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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2012 Stories by Ray Stern

• Don Stapley Withdraws Name from Congressional Race; Longtime Maricopa County Supervisor Will Pursue Other Options When Term Ends

  published Mar 13, 2012

  Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley announced today that he won't be running for Congress, after all.Stapley, who has seen his share of ups and downs in his 15-year run on the five-member Board of... More >>

• Amy Alexander of Scottsdale Cited in Fatal Collision with Bicyclist Shawn McCarty; "Inattention" a Possible Factor, Cops Say

  published Mar 13, 2012

  If you enjoy the pleasures of two-wheeled vehicles like we do, you know why we had goosebumps after hearing about the fatal car-bike collision on Sunday in north Scottsdale.The victim, 53-year-old Sh... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Analysis: Sheriff Arpaio Lied in 2009 About SCA Scandal and Still Won't Tell the Truth

  published Mar 09, 2012

  In July of 2009, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio issued a bald-faced lie to the media when he claimed the SCA scandal "has absolutely nothing to do with the Sheriff's Office." He knew it did. But... More >>

• Ralph Moreno, Unemployed Ex-Con on Food Stamps, Fights to Keep $76,000 in Cash Seized in Home by FBI

  published Mar 09, 2012

  Ralph Moreno, an unemployed ex-con on food stamps, is fighting with the federal government to keep $76,000 in cash seized at his west Phoenix home by FBI agents.State records show that Moreno and his... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Hunter French, DPS Chopper Pilot, Having Action-Packed Spring; Helped Out on Two Mountain Rescues in Three Days

  published Mar 09, 2012

  Flying injured hikers from mountaintops twice in three days tested the skills of veteran rescue pilot Hunter French.This dude gets an A-plus.On March 2, the Arizona Department of Public Safety chopper... More >>

• Hearing Officer Robert Sparks Unsure of His Authority in Joel Fox Job-Appeal Proceeding

  published Mar 08, 2012

  Robert Sparks, the hearing officer overseeing fired sheriff's deputy Joel Fox's appeal, is worried that he's out of his league in the complex case. This isn't an average appeal for the job of an ave... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  National Review: Sheriff Joe Arpaio "Will Not Win and (Does) Not Deserve To"

  published Mar 07, 2012

  An unsigned opinion article in the conservative magazine National Review today states that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio doesn't deserve to win re-election.The magazine has previously run articl... More >>

• Brett Mecum, Fired State GOP Director, Working on State Senator Frank Antenori's Congressional Campaign

  published Mar 07, 2012

  Since being fired as state Republican Party executive director last summer, Brett Mecum has found work as a political consultant and is helping out on state Senator Frank Antenori's Congressional bid.... More >>

• Puerto Vallarta is a Beautiful, Safe Place! (And Thanks for the Free Trip, Tourism Board!)

  published Mar 06, 2012

  Okay, we didn't really take a press junket to Puerto Vallarta. But we apparently could have, for no more trouble than preparing an assignment letter for the Mexico city's Tourism Board and its PR co... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Matinee Energy Distances Itself From Shady Founder, but Questions Remain in Plans to Build Several Large Solar-Power Plants in Arizona

  published Mar 06, 2012

  Matinee Energy, a company with plans to build several large solar-power plants in Arizona, says a founder who once ran a bogus gold-mining scheme no longer has a role in the firm. Yet many questions... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Sheriff Arpaio Racial-Profiling Lawsuit Court Records Summarize Case; Read New "Findings of Fact" & Other Documents

  published Mar 02, 2012

  A truckload of paperwork was filed today in the racial profiling lawsuit against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office, including succinct accounts of the allegations and responses by both... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Dave Hendershott Will Take the 5th in Joel Fox Job Appeal, Says Lawyer; Read Updates on Fox Hearing

  published Feb 29, 2012

  Dave Hendershott, the disgraced former chief deputy under Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, will invoke his right against self-incrimination if asked to testify in the job appeal hearing for fired d... More >>

