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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2009 Stories by Ray Stern

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  Joe Arpaio's Detention Officer Defies Judge, Must Report to Jail by Midnight

  published Dec 01, 2009

  A Maricopa County detention officer made a choice last night to defy a judge, and now he faces jail time for contempt of court. The officer, Adam Stoddard, held a news conference Monday but did not ap... More >>

• County Wants Sheriff Investigated for Possible Felony Over Purchase of Bus

  published Nov 30, 2009

  County leaders want to know: What part of illegal doesn't Sheriff Joe Arpaio understandr America's self-described Toughest Sheriff won't tolerate tamale-selling illegal immigrants, people who honk the... More >>

• UPDATE: File-Taking Detention Officer to Hold News Conference

  published Nov 30, 2009

  An apology ordered by a judge in the case of a detention officer who took papers from a defense attorney's file doesn't appear to be coming in time for a December 1 deadline. Instead, the judge may re... More >>

• Easier Access to Rocky Point in Works; Governor Brewer Headed to Hermosillo This Weekend

  published Nov 30, 2009

  Construction on a second lane into Mexico at the U.S. Port of Entry in Lukeville, the gateway to Rocky Point beaches, will begin by the middle of next year, state officials say. The easier cross-borde... More >>

• Dinner With Obama and Indian Prime Minister Delights Mesa Restaurant Owner Whose Brothers were Slain

  published Nov 27, 2009

  An Indian restaurant owner whose brother was slain in Mesa after the September 11, 2001 attacks attended Tuesday's state dinner with President Obama and the Indian Prime Minister.The Arizona Republic ... More >>

• Twisted: Murder Suspect, a Self-Described MS-13 Member, is Awfully Handy With a Knife

  published Nov 27, 2009

  On the mean streets of El Salvador back in the '90s, a young girl learned how to turn a knife in a victim in order to avoid being covered in a torrent of blood. Now 27, the self-described MS-13 gang ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Scottsdale Banker's Son Missing in Germany for Seven Days; No Clues, but Kidnapping Suggested as Motive

  published Nov 27, 2009

  A week has passed since the son of a Scottsdale banker disappeared after a late-night party in Frankfurt, Germany, but no clues have turned up. "There have been a lot of resources called in to assis... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters, This Holiday Season's Big Toy Craze, First Caused Stir in Phoenix

  published Nov 27, 2009

  Valley Fever told you about one kids toy this year, and it turned out to be what the Associated Press now calls "this year's bona fide must-have toy."Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters, formerly called Go Go Pets... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Randy Miller, Hopeful Buyer of East Valley Tribune, has Reputation for Soft News - But Better Than Alternative

  published Nov 25, 2009

  The East Valley Tribune could be in for a serious change in direction under the helm of its possible rescuer, Randy Miller, owner of Tucson's Explorer newspapers. Miller has surfaced as the hope... More >>

• Swine Flu Death Rate Comparable to AIDS, Drownings; Officials Push Public to Seek Out Shots

  published Nov 24, 2009

  rThe most troubling thing about swine flu, a.k.a. H1N1, is who it kills: Young people. Or, if not young, certainly younger than any normal idea of "old."With seasonal flu, about 90 percent of deat... More >>

• Serving Up Stapley: Why’s the Don Stapley Prosecution a Big Joke? Because the Accusers Are Far Shadier Than the Accused

  published November 26, 2009

  Dirt on Don Stapley, a 15-year member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, began flowing in spring 2008 from County Attorney Andrew... More >>

• Saguaro Cactus Rustler Sentenced to Eight Months in Prison Should Have Called APS

  published Nov 20, 2009

  Two Tucson men were sentenced recently for stealing Saguaro cacti from inside Saguaro National Park, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced today. Joseph Tillman, 50, will serve eight mo... More >>

• Octogenarian Cold-Case Suspect Extradited to Phoenix on 1987 Manslaughter Charge

  published Nov 17, 2009

  rBack in 1987, cops say, Roger Cook blasted a guy with his .357 Magnum for no good reason. The single bullet killed 22-year-old Terrance Keenan. The young man's friend, Richard Fair, dodg... More >>

• Maricopa County Supervisors Trying to Destroy Grand Jury Process, Says County Attorney

  published Nov 16, 2009

  Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas says the county Board of Supervisors has launched a new lawsuit that aims to "destroy the sanctity of the grand jury."We haven't seen the other side of this one... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Chuck Coughlin, Governor Brewer's Campaign Strategist, Tied to Demand Letter to Thomas on Stapley Case

  published Nov 16, 2009

  A couple of weeks ago, we heard about a demand letter received by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office from a local lawyer, Leonard Aragon, concerning the attempted prosecution of County Supervisor D... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Arpaio Investigating Governor Jan Brewer, Source Says; Guv's Campaign Manager Also Under Scrutiny

  published Nov 16, 2009

  Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's criminal investigation into potential misdeeds by county leaders includes Governor Jan Brewer, a source close to the investigation tells New Times.The source, who ... More >>

• Mexican Gray Wolf Management Reclaimed by Government; Wolf Numbers in Arizona and New Mexico Too Small, Experts Say

  published Nov 13, 2009

  r Management of Arizona and New Mexico's small population of re-introduced Mexican gray wolves will be returned to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service following a lawsuit by environmentalists. A ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Komodo Dragon Exhibit to Open at Phoenix Zoo; Funded by $1 Million Marley Foundation Grant

  published Nov 04, 2009

  The great wealth amassed by infamous Arizonan Kemper Marley Sr., who died in 1990, has ensured the man's name will be heard -- and seen -- for years to come. The guy had ties to the mob... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Young Champions Arson Case Nets Another Guilty Plea; One Suspect Still Charged with Murder

  published Nov 04, 2009

    rJonathan Antonucci, (at right), one of three suspects in a deadly fire at the Young Champions of America building in Phoenix, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and arson. Like Moniz... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Andy Thomas Says He'll Take Back Stapley Case or Sue if He Can't Pick Special Prosectuors

  published Nov 04, 2009

  rStymied by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, County Attorney Andrew Thomas now threatens to conduct the investigation and possible prosecution of Don Stapley in his own office. Again.Reme... More >>

• Tribune Web Site's Demise Means Past Articles Will be Tougher to Find

  published Nov 03, 2009

    r The impending death of the East Valley Tribune means fewer news articles in the future about things that go on in the Phoenix metro area. But it's even worse than that: The planned sh... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Young Champions of America Arson Suspect Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter; Other Two Suspects Face Murder Rap

  published Oct 29, 2009

    rOne of three suspects in a deadly arson fire that destroyed the headquarters of a youth activity firm has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and arson of an occupied structure. Moniza Muril... More >>

• Metadata in Electronic Government Records Must be Released to Public, Arizona Supreme Court Rules

  published Oct 29, 2009

  Phoenix police Sergeant David Lake may get to find out whether his supervisors screwed him over, thanks to unanimous pro-public-records ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court. As we related back in Janua... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Maricopa Community College Board President Colleen Clark to Serve 30 Days in Jail for DUI

  published Oct 28, 2009

  Colleen Clark, the boozing president of the Maricopa Community College Governing Board, will serve 30 days in jail for her "super-extreme" DUI conviction. The Arizona Republic reported Clark's sent... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Andrew Thomas Trying Again to Get County Supervisors to Approve Special Prosecutors -- Whose Job Will be to Investigate Supervisors

  published Oct 28, 2009

  Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas didn't suceed at first, so he's trying again -- this time threatening the county Board of Supervisors with legal action unless members consider appointing s... More >>