500 fine just to set the punishment at a level others could receive? Watch for a slap on the wrist.”

Facing a recalcitrant Senate president, Gov. Jan Brewer said Monday she is working instead with individual lawmakers in her bid to expand the state's Medicaid program that may need to bypass Andy Biggs.

Dillie Nerios is a Florida food stamp recruiter. Her job is to sign up 150 seniors monthly in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

It ended soon after it began, this revolution. Not with a bang, or even a whimper. The soldiers, unsure of their cause, simply left the battlefield. As the sun set on the retreating army, the sun also set on the vision of a shining city on a hill, which remains darkened to this day.

LOS ANGELES — Lily Tomlin's admiration for elephants began when she met Ruby and Billy.

Centennials are normally cause for celebration, a chance to applaud some thing or person standing the test of time. But not so for the income tax. Even the IRS is declining to mention that this year is the 100 year anniversary of the 16th Amendment of the Constitution, which authorized the tax.

Bandit is a male terrier mix, about 30 pounds and 3 years old.

Arizona legislators are under intense pressure to pass the Obamacare Medicaid expansion. They’re getting it from all sides.

Tater Tot was one of the skinniest dogs R.E.S.C.U.E has ever taken in. He couldn’t hold his head up, was limp, and seemed unable to see. After being rushed to the emergency veterinarian, the vet stabilized him and said Tater had been born with a liver shunt, meaning that his liver was not removing toxins from his body.

According to the Government Accountability Office, the federal government operates 50 different programs for the homeless. There are 23 programs in housing, 26 for food and nutrition, 130 for at-risk youth. They also operate an astounding 342 programs for economic development, which government is notoriously bad at anyway.

The largest wheelchair sports event in the world gives veterans an opportunity to come together, test their skills and build camaraderie.

LOS ANGELES — People want their dog to be a friend, not afraid.

The state House on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to legislation that will let the state's largest cities publish their legal notices online rather than spending money to buy newspaper ads.

Amadeus, a 3-year-old Border Terrier, is one of those dogs that if his striking color, scruffy hairdo, or very cute under bite doesn’t capture your heart, his wonderful demeanor will.

“No single person can train all the math and science teachers we’ll need to equip our children for the future,” (2013 president’s inaugural address).

Animal abusers would lose the right for anyone in their household to have a pet for at least two years under the terms of legislation approved Thursday by the state House.

Three-year-old Vanna has a trio of objectives in life: snuggle with her human friends, excel at playtime, and have a good hearty meal each and every day.

“The Mesa Public Library requires photo identification to renew a library cards but no ID is required to vote.”

Harry Lopresti goes to the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control shelter in Mesa every day after work to give treats out to the dogs waiting to be adopted. On January 22nd, he came across a pitbull in kennel 146 who was struggling with his hind leg.