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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2011 Stories by Ray Stern

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  FEATURED STORY

  Girl in Crosswalk Hit by Mesa School Bus Likely to Survive, Mesa Police Say; Driver to Get Ticket, "at Minimum."

  published Dec 01, 2011

  An 18-year-old girl who was run over by a Mesa school bus yesterday has "survivable" injuries, Mesa police say.Wynnona Brooks had been walking eastbound on Crismon Road in a crosswalk at about 6:50 a... More >>

• Arizona Must Invest More in Solar Energy to Stay Ahead of Other States and China, Says GPEC President Barry Broome

  published Nov 30, 2011

  rMore subsidies for the solar industry in Arizona are crucial to avoid being left behind by other states and China, a Phoenix business leader said today at a solar-power confer... More >>

• Superstition Plane Crash Likely an "Awful Mistake," Says Flight School Instructor; No Evidence (So Far) of Evasive Action Before Impact

  published Nov 29, 2011

  Judging by the latest information, a plane crash into the western flanks of the Superstition Mountains appears to have been the result of an "awful mistake," says a flight-school instructor.Six peopl... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Arpaio Ditched Tea Party for "Emergency" Meeting With Rick Perry; Replaced as Speaker by Matt "I Don't Respect Arpaio" Salmon

  published Nov 29, 2011

  The Red Mountain Tea Party bills itself as the largest weekly Tea Party meeting in America, and organizers were proud to get Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to speak tonight.Arpaio blew the teabagg... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Elie Malkoun, Australian Illegal Immigrant and Former Heroin Trafficker, Gets Two Years for Buying Guns at Glendale Gun Show

  published Nov 28, 2011

  An Australian illegal immigrant and ex-heroin trafficker was sentenced today to two years in prison for buying guns at a Glendale gun show. Elie Malkoun, 53, of Victoria, Australia, is a veteran of ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Dr. Andrew Weil's Integrative Medicine Plan for County Workers OK'd by Maricopa County Supervisors

  published Nov 28, 2011

  Dr. Andrew Weil's Center for Integrative Medicine has found a major new funding source thanks to a deal made this morning with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.The Tucson-based center, which ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Bloody Black-Friday Arrest at Buckeye Walmart to be Investigated by AZ Department of Public Safety

  published Nov 28, 2011

  The Arizona Department of Public Safety will conduct an independent investigation of the bloody Black-Friday arrest of a Walmart shopper.Jerald Newman, 54, was knocked unconscious after a Buckeye poli... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Buckeye Man in Bloody Take-Down Arrested for Shoplifting, Resisting Arrest; "Video Games Flying" in Store Chaos, Says Report

  published Nov 25, 2011

  Buckeye PD released its version of a shoplifting suspect's bloody take-down during last night's Black Friday event at a Walmart, saying the guy brought on his injuries himself.Jerald Allen Newman, 54... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Buckeye Police "Body-Planted" Grandpa at WalMart in Black Friday Mayhem

  published Nov 25, 2011

  Police "body-planted" a man at a Buckeye Walmart's Black Friday event after the man put a video game in his waistband while helping a grandson who was being jostled in a crowd. The take-down, which ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Plane Crashes Into Superstition Mountains, Causing Fireball; UPDATE -- Six People Dead, Hiking Trails Closed as Rescue Workers Rappel to Wreckage

  published Nov 23, 2011

  An airplane crashed into the Superstition Mountains about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening, near the Flatiron formation. Witnesses saw an explosion and fireball, says Channel 5 (KPHO-TV). We tried to... More >>

• Shawn Nau, Maricopa County General Government Director, was Responsible for Leak of Joel Fox Records

  published Nov 23, 2011

  Shawn Nau, Maricopa County's general government director, was responsible for leaking records about former deputy Joel Fox to the press in apparent defiance of a court order.Though county spokeswoman ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Dr. Andrew Weil, Alternative Medicine Guru, Will Ask County to Cover Costs of Workers Who Visit Pseudo-Scientific Health Center

  published Nov 23, 2011

  Dr. Andrew Weil, alternative medicine guru, will ask the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to cover employees who choose to visit his pseudo-scientific health center. Weil is the founder of the A... More >>

