Greta Gerwig is one of those actresses you just want to have brunch with someday. Watching her in the irresistible new film “Frances Ha” (which she co-wrote with director Noah Baumbach), you get the sense that she’s one of those down-to-earth stars, like Jennifer Lawrence and Lena Dunham, that aren’t afraid to be a bit goofy and can spin even the most mundane topic into something worth laughing about.

NEW YORK — Thomas Sohmers, 17, of Hudson, Mass., has been working at a research lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology since he was 13, developing projects ranging from augmented reality eyewear to laser communications systems. This spring, his mom, Penny Mills, let him drop out of 11th grade. She says she "could see how much of the work he was doing at school wasn't relevant to what he wanted to learn."

When the school year ends a few weeks from now, millions of kids will head off to sleepaway camp for a summer filled with color wars, kayaking and bunk life. Most will have a great time, some will make friends for life, and many will look back on the experience fondly.

In February, elementary physical education teachers challenged 5,000-plus fifth-graders in Mesa Public School District to make healthy food choices and get more exercise for 28 consecutive days as part of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona’s Walk On! Challenge. Every fifth-grade student in the Mesa district had the opportunity to participate in the Walk On! Challenge, which was facilitated by the physical education teachers in each of the elementary schools in Mesa.

Q: What can I do to get better battery life from my smartphone? It doesn’t even get me through the afternoon on most days. — Ed

BOULDER, Colo. — Ethan Welty is thinking ahead to harvest time as he cycles through tidy Boulder streets pointing out apple, plum and mulberry trees on public and private land.

NEW YORK — U.S. airlines collected more than $6 billion in baggage and reservation change fees from passengers last year — the highest amount since the fees became common five years ago.

State senators approved their version of a new $8.8 billion budget Thursday -- but not before adding millions of dollars to the original Republican plan.

A Senate panel approved $82 million in inflation aid for public schools -- and then voted, in essence, never to give back hundreds of millions more that they've shorted schools for the last four years.

After the high-profile shooting of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in 2010, Scott Rollefstad felt he had to do something to help keep other agents safe.

Gilbert residents Rick and Leslie Roman used to give shares of Boston Celtics stock as gifts to friends and family. The pair was always interested in company stocks and thought they made great presents, and it ultimately led to the couple’s first business venture.

Six Chandler Unified School District students will be honored this weekend for qualifying to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, often noted as, “the world’s most prestigious pre-college science competition.”

It's not a big breakthrough.

In the galaxy of big-screen superheros — a rather glum lot — Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man is the snappy one.

NEW YORK — Bodies tensed and noses twitching, the dogs sniff the hunting ground before them: a lower Manhattan alley, grimy, dim and perfect for rats. With a terse command — "Now!" — the chase is on.

Q: I received a call today from a male who identified himself as Andrew Allison with Microsoft Security. He told me that “my NT wires” were installed incorrectly and were causing errors across the internet and that he could talk me through the steps needed to correct the problem. Trying to find a way to report this to Microsoft... — Dennis

Valedictorians:

The valedictorians for Tempe's Corona del Sol are:

Mesquite High School will graduate 446 students this year. Students have been awarded just over $6 million in scholarships.

In the Tempe, future inclusive leadership begins early due to a nationally recognized program ran by the city’s Diversity Office.

“Hi, I’m Rachel from card member services.”

Recently I spoke out in support of a critical effort underway in Arizona: keeping the state’s rooftop solar industry alive. Like school choice and healthcare choice, solar choice should be a core part of the Arizona agenda, and my party’s message.

Screening the film adaptation of George Orwell’s “1984” isn’t exactly the most festive way to celebrate one’s upcoming birthday, but after reading the Tribune’s “Nerdvana” column’s recommending it this coming Friday, I couldn’t help but reserve a seat.

A new state-ordered mandate on insurance companies could soon mean more accessible -- and definitely more affordable -- health care in rural areas of Arizona.