Lloyd Melton is the owner of Biscuits Restaurant, 1235 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert, (480) 497-0321, and 4623 E. Elliot Road, Phoenix, (480) 209-1850 or BiscuitsAZ.com

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

Ron Siegel is owner of Red, White & Brew, 6740 E. McDowell Road, Mesa, (480) 807-9393 or RWBAZ.com

Do you have ideas that can help the Mesa City Council make decisions on major projects? Are you an engineer or planner interested in transportation? Are you interested in the cultural attractions in your community? If so, apply to be a member of one of our advisory boards and committees. Expertise from the community is needed for a host of positions opening up on boards such as transportation, museum and cultural and historic preservation, to name a few.

Any chance of cities or counties conducting future gun-buyback programs is about to evaporate.

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

Companies that want to sue former workers who have stolen what they say are trade secrets need to prove that what was taken is truly a secret, the Arizona Court of Appeals has ruled.

Higley Elementary and Middle School is undergoing a transition to a back-to-basics style of instruction in 2013-14 - the inaugural school year as “The Higley Traditional Academy.”

Q: My son’s laptop was stolen from his college dorm during a party and he had the Find My Mac system setup on it, so he was able to track it to an apartment complex nearby. The problem is that the police said that they need more information to go on as they can’t just start knocking on all the apartment doors. What else can we do? — B

Mark was on the verge of losing it. A deadline was approaching for an important client and the success of the project was hinging on his teams activities.

Victor Buono is the owner of Nicantoni’s New York Style Pizza, 1430 W. Warner Road, Gilbert

Q: Is a VPN the safest way to use an unsecured (public) Wi-Fi connection? Are there other ways to stay safe? Are there any free VPNs out there for personal use? — Kevin

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.

The deadline to submit nominations for AAA’s Crossing Guard of the Year award is March 12. AAA invites students, parents, school administrators, faculty, staff and community members in Maricopa and Pima Counties to nominate candidates whom they believe deserve the Crossing Guard of the Year designation. Self-nominations also will be accepted. For more information and for a nomination form, visit az.aaa.com/childsafety, e-mail publicrelations@arizona.aaa.com or call (602) 241-2945.

A 45-day public comment period is underway for the City of Mesa Housing Authority’s proposed annual plan for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. The purpose of the plan is to outline goals, objectives and methodology the Housing Authority will use to provide assisted and affordable housing through the use of federal funds in Mesa.

State lawmakers are moving to ensure that your Facebook password is none of your boss's business.

Q: Is there an easy way to see if I have a hidden keylogger on my Windows 7 computer before I start doing my taxes? — Don

It was 10 years ago that Colorado filmmaker Larry Cappetto first came to the East Valley to interview combat veterans for his series of World War II documentaries.

“Your entry last month has WON! Go to www.****.com to claim your FREE $1,000 Target gift card within 24 hrs.”

Editor's note: This is an open letter to John Huppenthal, Arizona's superintendent of public instruction.

While the girls soccer state tournaments began on Tuesday, and the boys begin on Wednesday night, the competition figures to be as top-level in all three divisions as previous years.

Superintendent's letter to parents

Want to monitor the Legislature in your pajamas?

Getting a family organized requires more than a few well-chosen New Year's resolutions. Increasingly, homeowners are carving out a physical space — anything from a single kitchen cabinet to an entire spare room — that can function as a family information center and workstation.