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

  Valley Fever

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

  "Concrete Bungle"

• 2010 - Arizona Press Club Awards

  SCA Scandal

• 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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2013 Stories by Ray Stern

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  FEATURED STORY

  Medical-Marijuana Destruction Bill Likely Dead, Says Lobbying Firm; Amendments Possible on Pot-Packaging Bill

  published Mar 27, 2013

  State Senator Kimberly Yee's plan to let cops seize and destroy medical-marijuana at their whim appears dead, a political consultant for the dispensary industry says. Jason Rose, previously a PR guy ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Mobile Solar "Flower" by Scottsdale-Based Monarch Power Lets You Bring Your Refrigerator Anywhere

  published Mar 27, 2013

  Governor Jan Brewer and other state officials attended a demonstration today of a new, mobile solar-power generator that unfolds like the lotus flower it's named after. Monarch Power CEO, Joseph Hui,... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Eddie Basha Jr. Spent Golden Years Fighting Greedy UFCW Labor Union; Philanthropist Grocer Dead at 75

  published Mar 27, 2013

  Eddie Basha Jr., an Arizona legend who used profits from his successful grocery chain to fund countless charity causes, spent the last years of his life fighting allegations of racism, mistreating emp... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  James Drorbaugh, Child-Porn Defendant Facing Four to Six Years in Prison, Says Others Responsible for Illegal Downloads

  published Mar 26, 2013

  James Drorbaugh describes every computer user's worst nightmare: While he was away or inattentive, an unscrupulous, perverted acquaintance downloaded hundreds of disgusting images and videos of child... More >>

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  Arizona Medical-Marijuana Dispensaries Taking Off; New Shops Open in Glendale, Eloy and Bisbee This Week

  published Mar 25, 2013

  The state-regulated medical-marijuana dispensary industry that Arizona voters approved in late 2010 is becoming a reality, with three new retail shops opening this week. Two dispensaries were slated ... More >>

• Bryan Teague, Accused of Starting 5,000-Acre Fire in Tonto Forest With Propane Tank, Set for May 29 Bench Trial; April 8 Trial Delayed

  published Mar 25, 2013

  A three-day bench trial has been scheduled for Bryan Teague, the Peoria man who authorities say admitted to starting last summer's "Mistake Peak" fire with a propane tank. Despite his admission, Teag... More >>

• James Oliver Drorbaugh of Arizona, Child-Porn Collector, Faces Four to Six Years in Slammer

  published Mar 22, 2013

  James Oliver Drorbaugh, 35, will get four to six years in prison when he's sentenced on May 6 for possessing child pornography, his plea agreement shows. Drorbaugh, who's lived in Payson and Chandler... More >>

• Jodi Arias Trial: Defense Counters Attacks on PTSD Doc's Credibility; We Talk to Expert Who has Doubts on Amnesia Story

  published Mar 20, 2013

  The capital murder trial of Jodi Arias continued with several delays today, focusing on the testimony of a local doctor who claims Arias' alleged amnesia seems real. The theory of Scottsdale psycholo... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Brett Mecum, AZ's Republican Superhero, Lands Job with State AG Tom Horne as Legislative Liaison

  published Mar 20, 2013

  Brett Mecum, local Republican Party operative and dirt magnet, has landed a job as legislative liaison for someone with a reputation even more tarnished than his: State Attorney General Tom Horne. M... More >>

• Tim Abrahamson, Ex-Deputy From Arpaio's Discredited Anti-Corruption Team, Set to Plead Guilty in North Dakota Assault Case

  published Mar 20, 2013

  Former Maricopa County Sheriff's Office deputy Tim Abrahamson is set to plead guilty in North Dakota for his alleged, pre-planned attack on his wife's ex-lover. Meanwhile, we're waiting to find out t... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Israel Lomeli of Phoenix Arrested in Connection With 1998 Murder of 17-Year-Old Pete Cadriel

  published Mar 20, 2013

  Phoenix police believe they've found the man responsible for the murder of teenager Pete Cadriel in 1998. Israel Lomeli, 32, was arrested yesterday at his mother's home in the 6700 block of West Butl... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Christopher Clark of Mesa Addicted to Child Porn, Wife Does In-Home Child Care

  published Mar 20, 2013

  Christopher Clark must know a few things about temptation. The 53-year-old Mesa man reportedly is obsessed with videos of little kids having sex. Meanwhile, his wife -- a former preschool teacher -- ... More >>

