Teens are bound to be excited to leave backpacks and books behind for carefree summer fun. However, if your teen’s summer includes driving or riding with a teen driver, there are a few things to consider.

It’s May. Memorial Day and the end of the school year are in sight. Suddenly, you’re thinking about a summer vacation. A little advance planning — and some insider tips — can save you a lot of money. Whether you’re booking airfare, a car rental or a hotel room, there are questions you should ask first.

Scooter is a very lively 10-year-old Beagle. Scooter is good with other dogs, but will give a warning growl if another four-legged friend gets too close to his sleeping space. He’s recently been able to show off some of my awesome agility skills, so if that’s something you’d like to work more with him on, you’d be a perfect match. He really enjoys running through tunnels, climbing up ladders, and running down slides, even more so if rewarded with a treat or just a good belly rub. Scooter is extremely affectionate and loves to be loved.

Just after the school bell rang last Friday morning, Kyrene de la Sierra Elementary Principal Dave Maloney headed straight for his school’s media center to do live morning announcements.

• Police took a report of a single vehicle car accident around 8 a.m. on April 9 near the 2500 block of East Thunderhill Place. A 16-year-old driver lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a large saguaro cactus, demolishing the cactus. There were no injuries but the driver was cited for failure to control speed to avoid collision. The saguaro was on the side of the road and was valued at more than $6,000. The driver’s car, a 2008 Ford Mustang, was totaled.
• At 9 p.m. on April 9 near the 9600 block of South 46th Street an adult female was arrested, accused of knowingly striking her mother.
• Police responded to a call of an abandoned motorcycle on April 10 at 5:30 a.m. in the desert near Pecos and 40th Street. The 2011 Honda Sport motorcycle was stolen and abandoned.
• On April 12 at 8:45 p.m. police took a report of an identity theft in the 4600 block of East Lavender Lane. The victim claimed someone had gotten a hold of their Social Security number and information and used their credit cards. At 9:40 p.m. on April 12 police responded to a shoplifting call near the 4600 block of East Chandler Boulevard. An adult female was arrested. Police were called back to the area at 10:52 p.m. for a shoplifter in custody. When police made contact with the suspect they found he was also in possession of dangerous drugs. He was arrested.
• At 11:20 p.m. on April 12 police responded to a hit and run accident. A man is accused of driving eastbound in the westbound lanes on Ray Road near the 3100 block of East Ray Road. His car side swiped by another car. The person in that vehicle followed the driver who went to a home in the Equestrian Estates area. Police responded to the home and arrested the man for suspicion of driving impaired.
• At 12:45 p.m. on April 13 police got a call of a theft in the 5100 block of East Guadalupe Road. The victim said a person had taken furniture they had for sale without paying. Two suspects were identified. Between 1 and 2 p.m. police responded to a call of a theft from a residence near the 13800 block of South 44th Street on April 13. A suspect accused of stealing jewelry from the home has been identified.
• Around 4:30 p.m. on April 13 police responded to a burglary from vehicle near the 5000 block of East Ray Road. A house key and a package of cigarettes were taken.
• Police responded to a shoplifting incident at 8:30 p.m. on April 13 near the 4000 block of East Chandler Boulevard. The suspects exited the store without paying for two bottles of vodka. The suspects were not located.
• Police responded to a call of a runaway 16-year-old around 8:30 p.m. on April 14. The teen lived near the 5100 block of East La Puente Drive.
• Police responded to a domestic violence incident around 11:10 p.m. on April 14 near the 3400 block of East Chandler Boulevard. The incident was between an adult brother and sister. There were no arrests, but an order of protection will be issued.
• Police arrested an 18-year-old man for impaired driving around 2:47 a.m. on April 14 near the 1400 block of East Chandler Boulevard. Police received a report of a vehicle broken into on April 6 at the Pima Mountain Trailhead, 9400 South 48th Street. A 2012 Chevy Malibu was broken into and a wedding ring, purse, wallet and various tools were taken. Police estimate a loss of $1,600. Another vehicle was broken into at the same location on April 17 around 1 p.m. A diaper bag was taken from that vehicle.

4425 E. Agave Road, Suite 136

The first image you see in "The Place Beyond the Pines" is of Ryan Gosling's shirtless torso, ripped and tatted atop a skin-tight pair of leather pants.

A man was hit and killed on a motorcycle on Pecos Road in Ahwatukee Foothills Tuesday night after a car failed to yield at a stop sign, according to police.

Walter Salles' "On the Road" was made with noble intentions, finely-crafted filmmaking and handsome casting, but, alas, it does not burn, burn, burn.

Discount Tire is bringing a car show to the Ahwatukee Foothills this weekend to benefit military service men and women and their families.

Checkered Flag Run: Rev up for a jam-packed weekend of motorcycle activities including a block party, bike show, comedy performance and dance. The festivities culminate in the NASCAR Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

The Phoenix Police Department has made some changes to officer assignments recently in order to do more with a continually shrinking department. In Ahwatukee Foothills about a third of the officers are new to the area.

Wynonna Judd rose to fame in the 1980s as half of the country music duo The Judds, with her mother, Naomi. She is known for her deep voice, fiery red hair and rock star attitude.

Michelle Arana and Christopher Shreeve met while attending Mountain Pointe High School approximately 13 years ago. Currently, they are both wrapping up their studies: Arana on her master’s degree in English and creative writing at Southern New Hampshire University, and Shreeve on his Harley Davidson certification from the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute.

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

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.

Toys come with a lot of warnings: Not suitable for children under 3 years; Small parts may present choking hazards; Use under adult supervision. Labels on electronic toys list the voltage while others confirm non-toxic materials. If a toy proves to be harmful, it is quickly recalled as toy manufacturers make safety a priority.

The good, the bad, the kitschy. A “seasonal sweater” is one way to start a conversation at a holiday function.

The Environmental Protection Agency is ready to drop its requirement that motorcycles undergo emissions inspections in the Valley, the last area in the country to require the tests.

The Ahwatukee Swim and Tennis Center is celebrating Veterans Day with its Ninth Annual Car and Motorcycle Show on Saturday.