The Maricopa Association of Governments and the Gila River Indian Community have released a map of an alternative route for the planned South Mountain Freeway, which would connect Chandler to Laveen. Read the full story HERE

The city of Phoenix Public Works and Parks departments have partnered again this year with A to Z Equipment Rental & Sales to offer free drop-off locations for cut Christmas trees, Dec. 27 to Jan. 9. Trees will be recycled and turned into mulch for city parks and other uses.

The trees must be free of all decorations, tree stands, nails and metal stakes. Trees may only be left at the specified parking lot site within the park, sunrise to sunset. Multiple tree loads will not be accepted and must be taken to the city’s transfer stations, located at 30205 N. Black Canyon Highway and 3060 S. 27th Ave.

Below is a list of Christmas tree drop-off locations, by area.

• North Phoenix:
  Deer Valley Park, Utopia Road and 19th Avenue; Paradise Valley Park, 40th Street, south of Union Hills Drive; Sereno Park, Sweetwater Avenue and 56th Street; Cactus Park, 3800 W. Cactus Rd.; Mountain View Park, Peoria and Seventh avenues.
• Central, West, East Phoenix:
  Marivue Park, Osborn Road and 59th Avenue; Washington Park, Maryland and 23rd avenues; Madison Park, Glenrosa Avenue and 16th Street; Los Olivos Park, Devonshire Avenue and 28th Street; Desert West Park, Encanto Boulevard and 67th Avenue.
• South Phoenix:
  El Reposo Park, Alta Vista Road and Seventh Street; Mountain Vista Park, 50th Street, north of Ray Road; Cesar Chavez Park, 35th Avenue and Baseline Road; Desert Foothills Park, Desert Foothills Parkway and Chandler Boulevard.

Trees may also be dropped off at A to Z Equipment Rental & Sales, 15634 N. 32nd St. or 4050 E. Indian School Road during this times: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 26; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 27 to Dec 30; 8 a.m. to noon, Dec. 31; closed Jan. 1; 8 a.m. to noon, Jan. 2; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jan. 3 to Jan. 8.

For questions and more information regarding "treecycling" or what other holiday materials may or may not be recycled, call 602-262-7251 or visit phoenix.gov/publicworks.

Mesa residents encouraged to “Treecycle”

            Mesa residents can help the City of Mesa give the environment a present this holiday season by recycling their Christmas trees.  Residents are encouraged to bring their tree to any of the free drop-off locations listed below.  Residents are asked to remove all nails, stands, tinsel, lights and ornaments from trees.  Flocked trees will not be accepted because the flocking does not break down in the environment and wreaths will not be accepted because of the metal wiring which can damage the chipping equipment.

            The following 24-hour drop-off sites will be open Dec. 26-Jan. 16:

-         City of Mesa Solid Waste Management Department, 730 N. Mesa Dr.

-         East Mesa Service Center, 6935 E. Decatur St.

-         Superstition Springs Police/Fire Substation, 2430 S. Ellsworth Road

-         Mountain View Park, 845 N. Lindsay Rd. (enter off of Adobe St.)

-         Dobson Ranch Park, 2363 S. Dobson Rd.

            Residents wishing to take their trees directly to the Salt River Landfill at Gilbert Road and the Beeline Highway can do so between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.  Mesa residents will need to have a current Arizona driver’s license.  Curbside pickup also is available for $19.99.  Residents should contact City of Mesa Customer Service at (480) 644-2221 for more information or to schedule a pickup time.  Additional information may also be found by visiting www.mesarecycles.org.

            Finally, Mesa also accepts donations of live potted trees, which will be planted in Mesa City parks.  Live trees, five feet or taller, will be accepted at any Mesa Fire Station.  The Christmas “Treecycling” program is provided for resident use only and is sponsored by the City of Mesa and the Salt River Landfill.  Tree lot vendors should call Customer Service for alternative disposal options.

Using a sales database of 85,000 vehicles, the analysts at Honk compiled lists of the best-selling cars in four geographic areas of the U.S. These were the Northeast Region, Western Region, Midwest/Central Region, and Southern Region.

See the results HERE

Rearview Car Cameras to be Mandatory. Read more HERE

Arizona highways in White Mountains close for winter

by The Associated Press

SHOW LOW, Ariz. (AP) -- The state Transportation Department is closing some roadways in the White Mountains for the winter.

State Route 473 to Hawley Lake already is closed.

State Route 261 between State Route 260 and Big Lake, as well as State Route 273 between Sunrise Park and Big Lake will be closed on Dec. 15.

The highways typically reopen by mid-May.

The department says motorists should carry snow chains or cables when traveling on snowpacked and icy roads.

State officials will respond to vehicle slide-offs but are urging motorists to slow down, drive defensively and allow extra time for winter trips.

Road closures to occur in Queen Creek Town Center Dec. 3 and 4