Contributor

WILLCOX, Ariz. -- Authorities are working to determine what motivated a man to allegedly fire a rifle indiscriminately at a southeastern Arizona high school, injuring 17-year-old boy who was watching a baseball game.

The draconian budget cuts in store if Congress fails to agree on a budget deal would shrink our military to pre-World War II levels, according to Defense Secretary Panetta ("Deep defense cuts means fewer troops," Nov. 15). That's a scary prospect given the threats we face.

Even as we prepare to withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan, America faces significant challenges in the Middle East that could require military intervention -- for example, Iran could soon have the ability to launch nuclear-tipped missiles at Israel, Europe or even the United States. Elsewhere, North Korea covets nuclear weapons and its capricious dictator, Kim Jong-Il, already has the ability to fire missiles at Alaska. Experts think California will be in his reach within five years.

Like any teenager I personally love to go to 3D movies, but the hard thing is that 3D movies cost so much! This is a problem because of child labor laws. I cannot work at most locations, which means my income is not a lot. The prices for a 3D movie can be $8.25 for a matinee and $10.75 for a later show, compared to $6.25 for a matinee and $8.75 for a normal 2D movie.

(UNEDITED) Taking classes of the arts out of schools is ridiculous. Classes such as art, choir, band, orchestra, photography, drama, and film-making are being taken out of schools because of low funding. These classes allow students to express themselves in a positive, creative way. When students do graffiti some say it is how they express themselves. With art classes at schools Instead of painting on a wall or building they could paint on a canvas provided by the class. It would keep the student out of trouble and property would not be damaged.

SALT LAKE CITY - University of Utah organic chemist Peter J. Stang has won a National Medal of Science - the highest U.S. honor for a scientist or engineer - and is tentatively scheduled to be honored by President Barack Obama at the White House later this year.

SALT LAKE CITY  -- Northrop Grumman Corporation has announced the winners of its third annual Northrop Grumman Engineering Scholars program in the greater Salt Lake City community, awarding two $10,000 college scholarships -- payable in $2,500 annual installments over four years -- to promising high school seniors interested in pursuing a career in engineering.