State Capitol

A Statewide Sales Tax Hike for the Arts — In This Economy? Are They Insane?

Governor Jan Brewer Struggling for Campaign Cash; the Budget Crisis Might Be Part of Her Problem

​Governor Jan Brewer is having a little trouble convincing people to pony up the cash she needs to qualify for public money to fund her 2010 gubernatorial campaign. Brewer is running under the state's clean election system, which means she will be given public money to fund her campaign, but ... More >>

November 16 In Blogs: Joe Biden, Metric, The Big Pour, and Sarah Palin

​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: Feathered Bastard: Joe Arpaio Showed Up Uninvited to Joe Biden Function, According to the White House Hillb ... More >>

Hot Links: Kyrsten Sinema, Casinos, and Child Care Protests

​Arizona State Representative Kyrsten Sinema is in Washington, D.C. today to attend a ceremony for the signing of a hate crimes bill that would add crimes committed against people because of sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity. Sinema has sponsored similar legislation in Arizona...Temp ... More >>

Will the Anarchists and the Neo-Nazi NSM Go Toe-to-Toe on November 7 at the State Capitol?

Are these guys anarchists? Or just plain ol' Nazi-haters? Either way, cool flier...I'm hearing rumblings that local anarchists may show up to greet National Socialist Movement neo-Nazis on November 7, when the Hitler-wannabes show up for their shindig on the State Capitol lawn. Some anarchists have ... More >>

Illegal-Immigration Opponent Russell Pearce Could be Appointed Head of DPS, News Outlets Say

  ​ Here's one from the rumor mill: Russell Pearce (above), the state senator from Mesa who's led the charge against illegal immigration in Arizona, could be appointed head of the state Department of Public Safety. The Phoenix Business Journal and KTAR (92.3 FM) quote anonymo ... More >>

Arizona Tea Party Puddin' Heads; Plus, Russell Pearce Says Joe Arpaio Won't Run for Guv, Despite Business Journal Report

From left, Jack Harper, Dean Martin, Russell Pearce, and John Huppenthal Obama is a Nazi. Obama is a commie. Obama is a pirate. (Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum.) Obama is a socialist. Obama is the Joker from The Dark Night. (You know, Heath Ledger) Yadda-yadda-yadda. Such was the refrain f ... More >>

July 29 In Blogs: Barack Obama, Pat Benatar, Gazpacho, and Mayor Gordon

​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: Feathered Bastard: Barack Obama's Birth Certificate, and Why J.D. Hayworth Should Read National Review Joe Arpa ... More >>

Iran Supporters Rally at Arizona State University

Jessica SmithA member of Sunday's rally holds up a sign depicting a few of the deaths that occurred during the protests in Iran. ​ Clad in green and clutching picket signs, hundreds gathered at Arizona State University on Sunday to show solidarity for post-election protests that have left at ... More >>

Metro and Valley Metro Honored for Helping People With Disabilities

  The Arizona Disability Advocacy Coalition, which has numerous Valley organizations as members, is giving Metro Light Rail and Valley metro an award for helping the disabled. Valley Metro runs the Valley's buses and oversees the light rail system. The public transportation agencies were chos ... More >>

State Senate Press Room Heading for Extinction; Media Eviction Scheduled for End of Session

The State Senate still intends to boot reporters out of rooms at the State Capitol that they've worked in for more than three decades -- it'll happen at the end of this legislative session, staffers say. So, in the interest of preserving a (somewhat moldy) slice of history, here is a picture of wha ... More >>

Congressman John Shadegg to Appear at April 15 "Tea Party" to Protest New Taxes

  Hundreds of people are expected to show up on the State Capitol lawn on April 15 to protest taxation, including Republican Congressman John Shadegg (at left), say organizers of the "Tax Day Tea Party." The shin-dig, which takes place from 5:30-7 p.m., is being led by American f ... More >>

Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice, Ruth McGregor, Announces Retirement

Arizona Supreme Court Justice Ruth McGregor announced today that she would leave office and retire at the end of June to spend more time with her family. McGregor, a 1974 graduate of the Arizona State University College of Law, has a solid reputation in the legal community and a ... More >>

New Arizona Archives Reading Room Closes Due to Budget Cuts; $29 Million Facility Opened in November

The new, $29 million Polly Rosenbaum State Archives and History Building Reading Room that opened late last year has closed until further notice -- another victim of state budget cuts."I'm hoping something is going to happen so that we can re-open it," says GladysAnn Wells, (pictured), state librari ... More >>

Jan Brewer Becomes Arizona's Governor; Pledges "Freedom" From Tax and Regulatory Burdens

