First Amendment

Atheists Want Representative Steve Smith to Apologize for His "Repentance" Prayer

A national atheist organization wants Republican State Representative Steve Smith to apologize for his prayer of "repentance," which Smith apparently led for the purpose of spiting a non-Christian colleague.David Silverman, the president of American Atheists, said Smith's stunt was "one of the most ... More >>

Tempe Wingnut Is the Ideal Man to Run the County GOP -- and Here's Why

Michelle Ugenti's Absurd Revenge Legislation, HB 2004

Kudos to former Scottsdale mayoral candidate John Washington for calling out both the Arizona Republic and state Representative Michelle Ugenti on his Scottsdale Trails blog, and for introducing me to the hilarious and currently inactive parody Twitter site RubbingUGently, a wicked send-up of the Sn ... More >>

Michael Lacey Talks About Selling New Times and Village Voice Media to Trusted Colleagues

Michael Lacey Says Newspaper Chain He Co-Founded Will Continue Quality Journalism Under Its New Ownership

Michael Lacey says he wouldn't hesitate to put his children in the care of the management team that just bought the newspaper chain he helped start 42 years ago. In fact, he feels like that's almost what he did. It was announced Sunday night that Village Voice Media had agreed to sell its 13  ... More >>

Joe Arpaio's Sex Crimes Debacle Eviscerated in New Video by Devin Fleenor

Why didn't Arpaio do something? He was too busy kibbutzing with the birther idiots Devin Fleenor, Phoenix musician and longtime activist against the tyrannical rule of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, has produced a powerful new video that blasts Arpaio's biggest failure to date: his agency's mishandling of mor ... More >>

Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day Brings Out Supporters; Protesters' Kiss-In Planned for Friday; Says Greater Phoenix Tea Party Patriot, "They Used to Have Something Called 'Hot Brown' and It Was So Good!" (Mm, Sinful)

See also: Chick-fil-A Flap Summed Up In Bizarre Taiwanese Animation Since Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy said his Georgia-based fast food chain opposed gay marriage, the company has been scorned by the mayors of Chicago, Boston, and Washington, parodied by trannies -- hell, even the fuckin' Muppets don ... More >>

Scottsdale Police Not Happy About Arizona Republic Spilling the Beans on Location of Undercover Cop Building

We're not cops over here at New Times, but we do no one important thing about undercover police work: the undercover part.That's apparently what Scottsdale police were trying to explain to an Arizona Republic reporter, who posted pretty much everything but the address of the PD's new building that w ... More >>

Joe Arpaio Owned by the Infamous Duke St. Rollins

Sheriff Joe Arpaio's the Rodney Dangerfield of Sand Land politics these days. He just don't get no respect. Thing is, in his case, he deserves no respect, whereas Dangerfield's self-pity was a shtick. People actually liked him. They despise Joe. At least those with half a brain or more.Because ... More >>

The Invisible War: Doc Reveals a Military That Is "Target Rich" for Sexual Predators

Dead Kennedys Are Coming to Tempe (Sans Jello)

Seeing the Dead Kennedys without Jello Biafra is kind of like seeing the reformed Misfits -- it's just not quite the same when it's only Jerry Only, but that's better than nothing, right? Or is it? Jello hasn't performed with the Kennedys since the band's split in 1986, but the band's been at it a ... More >>

Michael Marin "Burning Man" Trial Under Way -- Judge Kicks New Times Out of Court

As we write this, the attorneys litigating the arson case of State of Arizona v. Michael Marin are presenting their opening statements to a Maricopa County jury in downtown Phoenix. We planned on blogging about the opposing sides' hope to show in their efforts to win a conviction of the so-called "B ... More >>

Motion Comics

New Documentary Bigger Than Sound Tracks the Career of Local Promoter Charlie Levy

As a recent graduate from Arizona State University, I can attest to the student showcases the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication regularly hosts. The second floor of the school's downtown building houses the First Amendment Forum, where CNN constantly airs. The public space ... More >>

