Once welcoming, borderlands now forever divided

A borderline that for generations was like a picket fence between neighbors is now a wedge between old friends.

Once tolerant of migrants, Arizona ranchers now steer clear

Ranchers in Southern Arizona's smuggling corridors used to have a "live and let live" relationship with illegal border crossers.

Border towns split asunder

Like so many border cities, Douglas and Agua Prieta used to be one community. A physical and political line divided them, but it didn't get in the way of daily interactions.

Border adventures nowadays include a note of caution

Outdoor recreation is a key draw to life in Southern Arizona. Every weekend, residents and visitors alike camp, hike, hunt and bird-watch. It's part of our identity and part of our economy.

Commerce 'is still viable,' but 'glory years' are gone

Doing business on the border used to mean courting Mexican shoppers looking for the latest in U.S. fashions and other goods. That still happens, but it isn't nearly as lucrative as it once was.

Chat replay: McCombs on border series

Read the transcript of Star reporter Brady McCombs' live chat today. He answered readers' questions about his series on life at the border and how it has changed in the last 15 years.