“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...” That sentence is the beginning of the most famous line of the Declaration of Independence.

Today, the Fourth of July, is the day for picnics and entertainment events. (We’d say fireworks, but we will get to that later.)

“Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.”

This editorial was written by Francis P. Church and first published in The New York Sun in 1897. It has become a holiday tradition.

Elections in America have come a long way since 1858.

The 2022 General Election ballot contains a variety of initiatives – some referred by the Legislature, some by citizens.

The Daily Courier Editorial Board is making its General Election recommendations, offering our candidate endorsements.

On Sept. 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the document they had created.

Elections in America have come a long way since 1858. That is when Abraham Lincoln was challenging Stephen Douglas for the U.S. Senate seat from Illinois.

This past month another fire on Highway 89A was pushed toward Viewpoint by 20- to 30-mph winds. A similar blaze in 2018 came even closer to the subdivision north of Prescott Valley.

As Americans watch the fiscal battles underway in Washington, eyes here are turning to the Arizona Legislature, which is grappling with its budget — as it does every year.

Each year we echo the concerns over the pending wildland fire season. In fact, authorities now consider Arizona to have conditions ripe for wildland fires year-round.

How great it would be if Prescott Litter Lifters had to dissolve because picking up trash along our roadways was no longer necessary.

The cost of building a home is up sharply, because of the lumber price wars. In the rental market, “affordable housing” is debatable, unless you have roommates, a rich relative or retired well yourself.

The race for the governor’s seat is heating up, despite that the election is a year away. Regularly, the wannabe candidates float ideas that fly or fall.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal..." That sentence is the beginning of the most famous line of the Declaration of Independence.

U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Arizona, whose district includes the Prescott area, has come under fire for tweeting an animated video that depicts him killing a fellow congresswoman and targeting the president.

“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given to America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”

The Arizona Supreme Court on Tuesday, Nov. 2, sent state lawmakers a strong message: Don’t pile multiple, unrelated issues into a single piece of legislation

Halloween brings with it some scary and spooky challenges. As you answer the door bell tonight for trick-or-treaters, consider a few things that will go a long way toward making the Greater Prescott area a better place to live.

As we enter the 2022 election cycle, a look back is necessary for clarity.

Times certainly have changed. Rewind 12 years or so — the Prescott area, and much of the country, was in the throes of chaos: the Great Recession was tightening public and private budgets.

The system broke down Wednesday, Aug. 18, at the Humboldt Unified School District’s special meeting. The school board members abdicated their responsibility, and many parents behaved worse than incorrigible children.

The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors announced at a Town Hall meeting Monday, Aug. 2, that county buildings — except for Yavapai County Superior or Justice courts — will be closed to the public beginning Thursday, until further notice.

Years ago, we published an editorial, “Kneel and ‘believe in something?’ How about do the right thing.” It centered on Colin Kaepernick, who in 2016 surpassed his fame as a quarterback in the NFL when he ignited a firestorm of controversy by choosing to kneel on one knee, rather than stand, while the National Anthem was being played.

Ten days. That is how long you have until your ballot is due in the City of Prescott mail-in Primary Election.

Ten days. That is how long you have until your ballot is due in the City of Prescott mail-in Primary Election.

The state of Arizona has enacted a 2021-22 budget of $1.9 billion worth of tax cuts. And, setting aside who benefits most — the wealthy or the poor — it is a huge deal.

Every election is a chance at forging our future, and the 2021 Prescott City Council and Mayoral election is no different. Who can we trust to make decisions for us?

Some things can become legendary, even morph — or can be twisted — into what they truly are not. Propositions 400 and 401 are two of them.

A few weeks ago, Gov. Doug Ducey pledged to veto any legislation that comes to his desk before the state budget. He started with 22 bills that were already on his desk.

Elections are a matter of local control, particularly when it comes to the state’s 19 charter cities.

Be careful what you wish for. That is a message that applies to Arizona’s stance on the Second Amendment.

There is something unfortunate in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) picking Yavapai County as ground zero for a new, comprehensive law enforcement and prevention initiative aimed at reducing drug use, abuse, and overdose deaths throughout Arizona involving opioids, especially fentanyl.

