Nogales

Welcome to Phoenix, the ethnic cleansing begins at noon.

MINGUS AMONG US

BORN IN NAGALES, BASSIST CHARLES MINGUS SPENT HIS LIFE EXTENDING THE FRONTIERS OF JAZZ. NOW HIS HOMETOWN IS THROWING HIM A 71ST BIRTHDAY PARTY.

Hot Links: Obama Out-Debates McCain, Arpaio's Goons Target Mesa Library, Stone's W. Shows Bush as Party Boy.

BORN IN NAGALES, BASSIST CHARLES MINGUS SPENT HIS LIFE EXTENDING THE FRONTIERS OF JAZZ. NOW HIS HOMETOWN IS THROWING HIM A 71ST BIRTHDAY PARTY.

Rx Mex

Hazy regulations allow Americanos to write their own tickets in Mexican pharmacies

Drugstore Caballero

Recreational prescription drugs put Mexican farmacias on the map--and American pill seekers on the road

Inspectors Can Do Little to Stem Tide of Smuggling

Recreational prescription drugs put Mexican farmacias on the map--and American pill seekers on the road

Bordering on Exploitation

A couple hours from Phoenix, tens of thousands of Mexicans work on maquiladora assembly lines for $1 an hour, making the toys and tools of American convenience. Critics say the maquila system lets U.S. corporations maximize profits on the backs of Third W

What a Wasteland

A couple hours from Phoenix, tens of thousands of Mexicans work on maquiladora assembly lines for $1 an hour, making the toys and tools of American convenience. Critics say the maquila system lets U.S. corporations maximize profits on the backs of Third W

Home to Las Playitas

A maquila worker's 600-kilometer trek to the farming village where she was born

Hector the Hustler

A maquila worker's 600-kilometer trek to the farming village where she was born

Maquila Wages, Sans Slums

A maquila worker's 600-kilometer trek to the farming village where she was born

Dulce Treat

A maquila worker's 600-kilometer trek to the farming village where she was born

Best Mexican Bakery

La Purísima Pasteleria
4425 West Glendale Avenue, Suite 8, Glendale
623-842-1400

Best Selection of Mexican Imports

Mercado Mexico
8212 South Avenida del Yaqui, Guadalupe
480-831-5925

Hot Links: Large Crowds Expected for Saturday Light Rail Opening; Boy Dies After Insane Bat Attack, 2nd Boy Critical; Get Out Magazine Gets Lost

If you haven't been hiding under a barrel cactus for the last couple of months, you know that tomorrow is the big day for the light rail system. Crowds of up to 200,000 are expected to hail the opening, though some Valley residents remain concerned about the program's cost and safety. One of the tw ... More >>

Traffic Stop Nets Nearly 200 Pounds of Pot Found Wrapped Like Christmas Presents

A couple driving north toward Tucson the day after Christmas was caught with nearly 200 pounds of marijuana disguised like holiday presents. The Nogales, Arizona, couple were stopped on Interstate 19 for a traffic violation, according to an Arizona Department of Public Safety news release: Insid ... More >>

Hot Links: Alleged Hazing at ASU, Free Drinks on US Airways, and Phoenix Gets Stimulated

Officials at Arizona's three public universities warn students to avoid Mexico during spring break, citing high crime rates in border towns like Nogales and Juarez. An ATF spokesman says that most violence doesn't take place at Mexico's popular tourist spots, which, not surprisingly, don't include N ... More >>

Hot Links: Party Crews, Identity Thieves, and Official Flatulence

Here's some news: teenagers party. But Phoenix police say the parties are getting out of hand, with partygoers forming "crews" and taking over abandoned buildings or setting up in the desert. Police say such bashes can lead to vandalism, assaults, and (surprise!) underage drinking...A thoroughbred h ... More >>

Phoenix Phoodies: Nogales Hot Dogs From Pablo Perez

Sloane Burwell Pablo Perez makes the kind of hot dogs people dream about. For the last seven years, he's been introducing Phoenicians to the magic of the Sonoran Style Hot Dog, served out of a cheerful hot dog stand called Nogales Hot Dog #2. You'll find Perez and his assistant seven nights a wee ... More >>

Organ-icky

Tea for none

Do or Die

For most Mexicans who're flooding our borders, it's a life-or-death choice

Pressure Point

WHILE THE BORDER PATROL IS ATTACKING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS, THE AGENCY IS LITERALLY RETREATING IN ARIZONA. THE RESULTS ARE COSTLY AND DANGEROUS.

