A theatrical look at the life of an amazing young woman whose courage paved the way for all future Americans. Christian Youth Theatre of Phoenix stages this elaborate production with a 60 member cast.

Darkness can be paralyzing.

Arizona State University’s Project Humanities is presenting “An Evening with Riva Yares” April 24 as part of the Project Humanities spring kick-off series, “Heroes, Superheroes, and Superhumans.”

"It’s been 10 years, now,” the strong voice said on the phone. Mari Justin is a breast cancer survivor. She, along with hundreds of thousands of breast cancer veterans have faced the demons and now crusade alongside those who are fresh on the battlefield.

The night of the shooting in Aurora, Colo., Ahwatukee Foothills mom and lawyer Ellen Davis had enough.

As we survey the panoply of absurd ideas our legislators, both state and national, face from special interest groups these days, we have to wonder what has become of that rare commodity: common sense.

Robert Redford does his most compelling work in some time as both actor and director in "The Company You Keep," a tense yet admirably restrained thriller about a fugitive forced out of hiding after 30 years to prove his innocence. Adapted with clarity and intelligence by Lem Dobbs from Neil Gordon's novel, and lent distinguishing heft by its roster of screen veterans, this gripping drama provides an absorbing reflection on the courage and cost of dissent.

You may better know her sister, Dakota, from box-office smashes like “War of the Worlds” and “The Twilight Saga,” but 14-year-old Elle Fanning has already made quite a name for herself among the arthouse set, appearing in such acclaimed works as “Babel,” “Somewhere” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” This month, she takes center stage in a new drama from writer/director Sally Potter entitled “Ginger & Rosa” – a coming-of-age tale set in 1962 London as the threat of the Cuban missile crisis looms overhead.

He is Risen, Indeed!

Of all the proposals to reduce gun violence, this one wins the “Most Useless Law of All Time” award.

LOS ANGELES — A grave 12-year-old African girl, abducted from her village by vicious armed rebels and forced to wage war as a child soldier, guides the viewer through the horrors of Canadian director Kim Nguyen's engrossing Oscar-nominated drama "War Witch." Managing to be neither sentimental nor sensationalistic, the film tells its story from the heart, and from the simple, straightforward viewpoint of young heroine Komona, warmly played by the talented Rachel Mwanza in her screen debut.

Dear Mikey,

February is the month we glorify “love” and “The Fault In Our Stars,” by John Green, is a glorious love story. A love story not just between a boy and a girl, but with life itself. You’ll find this book in the Young Adult section, but don’t let that keep you from reading it; its message is universal to all ages because it is about living each day to the fullest, as if your days were limited.

A previous Oscar winner for her 2007 documentary short, “Freeheld,” director Cynthia Wade is back in the race this month for her new film, “Mondays at Racine.”

Look! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s … well, you know the rest.

Norma Mae White, 82, of Ahwatukee, formerly of Indiana, Pa., passed away on Jan. 29 at St. Andrew’s Village after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Born Feb. 16, 1930 in New Bethlehem, Pa., she is predeceased by her husband, A. B. White III, her parents Ernest and Lorena Dinger, and her grandson, Benson Adam White.

The School of Ballet Arizona has a new scholarship for young male dancers, in honor of famed dancer and former pupil of the school, David Hallberg.

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton stood near the front of a large crowd in Las Vegas Tuesday as President Barack Obama announced his plans to make comprehensive immigration reform a priority.

Ahwatukee Foothills resident Beth Lawrence has performed and written music around the world, including on Broadway, and has 12 award-winning CDs to her credit, but she said her real claim to fame is making a difference in people’s lives through music.

“Some of our most stressful, broken, yelling and fighting family moments happen on the way to church and in the church parking lot!” Anysia Bates, Real Christian Mom

James Hasse, 67, of Ahwatukee peacefully passed away on Jan. 4 after a courageous battle with cancer. His fortitude and strength will forever be an inspiration to his family and friends.

As we start 2013, let’s reflect on the beginning of our nation and the moral and religious beliefs of the Pilgrim settlers of 1620. The Pilgrims were Puritans, a group of English Protestants who had become unhappy with the corruption in the Church of England and the English laws which controlled the practice of religion. At that time (1620), other religions weren’t represented. There were no Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Jews, or Muslims. Only Christians who wanted freedom of religion. Not freedom from religion, but freedom of religion.