One year ago we wrote in this space the Prescott Regional Airport expansion is “good for Prescott and the Quad Cities.”

Earlier this month The Daily Courier Editorial Board announced that the newspaper would work harder in 2021 to increase community emphasis by asking our local columnists to write about local topics ...

The Prescott area is not, nor should it be, about division or derision. When the chips have been down in the past, we have come together as a community.

As part of the agenda for the Tuesday, Jan. 12, Prescott City Council meeting is a schedule laying out the process of how councilors will fill Billie Orr’s seat.

Resolutions. What a hot topic every year as people vow, with the best of intentions, that they will improve their lives in the new year that awaits them.

“Law enforcement is here to protect our communities and we support our law enforcement officers throughout Yavapai County. They provide the thin blue line between us and chaos.”

On Wednesday, Dec. 2, the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors reversed course on the Verde Connect project. It is a $50-something million project to join Beaverhead Flat Road with Highway 260 and would include a new Verde River bridge.

In reviewing articles in The Daily Courier over the past week, one that stands out for us was about the School Safety Task Force findings — stating that schools need to provide more counselors, social workers, fund after-school programs and establish programs to deal with bullying, and more.

Since the late 1800s, the Courier has reported numerous acts of heroic togetherness when someone's life was in danger.

On this Election Day, preceded by a constant barrage of partisan clamor and contention from the presidential and national political races, the editorial board of The Daily Courier would like to pause to thank our local candidates.

The Prescott area that most of us fell in love with has a community feel, not one of division or derision.

The case for fully reopening the state of Arizona and its 15 counties from COVID-19 restrictions is at a standstill, yet got a shot in the arm from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday, Oct. 9.

It is a silent affliction. It even comes with a stigma — people being afraid or reluctant to admit it is or has been a problem for them or someone they know.

This editorial is a shout out to Kind Defined, a local nonprofit community organization quietly striving to make a difference that’s perhaps needed now more than ever in many of our lives, especially for our children.

Extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures. That appears to be the mantra for the City of Prescott during the coronavirus pandemic, which is not over yet.

Arizona is by no means out of the woods in its war against the COVID-19 pandemic. But, there is growing evidence we are winning a key important battle. We have slowed the rate of virus infections, the long-desired goal of flattening the curve. Six months into the pandemic, Arizona’s data collection has made a few things perfectly clear.

Elections in America have come a long way since 1858. That is when Abraham Lincoln was challenging Stephen Douglas for the U.S. Senate seat from Illinois.

In recent days a post has been circulating on local social media pages that reveals an ugly reality — that there are hateful racists living among us in the Quad Cities.

Today, The Daily Courier Editorial Board is making its Primary Election recommendations.

When one considers our communities’ safety, and a threat to our very lives, what comes to mind? COVID-19, right?

Nearly every morning for many years a woman sits down and sends us a string of electronic hate mail. It’s not only hate mail about the newspaper staff, it’s also hate mail about many, many things.

Gov. Doug Ducey’s decision Wednesday to provide Arizona cities and counties with the power necessary to require people to wear masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) is a step in the right direction.

Last week, Gov. Doug Ducey announced that the state will not require residents to wear masks in public, and from the reactions we’ve seen on social media and through comments sent to the Courier it appears a good many people agree with him.

As our communities grow — consider: traffic congestion, overcrowded schools, nonprofits needing volunteers, law enforcement and rescues, and more — these challenges receive help from local, state and federal governments … or not.

Today is for mom.

We want to take a moment to express our sincerest thanks to you, our customers, who continue to read The Daily Courier. We especially want to thank the more than 1,000 readers who have donated money to help us continue reporting at a time when our supporting local businesses are closed down or operating on modified business models and are unable to advertise.

State lawmakers are debating whether to return to work or not, and wildland firefighters are eying the upcoming fire season, while the National Forest Service has already banned campfires.

Prescott Newspapers, Inc. — home of The Daily Courier, Prescott Valley Tribune and Chino Valley Review — is not immune to the challenges that the coronavirus pandemic has brought on our local economy.

As we forge ahead through untested waters amid the coronavirus pandemic, it is heartening to learn about the lengths to which some entities and residents are going to get their jobs done.

Imagine that you lead an active organization. Your organization has an important event scheduled for April 5.

