Email Author Ray Stern

Awards

• 2011 - Arizona Press Club Awards, published July 8, 2010

  "Gold Rush"

• 2011 - Arizona Press Club Awards, published November 25, 2010

  "Chronic Future"

• 2010 - Arizona Press Club Awards, published October 15, 2009

  "Concrete Bungle"

• 2010 - Arizona Press Club Awards

  SCA Scandal

• 2010 - Arizona Press Club Awards

  Valley Fever

• 2008 - Maggies: The Magazine Awards of Western Publishing, published July 19, 2007

  "Money for Nothing"

• 2008 - Maggies: The Magazine Awards of Western Publishing, published May 31, 2007

  "What Happened in Vegas..."

• 2008 - Arizona Press Club Awards, published May 31, 2007

  "What Happened in Vegas..."

• 2008 - Arizona Press Club Awards, published February 8, 2007

  "Gotcha!"

• 2007 - Arizona Press Club Awards, published November 16, 2006

  "ICE Meltdown"

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2008 Stories by Ray Stern

• Local Man Who Turned in Suspected Would-be Child Molester Says He's Not a Pimp

  published Dec 31, 2008

  A Valley resident who's responsible for putting a man behind bars on an attempted child molesting charge says he's not the "pimp" that cops have made him out to be.As New Times and other media outlets... More >>

• Mormon Magazine: Quit Energy Drinks Now and Avoid Being Slain by the "Destroying Angel"

  published Dec 31, 2008

  If you know anything about Mormons, it's that they typically avoid coffee and other products with caffeine. Yet many Mormons recognize that caffeine isn't exactly heroin, and there appears to be a hea... More >>

• Charles Barkley Sweats DUI Arrest in Unflattering Mug Shot

  published Dec 31, 2008

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• Hot Links: Charles Barkley Gets DUI; Lobbyist Sues NY Times Over McCain Story; AAA Questions DPS Speed Camera Safety Study

  published Dec 31, 2008

  Do we still have to call him "Sirr" Charles Barkley, former Suns player and legendary local resident, gets busted for DUI. What's a misleading story in the New York Times worthr About $27 million, if ... More >>

• Phoenix Light Rail Marks First Crash With Vehicle Since Opening to Passengers

  published Dec 30, 2008

    Uh-oh. The light rail system has been operating with passengers for just four days and it's already been involved in a vehicle collision. That doesn't seem to bode well for the on-street sy... More >>

• Danica Patrick Ignored Scottsdale Photo Enforcement Ticket and Escaped Fine

  published Dec 30, 2008

  You may have heard about Scottsdale resident Danica Patrick today, because it's big news when hot, young female race car drivers get speeding tickets. We were going to pass along this tidbi... More >>

• The Cat in the Tree: A Tale of One Phoenix Cop, His Neighbors and a Stubborn Kitty

  published Dec 30, 2008

  Courtesy of the Sergeant Tommy Thompson,  public information officer for the Phoenix Police Department, we bring you this warm holiday tale. Thompson did such a fine job writing this one up, we'... More >>

• Rapper DMX Pleads Guilty to Animal Cruelty and Other Charges

  published Dec 30, 2008

  His life on the run finished for now, DMX pleaded guilty to a charge of animal cruelty today, finally 'fessing up to the fact that he treated his dogs poorly. As reports from the Maricopa C... More >>

• New Year's Financial Resolutions a Good Idea for State Residents and Government, Says Treasurer

  published Dec 30, 2008

  State Treasurer Dean Martin just put out a helpful list of New Year's resolutions that anyone could use to keep their finances in check -- especially state lawmakers. State budget watchdogs like... More >>

• Hot Links: Commuters and Families Pack Light Rail; Gas Averaging $1.50 in Phoenix; Terminator Entering National Archives

  published Dec 30, 2008

  Disneyland Phoenix: Valley residents continue to swarm onto light rail for fun, bumping elbows with weekday commuters. Hopeful patients praise the opening of a chain hospital in Goodyear designed to ... More >>

• "Save Our Secret Ballots" Group Includes Arizona in Anti-Labor-Union Plans to Change State Constitutions

  published Dec 29, 2008

  Arizona is poised to take center stage in the debate over a proposed national law that would ban workers from voting for or against labor unions in secret ballot elections.A group based in Las Vegas ... More >>

