Just turned 50, Tom Cruise is eligible for membership in the American Association of Retired Persons. Just split from third wife Katie Holmes, Cruise is the object of told-you-so cynics who simply knew that romance wouldn’t last. Just finished with his stab at something really different as a heavy-metal rock god in “Rock of Ages,” Cruise is coming off one of the lowest-grossing movies in his career.

A new report by the state Department of Weights and Measures shows some Arizona travelers may have been cheated at the airport.

It’s amazing how many times I’ve encountered Jesus at the airport.

If you’re catching a flight at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in the next few months, give yourself a few extra minutes to find the new baggage claim area.

The dilemma of losing one’s luggage is something we all hope will never happen. For some travelers, though, it becomes an unfortunate reality. But have you ever thought of how the luggage feels? One Ahwatukee Foothills resident has done just that in her short play, “Bad Travel,” which will be presented at the Arizona Women’s Theatre Company’s sixth annual Pandora Festival in May.

Real-life Band of Brothers colonel Edward Shames thought he’d seen all the horrors of war — until he stepped into Dachau, Nazi Germany’s oldest concentration camp, in April 1945.

You have influence.

If you are traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday and planning to park at the Airport, Sky Harbor is offering a coupon for 40 percent off the terminal garage rate November 16-30. Download the coupon from skyharbor.com by answering a few quick survey questions and you can park in the terminal garage for just $15 per day, compared to the usual rate of $25. This means no waiting for buses - just drive to your terminal, park, and walk right to the ticket counter or security checkpoint.

Recently, the debt limit was raised and default on our national debt payments averted; at least for now. But, nothing meaningful was done about the national debt or the rate at which it's growing. According to ABC World News the current debt of $14 trillion will likely increase to $27 trillion in 10 years; nearly double.

Ken Colburn, Data Doctors

Apparently good impressions are not hard to come by for C.J. Cron.

Apparently good impressions are not hard to come by for C.J. Cron.

Youth mentors aiming to strike a nerve among a gathering of high school students last week spoke and performed exercises about how leadership can impact their lives and those of classmates, colleagues and complete strangers.

Youth mentors aiming to strike a nerve among a gathering of high school students last week spoke and performed exercises about how leadership can impact their lives and those of classmates, colleagues and complete strangers.

As I celebrated my 78th New Year, it was a little more difficult to get out of bed on New Year's Day. And it wasn't because of a hangover. I was in the rack at 10:30 p.m., and as sober as a judge. The partying is left to the younger generations who don't know any better.

The holidays are here and people are traveling every day.

I've been doing some purging lately and it sure feels good to get rid of stuff. Things can tend to drag us down. A friend once told me how excited he was to get a new boat, only to be discouraged at how much of his time it took beyond the few hours on the river each Saturday that he had anticipated. There was cleaning, routine maintenance and storing the boat. And more purchases needed to be made, as the boat needed a trailer, life jackets, etc.

I've been doing some purging lately and it sure feels good to get rid of stuff. Things can tend to drag us down. A friend once told me how excited he was to get a new boat, only to be discouraged at how much of his time it took beyond the few hours on the river each Saturday that he had anticipated. There was cleaning, routine maintenance and storing the boat. And more purchases needed to be made, as the boat needed a trailer, life jackets, etc.

It started with cutting words written on a chalkboard and ended with the student section tearing down the goal posts on the opposition's field.

If you’re on the fence about bringing Fido or Fifi along on your vacation this summer, consider this: Many household pets respond well to travel, a fact that isn’t lost on the travel industry. According to Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook, there are more than 13,000 AAA-rated hotels and campgrounds across the country that are pet-friendly.

If you’re on the fence about bringing Fido or Fifi along on your vacation this summer, consider this: Many household pets respond well to travel, a fact that isn’t lost on the travel industry. According to Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook, there are more than 13,000 AAA-rated hotels and campgrounds across the country that are pet-friendly.

Mountain View Lutheran Church is re-starting its “Alpha” program on Sept. 11 with its kick off dinner at The Foothills Golf Club.

Barry, not Sal