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’s no secret to Realtors that fabulous kitchens sell homes. Improve the room used primarily for food preparation, and the entire house will feel homier to residents, guests and prospective buyers alike.

City Councilman Sal DiCiccio says he believes he’s reached a compromise with other City Council members that will allow at least a portion of the city’s food tax to phase out before the 2015 deadline.

Eddie Castillo said that the South American culture has the empanada, the British have the pasty, and he and his business partner Mike Caliendo are giving Arizona the hand pie.

Most people know what it’s like to pull up a chair at a family reunion or holiday meal, but not many have tucked their toes under the table at a community harvest feast. Several local art and community organizations are hoping to change that with Saturday’s “Feast on the Street” in downtown Phoenix.

When I took office last year, I made three commitments about the city’s budget. I made the commitment to cut wasteful spending and build a smarter government that does more with less. I committed to use our savings and increased revenues from a recovering economy to lower taxes. And I made the commitment not to accelerate any tax cut if the result hurt our public’s safety.

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.

Super Bowl Sunday surely is one of the meatiest eating days of the year. But it’s still somewhat surprising the lengths some people will go to push their game day feed over the top. Last year, for example, some enthusiastic carnivores went as far as to build football arena replicas out of deli meats, cheese and bread.

Los Angeles   •   Dogs and cats can’t brush, spit, gargle or floss on their own. So owners who want to avoid bad pet breath will need to lend a hand.

Eddie Electrician may provide eight hours of his time to Pete Plumber who, in return, provides eight hours of his time to Eddie Electrician. At the end of their workday, they have both received the services they needed. All services were provided as economically as possible and with no hidden costs, i.e., eight hours for eight hours.

I grew up on the wrong side of the tracks... you know, that side of the tracks where you work a day job, then work another job at night just to survive.

For many children, their first pet is a virtual one.

In the latest labor report, 368,000 more Americans have stopped looking for work, artificially skewing the unemployment stats down. The recent report of 8.1 percent tricks the brain of the casual thinker. Try thinking about this: 12.5 million of your fellow Americans are out of work (Labor Department). Perhaps you are one of them or your child. See: www.money.cnn.com (2012 August jobs report).

The news is packed with headlines aghast at the recent report that Americans waste 40 percent of their food. Many are springing into action to connect food banks and shelters with restaurants, or find creative ways to compost or biofuel the leftovers. I’ve also seen reminders to “eat what you purchased.” Consumers are feeling guilty and to blame.

Water is one of the most important nutrients and often overlooked for detoxification, losing body fat, and optimal health. Your body is approximately 70 percent water, your brain tissue approximately 75 percent water, and your blood is 83 percent water.

Q: Dear Debt Adviser: I have so much debt that I have to juggle among my income, payday loans and taking what I put in my 401(k) each month to pay my bills. I am not behind, but I’m sick of juggling. Is bankruptcy my best option, or is there something else I can do? — William

A parade of Arizonans hoping to expand the use of medical marijuana told state health officials Friday how much better their lives are since they have been using the drug, legally or otherwise.

A parade of Arizonans hoping to expand the use of medical marijuana told state health officials Friday how much better their lives are since they have been using the drug, legally or otherwise.

Opponents of Covance’s Chandler facility say they’ll remain active even as the drug development services company begins shutting down the $150 million facility this year.

Opponents of Covance’s Chandler facility say they’ll remain active even as the drug development services company begins shutting down the $150 million facility this year.

Dear Mikey,

Dear Mikey,

Disposable plastic water bottles soon won't be sold at the Grand Canyon.