Emergency Services

Fan of Tempe Mayoral Candidate Michael Monti Lets the World Know He Plans on Ripping Down Opponent's Signs

Here's a tip: If you're planning on doing something that may be a crime, don't tell the state's largest paper before doing so.Apparently our tip is a little late, as it would seem that a fan of Tempe mayoral candidate Michael Monti did that yesterday.Legislative District 17 Republicans chairman A.J. ... More >>

Man Killed in Chaotic I-10 Wrecks Identified; Dust Caused Three Chain Reaction Collisions in Four Hours

​Unbelievably, there was only one fatality in a series of large-vehicle wrecks on Interstate 10 yesterday afternoon, and the deceased has been identified 66-year-old William Tatsch of Austin, Texas.In total, there were three separate wrecks -- involving nearly 30 vehicles -- caused by a dust ... More >>

Beer Thief Offers to "Shoot the Locks Off" Cooler During Second Robbery Attempt of Morning

Pinal County Sheriff's Office Lance Robin Ahasteen​Arizona's liquor laws dictate that people within the state's borders can't purchase alcohol between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. But they can still steal it -- or at least try to -- which is apparently the route a San Tan Valley man took on his q ... More >>

Joe Arpaio Messing Around With a Lamb? Sheriff and Gang Joke About Sex and Sheep in Secret Recording

  ​More humor from the secret recording of a command staff meeting at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office made on July 27, 2009 by Frank Munnell: Joe Arpaio is grousing over a quip made by longtime Valley reporter Howie Fischer on a PBS Horizon roundtable that ... More >>

The Eyes of Ground Zero

NYC street artist discusses 9/11 and other work

Tempe Healing Field

Bees Strike Again: Man Stung Severely Just Hours After Attack on Elderly Woman

​Run and hide! The Phoenix bee invasion has claimed yet another victim.Just hours after an 81-year-old woman was attacked yesterday by a swarm of Africanized bees near 33rd Avenue, south of Cactus Road, a 72-year-old man, on the other side of town, was also attacked.Phoenix Fire Department off ... More >>

Hot Links: Tent City's Birthday, Party Crews, and Taser Sales

​Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio will celebrate the 16th anniversary of Tent City today. The planned fete includes a hot dog barbecue and an ice cream social for inmates. Arpaio says the 1,000 hot dogs and the ice cream were donated...Police arrested 48 people at a house party near 32nd avenue ... More >>

Phoenix's Next Councilman: Jon Altmann? Or Jim "Burgundy" Sharpe?

Maria BaierWhen the Phoenix City Council gathers this afternoon to choose a replacement for outgoing Councilwoman Maria Baier, they'll have a wealth of candidates to choose from: A total of 19 applicants are seeking the job.The frontrunner, we suspect, is Jon C. Altmann. Altmann, a Navy veteran and ... More >>

Hermosillo, Mexico, Day-Care Fire Spurs Relief Fund by Phoenix Officials

Image: Wikimedia CommonsPhoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, Councilman Claude Mattox and officials with the Sister City program will kick off a fundraising effort this morning to benefit families of children burned in a Mexico day-care facility fire. At least 44 children were killed in the blaze. Abou ... More >>

Vicki Christiansen Appointed as New State Forester

Vicki Christiansen, former Washington State Forester, has been appointed by Governor Jan Brewer to be the new Arizona State Forester and Director of the Arizona Division of Forestry.Brewer's office made the announcement today, but a Google search shows Christiansen has been off and running for week ... More >>

Disaster Exercise to Test Hospitals, Public Safety Officials With 1,200 Volunteer Victims (Including You, If You Want)

Disaster will strike the Valley on March 10, 2009.No, that's not a prediction from the Mayan calendar. It's a mock event being held on or near Arizona State University's Tempe campus to test the disaster readiness of local public safety officials and health care workers.The "Coyote Crisis Campaign" ... More >>

Patriot Games

The grass has got to be greener someplace else

Burning Sensation

Firefighters union boss Billy Shields screwed up. Now, he's ticked off Phoenix's most powerful law firm

Letters From the Issue of Thursday, April 12, 2007

Backdraft

The Fire Inside

The family feud at the Phoenix Fire Department

Bonds. Big Bonds.

