At some Arizona high schools, the powers that be decided not to choose some tired old mascot like the Bears or Eagles.Instead, some high schools decided to branch out and pick something different, and years later, they’ve landed on New Times’ list of the 10 worst high school mascots in…
In case you missed any news action this week, we’ve got you covered.Here’s our recap of the most-read news stories of the week:…
Activists say authorities’ response to the alleged rape of a transgender woman at an immigrant detention facility in Eloy was unacceptable.Marichuy, whose legal name is Jesus Leal Gamino, claims she was sexually assaulted by her cellmate last month at the Eloy Detention Center, after she says she warned detention staff…
At the end of the week, we bring you a roundup of visitors to the desert’s own Fourth Avenue Jail. To be considered for our Maricopa County mugshots of the week, get arrested, strike a pose, and we’ll take care of the rest.This week, prepare for weirdness. Enjoy…
Maricopa County won’t appeal a federal judge’s ruling that prevents county officials from prosecuting undocumented immigrants for smuggling themselves into the country.Such prosecutions were started by now-disbarred former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, using a relatively new anti-smuggling law that was enacted to target human smugglers, not those being smuggled…
Seven people associated with a motorcycle gang have been arrested for allegedly beating a man and his girlfriend outside a Phoenix bar in March.Police say the seven people are involved with a motorcycle gang called Latin Riderz, and face charges including aggravated assault, kidnapping, and assisting a criminal street gang.Phoenix…
A candidate with forged signatures on his nominating petitions won’t be removed from the ballot, despite the existence of a state law against petition forgery.Although Republican Senate candidate Toby Farmer attested to being present when these phony signatures were signed, the Arizona Supreme Court is allowing him to stay on…
Three children from Central America who came to the United States unaccompanied appeared before members of Congress on Tuesday to explain their journeys to the United States.Democratic Congressman Raúl Grijalva hosted the hearing with other members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Grijalva said he didn’t want people, especially members of…
Now just four weeks away from the primary election, the latest poll of Republican voters shows half are undecided on a candidate for governor.Of the Republicans who have made up their minds, former GoDaddy executive Christine Jones is the leader with 18 percent, followed by Treasurer Doug Ducey at 16…
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has announced plans to “greet” legal migrant workers from Central America who have gotten seasonal work in rural parts of the county.Yes, the same Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office that was ordered to stop racially profiling Latinos, as a result of the Melendres v. Arpaio civil-rights…
This Election Day, young voters may have the most impact in two of Arizona’s congressional districts.The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), a think tank that studies youth voting habits, believe the districts currently occupied by Democratic Congresswomen Kyrsten Sinema (CD-9) and Ann Kirkpatrick (CD-1)…
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has removed its immigrant detainees from the Pinal County Jail, after the county and the federal government failed to come to an agreement over how much the county gets paid to house the detainees.The end of this contract is a victory for human-rights groups that…
At the end of the week, we bring you a roundup of visitors to the desert’s own Fourth Avenue Jail. To be considered for our Maricopa County mugshots of the week, get arrested, strike a pose, and we’ll take care of the rest.This week, we’ve found that it can always…
It took two hours to execute convicted murderer Joseph Wood yesterday, but state officials claim he never suffered.The first use in Arizona of a new two-drug protocol for lethal injection went on so long that Wood’s attorneys, federal public defenders, filed a motion in federal court seeking to stop the…
No surprise here: Disbarred former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas has the most intense border-security plan of any of the Republican candidates for governor.Thomas is proposing 3,000 National Guardsmen on the border, along with double-layer fencing either along the border or along a “fall-back line” within the state…
Senator John McCain has broken a nearly week-long streak of keeping Arizona off of Comedy Central’s satirical news programs.McCain earned a spot on last night’s episode of the Daily Show for discounting the show’s host, Jon Stewart…
UPDATE 4:13 p.m.: Wood has been executed, although the procedure took nearly two hours. His attorney actually prepared a motion to stop the execution after more than an hour. Read the latest at the end of this post.The execution of convicted murderer Joseph Wood has been put on hold by…
Arizona’s Department of Economic Security is to be repaid $2.1 million by people caught gaming the food stamps and unemployment insurance programs.The agency’s investigative units, with help from law enforcement, found 87 people in the last year who abused the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), along with 122 people who…
If it can be proven that veterans died due to scheduling practices at the Phoenix VA hospital, then 71 percent of Arizonans think VA employees should be charged with crimes.The Behavior Research Center’s Rocky Mountain Poll surveyed Arizonans on a few aspects of the VA scandal, finding that a majority…
Arizonans are driving less, and relying more on public transportation, according to a report from the Arizona Public Interest Research Group Education Fund.The shift is causing the Arizona PIRG Education Fund to recommend that public officials shift funding away from more highway projects, and more toward other transportation options.”…
There’s no merit to the hysterical claim that unaccompanied children from Central America are posing a health risk upon their arrival to the U.S., according to Pima County’s health director.Pima County Health Department Director Francisco Garcia has been investigating the claims made by politicians and others that some sort of…
Today in Found at the Border: U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found two assault rifles hidden inside the dashboard of a Mexican national’s car.The car was headed back into Mexico, through the Port of Lukeville, according to the agency. According to federal court documents obtained by New Times, 45-year-old…
