Hard News                                                 Feature/Profile  

About four years ago, Jon Nelson gave up traditional housing to live in his van, which he has named Matilda, and travel around the country. He works at a resort in Montana during the summer, saves some money and spends the winter in warmer places such as the Phoenix area.

A 92-year-old World War II veteran decided to take his family up in a B-17 bomber like the one he once flew. The flight allowed him to tell his family about the 23 missions he flew during the war, including one where he was shot down and held as a prisoner for 18 months.

When a human rights group asked Howard Cabot to represent a detainee at Guantanamo Bay, he was prepared for his work to be pro bono. But he says the emotional challenge was "greater than I ever expected."

V.E. Johnson Elementary School assembled and buried a time capsule 25 years ago when it first opened. But now, with that class' reunion approaching and the capsule's opening scheduled, no one seems to be able to recall where it was buried.

Two years after domestic partner health benefits for state employees were cut from the state budget, members of same-sex couples will make their case for equal treatment before a federal appeals court panel.

A riparian preserve in Gilbert is becoming a haven for feral cats drawn to the birds attracted to the area. Cages in hand, one man has made it his mission to catch the cats and find them homes. Town officials say the effort is bringing the cat population down.

Though they often come under fire in recent years, ROTC programs still draw large numbers of participants at Arizona educational institutions. Leaders and members alike say the program is more about discipline and leadership than it is recruiting for the military.