Design magazines and home decorating catalogs tend to feature sprawling backyards with big wooden decks and room for everything from decorative fountains to artificial ponds.

NEW YORK — You can recycle your waste, grow your own food and drive a fuel-efficient car. But being socially responsible isn't so easy when it comes to the clothes on your back.

A good cup of coffee starts with a good roast.

Fancy having Brangelina, Drew Barrymore and Dan Aykroyd over for dinner? No problem, they'll even bring the wine.

Whether you like them feathered, furry or covered in scales, you can go a little crazy over pets this weekend in Glendale.

LONDON — Tesco, Britain's largest retailer by sales, is to pull out of the U.S., selling off its lossmaking Fresh & Easy supermarket chain after it failed to transfer its winning formula from the U.K. to the western states.

Saying there are technical problems with the proposal, Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed legislation Friday which would have allowed individuals to shop around for the best price on health care needs.

ALBANY, N.Y. — 

Rebuffing the concerns of mayors from around the state about lost revenues, a Senate panel voted Wednesday to sharply revamp how sales taxes are assessed and collected.

Two new reports on the cost of changing how construction activity is taxed could torpedo the sales tax simplification plan being pushed by Gov. Jan Brewer.

Now that the Chicago Cubs have secured a spring-training home in Mesa well into the future, the East Valley will soon welcome to the area the first of possibly many in a long line of Windy City favorites: Portillo’s Hot Dogs.

Cathy Garcia’s T-shirts have been in high demand since the Grammys and Oscars where they were included in gift bags for celebrities.

Since then, the Glendale resident has stayed busy with orders for her T-shirt line, Cha-Cha ChiC, named after her Chihuahua, Cha Cha.

If not revised, tax simplification bill would punish high-growth areas like Gilbert

PHOENIX – Gov. Jan Brewer’s plan to simplify Arizona’s sales tax system could undercut revenues for growing communities through changes in how construction materials are taxed, according to a report by the nonprofit Grand Canyon Institute.

From national tragedies like that at Sandy Hook Elementary School to the increased digital tools at virtually everyone’s disposal — including in the hands of kids — it’s understandable that parents might feel overwhelmed as they try to raise their children in today’s age.

The future of voting is online, and moving Arizona’s elections to the Internet would save money, deter voter fraud and increase efficiency, a state lawmaker says.

Mesa Mayor Scott Smith took the opportunity at the recent state of the city breakfast to laud some of the city’s triumphs over the past four years, and to lay out a direction for the future.

Q: Where can I take my old computers and cell phones to be recycled properly? - Suzanne

After a number of scheduled performances — including by the Territorial Brass Band and state historian Marshall Trimble — Mesa’s recently re-elected mayor and city council members were designated to be sworn in Tuesday night at Mesa Arts Centers’ Virginia G. Piper Theater during a celebration hosted by local radio newsman Ned Foster.

Superstition Arts & Cultural Alliance (SACA) and Dreams and Legends Gallery have announced their selection of Robert Jensen as January's Superstition Artist of the month.

Attention pet lovers: How would you like to help homeless cats, dogs, puppies and kittens find a family and permanent home? The Arizona Animal Welfare League is seeking volunteers with retail and customer service skills to help out at its adoption site in Chandler Fashion Center.

Returning your Christmas gifts can be an OK experience or the bah-humbug misery of the season. Here are a few helpful tips. First, call the store to find out when lines might be shortest. Second, ask yourself, “Do I really need to return things at the crack of dawn on Dec. 26?”