An effort is under way to redevelop the Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort & Suites.  Paradise Valley Town Council is expected June 27 to render an opinion on the Statement of Direction outlining the parameters of examination for the planning commission as it begins dissecting the redevelopment plan later this summer.  A final site plan and narrative of the project was filed with the … Read more

Mark Stuart and John Washington filed a lawsuit Monday, June 17 in Maricopa County Superior Court against the city of Scottsdale accusing the municipality of subsidizing the private operator of McDowell Mountain Golf Club with taxpayer dollars.   The current operator of the McDowell Mountain Golf Club, 10690 E. Sheena Drive in north Scottsdale, is White Buffalo Golf LLC, a private … Read more

Dale S. Hausner, 40, died in a Florence prison June 19 from unknown causes, according to the Arizona Department of Corrections. Mr. Hausner, known in Arizona as the "Serial Shooter," received six death sentences from a crime spree that included convictions for six murders, according to an ADOC release. Mr. Hausner was found unresponsive in his cell just after 12 … Read more

A site plan by a second theater chain has been approved by the Queen Creek Planning and Zoning Commission. The proposal will be reviewed next by the Queen Creek Town Council; that date has not been announced. On June 12, commissioners unanimously approved a request to rezone a site in the Queen Creek Marketplace, on the southwest corner of Rittenhouse … Read more

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Meal prices will increase for the 2013-2014 school year by 25 cents for elementary, high school and adult lunches, Dysart Unified School District officials announced June 19. Breakfast prices will remain the same. Officials did not immediately give the reason for the increases. The hikes will mean students at the Dysart district’s 19 elementary schools will pay … Read more

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Surprise City Council is expected to make a permanent appointment to the city attorney’s position next week. The governing body is expected to formally approve a contract with Misty Leslie during its June 25 business meeting, Mayor Sharon Wolcott said Tuesday night. Ms. Leslie has served as interim city attorney since the council decision to let … Read more

Glendale, Ariz. –– Imagine painting your own version of Van Gogh’s masterpiece, “Sunflowers.” You can and will at the Paint Along Party from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Friday, June 28 at Gallery Glendale located at the Westgate Entertainment District, 9380 W. Westgate Blvd.  The instructor, Janine Barbour, a former arts academy instructor and artist, will guide participants through the completion … Read more

Valley Youth Theatre in Phoenix presents the Tony Award-winning version of Shrek The Musical at the Herberger Theater Center starting June 14.   Based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture and book by William Steig, the story centers around an ogre called Shrek, his sidekick Donkey, a princess named Fiona, a host of fairy tale creatures, and their nemesis Lord Farquaad.  “This … Read more