Natural Disasters

Ready Or Not

Climate Change May Lead to "Exodus from Phoenix," or Maybe Just Total Disaster

The end of Phoenix metro area may be nigh, at least, according to one guy.A writer who focuses mostly on environmental affairs in the Southwest says that Phoenix just keeps getting hotter, and among other problems, it could lead to a Superstorm Sandy-like or Hurricane Katrina-like disaster.

Puppet Love

About 1,000 Earthquakes Shook Arizona in Recent Three-Year Period, ASU Researchers Report

Arizona shook from the tremors of nearly 1,000 earthquakes between 2006 and 2009, according to data recently published by Arizona State University researchers. New data from a National Science Foundation program recorded the seismic activity, which has scientists excited because of the unexpected f ... More >>

Arizona's Sunflower Fire Continues Burning in Tonto National Forest (Photos)

Wildfire season started early in Arizona this year. There are currently four wildfires burning throughout the state, the largest of which is the Sunflower Fire, burning about 20 miles south of Payson in the Tonto National Forest. Phoenix New Times freelance photographer Andrew Pielage made the tre ... More >>

Pontiak Braves Tornadoes and Chainsaws Downed Trees to Deliver the Riff Rock of Echo Ono

See also: Pontiak Makes an Album About Driving from Phoenix to Texas The last time we blogged about the brothers Pontiak --Van, Lain, and Jennings Carney -- we discussed their EP, Comecrudos, a concept record designed for a drive through the American Southwest. It garnered an interesting comment fr ... More >>

Leonard Gregg, Starter of 2002 Rodeo Fire, Scheduled to be Released From Prison Tomorrow

  Leonard Gregg​As firefighters continue to battle the Wallow fire in eastern Arizona, the starter of half of the monstrous 2002 Rodeo-Chedeski fire is scheduled to be released from prison tomorrow. Leonard Gregg, an Apache who lived in Cibecue, admitted he'd started two fires -- Rod ... More >>

Five Best Ways to Start an Arizona Forest Fire

fortressofbaileytude.comDon't be an idiot. Just pay attention to what Smokey says and everything will be alright.​Fire crews are having a hell of a time putting out the second largest forest fire in Arizona history, which is currently burning in eastern Arizona. So, naturally, we've made a list of ... More >>

X Japan Leader Yoshiki Launches Celebrity Auction to Benefit Japan's Earthquake Recovery

Photo by NishiokaYoshiki​To a music fan, there's nothing like having a unique piece of memorabilia from their favorite artist -- for example, an autographed guitar, or maybe the mandolin that Ministry used on three world tours, or Red Hot Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis' MTV Europe Award. To a ... More >>

Saving Japan at SXSW

Help Save Japan @ SXSWCasino Kids standing in front of the Help Save Japan at SXSW booth at the Austin Convention Center. ​Debilitating earthquakes. Aftershocks. Tsunamis that swept away entire towns and destroyed countless agricultural fields. Thousands of dead and missing. All of this occurr ... More >>

Russell Pearce Linked To Japan Disaster By Patrons of Local Sports Bar

We settled in yesterday for an annual ritual--watching the NCAA March Madness Selection Show at a Scottsdale bar, Zipps Sports Grill up on East Greenway Parkway.​It's always a hoot to see guys armed with schooners of brewskies trying to keep up with the match-ups as they flash on the big TV screen ... More >>

Tsunami Footage Breathtaking, Heartbreaking; West Coast on Tsunami Alert -- Schools Canceled Along Northern California Coast

Image: AP /Kyodo News Tsunami as it hits Natori, Miyagi.​We just saw some of the video footage trickling in from the epic disaster that hit Japan last night. Unbelievable. Gut-wrenching. Scary as hell. Nice to be safe here in the deep desert. Just called a friend who lives near Half Moon ... More >>

Hana Bows Out of Devoured After Japanese Earthquake

Chefs Kazuto Kishino (left) and Koji Hashimoto from Hana won't be attending this weekend's culinary fest.​Family emergency following the devastation in Japan from today's earthquakes and tsunamis has prompted the owners of Hana Japanese Eatery to drop out of the lineup for this weekend's Devoured ... More >>

