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MMJ Home MMJ News Dispensary Guide MMJ Newsletter

Since homebuilding is Arizona's main economic engine - and since a home is the biggest investment that most local families will make - you might assume that government officials take great pains to make sure construction here is done right. You'd be wrong. Fact is, thousands of Valley homeowners have been affected by bad soils here. This special report reveals that most of the problems that result from the soils in question are highly preventable, but builders take shortcuts that save them a few grand per house, at the most. They've learned that if they screw up a new home, the only discipline they have to face is, eventually, fixing it. And that's only if the homeowner decides to take on a fight.

Stories found

Feature
Cracked Houses
Homes all over Arizona are falling apart. Blame the bad soil -- and the lousy construction

By: By Sarah Fenske -

Published: March 16, 2006
Feature
Soiled Hands
It's no surprise that builders take shortcuts to make money. What might shock you: Government officials -- from regulators to legislators -- do little to stop them

By: By Sarah Fenske -

Published: March 23, 2006
News Sidebar
Through the Cracks
Municipal building inspectors may not catch soil problems

By: By Sarah Fenske -

Published: March 23, 2006
News Sidebar
Survey Says . . .
Are new homes shoddy? Depends who you ask

By: By Sarah Fenske -

Published: March 23, 2006
News
House Arrest
A Sun City couple beat Del Webb in court. So why is their house still a mess?

By: By Sarah Fenske -

Published: August 24, 2006

From the Print Edition

Marijuana Is Real Medicine for a Long List of Ills

By Ray Stern

Marijuana keeps Craig Rodgers alive. With his muscular physique and energetic, fast-talking personality, the 36-year-old Las Vegas resident seems the epitome of health — except for the banana-size scar on the… More >>

Ken Bennett's "Birther" Request Shows the Insanity of Arizona's GOP

By Stephen Lemons

If you need an explanation as to why birtherism is alive and well in Arizona, just spend a little time with the alter kocker kooks who regularly attend meetings of… More >>

Feedback from the Issue of Thursday, May 24

GUILT BY ASSOCIATION If the shoe fits, Russell . . .: The connections between [recalled Arizona Senate President] Russell Pearce and mass-murderer J.T. Ready cannot be understated ("Ready to Kill," Stephen… More >>

Ask a Mexican on Why Mexicans in Chicago Are Meaner

By Gustavo Arellano

I was wondering why Mexicans in Chicago are meaner than Mexicans in California? I love my Mexican brothers and sisters in California (I'm from Cali) but they are the biggest… More >>

Paul Babeu Turns Distortion of Truth Into an Art Form

By Monica Alonzo

It was a breezy recent evening in Florence as Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu walked to the podium in his crisp, dark uniform, which included a Smokey hat replete with… More >>

Miracle on Ice: Can the Coyotes Go All the Way?

By Hendley, Matthew

As Sunday's game between the Phoenix Coyotes and the Los Angeles Kings began, fans belted out the same refrain they'd left Jobing.com Arena with six days earlier — when the… More >>

Ask a Mexican on California DREAMing and Mexican Nombres

By Gustavo Arellano

I usually don't allow anyone to hijack this columna, but an exception must be made for California State Assemblymember Gil Cedillo. He's been fighting the good fight for decades, recently… More >>

Why Authorities Could've Prevented J.T. Ready's Murder Spree

By Stephen Lemons

If Jason Todd Ready had been a run-of-the-mill, delusional, Holocaust-denying racist neo-Nazi who liked to play with guns, I suppose we could could spare an ounce of surprise that, according… More >>

Insurance Scammers Revealed by <i>New Times</i> Go to Trial

Insurance Scammers Revealed by New Times Go to Trial

By Paul Rubin

Nine years ago, New Times exposed a massive and macabre insurance-fraud scam involving medically unnecessary surgeries and grossly overpriced procedures. Now, four key players in the monumental scheme are about to… More >>

Ask a Mexican on Bilingualism and Catholic Culture

By Gustavo Arellano

I'm getting sick and tired of all these dirty, stupid Mexicans running around. The first part is easy: As Mr. Dix says in David Copperfield, when asked what to do… More >>

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