MESA, Ariz. (AP) - Mesa officials have scheduled a news

conference Thursday to announce new developments in the Phoenix

suburb's efforts to remain the spring training home of the Chicago

Cubs.

Mesa officials said in a statement that the news conference it

concerns "new initiatives" regarding their January memorandum of

understanding on a new training complex for the National League

baseball club.

Mayor Scott Smith said in late May that the city had discovered

ways to meet a July deadline to keep the Cubs despite the Arizona

Legislature's rejection of proposed legislation.

Mesa is trying to keep the Cubs from relocating to Florida.