• Assault Rifle With Ammo, 40 Pounds of Pot Among Items Found in Clean-Up of Federal Desert Lands Near Interstate 8

  published Feb 29, 2012

  An assault rifle with loaded magazines and 40 pounds of marijuana are just some of the objects found during a clean-up of federal lands near the smuggling corridor of Interstate 8.Dennis Godfrey, spo... More >>

• Andrew Thomas Judgment Day May be Delayed Until April 2

  published Feb 29, 2012

  A ruling on potential punishment for former Maricopa Attorney Andrew Thomas may be put off until April 2.Citing the extensive filings and thousands of pages of exhibits in the ethics case, Arizona Sta... More >>

• Joel Fox, Fired Deputy, Wants to Delay Appeal Hearings if Feds are Investigating Case as Criminal Matter

  published Feb 28, 2012

  A judge wants to know whether a criminal investigation is open on Joel Fox, the fired Maricopa Sheriff's Office captain at the heart of the infamous "SCA" campaign-financing scandal. Which is great,... More >>

• Don Stapley, Maricopa County Supervisor Who's Suing County, Files to Run for Congress in CD9

  published Feb 28, 2012

  Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley has filed with the Federal Election Commission to run for Congress in Arizona's newly created 9th District.The County Supervisor has served as one of five member... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Fabian Cota, Mesa Police Officer, to Appeal Demotion That Followed San Diego Arrest for Alleged Public Drunkenness

  published Feb 28, 2012

  Two San Diego police officers are lying to cover up evidence of last summer's illegal "attitude arrest" of former Mesa Police Association president Fabian Cota.At least, that's what Cota claims. The... More >>

• Gilbert Homeowner Watches Snowboard Fly From Car of Suspected Burglars, Follows Them to Park

  published Feb 28, 2012

  A Gilbert homeowner followed three burglary suspects in his car to a park yesterday afternoon, watching as they chucked his snowboard from their vehicle's window.The excitement began at about 12:20 p... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  David Smith, Maricopa County Manager, to Retire in April; Served During Legal Fights With Sheriff Joe Arpaio

  published Feb 27, 2012

  Maricopa County Manager David Smith announced today that he'll retire on April 27 after 17 years on the job. Smith, 65, was at the helm during countless storms, guiding the county through severe fisc... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Wil Cardon, Wealthy Candidate for U.S. Senate, Presses On Despite Bleak Poll Numbers

  published Feb 27, 2012

  If anyone can match the millions raised by six-term congressman Jeff Flake in his bid to replace retiring Senator Jon Kyl, it's Valley businessman Wil Cardon.It was Cardon's family that provided $10... More >>

• Outstanding Maricopa County Warrants Finally Back to Pre-Arpaio Numbers; Deputy Chief Paul Chagolla Debates AZCentral Readers

  published Feb 27, 2012

  An interesting story by JJ Hensley in the Arizona Republic yesterday mentions how the number of outstanding warrants in Maricopa County has dropped by 20 percent since 2008.For years, critics have be... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Medical-Marijuana Warehouse Brings Pot Growers Together to Serve Patients' Needs

  published Feb 27, 2012

  The freedom to grow marijuana granted by the state's 2010 medical-pot law is blossoming along with the plants in an El Mirage warehouse.Bill Hayes, founder of the Arizona Cannabis Society, invited Ne... More >>

• Maricopa Superior Court Seeks Comments on Judge Applicants

  published Feb 22, 2012

  The retirement of veteran Maricopa Superior Court Judge Michael D. Jones this year left a vacancy that's seen no shortage of applicants. Thirty-five lawyers hope they'll be the one Governor Jan Brew... More >>

• Watch Debates of "Lesser-Known" Republican Presidential Candidates in Arizona

  published Feb 21, 2012

  Millions of people will tune in to the Republican presidential candidate debate in Mesa tomorrow, an event that could help decide the outcome of the upcoming primary election.Yet it's possible (and ju... More >>

• Fedex Worker Attacked by Sheriff's Deputy During Routine Package Inspection, Lawsuit States

  published Feb 21, 2012

  A local Fedex worker claims in a federal lawsuit that he was attacked without provocation by a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office deputy during a routine inspection of packages.Fedex doesn't appear to b... More >>