It's officially a nonprofit, but the company Governor Napolitano picked to handle millions in student loans is making big bucks for one of its original founders

Manet, You Corrupt Biddy...

Bonds. Big Bonds.

It's officially a nonprofit, but the company Governor Napolitano picked to handle millions in student loans is making big bucks for one of its original founders

Emergency Brake

The state tries to halt out-of-control ambulance contracts — but cities might have the last word

Letters From the Issue of Thursday, December 22, 2005

Lactose Intolerants

The taloned one sucks up to breast-feeding MILFs, observes that Smoke Free Arizona ain't no pot initiative and squawks at union boss Billy Shields

Ambulance Chasers

Winning ambulance contracts? It's all about who you know. (Unless it's about the dirt they've got on you.)

Letters

Letters from the week of August 21, 2003

Deadly Politics

Did petty politics nearly kill a child?

Code Squawkers

Unions and developers battle over proposed building regs

Kid Drownings

After decades of failure, the well-intentioned still don't get it

Fire

Phoenix's negligence left hundreds sick from toxic fumes. It's only a matter of time before it happens again.

Burned

Aging Rural/Metro firefighters can't afford to retire

Arizona's Worst Neighbor

People are sick and animals are dying near TRW's air-bag plant in Mesa.

Get Trucked

Ambulance Chasteners

Valley suburbs fight to bring slow emergency vehicle services up to speed

Case Time Line

The Eternal Flame Part 2

Three decades ago, an unsolved murder case and arson fire scarred Lori Romaneck for life. Since 1993, she's been fighting a bureaucratic backdraft to set the record straight.

Case Time Line

Trainspotting

Nearly three years after Amtrak's Sunset Limited was sabotaged near Buckeye, firefighters who rode to the rescue remain on the FBI's list of suspects

Fire Truculence

Is it a case of rogue firefighters or meddling city managers? Whatever it is, the Phoenix Fire Department isn't used to the scrutiny it's getting from City Hall.

Ambulance Chasteners

Lava Fare

Explosive Volcano heats up love/hate relationship with L.A.

Thanks for Quitting. Heres Your Gold Watch.

When Fred Tryon retired, Arizona Public Service Company gave him a gold watch. Then the multibillion-dollar utility claimed he hadn't retired, but quit, and took away his pension and his benefits. Then Fred Tryon died of a heart attack. Now, his wife o

Rescue Workers Grilled in Derailment Probe

Investigators check background of firefighter, repeatedly interview thosewho responded to wreck site

THE SOURING INFERNO

LAST MONTH, THE RURAL/METRO FIRE DEPARTMENT BATTLED THE 23,000-ACRE RIO BLAZE. BUT AFTER THE FIRE WAS OUT, THE COMPANY STILL HADN'T COOLED ITS CRITICS.

POIGNANT TIMES AT POISON CONTROLMEDICAL AND EMERGENCY EXPERTS FEAR CLOSURE OF PHOENIX FACILITY

LIKE FATHER,LIKE DAUGHTERIN THE PHOENIX FIRE DEPARTMENT, FAMILY TIES GO A LING WAY

MISCUE 911

SARAH DUGAN WAS A LOYAL AMERICAN EXPRESS EMPLOYEE UNTIL SHE COLLAPSED ONE DAY AT WORK. HER FAMILY BLAMES THE COMPANY FOR WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.

ARIZONA'S OWN J. EDGAR HOOVER

RUBEN ORTEGA USED THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PURSUE HIS PERSONAL AGENDA-AND HIS POLITICAL FOES

CLIFF NOTES RESCUERS ENCOUNTER SOME LAME SUBJECTS

FATAL DISTRACTION WHEN MASS DISASTER STRIKES, THE PROBLEMS JUST KEEP PILING UP

UNSOLVED MISERIES

DOES FIREFIGHTING CAUSE CANCER? STATE'S STUDY INCONCLUSIVE.