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"

More

2013 Stories by Ray Stern

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Bryan Teague Got Off Easy in 2011 Firearms Case, Started 5,220-Acre Fire in Tonto Forest Months Later

  published Feb 13, 2013

  Bryan Teague of Peoria, the suspect in a 5,220-acre wildland fire east of the Valley in August, has been thrown in prison several times for his persistent drinking and driving since 2000. Being a pr... More >>

• See Live Feed of Christopher Dorner in Gun Battle With Cops

  published Feb 12, 2013

  Police officials have Christopher Dorner, the alleged murderer and former Los Angeles police officer, in a gunfight right now in the Big Bear area of California. Just a few minutes ago, the action-p... More >>

• 

  COVER STORY

  'Til Death Do Us Part: Arizona's Dangerous Love Affair with Guns

  published February 14, 2013

  The fatal shooting of a lawyer and a businessman on January 30 just outside a Central Phoenix office building would have been bigger news on... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Bryan Teague of Peoria Accused of Starting 5,220-Acre "Mistake Peak Fire" With Propane Tank in Tonto National Forest

  published Feb 09, 2013

  Putting a propane tank in a campfire turns out to be an even stupider idea than we thought. After Bryan J. Teague of Peoria put a 16-ounce tank in a campfire on August 8 while on an off-roading tri... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Randy Parraz Lawsuit Vs. Maricopa County Over '08 Arrest Can Proceed, Judge Rules

  published Feb 05, 2013

  A lawsuit filed by activist Randy Parraz against Maricopa County following his 2008 arrest outside the Board of Supervisors Auditorium can move ahead, a federal judge ruled yesterday. Parraz was arr... More >>

• Kimberly Yee, State Lawmaker, Wants to Give Cops the Right to Destroy Seized Medical Pot -- Even if Cops Seized it Illegally

  published Feb 04, 2013

  Arizona police would have the right to destroy medical marijuana seized in investigations under a proposed law -- even if the police seizures were made improperly or illegally. State Senator Kimberl... More >>

• New Medical-Marijuana Poll Shows High Support by Arizonans; Poll Done by Same Firm Used by Pot Foe John Kavanagh

  published Jan 31, 2013

  A new poll that shows high support by Arizona voters for medical marijuana is unlikely to be challenged by anti-pot lawmaker Representative John Kavanagh: The political consulting firm used by Kavan... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  James Chaney, Tempe Pot Club Owner, Busted Again; Charges Were Dropped After '11 Raid

  published Jan 29, 2013

  James Chaney, the owner of a Tempe medical-marijuana club that was the site of a shooting last year, was arrested today in a raid of the club and two alleged Tempe "grow houses." In a news release t... More >>

• Microsoft Sues E-Waste Harvesters of Phoenix, Claims Firm Sold Pirated Software

  published Jan 28, 2013

  Computing giant Microsoft is suing a Phoenix e-waste recycling firm in federal court, claiming that the company has been selling unauthorized copies of its software. Phoenix's E-Waste Harvesters an... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Echo Canyon Trail at Camelback Mountain to be Slightly Longer, Less Steep; Trail Closed January 28 Until Fall

  published Jan 27, 2013

  The new Echo Canyon Trail alignment at Camelback Mountain will add another quarter mile to the popular Phoenix summit climb, easing an erosion-causing steep grade near the start. The renovation is j... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Medical-Marijuana "Vapor Lounge" in West Valley Allows Patients to Toke Up, Rent Bongs and Hang Out

  published Jan 25, 2013

  A group of medical-marijuana dispensary owners at the State Capital yesterday afternoon urged authorities to shut down unregulated cannabis clubs. Meanwhile, up the road in a small, west Valley stri... More >>

• Feds: Sonoran "Truck Driver" Ricardo Monteverde-Palazuelos "Structured" $800,000 in AZ Bank Deposits

  published Jan 24, 2013

  A "truck driver" from Altar, Mexico, tried to hide reporting requirements for about $800,000 he put into an Arizona bank over nine months, court records state. Last week, the federal government seiz... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  At-Risk Devil's Canyon Near Superior is Subject of Short Film by Photographer Elias Butler; Area Could be Destroyed in Mining Plan

  published Jan 22, 2013

  A short film by a Flagstaff photographer argues against the possible destruction of the Devil's Canyon wilderness while highlighting the area's rich scenery and wildlife. The wilderness area, includi... More >>

