The Mesa Police Department was the first law enforcement agency in Maricopa County to offer convenient "drop-off" locations for unwanted prescription drugs.

Bridgestone Corporation officially broke ground last week on a biorubber process research center — a facility expected to investigate ways to better produce rubber from a native southwestern plant.

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.

Raise your caps and don your gowns: It's graduation month!

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.

Yoga, yachting and snow will all come together June 1 at the grand opening of Mesa’s Eastmark, the largest planned community in the East Valley in the last few years.

In February, elementary physical education teachers challenged 5,000-plus fifth-graders in Mesa Public School District to make healthy food choices and get more exercise for 28 consecutive days as part of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona’s Walk On! Challenge. Every fifth-grade student in the Mesa district had the opportunity to participate in the Walk On! Challenge, which was facilitated by the physical education teachers in each of the elementary schools in Mesa.

A punch to the gut. A smack to the head.

The City of Mesa and Arizona State University are partnering on a technology business accelerator site, to be located at the ASU Polytechnic campus, in the southeast part of the city.

When it comes to improving our community and helping people in need, Mesa has no shortage of role models. That’s what makes Susan Carland’s selection for Mesa United Way’s Ross N. Farnsworth Spirit of Mesa Award so special.

I have been using the Valley’s mass transit system for several years. Actually, I had to buy a car when I first moved to the Valley fourteen years ago because the mass transit at that time was close to non-existent. I moved from Denver where having a car is great, but not really necessary because the transit system is so good!

Banner Health Center in Gilbert will open Wednesday for patient care. Staff physicians will include pediatrics, family medicine and internal medicine. There are 16 exam rooms, basic imaging and laboratory services available.

The Mesa Police Department will participate in the East Valley Memorial Day DUI Task Force. This DUI Task Force is in cooperation with the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety. A combination of DUI saturation patrols and a sobriety checkpoint will be used throughout the Memorial Day weekend, day and night. The command post will be spread out over various locations.

The Arizona Educational Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2014 Arizona Teacher of the Year program. This program recognizes 10 exceptionally skilled and dedicated Arizona public school teachers. One winning teacher will be sent to Washington D.C., to meet the president and will receive prize package including a $15,000 cash award, professional speech training, a full scholarship toward an advanced degree at Argosy University Phoenix and the chance to attend international Space Camp.

‘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.

Wayne Brown spent decades working to improve Mesa, from its arts programs to its financial standing. Under his leadership on the city council and as mayor, the city saw a new spring training facilities built, a new convention center created and the establishment of the Mesa Arts Center.

A motorcyclist was killed when he crashed into a car in Mesa Thursday night, according to authorities.

State senators approved their version of a new $8.8 billion budget Thursday -- but not before adding millions of dollars to the original Republican plan.

Here is a collection of thoughts and stories from those who've crossed paths (personally or professionally) with former Higley district athletic director Art Wagner, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on May 15.

It is with a heavy heart that the City of Mesa announces the passing of Mayor Wayne Brown on Tuesday, May 14. Brown served as Mayor from 1996 to 2000. He also served as a Councilmember from 1968 to 1976.

Firefighters say flames that rushed through a Mesa home early Wednesday were fueled by a hoarding situation.