Kanye West Responsible for "Worst Part" of Bush Presidency

THIS was the worst part of Bush's presidency. What that guy on the right said that night.​It's soapbox time, everybody.In a recently taped interview with Matt Lauer, George W. Bush claimed that Kanye West's candid outburst on the September 2, 2005 Concert for Hurricane Relief telethon -- "George B ... More >>

I of the Storm

Exhibit tells Katrina survivors’ stories

I of the Storm

Exhibit tells Katrina survivors’ stories

DPS Claims it Never Put Speed Cams on Emergency Road During Wildfires

​Last week, a source who was front-and-center to witness wildfires that raged in northern Arizona told New Times that the Department of Public Safety placed photo-radar cameras on an emergency road as response crews tried to battle the blaze.The DPS, however, now says those claims are false.

Blazing Wildfires Doesn't Stop DPS From Using Speed Cams to Nab Lead Foots on Northern Arizona Highway

www.radarroy.com​Despite the blazing wildfires that engulfed parts of northern Arizona over the weekend, it seems the Arizona Department of Public Safety wasn't going to allow a pesky inferno to stop it from dishing out photo-radar speeding tickets.As the fires raged, a source who was at the ... More >>

Morning Poll: How Many Wildfires Will be Caused by Crappy Fireworks Within First Year of Their Legalization?

www.ebaumsworld.com​On Monday night, Governor Jan Brewer signed into law a bill that legalizes the sale and use of certain types of fireworks in Arizona.The bill doesn't permit cool fireworks like bottle rockets, or M-80s, but allows Arizona residents to buy, sell, and use things like sparklers an ... More >>

New in Old Town: Sola Coffee Bar

​How could I not immediately fall in love with this coffee shop?Nestled in that stretch of 5th Avenue between Scottsdale Road and Stetson (7124 E. 5th Ave.), Sola Coffee Bar struck me as a refreshingly indie antidote to typically Southwestern-y Old Town businesses nearby. When I stopped by a coupl ... More >>

Gordo Getdown

Tornado Watch in Effect for Maricopa County; WTF?

We're doomed! Probably not.​The National Weather Service has issued an improbable tornado watch for Maricopa and Pinal counties until 10 p.m.Sorry, snowbirds, Phoenix isn't nothin' but sunshine all the time.According to the National Weather Service, a major tornado in Phoenix is incredibly r ... More >>

Phoenix, Um, Rocked by Lunchtime Earthquake

www.yimg.com​Did ya feel it? We sure as hell didn't.According to the United States Geological Survey, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake rocked northwest Mexico about a 40 minutes ago, and claims of feeling the aftershocks in the Valley are coming in from everywhere.As may have been expected, many o ... 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 >>

The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

New Orleans guitar hero/film star hits the Rhythm Room

Nationalist Enquirer

Filmmaker/artist gives voice to patriots, real and imagined

I of the Storm

Filmmakers insinuate themselves into the Katrina diaspora

Guadalupe firefighters tackle wildfires and raise money with eBay

Jen Urso and Bill Berry

Ben Lee

The Quakes

Quiff Rock!
(Orrexx)

Rock Politics

Paint it green

Weird and Wonderful

Top DVDs of 2006

A True Horror Classic

Letters From the Issue of Thursday, July 20, 2006

Desert Storm

Thousands of Katrina evacuees landed in Phoenix. How long should they get assistance?

Hello Kitty

A little-known genre of New Orleans music

Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint

The River in Reverse
(Verve Forecast)

Critical Fatwa

Stipe the madness

Rob Dickinson

What a beautiful mourning

RIAA-holes

How they misspell relief

Katrina's Second Wind

Hurricane refugees jump to the head of the line -- ahead of the Valley's needy -- for subsidized housing

Critical Fatwa

Michael Jackson

Storm Troopers

Black people calling Phoenix the promised land? The Katrina evacuees in the Valley haven't been getting out enough

Live Aid

How you can help hurricane survivors

Mogwai

Happy Songs For Happy People (Matador)

Smoke Signal

The Rodeo-Chediski fire has destroyed more than trees in Apache country

Time to Burn

Is the Lone Fire a preview of California-style infernos to come?

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.

BURNING QUESTIONSWHY WOULD ANYONE SET FIRE TO ARIZONA'S SCENIC LANDSCAPE?