Naive Gringo Pill Popped Below Border

Earth to Americans like Ray Lindell: Try abiding by Mexican law when buying a whopping amount of tranquilizers at farmacias. Duh!

Smashin' Show

"Beatrice and Bob's Piñata Factory" exhibit is a bang-up job

Habla Di, Habla Da, Strife Goes On

Federal ruling in bilingual-education lawsuit goes unheeded by state officials

Chance of a Ghost

Federal ruling in bilingual-education lawsuit goes unheeded by state officials

MOUTH OF THE BORDER

Federal ruling in bilingual-education lawsuit goes unheeded by state officials

SECOND HELPINGS

Federal ruling in bilingual-education lawsuit goes unheeded by state officials

Swine Flu Arizona: Policy of Closing Maricopa County Schools is Lifted, But 10 Schools Closed in Nogales

The most pressing question about the H1N1 "swine flu" virus now seems to be: Will the thing return this fall and kill millions?Locally, the panic has ratcheted way down, with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health declaring on Saturday that new cases of swine flu would not result in sch ... More >>

Hot Links: Wittmann Standoff, Newsweek, and Drug Tunnels

Following President Obama's decision in April to lift travel restrictions for Cuban-Americans, many Valley residents who have family in Cuba are taking trips to the country. Phoenix has a small but burgeoning Cuban-American community. Most other Americans are still barred from visiting Cuba or purch ... More >>

A Month of Crazy Hot Dogs at Joe's Farm Grill

For most people I know, hot dogs are usually an occasional indulgence -- maybe a dog with the works and a huge beer at a baseball game, a Nogales dog when the mood strikes, or hot dogs on the grill on a lazy Sunday by the pool. But Joe's Farm Grill has come up with 14 good reasons to eat hot dogs pr ... More >>

Mexico Media Mogul Among Those Indicted in Alleged Crime Ring; Hip-Hop's Swizz Beatz was Close Associate of Suspects

The roundup of alleged crime ring members we told you about on Thursday also snared Mario de la Fuente Manríquez, a Mexican media mogul who owns cable TV companies, a Nogales, Sonora TV station and newspaper. Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, and police officials ar ... More >>

Mexican National Convicted of Cocaine Smuggling Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison

www.photobucket.com​A Mexican national will be calling America home for a little while longer after being sentenced in a Phoenix federal court to some lengthy prison time for smuggling cocaine into Arizona.David Efrain Flores-Castro, 33, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison today for his ... More >>

Fast Food Fish Sandwiches in Fry Girl's Debut Column

​ ​Look, up in the sky! Er, make that behind the wheel of that car over there. It's neither bird nor plane, and it's certainly not that sappy-faced, beef-slinging Wendy character. No, it's Fry Girl! A new column in Phoenix New Times' print edition, where each week we'll bring you revie ... More >>

Hot Links: Elderly Woman Busted, Mesa Sued, and Food Tax

​A 94-year-old Mexican woman was arrested at the border near Nogales for allegedly trying to smuggle almost 11 pounds of marijuana into Arizona. According to authorities, the woman said she was crossing the border for a day of shopping, but agents became suspicious and found bundles of pot taped f ... More >>

U.S. Border Patrol Nabs More Than 1,600 Pounds of Weed in One Weekend

www.pollsb.com​U.S. Border Patrol agents in Arizona have been pretty busy in their war-against-weed, nabbing more than 1,600 pounds of the icky in three separate busts last weekend.The first of the weekend's three big busts happened Friday afternoon when agents working at a checkpoint on Hig ... More >>

21 Killed in Gun Battle By Rival Gangs Just South of Nogales; Charred Human Heads Found Hanging Near Cemetary

  ​Just when it seems like smuggling violence can't get any worse comes news of a slaughter just south of Nogales, Mexico: 21 dead, at least six wounded in a massive gun battle. Media outlets are reporting that the skirmish between rival gangs took place Thursday morning on a dirt r ... More >>

