Olivia Maiefski, a 2009 alumnus from Mountain Pointe High School, graduated from the University of Arizona Honors College with a Bachelor of Science in speech, language and hearing sciences and a minor in Spanish. Maiefski graduated summa cum laude.

If anyone kicks off their retirement with a bang, it’s K.R. Scott.

It’s been three years since she was paralyzed from the waist down after a soccer incident injured her spinal cord.

Ahwatukee Foothills resident Barbara Cude dreams about giving public speeches — or at least she did once.

Kyrene Akimel A-al Middle School in Ahwatukee attracted local government officials and representatives on Friday morning for its 20th Annual Patriotic Day honoring veterans and service members.

In the company of business professionals, more than 400 students from Valley high schools, including in Ahwatukee Foothills, participated in an all-day event promoting networking, business ethics, skills and communication on Wednesday.

I, for one, appreciate the guest commentaries that the AFN has published written by Ahwatukee Foothills resident Don Kennedy. He has a love for our country and a good understanding of history and of our Constitution. When we forget history and our Constitution, we lose our liberties. Some people can see it happening before others, and I believe Mr. Kennedy is one of those precious visionary individuals. He loves our country. How can he not speak up?

Darcy Frear, a Desert Vista High graduate and biomedical engineering major in Arizona State’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and Barrett, the Honors College, has won the Greater Phoenix Area 2013 Outstanding Engineering Student award.

What should be a hilarious, long-overdue pairing of two hugely likable, superstar comedians ends up being a major disappointment with "Admission."

For all the flak that our state’s education system has taken over the years (I’ve dealt some of it), we proudly lead the nation in an important segment: career and technical education.

Still far short of the votes she needs, Gov. Jan Brewer finally gave lawmakers a peek Tuesday at details of her plan to expand the state's Medicaid program in a bid to whip up support.

A part of Arizona's 2010 immigration law aimed at day laborers and those who hire them is unconstitutional and unenforceable, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.

Hosted for the second year at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center, the American Legion invites the community to the state finals for an oratorical speech contest on the Constitution tomorrow.

In recent years, there have been some really good Oscar hosts like Hugh Jackman, some acceptable hosts like John Stewart, some disappointing hosts like Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin, and some flat-out horrendous hosts like James Franco & Anne Hathaway. Despite the best efforts of some, none have come close to capturing the same wit, timing, and showmanship of reoccurring hosts like Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, or Billy Crystal. At the 85th Annual Academy Awards ceremony however, Seth MacFarlane of “Ted” and “Family Guy” emerged as the single most entertaining first-time Oscar host of the 21st century.

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said the state of the city is strong, but that the local economy needs to be the focus moving forward.

In recent years, there have been some really good Oscar hosts like Hugh Jackman, some acceptable hosts like John Stewart, some disappointing hosts like Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, and some flat-out horrendous hosts like James Franco and Anne Hathaway. Despite the best efforts of some, none have come close to capturing the same wit, timing, and showmanship of reoccurring hosts like Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, or Billy Crystal. At the 85th Annual Academy Awards ceremony however, Seth MacFarlane of “Ted” and “Family Guy” emerged as the single most entertaining first-time Oscar host of the 21st century.

If you had told me a month ago that my Oscar predictions would look anything like this, I probably would have advised you to go do a little more research. “Argo” poised for the Best Picture win sans a Best Director nod? Unthinkable. Emmanuelle Riva and Naomi Watts as viable Best Actress contenders against youthful powerhouses like Jennifer Lawrence and Jessica Chastain? You’re pulling my leg.

House Speaker Andy Tobin is sidelining two anti-union measures rather than bringing them to the floor for a divisive -- and potentially losing -- vote.

Judged by his charge that gun-control legislation is Communist-inspired (“When the Communist Party USA cheers..., AFN, Feb. 8), Don Kennedy doesn’t realize that Sen. Joe McCarthy’s anti-Communist racket was rejected nearly 60 years ago, when the Senate censured that pathological liar and sent him to an alcoholic grave at age 46.

Packed into the school’s gymnasium Friday morning, students at Mountain Pointe High School celebrated diversity, culture, and Black History Month awareness with a series of assemblies for upper and lower classmen.

Claiming illegal retaliation, the Arizona Students' Association is asking a federal judge to void a vote by the Board of Regents changing how its fees are collected.

Earlier this month, Mountain Pointe High School’s Academic Decathlon team snagged third place in a tough regional competition against more than 20 other high schools.

Folks, we have a really serious problem. The Communist Party USA heartily supports Obama’s gun control plans.