As you can see, it’s a pretty lazy weekend here in the Valley of the Sun. The monsoon season has taken a breather, and the days have reverted back to their pre-monsoon bright and hot state. Everybody around here seems to be on vacation – and with good reason, for it seems the kiddies are heading back to school next week. Hmmm…we’ll see. In the meantime, in case you’re wondering what passes for local news around here, here’s what at least seems to be going on:

* The good news is that it looks as if the police caught the (as it turns out) two men responsible for the serial killings that have taken place around here over the past year. Turns out the so-called “Baseline Killer” was actually two men who had been under surveillance since their latest victim was found nearly a week ago, and the cops have overwhelming evidence that they got the right ones. Kudos to the Mesa police.

* Of course, we’ve still got a random shooter out there on the loose; whoever it is, I’m sure they’re next on law enforcement’s to-do list.

* You doubt it’s a slow news weekend around here? Check this sampling of headlines from the esteemed Arizona Republic, our state newspaper: “Junior High Puts Kids In New World”; “Pima County Disabled Will Have Touch-Screen Voting”; “Volunteer Trash Pickup in Tonto National Forest”. Film at eleven.

* While I give ’em all credit and enjoy reading their entries, I can’t help but notice the difference between the Metroblogging Phoenix and Metroblogging New Orleans sites. Talk about two extremes on the “what’s happening” spectrum! Floating in the pool last night with absolutely no trace of humanity to be heard or seen except the planes above (and we live directly adjacent to six houses), I told Tracey last night I feel as if I’m living in some post-atomic wasteland called “Paradise Morgue”. She laughed. I wasn’t kidding.

* Finally, which U.S. cities have the least to worry about when it comes to natural disasters (you know, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.)? Well, it should come as no suprise that the Valley of the Sun ranks near the top of the list, with places like New Orleans and Miami at the bottom. When you have approximately 330 days of sun every year, there’s not a whole lot of disasters of the natural kind that can get ya.