By Bear Howard If you listen to American media in 2025, you’ll hear a steady drumbeat that colleges don’t educate so much as indoctrinate. After the killing of campus activist Charlie Kirk this week, Fox News guests framed his appeal in exactly those terms: he “recognized ‘indoctrination on college campuses,” a cause his admirers now say they’ll carry on. Fox News. In the same news cycle, Fox ran a story about Texas A&M’s regents demanding an audit of courses after a classroom dispute; a system leader said, bluntly, that “indoctrination [has] no place” in classrooms. Fox News and Newsmax columnists,…
Author: Tommy
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Sedona, AZ — What the hell is going on? It feels like we’re all living inside a surreal film that nobody agreed to be in. Kids shooting each other on the streets. People being killed in churches and classrooms. Political leaders shot to death on stage. Airplanes and helicopters colliding mid-air. Military craft colliding on the open seas. People stabbed to death on commuter trains. People pushed onto the tracks. Genocide in parts of the world. A war of attrition in Europe with no end in sight. Heavily armed soldiers patrolling our neighborhoods. ICE agents and enforcement personnel conducting raids…
Verde Valley, Ariz. – In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, D.A.Ranch Estate Vineyards, a boutique family-owned winery in the heart of the Verde Valley, and Castle Hot Springs, the legendary desert hideaway celebrated on Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best list, have united to create an unforgettable escape: the Vines & Vistas experience. This one-of-a-kind journey fuses world-class hospitality, the artistry of Arizona winemaking, and the thrill of aerial adventure into a seamless narrative of luxury. “Castle Hot Springs is excited to partner with D.A.Ranch and expand the unique offerings available to our guests,” said Scott McGinty, Director of Marketing at Castle Hot…
VERDE VALLEY, Ariz. – In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) will once again be offering $85 mammograms in Sedona and Cottonwood, including 3D digital screening and reading fee, throughout the month of October. “Our goal is to make screening mammograms more attainable for all, regardless of insurance coverage,” said NAH Oncology Service Line Administrator Amy Stapleton. Cancer Centers of Northern Arizona Healthcare recommend women 40 and older have annual screening mammograms and continue to do so at the advice of their physician. Early detection is the most effective and efficient tool to identify treatment options and…
Sedona, Arizona – On the morning of September 11, 2025, the Sedona Fire District gathered alongside community members and local officials at Fire Station 6 to honor the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 tragedy. The event served as a solemn reminder of the lives lost, the resilience of the American spirit, and the importance of unity in times of hardship. The ceremony was led by Fire Chief Ed Mezulis, whose heartfelt dedication reflected both the pain of the past and the strength found in remembrance. Chief Mezulis set the tone for the morning with words that reminded those gathered that…
Sedona, AZ The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the one-night-only Sedona premiere of “Rebel with a Clause” on Wednesday, Sept. 24 — National Punctuation Day — at the Mary D. Fisher and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatres. One fall day, Ellen Jovin set up a folding table on a Manhattan sidewalk with a homemade sign that said “Grammar Table.” Right away, passersby began excitedly asking questions, telling stories, and filing complaints. What happened next is the stuff of grammar legend. Ellen and her filmmaker husband, Brandt Johnson, took the table on the road, visiting all 50 states as Brandt…
Sedona, AZ — Hello everyone, Brian Bergner, Development and Communications Director for Verde Valley Sanctuary. You are all on my contact list, so I wanted to drop you an email today and make sure you saw the news about our upcoming 2025 Casino Night Fundraiser event. It is set for 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at Sedona Golf Resort’s Juniper Bar & Grille. We are excited to host this fundraiser and support survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Details are in the link below; I’ve also attached your flyer. Tickets are on sale now, so reserve your spot as they…
Sedona AZ –Camp Verde, AZ – Camp Verde Community Library is excited to announce the return of a series of free technology classes designed to help community members gain confidence with their devices and stay safe online. Whether you’re an Apple enthusiast, an Android user, or someone looking to strengthen your digital safety skills, these classes offer hands-on support in a welcoming environment. The upcoming sessions will cover: Apple Basics: Learn how to make the most of your iPhone or iPad, from navigation tips to managing apps and settings. Android Essentials: Get comfortable with your Android smartphone or tablet, explore…
