Armed Forces

Michael Turley, Who Dressed Up Nephew as Terrorist to "Test" Phoenix Cops, Found Guilty

A jury found Michael Turley guilty of charges Monday related to making a movie that was produced to "test" the Phoenix Police Department's response to a terrorist situation.Turley was arrested in September after it was discovered that he had his teenage nephew wear a sheet on his body and a towel on ... More >>

Pricey Colt AR-15 Assault Rifle Among Guns Turned in at Phoenix Police Buyback Event

After New Times writer Matthew Hendley reported that Phoenix police took in an assault rifle at last weekend's "buyback" event, we were curious what kind of gun it was. Turns out that, in exchange for a $200 gift certificate, an anonymous donor gave up a Colt AR-15 believed to be good condition, a ... More >>

Worse Publicity Stunt: Mark Kelly or Diamondback Police Supply?

In a battle of gun-related publicity stunts, neither Gabrielle Giffords' husband Mark Kelly nor Tucson gun shop Diamondback Police Supply really proved their point.Kelly bought an AR-15 rifle, claiming that he was just experiencing the process of buying one, but now the gun shop says it's actually n ... More >>

Is the Photo of Gabrielle Giffords With a Rifle an Example of "Elitist Hypocrisy"?

A radio host from a Tucson radio station posted a photo online of what he calls proof of "elitist hypocrisy"-- former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords holding a so-called assault rifle.The only thing is, that radio station host, as well as Breitbart.com, showed the photo of Giffords with the rifle, ... More >>

Gabrielle Giffords' Husband Mark Kelly Bought an AR-15 Rifle -- Do You Buy His Explanation?

Buying an AR-15 rifle is probably at the top of the list of things you would never expect former Congressman Gabrielle Giffords' husband, Mark Kelly, to do.However, that's exactly what Kelly did at a Tucson gun shop, and it looks like not everyone's buying his explanation.

Monica Parra of Ajo Stopped on Way to Mexico With Guns and 66,000 Rounds of Ammo

U.S. Border Patrol agents stopped an arsenal and about 66,000 rounds of ammunition from entering Mexico through a border gate intended only for Native Americans. Monica Parra, 41, was in a red Chevy pickup on September 29 headed toward the gate at Papago Farms, on the Tohono O'Odham Nation, when bo ... More >>

Democrat Rich Carmona Races Toward the U.S. Senate

Michael Turley Pleads Not Guilty in Terrorist Hoax Video Case

Michael Turley -- also known as the magician "Gianni" -- pleaded not guilty today to charges related to his alleged role as the director of a movie that was produced to "test" the Phoenix Police Department's response to a terrorist situation.Turley was arrested last month after it was discovered tha ... More >>

Michael Turley Wanted to "Test" Phoenix Cops -- With a Kid Dressed as a Terrorist Running Around With a Fake Grenade Launcher

How long would it take the Phoenix Police Department to respond to a terrorist situation?Michael Turley really wanted an answer to that question, and he got it -- by getting a 16-year-old kid to wear a sheet on his body, put a towel on his head, and run around Phoenix with a fake rocket-propelled gr ... More >>

Michael Turley Allegedly Put His Own Nephew Up to the Task of Pretending to Be a Terrorist

The 16-year-old kid wearing a sheet on his body and a towel on his head, who ran around a Phoenix intersection with a fake rocket-propelled grenade launcher, was Michael Turley's own nephew, according to court documents obtained by New Times.Turley was arrested after police discovered he allegedly p ... More >>

More Combat Veterans Are Falling Prey to Gambling Addictions

J.T. Ready Gilbert Massacre: Six Grenades Were Found at the Scene

At the Gilbert home where five people died yesterday in an apparent murder/suicide -- allegedly perpetrated by neo-Nazi J.T. Ready -- there was a reason the bomb squad showed up: six grenades.Gilbert police said this morning that "hazardous chemicals and military grade munitions" were found by inves ... More >>

Retired Colonel James Burnes Pleads Guilty to Charges in $2 Million Military Charity Theft

​Retired Colonel James Burnes pleaded guilty today to two felonies related to thefts totaling $2 million -- from charities. Military charities.According to a court spokesperson, Burnes entered a guilty plea for two of the initial eight charges for stealing the money that was supposed to go to mili ... More >>

MCSO's Training 22 Military Vets to Be Detention Officers -- Let's Hope Taser Use 101 Is Part of The Curriculum

​The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office announced today that it's currently training 22 military veterans to be detention officers at the MCSO's jails.As you're probably aware, the MCSO currently has more than a few openings for detention officer gigs (more on that below).In October, Sheriff Joe Arp ... More >>

Arizona Dems on GOP Presidential Debate: Can Arizona's Tea Party Top Booing a Gay Soldier?