As the counts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) have been increasing across the earth, it was inevitable that it would come to Yavapai County.

Now is the time for our communities to show their courage and resolution.

Mary Newton, who is from Prescott, is living a challenge: Keeping her 9-year-old child busy and safe while our schools are closed.

A bill given preliminary approval at the state House earlier this week that makes it a Class 3 misdemeanor for a pedestrian to be in a median “for any purpose other than to cross the street” may have good intentions, but the consequences are a bit stiff.

Everyone wants fair elections, and everyone wants equal representation at the polls.

HB2808, approved by the House Judiciary Committee last Wednesday, is a good start toward sentencing reform in Arizona.

It is a sad state of affairs that every Nov. 7 we now could be recognizing Victims of Communism Memorial Day.

Those who visit Prescott have many fine options when it comes to places to spend the night.

To hear it from some lawmakers, the state has too much money; they want to give a bit back to taxpayers.

The Arizona House gave preliminary approval this past week to legislation that would end “social promotions” in schools and hold students back if they don’t meet required criteria.

Some would call it a teenage prank. We call it criminal.

The State of Arizona is looking to tout the Grand Canyon, among six iconic landscapes that will appear on new signs welcoming visitors to the state.

The barking by a nearby dog may seem nonstop. It wakes you or keeps “the Sandman” from visiting.

It is not every day we get a U.S. senator to visit the Town of Prescott Valley, especially for a fact-finding tour. That is what happened Nov. 22 in the form of Sen. Martha McSally checking out the post office.

It is cold out there, and the area’s church congregations and nonprofits want to help the least among us.

With the 2020 Census just around the corner, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Census Bureau are teaming up to help quad-city residents guard against potential census scams.

With 2020 just around the corner, we’re all trying to decide what type of health coverage we’d like to have in the next calendar year.

With five of the six schools in the Prescott Unified School District at least maintaining, if not improving, their letter grade scores from the Arizona Department of Education’s recent report, one in particular stood out among the rest.

Let’s forget for a second about whether people should have access to marijuana for medical purposes or whether the drug should be legalized. What the Arizona Department of Health Services is doing – moving on Dec. 1 to digital-only medical marijuana cards – is wrong.

We are glad City of Prescott leaders have delayed action on a controversial part of their proposed water-policy changes.

Fixing the education system in Arizona still is top-of-mind for state officials; however, the actual solution remains elusive.

Gov. Ducey won’t criticize the rates being charged by Arizona Public Service (APS), the state’s largest electric company, knowing that 8% of its residential customers could not pay their bills this past summer and that they are reportedly paying more than the 2017 rate increase allows.

It is the kind of event residents love — hay rides, tractor pulls and a show, a pumpkin patch and corn maze.

Beyond the weather, if two seasons exist each year in the Prescott area they are prescribed burns and roadwork.

The Arizona Corporation Commission reviewed a drafted plan earlier this week that would block electric companies from shutting off their customer’s power if forecasted temperatures over the next five days were expected to rise above 105 degrees.

They are called smartphones. From time to time, when you call up the Weather app, it gives all of the information you want.

State lawmakers know Gov. Doug Ducey usually holds firm with his “find another way” stance when it comes to raising taxes.

Goodyear on Monday, Sept. 23, joined two other cities in Arizona acting on vaping. Tempe and Cottonwood are also working to protect our youth.

The state of education has it that still one in five classroom vacancies remain to be filled, and Arizona schools started this year with more openings than last year as more teachers chose to leave the classroom.

The Town of Prescott Valley has a new police chief.

Election season is upon us. In accordance with an established tradition of fair play, the Courier handles letters to the editor and talks of the town a little differently during election season.

Change is inevitable; however, some changes are regrettable.

Today, in accordance with an established tradition of fair play, The Daily Courier has published the majority of the remaining letters we’ve received on direct campaign issues.

Every four years Arizona cities and towns must go before voters and ask them permission to do their jobs.

The Prescott City Council continues to discuss the need to implement a business license program.

A mob mentality seems to be sweeping the nation as political rabble-rousers and hate-mongers do their best to stir deep-seated religious and racial bigotry that heretofore has been hidden deep within the souls of many otherwise decent Americans.