A family fundraising event will be from 1 to 7 p.m. on May 19 at the parking lot at Foothills Park Plaza, Desert Foothills Parkway and Chandler Boulevard. This is a chance for the community to come out and support all levels of Blue and Gold football.

For the first time ever, drivers of taxi cabs and limousines in Arizona will soon be subject to random drug testing.

There are restaurants that slash prices on margaritas or invite a mariachi band for Cinco de Mayo - and then there are restaurants that go a little nuts.

Homeowners associations are tasked with the unenviable responsibility of maintaining community standards. Personal property appearances, landscape maintenance and dog refuse in common areas fall within their purview; apparently so do banners advertising local businesses.

While Arizona is home to several upscale dining establishments that meet the most discriminating palates, the state is also home to several fun and kitschy places to nosh at as well. Whether diners are on a road trip or just seeking out the unusual, below are some suggestions for AAA One and Two Diamond restaurants known for their quirkiness as much as their food.

Don't be surprised if you find yourself sitting near a horse the next time you dine out.

Armando Adrian-López doesn’t farm anymore, but he still looks to the natural world for inspiration and materials, using corn husks, dried flowers and found objects to create fantastical winged and horned creatures.

Children will listen to other children in a way they don’t to adults, says Bobb Cooper — and he’s hoping an awful lot of them get to do just that over the next two weeks.

Feeling like you should do something for St. Patrick’s Day but missed Saturday’s downtown parade or don’t fancy a drive all the way to Fountain Hills for a spray of green water?

Four Peaks Brewing Company has been an East Valley fixture for 16 years. Its variety of beer retails not only across the state, but nationwide and even in other countries.

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.

The most anticipated special publication of the year is here, the Ahwatukee Foothills News’ Best Of Ahwatukee. We receive calls throughout the year for extra copies of this publication and questions on when voting for the next year will begin.

Ruffino Italian Cuisine

A quick Google search yields no fewer than six bicycle rental shops with addresses in Phoenix, expanding the search to include neighboring cities brings the total to a couple dozen shops.

A Valley chef and his team will soon attempt to cook the largest sausage the Valley has ever seen.

Maybe it’s the sign of a slightly improved economy.

A fundraiser to raise awareness of testicular cancer in young men and a charity benefit concert for Justin Muriett, a 19-year-old boy from Gilbert who was diagnosed with advanced stage testicular cancer, will take place at the Ahwatukee Foothills Loco Patron, 1327 E. Chandler Blvd., from 3 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 2.

We love our local businesses and their unique impact on our community. Saturday, Aug. 18 is dedicated to driving sales to small businesses at one of the slowest times of the year. Cash Mob Saturday is the time to come out and support local small businesses in your community and boost the economy in the process.

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Mitt Romney introduced Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his Republican vice presidential running mate on Saturday, turning to the architect of a deeply conservative and intensely controversial long-term budget plan that would remake Medicare and cut trillions in federal spending.

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Mitt Romney introduced Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his Republican vice presidential running mate on Saturday, turning to the architect of a deeply conservative and intensely controversial long-term budget plan that would remake Medicare and cut trillions in federal spending.

The Phoenix Convention Center’s Volunteer Program is recruiting new members. Individuals with a friendly disposition and a spirit of service who are interested in serving as ushers at the facility’s two theatrical venues, Orpheum Theater and Symphony Hall are invited to apply.

With trials, suffering and hardships, a community’s strength can be refined.

Perhaps you have noticed that the summer months in Ahwatukee can be particularly slow, if you own a store here you are probably VERY aware of that fact. Many people head out of town for long periods of time and fewer people show up at your shop. I recently realized how much this downturn affects the stores in Ahwatukee.