• No Motive Or Suspect in Fatal Shooting of Phoenix Resident Armando Salazar

  published Nov 23, 2011

  Just after midnight today, Armando Salazar heard someone knocking loudly on the front door of his west Phoenix home. He opened the door, but left closed the outer security door.Several bullets sudden... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Peter Spaw, Deputy County Attorney, Under State Bar "Inquiry" for Role in Discredited Racketeering Case; Also Named in New Lawsuits

  published Nov 23, 2011

  One major difference between the old and new lawsuits against Maricopa County by a retired judge and current County Supervisor is this name:Peter Spaw.Spaw, a deputy prosecutor with the Maricopa Coun... More >>

• Eitan Maximov, Israeli Citizen, Convicted After Jury Trial in "Cash-Back" Mortgage Scheme; Faces 14-Years-Plus in Prison

  published Nov 23, 2011

  Israeli citizen and former high-living real estate investor Eitan Maximov was found guilty in a jury trial yesterday for his role in a "cash-back" mortgage-fraud scheme.He stands to get between 14 an... More >>

• Hammer-Throwing Man Stalks Street, Threatens Family and Police

  published Nov 23, 2011

  If Jose Arnulfo Leyva had a hammer, he'd hammer in the evening -- on your car, or possibly you. So say police, anyway.Cops say Leyva, 28, did have a hammer last night just after 10 p.m. when he stalke... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Jerice Hunter Bond Request Turned Down by Bail Bondsman; Mom's 5-year-Old Still Missing, Believed Dead

  published Nov 23, 2011

  A Valley bail-bond company says it has denied an offer to write a bond for Jerice Hunter because her daughter is still missing and the bond amount is too low. The operators of Regulator Bail Bonds, I... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Michelle Watson -- Mugshot Celebrity; Photo of Smiling Suspect in DUI and Cop Assault Goes Viral

  published Nov 23, 2011

  rToday, the slammer. Tomorrow -- shopping for a publicity agent. Michelle Watson, 24, has achieved fame -- or infamy -- after getting busted for super-extreme DUI, kneeing a cop in t... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Mary Rose Wilcox to Run for Re-Election in 2012; First Elected to Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in 1992

  published Nov 22, 2011

  She's been shot in the butt.Criticized for questionable deals.Indicted twice by a grand jury -- only to see her charges dropped and her accuser face potential disbarment.But Mary Rose Wilcox, one of ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  State Drops Charges Against DEA-Busted Operators of a Tempe Medical Marijuana Clinic

  published Nov 22, 2011

  All charges have been dropped from September's high-profile bust by the Drug Enforcement Agency of a Tempe medical marijuana clinic.The DEA arrested James Chaney and Rachel Beeder of Arizona Go Green ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Maricopa County Officials File Amended Claims Against County and Sheriff Arpaio; Streamlined to Comply With Judge's Order

  published Nov 22, 2011

  Current and former Maricopa County officials have filed new, streamlined complaints against the county and Sheriff Joe Arpaio to comply with a judge's order. Filing anew are: County Supervisor Mary ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Qikai "Ben" Chen, Former Teacher, Gets Probation in Case of Suspected Abuse of Boyfriend's Kid

  published Nov 22, 2011

  Qikai "Ben" Chen, a former math teacher for Basis Charter School in Scottsdale, received one year of probation for allegedly bashing the face of his boyfriend's 6-year-old into a door hinge. We say "... More >>

• County Stalls Release of Records on Employee Disciplined for Releasing Records

  published Nov 21, 2011

  Earlier this month, Maricopa County moved at lightning speed to turn over documents to a newspaper about a fired sheriff's deputy.Now, county officials are taking their sweet time to release records ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Sword-Wielding Wife Pamela Haas' Charges Dropped for Now; Stabbed Hubby's Arm During Squabble

  published Nov 21, 2011

  Prosecutors have decided not to pursue charges for now against Pamela Haas, the 63-year-old Chandler woman who sliced her husband's arm with a two-foot-long sword.Both Pamela and her husband, Louis, a... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Joe Miller, Probation Officer Fired for Statement in Support of Marijuana Legalization, Launches Lawsuit With ACLU's Help

  published Nov 21, 2011

  Maybe one reason marijuana prohibition is still in effect is this:Law officers face being fired merely for stating publicly their views on legalization.That was the case for Joe Miller, a former Mohav... More >>