• John Leonardo, Arizona U.S. Attorney, Supports Obama's Gun-Control Plan

  published Jan 18, 2013

  John Leonardo, Arizona U.S. Attorney, released a letter to the public today that expresses support for banning certain kinds of guns and requiring background checks for all sales of firearms. Leonar... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Sex-Crime Scandal After Five Years: No One Disciplined, Report Still Unfinished

  published Jan 17, 2013

  More than five years after the Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio learned his agency had mishandled hundreds of sex-crime investigations, no one has been disciplined and a key report on the matter h... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Andy Kunasek, Maricopa County Supervisor, to be Paid $123,000 by County Because of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Andrew Thomas

  published Jan 16, 2013

  Another day, another six-digit award by Maricopa County to a victim of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas. This time it's the chairman of the Board of Supervisors, ... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Poll: Most Arizona Voters Support Medical-Marijuana Act; 59 Percent Would Legalize Pot

  published Jan 14, 2013

  An increased number of Arizona voters support the 2010 Medical Marijuana Act, and most would vote to end marijuana prohibition, a new poll shows. The poll of 600 Arizonan residents was conducted on... More >>

• Keith Kirk of Massachusetts Arrested in Chandler for Alleged Armed Robbery

  published Jan 11, 2013

  Chandler just wasn't far enough for fugitive and armed-robbery suspect Keith Kirk. Authorities tracked the man to the east Valley and had local authorities arrest him this morning in connection wit... More >>

• Rep. John Kavanagh Wants No Exception for Cancer Patients or Anyone Else in Proposed Medical-Pot Repeal

  published Jan 10, 2013

  John Kavanagh, the Republican State Representative from Fountain Hills, doesn't want any exceptions in a proposed medical-pot repeal for patients with cancer, AIDS, or any other serious disease. Ver... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Echo Canyon Trail and Trailhead at Camelback Mountain to Close January 28 for Renovations

  published Jan 10, 2013

  The ultra-popular Echo Canyon Trail and its trailhead at Phoenix's Camelback Mountain will be closed from January 28 until sometime this fall for renovations. Initial reports about the closure indic... More >>

• Daren Rucker of Tucson Says He Parked Car in Nogales, Arizona, Ended Up With 35 Pounds of Weed in Spare Tire

  published Jan 10, 2013

  Don't you hate when you park near Mexico for a few minutes and end up with 35 pounds of weed in your car's spare tirer That's what Daren Rucker, 51, of Tucson says happened to him on Tuesday, accord... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Rachel Alexander, Broke Right-Wing Blogger With Suspended Law License, Finds Suckers to Pay Cat's Surgery Bill

  published Jan 10, 2013

  Conservative blogger and disgraced Arizona lawyer Rachel Alexander announced on Monday that she'd raised enough money from her right-wing readers to save the life of her cat, Buckley. But a closer l... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Rachel Alexander, Disgraced Arizona Lawyer, Reduced to Begging for Cash to Save Cat

  published Jan 07, 2013

  Rachel Alexander, the disgraced lawyer and blogger who helped former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas in his unethical attacks against county leaders, has been reduced to begging for cash to he... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Phoenix Police Arrest About 10 People a Day for Marijuana Possession; Some Charged With Other Crimes

  published Jan 04, 2013

  The 2010 Arizona Medical Marijuana Act exempts qualifying patients from prosecution, but most Arizonans are still subject to arrest for felony possession of any amount of marijuana. Phoenix police a... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Teen Use of Marijuana Decreased Since Passage of Arizona Medical-Pot Law, Study Shows

  published Jan 03, 2013

  People who thought teens would be using marijuana more because of Arizona's 2010 medical-pot law are wrong, a new study shows. Combined, the percentage of 8th, 10th and 12th graders who reported usi... More >>