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."

College students have spoken and lecture-based learning is prehistoric. An emerging trend on which colleges are reporting solid success rates is lecture-free classes. This approach to learning is being designed to promote deeper student learning, collaborative learning, skilled communication, self-managed learning, and cross-disciplinary and technology-enhanced coursework. Lecture-free classes are a response to growing criticism of the traditional, often passive lecture-based college classes which some educators say are a turn-off to students, leading to aggravation and poor grades.

The Mesa Preservation Foundation, Arizona Preservation Foundation and State Historic Preservation Office/Arizona State Parks, in conjunction with the 2013 Arizona Historic Preservation Conference, will present a free Historic Homeowner's Expo June 15 at the Hilton Phoenix/Mesa, 1011 W. Holmes Ave. in Mesa.

Takeaways from Game 1 of Pacers-Heat, the Spurs' 2-0 lead, the lottery and more.

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.

Congressman Matt Salmon and Mesa Mayor Scott Smith will hold a joint town hall meeting 11 a.m. to noon May 29 at Sunland Springs Village, 2820 S. Springwood Blvd. Learn more about how your congressman and mayor work together to build a better Mesa. Ask questions about your neighborhood, major projects or anything else you are curious about. These elected officials will hold an open forum discussion to provide answers to residents’ questions.

Mesa Grande Cultural Park, 1000 N. Date St., closed for the summer Monday, May 20, and will reopen Oct. 3 for the fall/winter season.

Emergency Medical Services week celebrates the hard work and dedication these professionals provide our community every day. During the 2013 EMS week, however, Southwest Ambulance also celebrated a milestone; surpassing their goal of 500 community members trained in CPR over the last 12 months.

For nearly two hours on Monday night, stories were shared, laughs were loud and Kleenex was out in full force.

Families can learn about the effects of Alzheimer’s and receive encouragement through the Alzheimer’s Workshop held at the Mesa Main Library, 64 E. First St., on Wednesday, May 22 from 11 a.m. to noon.

Natives of Oklahoma who moved to the Valley have been glued to social media in hopes of learning about their loved ones.

BOISE, Idaho — A dozen years after a customer revolt forced Monsanto to ditch its genetically engineered potato, an Idaho company aims to resurrect high-tech spuds.

iTheatre Collaborative stages this humorous tale about former prison mates who are trying to improve their lives while learning that “crime doesn’t pay, at least not very well.”

‘They told me the window for my recovery had closed.”

Graduation is just days away. Then, they’ll be moving on to the next phases of their life.

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.

Gilbert Fire and Rescue Department will join fire departments Valley-wide for the first coordinated fire station open house Saturday, May 18.

“It was a dark and stormy night.”

History is one of our greatest teachers.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and this week is Women’s Health Week. It’s an opportune time for you (or the women in your life) to assess both your physical and mental health.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued an ozone health watch for Tuesday.

If you love that mother in your home, get rid of those babes spread out on the coffee table. I’ve had it with them. They’re not good for either soul — male or female! Why do we contemplate airbrushed, digitally altered, Botox laden, breast-enhanced illusions?

With the onslaught of Oscar contenders that debuted last November, there’s a good chance that a little-seen indie gem, “Starlet,” managed to fall off your radar during its short, theatrical run. Winner of the Special Jury Prize at the 2011 SXSW film festival, “Starlet” explores the unlikely friendship between a cheerful, aspiring actress (played by the winsome Dree Hemingway) and a cantankerous, elderly widow (the late Besedka Johnson).

Selling your first home in a buyers’ market? You can get the best possible price if you know how to negotiate.