Susan and Kernit Rankin of Scottsdale met when they were young and fit. They became best friends. Married 25 years ago. Exercised together. Raised three grown children. They even run a California winery together.

Parents and students at Mesa’s Westwood High School are standing behind their principal after the district criticized him for not following discipline policy when he punished two students for fighting by having them hold hands.

A photo of two Valley students caused a firestorm of controversy all over the country, and now it's sparking even more developments.

Two East Valley high school students were forced to hold hands in front of their classmates as punishment for fighting. Now that punishment is drawing criticism.

It’s nearly 100 degrees — before noon. Three of the best track and field throwers in the country are slogging their way through another practice while Arizona State assistant David Dumble’s enthusiasm keeps the heat at bay.

From the outside, it’s hard to see that the nearly 90-degree curve in Chris Arum’s spine is almost gone.

From the outside, it’s hard to see that the nearly 90-degree curve in Chris Arum’s spine is almost gone. More than three months after the 13-year-old African boy received radical spine-straightening surgery in Mesa, much of Chris’ body remains as twisted as it was when his vertebrae began to curl like a snake.

From the outside, it’s hard to see that the nearly 90-degree curve in Chris Arum’s spine is almost gone. More than three months after the 13-year-old African boy received radical spine-straightening surgery in Mesa, much of Chris’ body remains as twisted as it was when his vertebrae began to curl like a snake.

Ask most Jewish children, ‘‘What’s your favorite holiday?’’ and ‘‘Hanukkah’’ is the quick response. For me, all the gaily wrapped gifts in the world can’t hold a candle to the magic of Passover.

Ask most Jewish children, ‘‘What’s your favorite holiday?’’ and ‘‘Hanukkah’’ is the quick response. For me, all the gaily wrapped gifts in the world can’t hold a candle to the magic of Passover.

McALLEN, Texas - The thousands of National Guardsmen sent to reinforce the U.S.-Mexican border two years ago have almost completely withdrawn, despite pleas from border-state governors once skeptical of using soldiers to catch illegal immigrants and drug smugglers.

TUCSON - Jerod Void carried 18 times for 107 yards, scored three touchdowns and recovered a muffed punt return, helping 12th-ranked Purdue hold off Arizona 31-24 on Saturday night.

While the Atlanta Hawks organization could only hide its face in embarrassment, the Suns were still waiting and watching on the sidelines Tuesday as a proposed Joe Johnson trade took yet another interesting detour.

October 30, 2004

ST. LOUIS - Against the rest of the NHL, the St. Louis Blues are an unstoppable steamroller, winning 20 of 27 games and piling up 43 points with machine-like precision.

February 12, 2005

A 33-year-old Mesa man was treated at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn after accidentally shooting himself in the hand.

Chances are you’ve seen them on street corners, near new home subdivisions and car dealers: people holding signs directing motorists to stop by. Mostly the human billboards are ignored. But Scottsdale has decided they’re an eyesore and concluded that, under city ordinances, people who hold the signs are committing a crime.

Baxter Black won’t let himself be described as America’s best-loved cowboy poet, according to a write-up on Changing Hands Bookstore’s website, but he’s OK with being called the country’s tallest, scrawniest, most left-handed one.