NEW YORK — Thomas Sohmers, 17, of Hudson, Mass., has been working at a research lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology since he was 13, developing projects ranging from augmented reality eyewear to laser communications systems. This spring, his mom, Penny Mills, let him drop out of 11th grade. She says she "could see how much of the work he was doing at school wasn't relevant to what he wanted to learn."

Calling a woman's rights "unalterably clear,'' a federal appeals court on Tuesday struck down Arizona's nearly year-old ban on abortions at 20 weeks and beyond.

BOISE, Idaho — A dozen years after a customer revolt forced Monsanto to ditch its genetically engineered potato, an Idaho company aims to resurrect high-tech spuds.

BOULDER, Colo. — Ethan Welty is thinking ahead to harvest time as he cycles through tidy Boulder streets pointing out apple, plum and mulberry trees on public and private land.

With a deep inhale and wide smile, Jordan Beck let out the worst-kept secret in Arizona high school softball, and came as close as anyone wearing black and red to acknowledging the history that’s been made on the east end of Brown Road.

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.

Debbie Frazier wants her two children to grow up appreciating the outdoors. So she introduced them to hiking before they could walk.

Six Chandler Unified School District students will be honored this weekend for qualifying to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, often noted as, “the world’s most prestigious pre-college science competition.”

Six Chandler Unified School District students will be honored this weekend for qualifying to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, often noted as, "the world’s most prestigi

Six Chandler Unified School District students will be honored this weekend for qualifying to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, often noted as, "the world’s most prestigious pre-college science competition."

Gov. Jan Brewer has cleared one hurdle for new research on the possible medical benefits of marijuana.

It’s time to privatize Gilbert.

Ever wonder where the latest gadgets and technology designed to make the world a better place come from?

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Jeff Flake’s vote against expanded background checks on gun sales earlier this month caused his approval ratings to drop, making him one of the “most unpopular” U.S. senators, a new poll says.

Valedictorians:

Gilbert Classical Academy will graduate 37 students in its Class of 2013.

The valedictorians for Tempe's Corona del Sol are:

Tempe's McClintock High School's valedictorians are Joey Tran and Eveline Postelnicu.

Swaroon Sridhar is the valedictorian of Mountain Pointe High School's Class of 2013. He was one of 20 recipients of the Flinn Scholarship, the most prestigious award an Arizona student can receive. He was also the top overall scorer in the 2013 Arizona State Academic Decathlon and 10th in the United States in Round 3 Academic Decathlon Competition.

Mesquite High School will graduate 446 students this year. Students have been awarded just over $6 million in scholarships.

Approximately 640 graduates will receive diplomas this year from Mesa's Dobson High School.

WASHINGTON — The government is moving the morning-after pill over the counter but only those 15 and older can buy it — an attempt to find middle ground just days before a court-imposed deadline to lift all age restrictions on the emergency contraceptive.

Mesa’s Red Mountain High School finished fourth overall in its first U.S. Academic Decathlon last week.