"When parents come to school regularly, it reinforces the view in the child’s mind that school and home are connected and that school is an integral part of the whole family’s life.” Michigan Department of Education – Parent Involvement Fact Sheet.

As anyone who has ever taken a standardized test knows, the last step in preparing for the test is to sharpen your No. 2 pencil. That may not be enough, however, for those thinking about taking college entrance exams. Planning and preparation for the ACT/SAT should begin now for rising seniors. Here are some topics to consider as you establish your test-taking strategies.

When my wife and I tried to park in the designated visitor parking area at Sen. Jeff Flake’s Phoenix office recently, we were told by security to leave or our car would be towed. When we questioned this, as we were there to join with others to hold him accountable for his vote against universal background checks for gun purchases, we were told parking there was for office tenants only. As we were pulling out of the parking lot, security people began blocking all entrances to the parking lot with pick-up trucks and chains.

By the time a client parks their car and walks up to the front doors of Harvest of Tempe, the southeast Valley’s only medical marijuana dispensary, he or she, their license plate, and their car have all been caught on camera.

Attorney General Tom Horne paid a $300 fine Wednesday -- $582 with surcharges -- to settle a criminal misdemeanor charge he left the scene of an accident without leaving a note.

Dear Mikey,

Several freeway-improvement projects in the Phoenix area will require closures this weekend (May 3-5), according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and consider alternate routes while the following freeway closures are in place this weekend:

Starting next semester, students who smoke will have to find other places to light up between classes. All Arizona State University campuses and buildings will become tobacco-free beginning Aug. 1.

Coming soon to downtown Mesa: big changes to one of the city’s acclaimed all-ages attractions.

A walk through the Rose Garden at Mesa Community College (MCC) with its curator includes stops at roses named Chihuly, Julia Childs and Day Breaker. This decades-old garden continues to grow and bloom each year through the work of hundreds of volunteers — and they’re ready to share their expertise.

A walk through the Rose Garden at Mesa Community College with its curator includes stops at roses named Chihuly, Julia Childs and Day Breaker. This decades-old garden continues to grow and bloom each year through the work of hundreds of volunteers – and they’re ready to share their expertise.

Spring has sprung, and with flowers blooming all around the Valley, Phoenix Art Museum is getting in on the floral action.

The city of Phoenix is working to improve parking around the trail heads for the Pyramid Trail in Ahwatukee Foothills’ Club West at the end of Chandler Boulevard, but the long-term solution may not happen until the city can identify the proper amount of funding.

Sharon Lagas still remembers the “tragedy” that shook her family more than a decade ago.

Stephanie Ann Kuells went to be with our angels on Wednesday, Feb. 20. She was born on Aug. 3, 1988, to Jennifer and Keith Kuells at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. This happened to be her father’s 30th birthday. What a beautiful gift! Stephanie had many challenges in her short life, but she tackled each one with determination, beauty and grace.

The best moment of my life, so far, happened more than 15 years ago at a hospital in Mesa. Like many “best” moments in our lives, it came after some of the worst.

Calling it a key to preventing mass shootings, a House panel voted Wednesday to require teachers and health professionals to report potentially dangerous people to police.

Arizona's 17,500 lawyers are not going to have to worry about new competition from those who want to practice without bothering with three years of law school.

Gov. Jan Brewer lit the dome on the historic Capitol building Thursday night after protesters tried to drown out her comments.

Local CISCO SE Soccer Club won big in the Tucson Forth Lowell Shoot Out Soccer Tournament during the weekend of Jan. 19.

Good times are slowing coming to reality for a Desert Vista girls basketball team that has been missing out.

The Checkered Flag Run is a weekend of racing activities in Phoenix hosted by Phoenix International Raceway, Firebird International Raceway, Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, the Radisson Hotel, and Chester’s Harley-Davidson.

Developers with Lennar Homes have their sights on one more empty plot on the edge of Ahwatukee Foothills.

Volunteers and staff will transform the hospital conference center into a magical winter Toyland. Parents of hospitalized patients will have an opportunity to select unwrapped toys from an array of free, donated items.