Changes Proposed to Online Harassment Bill; Allows People to "Annoy or Offend" Others on the Internet -- to an Extent

Arizona's House Bill 2549 -- which was derailed after a critic's view that it was a "bill to censor electronic speech" caught on -- now has some proposed changes.Based on the complaints from the main catalyst for the outrage on the Internet -- the Media Coalition -- the changes still might not make ... More >>

There's a Guy Named Johnny Bones, and He's Causing Drama in the City of Tombstone

​There's a gentleman in Tombstone who goes by the name of Johnny Bones, and he's causing a ruckus.Bones was arrested in February, and the American Civil Liberties Union now says Bones is being subjected to "malicious, unconstitutional" prosecution.There's some real Wild West stuff going on here.Ac ... More >>

SB 1070: Two More Sections Enjoined by Judge Susan R. Bolton

With oral arguments scheduled to take place April 25 before the U.S. Supreme Court on Arizona's breathing-while-brown statute Senate Bill 1070, Arizona District Court Judge Susan R. Bolton today enjoined two sections of the law she had not previously put on hold in 2010, when she stymied the mo ... More >>

Joe Arpaio on Blast by Citizens for a Better Arizona in New Video

CBA demands accountability of Arpaio in the latest video by Dennis Gilman A point some local journos missed concerning the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors' recent hearing on Sheriff Joe Arpaio's various misdeeds was that the special meeting, which addressed Arpaio's racial profiling and his bun ... More >>

SOPA: Google Censored the Internet On the Same Day it Protested Congress' Attempt to Censor the Internet

​Remember when on Wednesday the Internet search engine Google protested Congress' attempt to "censor the web" via-the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) by participating in a purely symbolic "black out" with several other big-time websites?About that...We've come to find out that on the same day Google ... More >>

Comicon Kickoff, the Internet Blackout, and Paint Cutting by Tate Foley

Welcome to the Morning Buzz, a catch-up on interesting happenings around the city and country and a quick guide to what (and who) to keep your eyes on. We'll be here, first thing every weekday, to get you going. Here's what's buzzing this morning:​1. Phoenix Comicon KickoffPhoenix Comicon rel ... More >>

Ethnic Studies at TUSD on the Ropes Till Federal Judge Rules

Los Tigres del Norte, apparently not to Judge Kowal's liking...Is there any doubt save in the most muddled of noggins that Arizona's Latino population continues to dwell beneath the bootheel of a hostile political class made up almost entirely of Anglos?Yes, the successful recall of the state's top ... More >>

Joe Arpaio's Rough Week: Is the Sheriff Finally Unelectable?

Jamie PeacheyFour more years (of civil rights violations, lawsuits, political witch hunts, and smugness)?​Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's had a pretty rough week -- aside from the Department of Justice determining that he's guilty of the worst racial-profiling practices in U.S. history, the s ... More >>

Joe Arpaio's Lawyer Grilled by Ninth Circuit About Why Sheriff Should Remain Exempt from New Times' False-Arrest Lawsuit

Sheriff Joe Arpaio​Editor's note: This post was written by Peter Jamison, who covered the hearing for us and our sister paper, the SF Weekly: An 11-member panel of judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit had tough questions today for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's ... More >>

Joe Miller, Probation Officer Fired for Statement in Support of Marijuana Legalization, Launches Lawsuit With ACLU's Help

Image: Huffington PostJoe Miller​Maybe one reason marijuana prohibition is still in effect is this:Law officers face being fired merely for stating publicly their views on legalization.That was the case for Joe Miller, a former Mohave County probation officer whose supervisors terminated him after ... More >>

Activists Picket New Times Building in Protest of Backpage.com

James King This was the scene outside of New Times' downtown Phoenix offices this afternoon. ​About 15 to 20 protesters picketed New Times' downtown Phoenix offices today in protest of Backpage.com, a classified ad website owned by our parent company, Village Voice Media ... More >>

