Council's '620' vote will affect Ahwatukee parks
Phoenix may be purchasing the plot of land in Ahwatukee known as ''State Trust Land 620'' thanks to funds from the Parks and Preserve Initiative.

When are kids ready for certain privileges?
Can a 9-year-old stay home alone? Does a sixth-grader need a cellphone? Parents usually choose safety over independence.

Laughter coaching is serious business
Laurie Nathanson, CLL, or certified laughter leader in Ahwatukee, says she has been trained with the mission to create health, happiness and world peace through laughter

Voter interest slow to return to 2004 level
Southeast Valley political activists want to bring back the enthusiasm of past presidential elections. But they have only until 5 p.m. Monday to do it

More hotel builders find Tempe inviting
For the past decade no hotels were built in Tempe. Now, a new hotel is near completion, another due to break ground soon and two more may break ground next year.

Assistant police chief oversees village he calls home
Assistant Phoenix Police Chief Kevin Robinson remembers when only one officer patrolled the Ahwatukee Foothills.

Halloween fairs and festivals in the Southeast Valley
Here's a list of corn mazes, pumpkin patches and haunted houses to visit this month in the Southeast Valley.

KiZake unique blend of casual, sophisticated
KiZake Sushi & Martinis in downtown Chandler has a sophisticated yet casual vibe. It's a place where you can grab a few nibbles and a drink, or enjoy an entire meal.

Southeast Valley road closures and restrictions
Avoid being late, here's a list of road closures and restrictions.

Early voting under way
Early voting began Thursday but East Valley residents who cast ballots in person before Nov. 4 will have to do it in Mesa or Tempe.

Mullarkey steps up for DV
Defensive end/tight end Danny Mullarkey has become the vocal leader of Desert Vista's football team with Devon Kennard out for the season.

Break-in leaves Tempe care center without water
A Tempe care center will likely be without water until Thursday afternoon following an overnight break-in.

XXI Forever celebrates opening at Chandler Fashion Center
A new women's clothing and accessories store, XXI Forever, is celebrating its grand opening at Chandler Fashion Center at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Self-defense series aims to protect women
YMCA and Mountainside Martial Arts team up to offer a three-part self-defense series for women beginning Saturday.

Economic challenges test Chamber festivals
Fall is festive in Ahwatukee this year with the Chamber of Commerce hosting or co-hosting two new community events. But Wall Street woes and the wobbling economy are also being felt in the village.

YMCA programs enrich lives of the young
Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA's Enrichment programs include computer education, Spanish and gymnastics.

US Airways pilot sickout plan fizzles
Expectations for a "sickout" by some US Airways pilots fizzled Wednesday as the union warned members that it's illegal to try to put pressure on management by staying home from work.

Alleged 'bank whisperer' caught after standoff in Phoenix
Valley law enforcement officials believe the man arrested following a standoff in central Phoenix Tuesday night is the armed robbery suspect they've been pursuing for more than a month and had nicknamed "the bank whisperer.

Fresh and Easy reports $135 million in sales
Nine months after opening, Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market reported sales of $135 million for the first half of the fiscal year.

HS football: 10 key story lines
The monsoon season officially came to an end this week, but there are plenty of storms brewing on the high school football scene.

Timely delivery washes away frustration
The View From Here: Geri Koeppel writes about life in Ahwatukee

Coffee franchise to award scooter at store opening
If you also want a chance at a free coffee for a year, head over to the grand opening of the Dutch Brothers Coffee on Oct. 10.

Ahwtaukee school locked down
The Kyrene School District locked down Altadena Middle School today from about 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. after a school resource officer reported police action in an adjoining neighborhood, according to district spokeswoman Nancy Dudenhoefer.

DV cross-country runner spent summer becoming No. 1
Erin Leonard's development to become Desert Vista's No. 1 cross-country runner started this summer, not long before the team took its annual trip up to Payson

Man exposes himself to Ahwatukee teen
Police are looking for a man they believe exposed himself to an Ahwatukee teen Monday afternoon.

Police seek Ahwatukee Circle K robber
Police are looking for a man who robbed an Ahwatukee convenience store late Monday.

29-year-old makes big decision after testing for cancer gene
Ahwatukee mother of two Lisa Edwards decided to have a double mastectomy.

Ex-police officer leads drive for youth facility
Ahwatukee resident and former Phoenix police Officer Christopher Gentis is working to interest the community in establishing an Ahwatukee Boys and Girls Clubs of the East Valley branch.

Hurry up, Saturday! Temps to dip to 90s
Cooler weather with a slight chance of rain.
Forecast

Zoo plans bold overhaul
Phoenix Zoo officials are bucking the ailing economy, launching instead, a $20 million capital campaign aimed at overhauling the aging facility.

Obama, McCain cookies: Sweet!
Pollsters, take note: The Barack Obama cookies are slightly outselling the John McCain variety at Tammie Coe Cakes in downtown Phoenix.

'Small-marts' to debut in Valley
Stores will open in the East Valley on October 4.
Slideshow: Wal-Mart's Marketside

Route choice aims to draw passengers
Light rail route will undoubtedly be controversial.
Light Rail safety | Central Corridor | Christown

City hopes spending money boosts economy
The banking system is in crisis and the city budget looks grim, but Phoenix is still doing what it can to shore up the local economy.