Sedona, AZ — The Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, located at 100 Meadowlark Drive off Route 179 in Sedona, is a welcoming, egalitarian, inclusive congregation dedicated to building a link from the past to the future by providing religious, educational, social and cultural experiences. The JCSVV offers soul-enriching services, programs, and classes, all listed on the synagogue website, jcsvv.org. Office telephone: 928 204-1286. Visitors are welcome to attend services after a security check. Those who cannot attend in person can access the service through zoom. High Holy Day tickets are available through the office. Rabbi Magal will lead…
Sedona, AZ — A bit of a long, playfully snarky satirical piece. I had no idea where this one was going until I was done. If you are easily offended, happy with your Bible stories, and your version of forgiveness, you might want to skip this one. What must it be like to believe in a vengeful God? Can you imagine how much fear that must create? Talk about walking on eggshells, holding your breath with every choice, consciously or unconsciously weighing your heart’s desire with the price of hell. To see life as a system of punishments and rewards,…
Prescott, Arizona (September 12, 2025) – Community members and students are welcome to find food, healthcare and social service assistance at the Yavapai College Basic Needs Resource Fair. The Fairs will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Yavapai College Prescott Campus; and Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Yavapai College Verde Valley Campus in Clarkdale. Yavapai College’s Basic Needs Resource Fair connects participants to an array of services for food, healthcare, shelter, transportation or transportation needs. They can also offer access to tutoring, job counseling, legal services, domestic violence counseling, disability resources and resources for…
Clarkdale, Arizona (Sep. 8, 2025) – Yavapai College, the Sedona Arizona Community Foundation and the Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education (VACTE) are inviting middle and high school students and adults to the Pathways to Careers Exploratory Day to learn about educational opportunities in career and technical areas, meet industry experts, and hear about local and statewide career opportunities. Pathways to Careers Exploratory Day is a free event that will take place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wed. Sep. 24 at the Yavapai College Verde Valley campus, located at 601 W. Black Hills Dr. in Clarkdale. The event…
Sedona, AZ — The Democrats of the Red Rocks (DORR) host “Disinformation and False Narratives in Today’s Media Landscape” with Catherine (Cathy) Sigmon, Arizona’s Civic Engagement Beyond Voting (CEBV), and Jody Rein, Indivisible Truth Brigade, at 9:30 am on Friday, September 19 at the Sedona Community Center, 2615 Melody Lane in West Sedona and on zoom. False narratives flood the airwaves, and once-trusted sources are increasingly suppressed or compromised. Catherine Sigmon and Jody Rein will discuss the meaning of objective truth, how to distinguish fact from fiction, and how to encourage others to think critically before accepting or spreading disinformation. …
Prescott, Arizona (September 11, 2025) – The Jim & Linda Lee Performing Arts Center is honored to present living legend Mavis Staples in concert on Saturday, October 11 at 7 p.m. A true icon of gospel, soul, R&B, and the civil rights movement, Mavis Staples has been uplifting audiences for more than six decades. From her groundbreaking work with her family’s group The Staple Singers (“I’ll Take You There,” “Respect Yourself,” “If You’re Ready [Come Go With Me]”) to her celebrated solo career, Staples’ music has become the soundtrack of inspiration, justice, and joy. Staples’ new album Sad and Beautiful World (out November 7) honors her powerful legacy…
By Tommy Acosta Sedona, AZ — So? The mayor has been censured. Now, where do we go from here? Everybody and their mother know that a censure issued by a council is mostly a formal, public statement of disapproval It’s symbolic—it doesn’t usually remove the mayor from office or strip away their legal powers. Unless the city’s charter or local laws specifically say otherwise, a censured mayor generally keeps all of their mayoral powers: signing ordinances, presiding over meetings, representing the city, etc. Further: There is nowhere in the Sedona charter a section that says “If the mayor is censured,…