Jan Brewer took her oath of office as governor of Arizona today, completing the transfer of power required after Janet Napolitano left the state to become secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Here's a shot of her accepting a Native American blessing on stage just prior to official ... More >>

Janet Napolitano Confirmed as Homeland Security Secretary; Jan Brewer to Take Oath as New Governor on Wednesday

Janet Napolitano was confirmed today as the third chief of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The department was created in 2003 as a reaction to the 9/11 attacks, and oversees the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies. I ... More >>

State Senate Bans Selected Reporters From Capitol Press Room and Lawmakers' Offices

The Arizona Guardian, a Web site begun this week by former East Valley Tribune reporters, is already running into trouble with its plan to cover State Capitol news.  The site reported yesterday that its reporters have been banned from working in the Capitol press room, which is ... More >>

Arizona Real Estate Commissioner Sam Wercinski Announces Intent to Resign

Sam Wercinski sees the writing on the State Capitol wall.Wercinski, the state's Real Estate Commissioner, today announced his intent to resign when Governor Janet Napolitano leaves for her new job as Homeland Security secretary.Wercinski served two years, having been appointed by Napolitano in Janu ... More >>

Barrett Marson Bids Adieu as House Speaker's Spokesman and Capitol Blogger

Barrett Marson, spokesman for outgoing Arizona House Speaker Jim Weiers, says in an e-mailed farewell that he'll look back fondly on his four years dealing with the "jackals" in the media, some of whom he may have even enjoyed getting to know. Friends and acquaintances of Marson's know he's ... More >>

Hot Links: Jan Brewer Prepares to Take Over as Governor; Another Study Questions Taser Safety; Phoenix Murders Decrease

She's not wasting any time: Jan Brewer, the conservative Republican Arizona secretary of state, is gathering a transition team to begin her serendipitous coup of the State Capitol's 9th Floor. Tasers shock at higher powers than expected, according to a new study. Murders in Phoenix are dec ... More >>

Zen and the Art of the Three-Point Shot: New Jersey Nets Vs. Suns on Sunday

There's this thing called The Zone. (No, Phoenicians, not that super scary area in the avenues near the Arizona State Capitol.) It's that Zen-like state where you're being and not doing, whether its creating art or dominating an opponent in sports. On November 4, 2008 in East Rutherford, New Jer ... More >>

Janet Napolitano's "Holiday Tree" Flap Invokes Ire of Anti-Gay Right-Wing Blogger

Conservatives have mixed feelings about what kind of job Janet Napolitano will do as Homeland Security chief, assuming she gets the job, especially on the subject of immigration. But today's post by conservative blogger Debbie Schlussel makes it obvious the Democratic Napolitano faces scrutiny and ... More >>

Update: Kirk Adams is New House Speaker, Replaces Jim Weiers

Patriots Border Alliance's neo-Nazi love-fest; and why Anna Gaines' recall of Mayor Phil Gordon is doomed.

Triumph of the Swill: Local white supremacist J.T. Ready attends neo-Nazi rally in Omaha, NE

Rally announced for deported teen Virginia Gutierrez at State Capitol.

Amerikkka for whitey, by whitey: Rednecks win on immigration reform.

Monument Valley

The plumed wonder hates to agree with GOP gun moll Ann Coulter philosophically, but about our 9/11 memorial . . .

Best Public Golf Hole

Ninth Hole

Go, Fourth

Where to catch the really big fireworks

War Crimes in Downtown Phoenix

Vietnam vets discuss the allegations of atrocities leveled at Bob Kerrey

Without Reservation

'Indian School Days' revisits a past to which no native should return

Castle Keep

Time is running out to restore Tovrea Castle with its historic grounds intact

Flashes 08-03-2000

Undoing Time, They're Baaaaaack, Double Your Pleasure, and Me and Julio

American Pyro

Night & Day

March 18 - 24, 1999

Flashes

Night & Day

July 2 - 8, 1998

Night & Day

Calendar for the week

Flashes

Athletes' Inaction

Well-heeled district eliminates competitive sports programs in middle schools

Pic Hits for the week

Hemp, Hemp, Hooray

Activists claim ruling makes Arizona safefor marijuana; authorities disagree

FIFE, POMPED UP

IT'S REVERENT, IT'S MARTIAL, IT'S A PARTY. IT'S INAUGURATION-A-GO-GO.

THE BASEBALL STRIKE: AS BORING AS IT IS STUPID

CASUAL CONFLICTS

ARIZONA LAWMAKERS OPERATE UNDER A SYSTEM INCAPABLE OF STEMMING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

SUNDOWN FOR SOLARARIZONA'S ONCE-PROMISING INDUSTRY HAS WITHERED FROM NEGLECT

OUR FAVORITE SAGUAROS... AND WHY

The Governor's Leckie