Occupy Tucson Lawsuit: Read It Here; Group Fights to Stay at Park

Image: www.occupytucson.orgPolice raided and cleared out Occupy Tucson's Armory Park tent city on November 3rd.​ Protestors under the "Occupy Tucson" banner have turned to federal court to prevent getting kicked out of another city park. Dozens of occupiers settled into Tucson's Veinte De Ago ... More >>

Is the Breast Cancer Awareness Slogan "Feel For Lumps, Save Your Bumps" Offensive?

www.religionnewsblog.comThat's offensive? Come on!​Cheerleaders at Gilbert High School planned to wear breast cancer awareness T-shirts that featured the slogan "Feel For Lumps, Save Your Bumps" to home football games in October.The cheerleaders planned to wear the shirts while collecting money fo ... More >>

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu Sued by National Prison Legal News, With Help From ACLU

Image: www.prisonlegalnews.orgPrison Legal News editor Paul Wright, (with movie star Danny Trejo).​ A national news magazine for prisoners is suing Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu in federal court for the right to distribute its publications to jail inmates.Paul Wright, editor of the Vermont-b ... More >>

Russell Pearce, Flag-Desecrator and Lawbreaker?

Talk about no class. At least JT wore a suit, though he's sportin' an Old Glory tie...I feel a little like the Arizona Republic's Clay Thompson in discussing this issue, raised via e-mail by someone involved in the effort to recall state Senate President Russell Pearce. But here goes.Some have sugge ... More >>

Arizona Daily Star Allowed to Fire Reporter for "Inappropriate" Tweets, Labor Board Finds

​The First Amendment apparently doesn't extend to Twitter-town -- if you work for the Arizona Daily Star, anyway.A federal labor board recently found that the Star was well within its rights when it fired a public safety reporter for a series of morbid "tweets" he posted on his Twitter account l ... More >>

Russell Pearce Threatens To Lock Up Union Members, Public Employees

Lord of the Flies, maybe. But the King of Comedy, he ain'tWill I miss having state Senate President Russell Pearce to kick around once he's been recalled, his career ended in disgrace?Yes and no. Of course, I want to see this menace to humanity flattened (metaphorically) like a Looney Toons characte ... More >>

Morning Poll: Should Westboro Baptist A-Holes be Allowed to Protest Funerals?

www.thepeoplegroupllc.com​The United States Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the anti-gay rights assholes from the Westboro Baptist Church -- as despicable as they may be -- are guaranteed the same First Amendment rights as those of us who don't abuse them just to draw attention to some absurd i ... More >>

Westboro Baptist Bozos Have Right to Protest Funerals, Supreme Court Rules

​The United States Supreme Court ruled this morning that groups like the Westboro Baptist Church, an anti-gay/anti-logic bunch of twerps known for protesting the funerals of soldiers killed overseas, are protected under the first amendment, regardless of how disgusting their message may be.You ... More >>

Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik Praised and Cursed in Thousands of E-mails Received Days After Giffords Shooting

Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik received more than 5,000 e-mails in the three days following the January 8 Tucson massacre​ Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik has nearly become a household name across the country following his emotional, public statements that talk radio and "vi ... More >>

Westboro Baptist Church Unified Democrats and Republicans Over One Thing: Limiting Freedom of Speech

Jared Loughner Rambles About Currency and Mind Control in Chilling Video Tour of Pima Community College Campus

Jared Loughner rants about currency and genocide in newly released Youtube video.​Pima Community College released a video shot by Jared Loughner in the months before last Saturday's shooting rampage in Tucson. In the video, Loughner walks around the school's campus and rambles on about many of the ... More >>