July 2 In Blogs: Barry Wong, First Friday, SB 1070, Venezia's Pizzeria, and DPS

​​​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:

Nogales Mayor Arrested at City Hall; Indicted on Bribery, Theft, Fraud, and Money Laundering Charges

Arizona Attorney General's OfficeNogales Mayor Octavio Garcia Von Borstel was arrested at the Nogales City Hall this morning.​The 29-year-old mayor of Nogales, and his 59-year-old father, were arrested this morning on multiple charges including bribery, theft, fraud and money laundering.Mayor Octa ... More >>

76-Year-Old Woman Arrested for Smuggling Cocaine

www.bloodyelbow.com​Typically, senior citizens don't draw too much suspicion from law enforcement, so we're a little shocked to learn that a 76-year-old Mexican woman was arrested for smuggling more than $125,000 worth of cocaine across the U.S./ Mexico border earlier this week.According to offici ... More >>

More Than a Ton of Weed Seized and Three Alleged Drug Dealers Arrested in ICE's Latest Big Bust

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement​Do yourself a favor: if you own a white conversion van, don't drive it near Nogales -- especially if you're carting around more than a ton of marijuana.According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, last week, ICE agents saw a white conversion van s ... More >>

Cloaked Brutality: The Feds Bury Border Patrol Abuses of Immigrants, But What's Been Unearthed Reveals a Culture of Cruelty

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement​Do yourself a favor: if you own a white conversion van, don't drive it near Nogales -- especially if you're carting around more than a ton of marijuana.According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, last week, ICE agents saw a white conversion van s ... More >>

The Sonoran Dog from Nogales Hot Dogs

Erica O'Neil​Last year we marked the hundred day countdown to Best of Phoenix by sharing our 100 Favorite Dishes with you. Now we're back - with the 2011 edition. Have a suggestion for a dish you'd like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com 96: Th ... More >>

Fattoush Salad from Al-Hana Restaurant at Baiz Market

​Last year we marked the hundred day countdown to Best of Phoenix by sharing our 100 Favorite Dishes with you. Now we're back -- with the 2011 edition. Have a suggestion for a dish you'd like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com 95: Fattoush Sala ... More >>

Croissant from Essence Bakery Cafe

That's our fave, on the right. ​Last year we marked the hundred day countdown to Best of Phoenix by sharing our 100 Favorite Dishes with you. Now we're back - with the 2011 edition. Have a suggestion for a dish you'd like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email laura.hahnefeld@ ... More >>

Slice of Pepperoni Pizza from Mamma Mia

  Last year we marked the hundred day countdown to Best of Phoenix by sharing our 100 Favorite Dishes with you. Now we're back - with the 2011 edition. Have a suggestion for a dish you'd like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com.   90: Sli ... More >>

Chicken Chow Mein from Desert Jade

​Last year we marked the hundred day countdown to Best of Phoenix by sharing our 100 Favorite Dishes with you. Now we're back - with the 2011 edition. Have a suggestion for a dish you'd like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com.  87: Chicken C ... More >>

ICE Agent Accused of Leaking Sensitive Information to Family Members With Ties to Drug Cartels

​A Nogales-based Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent was arrested yesterday for allegedly handing over sensitive government documents to family members with "strong" ties to drug cartels.According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Jovana Samaniego Deas, 33, a special agent with the agen ... More >>

Nogales Smuggling Tunnel Pictures Released; Shaft Ran 70 Feet South From a Home

Image: ICE, HSIThe smuggling tunnel found in Nogales yesterday had internal support structures to guard against cave-in.​ Border authorities shut down a tunnel Tuesday that ran 70 feet from a U.S. home in Nogales, Arizona to Mexico. Pictures just released show the builders of this tunnel, wh ... More >>

Mexican Smugglers Exploit the Corrupt Reputation of U.S. Border Officers

Image: ICE, HSIThe smuggling tunnel found in Nogales yesterday had internal support structures to guard against cave-in.​ Border authorities shut down a tunnel Tuesday that ran 70 feet from a U.S. home in Nogales, Arizona to Mexico. Pictures just released show the builders of this tunnel, wh ... More >>