Artist teaches tolerance through her work
Paradise Valley artist Jennifer Forman Weinstein is trying to teach tolerance through art.

Sounding of shofar starts Jewish holiday
The sounding of the shofar, the ram's horn, signals the beginning of Rosh Hashanah at Jewish synagogues and congregations. The holiday marking the start of the new year begins Monday evening.

South Mtn. Freeway costs soar
The price of the proposed South Mountain Freeway has soared in the past two years, eclipsing its budget for the next decade at least.

With RSV season near, mom is jittery
Nearly nine months ago, Beth Anderson watched her 5-week-old daughter struggle to breath.

Valley sculptor's works show up across country
Tom Oliver of Ahwatukee is the sculptor who created the bronze plaque of Theodore Roosevelt on display at the Grand Canyon and the sculpture of Julius Caesar at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.

Contractor begins installing holiday lights
Holiday lights are being strung around saguaros and palo verdes on the Chandler Boulevard median between 24th Street and Desert Foothills Parkway.

Freeway closures, restrictions this weekend
Another weekend, another round of freeway closures.

Ariz. speed program starting with 3 camera units
Four more mobile units within a week, 40 by Nov.

TukeeFest on for Saturday
Organizers hope Saturday's TukeeFest: Rockin' in the Park will allow community members to come together and enjoy themselves.

Tovrea Castle reveals long-hidden treasures
Crews preparing the Tovrea Castle for tours this February are discovering treasures that bring to life a site shrouded in mystery for most of its 80 years.
Garden tour at Tovrea Castle

17 marching bands to compete in Ahwatukee
Mountain Pointe High School Lionhearts Marching Band Invitational is 3 p.m. Saturday in the school's Karl Kiefer Stadium, 4201 E. Knox Road.

Akimel pupils, Tempe firm aid island hurricane victims
Young hurricane victims in the Bahamas will soon be drawing on some Arizona generosity, thanks to an Ahwatukee middle school and a Tempe-based freight shipping company.

Centennial pot bust investigation continues
Seventh-grader, 12, was found with marijuana at Centennial Middle School last week.

ASU, UA, NAU tuition rates could soar by 15% next year
New students could face 15% increases.
Search university salaries: ASU | UofA | NAU

Lehman fallout hurts Ariz. governments
The fall this month of financial giant Lehman Brothers has hit a state treasury investment pool that manages $3.1 billion in funds for local governments, non-profits, school districts, utilities and other entities.

OK given for solar plant near Gila Bend
State utility regulators on Wednesday gave Arizona Public Service Co. the go-ahead to proceed with plans for a huge new solar-energy plant near Gila Bend.

Seton savors football success
Seton's narrow 30-28 victory over Buckeye provides the Sentinels with the chance to prove themselves.

Chandler business raided for undocumented workers
For the second time in two weeks, the Sheriff's Office raided a Chandler business using the state's employer sanctions law to search for undocumented employees.

Vomit from ASU frat members may have caused crash
Eight to 10 members of an Arizona State University fraternity are believed to have caused a car accident by vomiting milk onto traffic below an ASU footbridge on University Drive Tuesday night.

Economist: Slow recovery for Phoenix area
Phoenix-area business leaders are hearing a gloomy assessment of the metro area's economy and prospects.

Ahwatukee family shares faith during Ramadan
Bridging differences and overcoming misunderstandings of the Islamic faith is the goal of Ahwatukee resident Mohamed El-Sharkawy as he invites neighbors to share an end-of-fast meal following the daily evening prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.

Man suspected in multiple robberies hits Tempe bank
Police believe the man responsible for bank robberies in Tempe, Chandler, Phoenix and Ahwatukee struck again Monday.

D. Vista star Kennard out for season
Highly recruited senior has torn knee ligament. | Arizona's top 50

Ahwatukee may get a senior care facility
Ahwatukee Foothills could be home to a senior care center by summer 2010.

Brilliant Sky Toys marks 1st anniversary with party
Brilliant Sky Toys and Books will celebrate its first birthday Saturday with sales and activities.

Business brings video games to you
Scott Novis, 42, founded The Game Truck two years ago in Tempe with idea of bringing arcades to birthday parties.

Casinos OK with growth limits
Does Arizona need fewer restrictions on the number of games they have?

Detours just the band having fun
Patrick Hallahan lets out a laugh as the conversation turns to how some unexpected detours on My Morning Jacket's latest effort, Evil Urges, may have taken the faithful by surprise.

Phoenix man hitting the road to aid reserve
Samuel Hagler is embarking on a 10,000-mile bicycle journey across 13 countries in the Americas to raise money to help save the area.

Google's departure from Valley stirs debate
Entrepreneurs question the message Google sent.

Harkins Theatres marks anniversary with prizes
Launched in Tempe with just two theaters, Harkins is now the largest family-owned theatre chain in the country.

High school football rewind
Unbeaten Glendale Cactus was engaged in another Class 4A Division I thriller with Tucson Canyon del Oro.

Ariz. casinos expected to show weak growth
For the first time casinos experiencing flat growth.
Casinos have fun, add perks for players

Candidates settle over campaign-finance flubs
The commission that oversees public campaign financing has reached agreements with two candidates who were being investigated for violating state clean-elections law.