• Phoenix Seeks Plans for Downtown Observation Tower; "The Pin" Would Rise 420 Feet and Charge Fee for Visitors

  published Mar 20, 2013

  The city of Phoenix is taking a step toward the possibility of having a 420-foot observation tower built with private funds in the downtown district, issuing a call for detailed plans for the project.... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Stanford Wero and Tamara Lake of Flagstaff Convicted for Taking 8-Month-Old Baby on Long Grand Canyon Hike

  published Mar 20, 2013

  Stanford Wero, Tamara Lake, and Lake's uncle, Vinton Whitehat, are three reasons why signs at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon warn people not to try to walk all the way to the Colorado River and bac... More >>

• Bill Montgomery Loses in Petition to AZ Supreme Court on Medical Marijuana, But Fight Still On

  published Mar 19, 2013

  Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery has been shot down by the Arizona Supreme Court in his attempt to expedite a decision about Arizona's medical-marijuana law. Today's decision by the state's h... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Richard Samuels, A.K.A. Doctor Fog, Hammered by Juan Martinez Over Jodi Arias' Alleged Memory Loss

  published Mar 18, 2013

  Prosecutor Juan Martinez hammered a local psychologist over his evaluation of murder defendant Jodi Arias today, at one point asking him if he had memory problems. Richard Samuels, who has an office ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  S. Renee Greene of Examiner.com Says She Plagiarized Intentionally to Make Point About Low Pay for Writers

  published Mar 16, 2013

  S. Renee Greene, examiner.com freelancer until Thursday, called us Friday to admit she'd plagiarized from New Times, saying she'd done it in protest of the low pay she'd received as a writer for the ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  This Week in Jodi Arias Trial: Killer Wraps Up 18th Day on Stand, Defense Doc Claims PTSD Caused Arias' Memory "Fog"

  published Mar 15, 2013

  Murder suspect Jodi Arias wrapped up her 18th (or 19th, by some accounts) day on the stand this week with trial watchers wondering whether her lengthy testimony helped or hurt her. We're still predic... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Debra Milke's Overturned Conviction for Killing Son in '89 to Be Appealed by AZ Attorney General Tom Horne

  published Mar 15, 2013

  Debra Milke, on Death Row since her 1990 conviction for conspiring to have her 4-year-old son killed in 1989, won't be released from prison anytime soon. The federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals o... More >>

• "S. Renee Greene," Examiner.com Freelancer, Plagiarizes New Times' Jodi Arias and Sheriff Babeu Stories

  published Mar 14, 2013

  Do your own freakin' work, Renee! We're speaking of "S. Renee Greene," one of the citizen-journalists who publishes articles on Examiner.com -- and who ripped off portions of the Jodi Arias feature ... More >>

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  COVER STORY

  Psycho Killer: Jodi Arias' Kinky Death-Penalty Trial

  published March 14, 2013

  Prosecutor Juan Martinez rapid-fires questions to murder defendant Jodi Arias, bouncing through timelines, appearing to want to confuse and... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Go Ahead, Twist My Ear: Mugshot of Michael Anthony Beltran, Suspected Scofflaw Driver, Looks Like a Party

  published Mar 06, 2013

  Assuming Michael Anthony Beltran doesn't have three hands, he's received a little help from authorities to make sure his mugshot came out right. Beltran was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of drivi... More >>

• Max Wilson, One of Five County Supervisors, to Retire and Resign His Post of March 11; Cites Health Concerns

  published Mar 01, 2013

  Max Wilson, one of five members of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, announced today that he will retired and step down from his post on March 11 due to health concerns. The real-estate deve... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Jodi Arias Vs. Gavin Macfarlane: Tale of Two Death Penalty Cases

  published Feb 28, 2013

  Something's wrong with Jodi Arias, that much anyone can tell. Her lack of emotion combined with the brutality of her crime -- stabbing, slashing and shooting her victim -- have led some to call her a... More >>

• Jodi Arias Trial: Prosecutor Juan Martinez's "Meltdown" With Murder Suspect; Plus, KY or Baby Oilr

  published Feb 26, 2013

  The Jodi Arias trial took another turn for the nutty today with a "meltdown" by prosecutor Juan Martinez and, to some extent, the justice system. Arias, who claims she shot, stabbed and nearly decap... More >>