• Sheriff Arpaio Touts Former Spokesman's Success as Agency's "First Hispanic" Deputy Chief

  published Dec 29, 2008

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• Street Morals: Phoenix Pimp Squeals on Client Who Requested Child Sex

  published Dec 29, 2008

  Everyone has standards. Even a pimp.Back in August, a Phoenix prostitute got a perverted request from a john: He'd pay $1,500 to have sex with her and a 10-year-old girl.When the whore told her boss ... More >>

• Trent Franks On Why We Should Support Israel Against Hamas: The Bible Tells Me So

  published Dec 29, 2008

  Of the reasons someone might choose to support Israel, "God says so" would obviously count among the most irrational. Yet Trent Franks, a Republican Congressman from Arizona, espoused this kind of ran... More >>

• Arizona Photo Enforcement Saving Lives, State Troopers Say

  published Dec 29, 2008

  ... More >>

• Hot Links: Light Rail Riders Out in Force; Former State Football Star Danny Villa Faces Charges; Oil Prices Rise

  published Dec 29, 2008

  Light rail riders came, they rode, and they conquered the Valley during the historic opening weekend of the new 20-mile train line. Today will be the first test of the tracks for commuters. If you ma... More >>

• Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings "Troubled" by AIG Hiding of Name at Phoenix Conference; Calls for Hearings

  published Dec 26, 2008

  Congressman Elijah Cummings says he's "troubled" at the taxpayer-supported AIG's attempt to hide its name at a November conference in Phoenix, a smoking-gun detail first unveiled in this blog.The fac... More >>

• Hot Links: Large Crowds Expected for Saturday Light Rail Opening; Boy Dies After Insane Bat Attack, 2nd Boy Critical; Get Out Magazine Gets Lost

  published Dec 26, 2008

  If you haven't been hiding under a barrel cactus for the last couple of months, you know that tomorrow is the big day for the light rail system. Crowds of up to 200,000 are expected to hail the openin... More >>

• Caring Cops and State Troopers Send Christmas Cheer to Kids

  published Dec 24, 2008

  Sometimes there is a cop around when you need one, and that's especially true for disadvantaged children getting extra Christmas cheer from local law enforcement.Officers from the Phoenix police depar... More >>

• Hot Links: Cops Arrest Man in Horrific Beating of Two Little Kids; Mesa's Police Chief Swats at Sheriff's Office Over City Hall Raid; Goddard Would Consider Legalizing Pot

  published Dec 24, 2008

  Tragic beating: Cops arrest a 36-year-old man after two boys, 7 and 10, are found with severe head injuries at a Phoenix park. Mesa Police Chief George Gascon fires back at the Maricopa County Sherif... More >>

• Andrew Thomas Fired as County Attorney on Civil Matters by Board of Supervisors

  published Dec 23, 2008

  The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has essentially fired County Attorney Andrew Thomas when it comes to handling civil lawsuits for the county. Thomas, who was re-elected in November to a secon... More >>

• CityNorth Development Threatened After Appeals Court Blasts City's Tax Giveaway

  published Dec 23, 2008

  The Arizona Court of Appeals today struck down Phoenix's giveaway of $97 million in sales tax that was promised to a developer in exchange for building the Kierland-Commons-like CityNorth center... More >>

• Claude Mattox, Phoenix City Councilman, Will Rock Out at Light Rail Opening

  published Dec 23, 2008

  When he's not voting for public art or voting against a recommendation to make horse-tripping illegal, Claude Mattox likes to jam out with his classic rock band, the Screamin' Javelinas. The Pho... More >>

• Arpaio's Captain Still Won't Name "Sheriff's Command" Group Members; Launches Appeal of $315,000 Fine

  published Dec 23, 2008

  Captain Joel Fox of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office wants to appeal his $315,000 fine for making an illegal donation in the name of the mysterious "Sheriff's Command Association." Fox filed ... More >>

• Hot Links: Officials Plan to Pit Former County Attorney Vs. County Attorney; Mesa Police Union Prez Investigated for Gun Mishap; Tips Down Locally for Wait Staff

  published Dec 23, 2008

  The county power struggle continues as Maricopa County Supervisors announce plans to retain former County Attorney Rick Romley as a bulwark against current County Attorney Andrew T... More >>