NEW YORK - No name on the marquee was more pleasing to theater owners in 2008 than Will Smith, according to a survey of movie exhibitors.

There’s been plenty of chatter about a possible gubernatorial run for Mesa Mayor Scott Smith. Indeed, local officials often jokingly — possibly even prophetically — refer to him as “The Governor.”

Back in February, the Mesa City Council was predicting a budget shortfall of between $8 million and $9 million for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

Arizona Regional Medical Center announced Thursday in a news release that it will close its Mesa location in May.

Because of the actions of two Paz de Cristo Community Center employees and the quick response of Mesa and Tempe fire departments, the facility that serves as a food bank, social services center and dining hall for the homeless and working poor was spared major damage when flames broke out last week.

When tragic stories of mass killing emerge, like the Sandy Hook Elementary school in Connecticut, the effects on weapons sales and legislation are well-publicized by news organizations and pundits, but there are other weapons-themed businesses like VIP Airsoft in Gilbert.

At the Chandler Chamber of Commerce’s economic update luncheon Wednesday at the Hilton Phoenix/Chandler, City of Chandler Economic Development Director Christine Mackay followed a spirited state budget overview presentation by highlighting some of the incoming businesses and development opportunities for Arizona’s fourth most populous city.

Careful, East Valley. With apologies to Marty McFly, that forming line many think is leading to recovery instead is into an economic time machine that’s once again taking us back to the future.

One of the state’s current legislative issues that’s clearly piqued the attention of Mesa Mayor Scott Smith is House Bill 2111, which affects the manner in which cities collect sales taxes.

On the southeast side of Chandler Regional Medical Center, a helicopter used to sit parked on land that is currently all dug up. That’s one memory Dr. Brian Tiffany, chief of the hospital’s medical staff, recalled when he started at the facility in 2003.

The official transition for the renaming of Mesa’s Eighth Street to Rio Salado Parkway began this week, when dual-named street signs were installed along the road between Country Club Drive and the Loop 101 freeway.

Mesa leaders are asking residents to head online to lend their thoughts on the city’s transportation outlook — input Mayor Scott Smith says is invaluable to creating a plan for the future that suits changing philosophies.

Mesa Morning Live, the Mesa Chamber of Commerce’s late-night-style talk show — albeit taped in front of a live audience one Friday morning each month — hosted its largest audience in the last two years last week, according to Chamber officials.

A District 3 neighborhood is the latest in Mesa to undergo the city’s Building Stronger Neighborhoods initiative.

City of Mesa Parks and Recreation held its annual Breakfast with Santa at the Mesa Convention Center Saturday.

Animal rights activists and residents of a Mesa neighborhood, where cats have been disappearing alive and reappearing dead and mutilated, are angry at animal control and the Mesa Police Department, saying the charge against the suspect does not fit the crime and they are calling for the ouster of an animal control officer.

Aaron Baddeley, the 2007 FBR Open champion, is among the latest golfers to commit to this year's field.

Mesa Red Mountain scored two goals in a span of 1 minute, 30 seconds of the second half to pull out a 2-1 win over visiting Mesa on Wednesday in a battle for second in the 5A-I East Valley Region boys soccer standings.

With only a partial City Council on hand, Mesa Mayor Scott Smith ultimately pulled an agenda item on a proposed Marriott Springhill Suites Hotel — slated for the “Wrigleyville” area between the news Cubs’ baseball stadium and park at Riverview — from the council’s meeting during its study session Monday night.

Mesa Mayor Scott Smith joined six other Arizona mayors and about 1,700 around the U.S. Tuesday for the Mayor’s Day of National Recognition to honor the deeds of community volunteers locally and across the nation.