Jared Lee Loughner Uber Alles? Let's Face It, Gun Nuts Are Just Selfish

Extremist gun nuts refuse to compromise on the firearm restrictions: Jared Lee Loughner might as well be their poster boy My colleague Ray Stern has responded to my reply to his recent pro-gun editorial. In it, Ray wonders what I meant at one point in my rebuttal, which is entitled, "Ment ... More >>

Palin and Tea Party Rhetoric Was Not the Reason Gabrielle Giffords Was Attacked -- America's Treatment of Mental Illness Is to Blame

​The attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the incidental execution of Arizona's Chief Federal Judge, the collateral killing of five bystanders, including a child, and the deranged wounding of 14 politically curious civilians is not the result of the First Amendment's pe ... More >>

Jan. 10 In Blogs: Gabrielle Giffords, Improv AZ, The Black Swans, Shinbay, and Jared Loughner

​​​In the 24-hour news cycle, it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries:

UPDATED: Where Are #Wikileaks Media Friends? UPDATED

www.wikipedia.comWikiLeaks founder Julian Assange​See our UPDATED story here.Where are the First Amendment's establishment warriors as government-spooked businesses try to shut down Wikileaks?Hackers with computers, not hacks with press passes, have been the first line of resistance. More to come. ... 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 >>

Neo-Nazi NSM Invades Phoenix November 13: Wanna Do Battle? Why, Send in the Clowns

wikimediacommonsThis is a clown...And so is this, only the one in black is far more ridiculous...A lot of folks have been e-mailing me of late to wonder if I knew that the neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement will be back in town on Saturday, November 13, to reprise their performance of last year at ... More >>

Phoenix Councilwoman Thelda Williams Says She is Not a Member of Private Committee Organized by Councilman Sal DiCiccio, Firefighters' Union Boss

Thelda Williams​Phoenix Councilwoman Thelda Williams tells New Times that she isn't part of a private committee pulled together by Councilman Sal DiCiccio, Pete Gorraiz, the president of the firefighters' union, and Billy Shields, a Phoenix lobbyist and former head of the fire union."I was just on ... More >>

Lester Pearce, New Presiding Judge of Justice Courts, Takes Bible-Based Views of U.S. Constitution on the Road

Lester Pearce​ Lester Pearce, the Justice of the Peace for the North Mesa precinct (and brother of State Senator Russell Pearce), has a lot of interesting ideas about the U.S. Constitution. And the former lawmaker, who's poised to become the next presiding judge of the justice c ... More >>

John McCain Protester Liz Hourican Tackled by LEO in CNN Video

I'm on deadline today, so I won't have time to suss this out till later, but this CNN video of peace activist Liz Hourican being tackled by law enforcement is disturbing for a couple of reasons.The first is that, based on what's in the video, there was no need for such force, as Hourican had already ... More >>

Joe Arpaio Dogged by the "New England Dennis Gilman," and the Arizona Gilman's Latest

If you ask me, journalism needs more Chris Kings I think I've discovered the New England version of our own fightin' Irishman and rogue videographer Dennis Gilman. Either that, or Gilman is the Sand Land version of Chris King, a lawyer/activist who apparently stays hot on the heels of New Engl ... More >>

Burning Qurans, Flags, Bibles? The First Amendment Rules

~crystalina~ If the book burning was to be of Bibles instead of Qurans, would anyone have cared? All the sturm und drang of the past few days over a Florida pastor's plans to burn a pile of Qurans on September 11 may have paid off. The AP is now reporting that Pastor Terry Jon ... More >>

Morning Poll: Should Florida Preacher Go Through With Quran-Burning?

The "Reverend" Terry Jones​ Media pundits across the country chastise the Reverend Terry Jones for his planned "International Burn-a-Quran Day." Yesterday, the Obama administration had General David Petraeus weigh in on Jones' upcoming "event," with the commander of forces in Afghanistan warni ... More >>

Black Comedy

Chris Rock takes out the poor white trash

Campus Strife

A free-speech battle at ASU centers on enormous posters of aborted fetuses