I am a little late coming to the party with the “Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”. It was a sensation when it was released in July 2008, receiving both critical acclaim and fantastic mainstream success. Now I see why.

U.S. Rep. Ron Barber today joined a strong bipartisan majority of the House in voting to authorize Department of Defense programs and funding that strengthens sexual assault protections for service members, supports security efforts along the Southwest border, provides a pay raise for members of the military and includes robust funding for the Southern Arizona aerospace and defense industries.

(NAPSI)—When asked to name America's oldest ally, many would be surprised to find the correct answer is the Kingdom of Morocco.

(NAPSI)—For kids, summertime should mean food, friends and fun. For many families fighting to make ends meet, however, summer can mean struggling to stretch tight food budgets even further.

Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry is calling on local business leaders to assist the county in devising a comprehensive funding plan to address failing and deteriorating roads. 

Wanting to keep Oro Valley a cleaner and more beautiful place, members of Girl Scout Troop 1084 approached the Town Council in April about adding permanent trashcans to Steam Pump Ranch. 

(BPT) - The job market doesn’t appear to be as tight as it was a year ago. The unemployment rate dropped to 7.5 percent in April 2013, down from the 8.1 percent we faced in April 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even so, finding a job remains a tough challenge for new college graduates who are eager to begin their careers. 

1. AUTHORITIES INTERVIEW PERSON OF INTEREST IN RICIN CASE

1. RICIN DETECTED ON LETTERS THREATENING NYC MAYOR BLOOMBERG

According to the Associated Press, A threatening letter was mailed to President Obama that is similar to two letters containing poisonous ricin sent to Mayor Bloomberg and his anti-gun group, officials confirmed Thursday.

Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry is urging the community’s top business leaders to assist the county in pushing for a comprehensive funding plan to ensure adequate, well-maintained roads.

1. LEBANON HIT BY SYRIAN ROCKETS AFTER VOWING VICTORY Two rockets hit a Shi'ite Muslim district of southern Beirut on Sunday and wounded several people, a day after the Hezbollah leader said his group would continue fighting in Syria until achieving victory. It was the first attack to apparently target Hezbollah's stronghold in the south of the Lebanese capital since the outbreak of the two-year conflict in neighboring Syria. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. [Reuters] ………………………………………………………………………………

As families nationwide are packing their gear and heading out by car, plane and boat, recent data suggests that this summer travel season could be substantially busier than in years past.

1. OKLAHOMA BEGINS CLEARING TWISTER DEBRIS

(StatePoint) As families nationwide are packing their gear and heading out by car, plane and boat, recent data suggests that this summer travel season could be substantially busier than in years past.  

Staff at Pima Animal Care Center would love to never have to euthanize another animal again, except to end severe or terminal suffering. 

(StatePoint) For families, summertime is all about active fun -- from vacations to ballgames, and fireworks to poolside picnics. But being on-the-go can mean lots of downtime in transit and waiting for activities to start.

Marana resident Beverly Hall needed no reminder that David, her husband of 34 years, had passed away two weeks prior.

It was interesting to see the response The Explorer got last week after my editorial on what we citizens can really do to reach our elected officials. While I am deeply concerned with seemingly not having a voice unless we have enough money, I am not encouraging any residents to stop trying by any means. I still work to contact my elected officials and I always will, even if at times I feel it seems pointless.

Recently, several dozen residents came together in front of U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake’s office on Oracle Road in order to protest his vote against a scaled down bill that would have extended background checks to purchase firearms.

(BPT) - Family vacations are always a great time for family bonding and exploring new places. With some careful planning, the trip can be packed full of fun from the minute you lock the front door to the minute you arrive back home, exhausted and ready to share stories of your adventures with friends and family.

(NAPSI)—Some American heroes can finally get the recognition they deserve.

(NAPSI)—When comparing college costs, one of a student’s first steps should be filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Then, students begin receiving back financial aid award letters from the colleges they’ve applied to. These letters outline the estimated cost to attend the school, expected family contribution and financial aid award package, which includes grants, scholarships, work-study, need-based and non-need-based loans.