On the lawn of the Arizona state capitol Tuesday, there were 51 empty chairs symbolizing heartbreak, sadness and senseless tragedy.

Sasha and Tony’s kids have flown the coop. But rather than move into a smaller home, these active hobbyists and hard-core cyclists decided to renovate and enjoy every inch of their big, empty nest. They have a great three-story home, but had an underutilized attic space. Once upon a time, it was a suite for Tony’s mom - but years later, it still had that “grandma feeling,” complete with floral wallpaper and sterile green walls.

Add the elusive Monster of Mesa to the legends of Sasquatch, the Holy Grail and Nessie of Loch Ness. Spectators gathered Thursday and swapped rumors, theories and eyewitness accounts as animal control workers searched in vain for any sign of an alligator living in a murky pond that coils through La Valencia Apartment Homes near University and Val Vista drives in Mesa.

Add the elusive Monster of Mesa to the legends of Sasquatch, the Holy Grail and Nessie of Loch Ness. Spectators gathered Thursday and swapped rumors, theories and eyewitness accounts as animal control workers searched in vain for any sign of an alligator living in a murky pond that coils through La Valencia Apartment Homes near University and Val Vista drives in Mesa.

 The shimmering vista of Canyon Lake is a fine reward for enduring the twisting and narrow Apache Trail northeast of Apache Junction. But make that journey now, and after rounding that last curve motorists can’t help but notice something is missing.

Will Corvin spent a sleepless Monday night sucking down caffeinated energy drinks while sitting in a folding chair in front of the glass doors of his employer, Best Buy.

Will Corvin spent a sleepless Monday night sucking down caffeinated energy drinks while sitting in a folding chair in front of the glass doors of his employer, Best Buy.

“I read Mike McClellan’s commentary in Wednesday’s Trib. It sounds like Gilbert is becoming another Colorado City. Christians take heed.”

A 3-year-old Chandler girl who died after police discovered her on the bathroom floor of her home following unbearable belt beatings administered by her mother’s boyfriend will be remembered Tuesday on the lawn of Arizona’s State Capitol.

A couple of observations from somewhere east of Eden, er, Phoenix ...

May 18, 2005

Folks, when did America’s greatest treasure, United States citizenship, become a bartering commodity for votes with the Hispanic/Latino community as per Sen. John McCain? When did America’s greatest treasure, United States citizenship, become a bartering commodity with the Hispanic/Latino Community for converts to the Mormon religion or the recapturing “fallen away” parishioners of the Catholic church or more donations in the Sunday Mass collection basket or monthly tithes.

OK, so who got the bounce from the conventions? Obama-Biden did. Initially, they received a national ratings bump of about 4 percent. As of a week later, the bounce had increased to the high single digits.

“Paul Ryan told so many lies in his speech at the Republican National Convention, he’s going to make Richard Nixon eligible for Saint-hood. Mitt Romney cant tell the truth either. He’s telling Americans that they aren’t any better off than they were four years ago. Excuse me!? The American executives at AIG, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Exxon Mobil are much better off than they were four years ago thanks to President Obama, and the grueling hours put in by the GOP in congress. Who says they can’t work together?”

LOS ANGELES - The bloody revolver found at the feet of an actress shot to death in Phil Spector's mansion was carefully removed from an envelope and shown to jurors at the music producer's murder trial on Tuesday.

It may be called a general plan, but Gilbert residents will need to get pretty specific about what should be in it before the document is put to a public vote in two years.

The motor homes were finally empty. The dusty gravel parking lot once full of hopeful future homeowners was now deserted. Fold-out blue camping chairs were abandoned, half bottles of water and empty soda cans were left on tables covered in white linen.

From the moment Ivan Rutherford, as convict Jean Valjean in "Les Miserables," began to sing "Soliloquy," the opening song, the audience was won over.

Two duties fall guy-ward each Thanksgiving: Carving the turkey and leading the prayer. Last time I carved, my loved ones spent December pulling turkey shrapnel from their clothing, hair and inner ears. Now I get the prayer.