By the end of first grade, children should be able to count to 120 by ones, twos, fives and 10s. They should be able to name the characters of a story and describe the topic and main events.

East Valley libraries have expanded their resources beyond books. Many of them offer study areas, online homework resources and access to searchable databases from home.

Old West preservation or trendy urban destination? That’s just one of the major questions about the future of downtown Scottsdale that 100 residents intend to resolve at an Arizona Town Hall meeting over the next several days.

Mesa’s Tuesday election is shaping up to be one of the most notable races in the city’s history. Four of six City Council seats will be occupied by someone new and the city will have a new mayor.

Rogelio Juarez spent his Thursday morning using the Mesa Public Library’s free computers and internet to search for jobs.

Those working to ensure the future of parks, preserves, lakes and forests on Arizona’s vast public lands are trying to get more people out of the house and into the wide open spaces.

Getting water from a faucet is something we all take for granted. Thanks to the bold thinkers behind the Salt River and Central Arizona projects, daily conveniences like water are accessible in our desert environment.

The Arizona Supreme Court has published a new guide to give seniors free legal advice. It’s called “Law for Seniors” and provides answers to most legal questions.

The Mesa Unified School District has lost nearly 4,800 students in the last three years and with them, millions of dollars in funding. It's a challenge that has led to staffing cuts and talks of school closings.

Imagine if your company wasn’t able to reward its best employees with raises, wasn’t able to hire new employees when they were needed, and was forced to tolerate poor performers and malcontents because of a bureaucratic maze that made firing almost impossible.

Diane E. Brown: Although the magnitude of the economic situation in Arizona and across the nation is daunting, energy efficiency offers an immediate, proven and important step consumers and businesses can take to save money, create jobs, stimulate the local economy and reduce overall energy prices.

The following voting guide has been prepared by yours truly as an another point of view for your consideration.

Johann Zietsman can still remember Bodulo, an 18-year-old gang member in a rural, black village in South Africa, about 15 years ago, whom he says was "almost certainly on his way to jail or a terrible future."

The Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, in cooperation with the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation and several other conservation partners, is appealing to Interior Secretary Gale Norton to help protect bighorn sheep and other wildlife in the Sonoran Desert National Monument in Arizona.

The big building at 53 N. Macdonald in Mesa has come a long way since it housed Arizona Territory desperados. But the old jail cells are still there.

Ahwatukee Foothills resident and photographer Everardo Keeme was chosen to do a photo shoot for the Arizona Young Breast Cancer Survivor Support Initiative recently through a cooperative agreement between John C. Lincoln Health Network and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This initiative will change how Arizona supports young women diagnosed with breast cancer and their families. This initiative will also increase awareness among the medical community and the general public. Keeme’s photos will be featured on a website that has been created as a result of this funding. The Arizona Breast Cancer Resource guide (azbreastcancer.org) has been developed to help women diagnosed with breast cancer, their families, caregivers, and medical professionals more easily access those resources available to help navigate the journey through breast cancer. This website will help ease the burden of searching for competent assistance and services that are needed most during this frightening and uncertain time. More information can be found on the website, azbreastcancer.org, or by email, azbreastcancer@JCL.com.

 Microchip Technology, Intel Corp. and Chander-Gilbert Community College are among 28 Arizona organizations that have been awarded the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility for 2009.

Get a close-up look at nature when the Arizona State University School of Life Sciences sponsors its annual Take a Hike event from 9 a.m. to noon April 21.

Gov. Jan Brewer announced that former Congressman Jim Kolbe will serve as co-chairman of the Arizona Transportation and Trade Corridor Alliance. In February, the governor announced the formation of the panel comprised of statewide and local experts in transportation, international trade and energy.

Childsplay offers school tours for upcoming year

Our View: Many people deserve credit for the development of the East Valley and Arizona over the past 40 years. But near the top of any credible list will be Jack Pfister, the retired general manager of Salt River Project who died Monday.

Valley of the Sun United Way and Mesa United Way are partnering for a special Project Connect event April 11 at Broadway Christian Church, 7335 E. Broadway Road, Mesa.

December 17, 2004