​Arizona Governor Jan Brewer announced yesterday that CNN will produce a "major" debate in Arizona between GOP presidential candidates.Jan's "thrilled.""I've been in politics a long time, but I can't remember a more critical election than this," she says. "When it comes to some of the hallmark iss ... More >>

Dennis Burke's Ouster Tied to Botched Grenades Case; Former U.S. Attorney Also Entwined in "Fast and Furious" Scandal

Former U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke's firearms scandal has expanded to a firearms-and-grenades scandal.​ Former U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke's apparently forced resignation last week stemmed not only from the "Fast and Furious" scandal, but also from a botched case involving grenades.The Wall Stre ... More >>

105mm Howitzer Seized by Feds From Globe Company, "Damage, LLC," in Forfeiture Proceeding; Former Gila County Deputy a Partner

Image: Video still from Damage, LLC. Big bang: The feds are trying to seize a 105mm Howitzer from Damage, LLC, a Globe company that apparently specializes in fixing up and firing old artillery pieces.​The federal government is moving ahead with a forfeiture proceeding for a 105 mm How ... More >>

Morning Poll: Should Women in Military Be Allowed to Serve Combat Roles?

www.punditkitchen.com​Arizona Congressman Trent Franks wrote a recent article for Roll Call, in which he argues that gender differences between men and women should keep the ladies off the front lines of a combat situation.Franks argues that sexual tension between male and female soldiers "further ... More >>

Dead Body Armed With Fully Loaded AK-47 Found in Vekol Valley

​The dead body of a man was found laying on top of a fully loaded assault rifle in the Vekol Valley earlier this week, and because the man was Hispanic, authorities, per usual, are going on the assumption that he's an illegal immigrant.About 9:40 a.m. on Monday, a ranger from the U.S. Bureau of La ... More >>

Will El Mirage Ever Be Able to Emerge From the Shadow of Luke Air Force Base?

Drug Smugglers Turn to Weed-Firing Catapult

KVOASmugglers tried to use this catapult to launch weed over the border on Friday night.​Drug smugglers trying to get weed across the U.S./Mexico border are getting even more creative than simply loading watermelon trucks with marijuana -- National Guard troops found a catapult a drug cartel's usi ... More >>

Fully-Auto Vs. Semi-Auto: The Dividing Line in Gun Control

  ​There isn't much difference between a fully automatic M-16 machine gun and the semi-automatic AR-15 rifle, both of which are readily available for sale in Arizona. Both shoot the same, high-powered .223-caliber ammo and can be loaded with large-capacity magazines of 30 rounds o ... More >>

Sewage Leaks on Surgical Patients at Veterans Affairs Hospital Began in 2009; Problem Possibly Fixed Last Summer

​The problem of sewer water leaking on surgical patients at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix began as early as April of 2009, a newly obtained report shows.   Until we received the report today, we'd been under the impression that two incidents of water leaking into the ... More >>

John McCain Fine With Wife's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Ad -- Kinda

"The Mav" says he's cool with his wife's anti-DADT ad.​U.S. Senator John McCain says he's fine with his wife's participation in a star-studded ad, in which she bashes the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.McCain is one of the key figures holding up Congress' attempt to put an end to the po ... More >>

Cindy McCain Speaks Out Against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in New Ad. "The Mav" Can't Like That

NOH8 Cindy McCain's pro-LGBT crusade can't sit well with her lawmaker hubby​Props to Cindy McCain, the wife of Senator John McCain, for taking a stand against her lawmaker husband -- and his continued reluctance to allow gays to serve openly in the military -- by participating in a star-stu ... More >>

Tempe Symphonic Wind Ensemble

Toilet Water Dripping in Surgery Rooms at VA Medical Center Prompted Inspections; Other Problems Alleged in Letter

Image: www.phoenix.va.gov​ Backed-up toilet water on the fifth floor of the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix dripped into rooms where surgery was occurring this summer -- twice.The dirty secret was revealed in an anonymous letter we received yesterday that outlined less-than-admirab ... More >>

Morning Poll: Should Congress Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell?"

