1635: Religious dissident and Rhode Island founder, Roger Williams, was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

1849: Poet-writer Edgar Allan Poe died at age 40.

Carl Hayden: Hayden is arguably the most important Arizonan ever. He began working in Washington, D.C., to secure water for the sparsely populated desert state in 1902 and became Arizona’s first congressman upon statehood. He was the son of Charles Trumbull Hayden, a Tempe founder, and helped transform the pioneer territory into a modern state. Hayden quietly worked on national parks, military affairs, Indian matters and was instrumental in winning the Central Arizona Project. The $4 billion CAP diverted Colorado River water to Phoenix and Tucson and was the largest, most expensive water project in U.S. history. His 56 years in Congress have been eclipsed only once.

Carl Hayden: Hayden is arguably the most important Arizonan ever. He began working in Washington, D.C., to secure water for the sparsely populated desert state in 1902 and became Arizona’s first congressman upon statehood. He was the son of Charles Trumbull Hayden, a Tempe founder, and helped transform the pioneer territory into a modern state. Hayden quietly worked on national parks, military affairs, Indian matters and was instrumental in winning the Central Arizona Project. The $4 billion CAP diverted Colorado River water to Phoenix and Tucson and was the largest, most expensive water project in U.S. history. His 56 years in Congress have been eclipsed only once.

Carl Hayden: Hayden is arguably the most important Arizonan ever. He began working in Washington, D.C., to secure water for the sparsely populated desert state in 1902 and became Arizona’s first congressman upon statehood. He was the son of Charles Trumbull Hayden, a Tempe founder, and helped transform the pioneer territory into a modern state. Hayden quietly worked on national parks, military affairs, Indian matters and was instrumental in winning the Central Arizona Project. The $4 billion CAP diverted Colorado River water to Phoenix and Tucson and was the largest, most expensive water project in U.S. history. His 56 years in Congress have been eclipsed only once.

If President Obama truly considers President Abe Lincoln to be his role model, he flat out ignored one of Lincoln's famous speeches given on Jan. 27, 1938 at the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Ill. Lincoln said, "Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well-wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of the revolution, never to violate in the least particularly, the laws of the country and never to tolerate their violation of others."

A good deal of parents and their children will celebrate Monday by sleeping in, maybe doing some yard work and cap the day off with a nice family meal. With how fast-paced it seems our lives have become, who can blame us for appreciating a day off by doing what we need most - relaxing?

February is designated as “Black History Month” and celebrates a population of individuals that share a unique and important heritage. History has not always been kind to African Americans and, as with other minority groups, has left out important contributions by its members.

A good deal of parents and their children will celebrate Monday by sleeping in, maybe doing some yard work and cap the day off with a nice family meal. With how fast-paced it seems our lives have become, who can blame us for appreciating a day off by doing what we need most - relaxing?

Edward Rutherford has been writing historical sagas for more than 20 years but I just discovered him this summer with “New York, the Novel (2009).” After a passionate reading, I wanted heartily to recommend but hesitated — would most readers consider it “old news?” However, when Hurricane Sandy recently ravaged the East Coast, I felt compelled to do the review as it certainly wrote another chapter in the history of this amazing American city from 1664 to the year 2009.

In a survey released by the city of Phoenix, more than nine out of 10 residents, or 93 percent, said Phoenix is a good place to live, the highest rating level in the history of the survey.

Todd Heaton in his letter of Aug. 3 (“Some gun control is needed,” AFN) says, “How can anyone in their sane mind justify the legal sale of an assault rifle?”

THE WHITE HOUSE

THE WHITE HOUSE

And then he said, "The executive branch also needs to change. Too often, it's inefficient, outdated and remote. That's why I've asked this Congress to grant me the authority to consolidate the federal bureaucracy so that our Government is leaner, quicker, and more responsive to the needs of the American people."

At just 16 years old, Alisa Partlan already has a good grip on what is going on in some of the infamously corrupt areas in the world.

It all starts up front, right down the middle.

It all starts up front, right down the middle.

They have spent countless hours busting chops in the locker room, getting taped in the training room, watching mile posts whiz by on bus rides, broken down film and everything else a football team does during the course of four football seasons together.

Surprise Mayor Lyn Truitt's State of the City address, Feb. 8, 2011:

"Today marks the first time the Surprise State of the City address is being delivered in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, right here at the Rosskamp - Sun Health, Colonnade. That says a lot about how much our community has progressed.

Preserving history is an important function of the Arizona Capitol Museum. One of the most popular exhibits in the museum is a display of USS Arizona artifacts and Secretary of State Ken Bennett, who oversees the division of the state library, would like to see the collection of World War II artifacts expanded by two: A gun from the USS Arizona and a gun from the USS Missouri. The guns would be displayed as a part of WWII exhibit representing the beginning and end of the war.

Having observed the failure of our education system by dumbing-down our children for the past 50 years, concern has to be expressed about the “new” Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI).

Washington • Lots of states feud with the federal government. But Arizona has become something of a poster child of late.

Text of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, as provided by the White House:

Dan Hinds has been known to wear bifocals on the sidelines so he can read his play sheet on Friday nights.