Retiring U.S. Congressman Ed Pastor was recognized Thursday by the American Public Transportation Association, winning the 2014 Distinguished Service Award for his work bringing light rail to the Valley.

ASU social work senior Monica Jones issued an appeal to her conviction for "manifesting an intent to commit an act of prostitution." She was joined at the Tuesday press conference and at a later public discussion at the Herberger Theater by Emmy-nominated actress Laverne Cox and New York-based ACLU staff attorney Chase Strangio.

Dinosaurs attacked downtown Phoenix on Saturday -- well, at least ones from popular culture -- in the second annual Phoenix DinoCon, held at the Phoenix Center for the Arts. The event, which drew close to 400 attendees, had panels and booths that celebrated the dinosaur-lovers among us.

If you survived another month on the stovetop, you may want to celebrate by going out Friday, Aug. 1, for Phoenix's First Fridays art-walk festivities. So before the kids are back to school and the art walk becomes the welcome madness that it is during the fall, take your time to enjoy this one in comparable calmness.

A panel of reporters and photographers from the Arizona Republic discussed personal experiences reporting on the recent influx of tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors, many of whom have come from Central America into the U.S., at a forum held at the Walter Cronkite School Wednesday.