​Senator John McCain led the charge in the United States Senate to put an end to the debate to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.Democrats fell just four votes short of moving the bill along in the Senate following a filibuster led by McCain.President Obama vowed in his state of ... More >>

Gay-Rights Advocates Not Thrilled With John McCain's Pledge to Filibuster Vote on Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

www.saysomethingfunny.com​Gay-rights advocates spiced things up at a meeting of the Senate Armed Services Committee this morning by protesting Senator John McCain and his vow to filibuster a vote on a bill that includes the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" -- the United States military's su ... More >>

Remember 9-11 5K Run and Fun Walk @ Westgate City Center

U.S. Air Force Likely to Assign F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to Luke Air Force Base

​Although environmental studies are not yet complete, word is out that the U.S. Air Force considers Luke Air Force Base in Glendale the "preferred" home for its newest war bird: the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.The studies being conducted by the Air Force are key to determining the impact of the mili ... More >>

John McCain to Obama: 1,200 Border Troops Not Enough

​Federal officials met with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Attorney General Terry Goddard today and promised that 524 of the pledged 1,200 National Guard troops would be deployed to the Arizona/ Mexico border by August or September -- but Senator John McCain isn't satisfied.Followin ... More >>

Lawyered Up: A Crime-Scene Report Shows a Pinal County Sheriff's Deputy Who Claimed to be Shot by Mexican Drug Smugglers Didn't Cooperate Fully With a State Police Probe

Yuma Mayor Finally Apologizes for Calling Gays "Lacy-Drawered" and "Limp-Wristed"

Yuma Mayor Al Krieger​As vehemently as he defended his anti-gay comments last week -- in one case even referencing George Washington and Abraham Lincoln -- we figured it would be only a matter of time before Yuma Mayor Al Krieger broke down and apologized.We were right.

El Mirage Mayor Michelle Kern Wants Her Successor To Put Residents' Needs Above The Needs of the State, Luke Air Force

El Mirage Mayor Michele Kern​El Mirage Mayor Michele Kern isn't seeking re-election, but she hopes that whoever replaces will focus on the residents and make decisions that are in their best interest. She has serious reservations about whether Lana Mook, a mayoral candidate in the August 24 electi ... More >>

El Mirage Probably Will See Complete Turnover on City Council, Effectively Silencing Concerns Over Potential Noise-Impact of F-35s On Residents' Quality of Life, Property Values

Luke Air Force Base sits just outside of El Mirage, and is on a short list to receive a fleet of F-35's.​Looks like major change is on the horizon for El Mirage, a West Valley city where five out of seven seats on the City Council are up for grabs. The deadline for potential candidates ... More >>

Film from the Middle East Film Festival: Close to Home

Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall Exhibit

Buoy Meets Girl

Seeking the SEAL of approval in Tempe

Creature Feature

John Carpenter’s classic flick slays

"Duck the Balls"

War & Peacenik

Ever heard of a West Point graduate seeking a conscientious objector discharge? Meet Major Ann Marie Tate

Dog Day Afternoon

Sheriff Joe's goons launched an assault to make a misdemeanor arrest. The Raid left a burned house, a terrified neighborhood and a dead dog

BEST PAINTBALL PARK

Swat City

Patriotic Pang

The Spike just loves a real man in uniform

Shot in the Arm

Anthrax vaccine opponents are finding more allies in Congress

Letter in a Battle

Rediscovered cache of castoff communiqués captures World War II and 1940s Phoenix

Boom, Boom on the Range

Where endangered Sonoran pronghorn antelope play under the roar of U.S. Air Force jets on live-fire bombing exercises

Buffaloed Soldiers

NFL dumps Arizona group representing black military units as Super Bowl colorguard

THE FATAL SOLUTIONAIR FORCE MECHANIC SAYS HIS LEUKEMIA IS LINKED TO SOLVENT CONTAINING DEADLY BENZENE