U.S. District Court Judge David Campbell ruled today that the Tohono O’odham Nation’s plan to build a West Valley casino is in compliance with the state’s gaming compacts. It’s yet another legal victory to the tribe that has been heavily opposed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, state and federal lawmakers…
Congressman Ed Pastor has joined Congressman Trent Franks’s efforts to block the Tohono O’odham Nation from building a casino in the West Valley. We called his office to ask why he supported HR 1410, the proposed law, tailor-made for the Gila River Indian Community, an Indian tribe with the West…
Remember the e-mail sent by then-PCSO Captain Jeffrey Karns lambasting Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu? Silly question. Who could possibly forget the scathing, sarcasm-riddled message Karns blasted to every PCSO employee on January 8 over Babeu’s plan to strip Karns and PCSO lieutenants of their employee protections. See also: Paul…
“Is daddy living in the mountains now?” It’s a heartbreaking question that 5-year-old Alexa has been asking her mom, Tonya Hensley. It’s been nearly two weeks since members of the Superstition Search and Rescue (SSAR) traced Chris Hensley’s steps into the Superstition Mountains and located his remains in an area…
Members of the Superstition Search and Rescue have discovered what they suspect is the body of a hiker missing since Monday. Crews from the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office responded to Lost Dutchman State Park on Monday night — four days ago — after receiving a call of an overdue hiker,…
On a day in November, a cadre of African-Americans assemble at the First Institutional Baptist Church to discuss the uncertain future of black leadership in Phoenix. Crisis hangs in the air. They ponder how to hang on to the Phoenix City Council seat in District 8, which has been a…
Tuesday night, Warren Stewart’s campaign says it logged a first in Phoenix politics — a town hall where participants called in and asked questions, listened to a few stump speeches, and voted on a few questions asked by the moderators. Stewart is seeking a seat on the Phoenix City Council,…
Arizona Congressman Trent Franks introduced — again — legislation on Tuesday that, if signed into law, effectively would prevent the Tohono O’odham Nation from building a casino in the West Valley. There are a few bits about H.R. 1410, this latest bill, that are worth pointing out. See also: Trent…
A twitter pic posted by Mario E. Diaz touting that ex-mayor Phil Gordon and Ellisa Mullany, Gordon’s ex-girlfriend/fundraiser, are part of the “money team” for Pastor Warren Stewart’s campaign is raising eyebrows in some political circles. An interesting political tactic, to say the least, given the pair — Gordon and…
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, Councilman Michael Nowakowski and City Manager David Cavazos are jetting off to Mexico on a “trade mission” to strengthen economic ties with the country’s southern neighbor. This is Stanton’s third visit to Mexico since taking office…
Arizona Congressman Trent Franks is expected to introduce another bill aimed at blocking the Tohono O’odham Nation from building a West Valley casino. Congressional insiders say it may happen this week. See also: Tohono O’odham Nation Continues Defending Plans for West Valley Casino See also: Wanna Bet? The Tohono O’odham…
Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery apparently either was asked for his endorsement or offered it — depending on whom you ask — to Pastor Warren Stewart’s District 8 campaign. We asked Stewart’s campaign, and we didn’t get a straight answer at first, other than getting informed that Stewart and Montgomery…
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, who pledged during this 2011 mayoral campaign to repeal the city’s 2 percent emergency food tax by April 1, is not likely to deliver on that promise. Stanton says he not betraying public trust. “I believed the economy was going to be in a better place,…
Redflex Traffic Solutions is embroiled in a bribery scandal in Chicago that has prompted termination of the firm’s executive vice president and resignations of three other top executives. Redflex Holdings, the Australian parent company of the Phoenix-based photo-enforcement company, says an internal corruption investigation also has found “potential issues” involving…
Months after a drunken brawl outside of a Tempe bar, former Pinal County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard “Hank” Mueller is expected to face a judge for a non-jury trial at 1:30 on May 6. Mueller’s attorney has delayed his clients day reckoning at Tempe Municipal Court several times with motions, but…
El Mirage officials are hosting an Easter Eggstravaganza — “the greatest Easter event El Mirage has ever seen” — on March 30 at Bill Gentry Park, 14010 N. El Mirage Road. As children get their photos taken with the Easter Bunny, color eggs, pet ponies, and romp around in a…
Phoenix voters overwhelmingly approved a proposal to reform the city’s pension plan — a plan city officials say will save taxpayers about $600 million over the next 23 years. According to unofficial results, 71,086 voters, or 79.54 percent, said yes to Proposition 201, compared to 18,284 voters, or 20.46 percent,…
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer told Fox News that the recent release of illegal immigrants by federal immigration officials from the Pinal County jails was “payback” because of the state’s “strong” position on securing the border. When the host asked whether Washington was picking on Arizona, Brewer responded: “I think it’s…
Univision came out on top in the Valley, and according to numbers crunched after February sweep, the Spanish-language station emerged the most watched among 18- to 49-year-olds during all time slots — even when compared to its English-language competitors. Nationwide, it ranked fourth — for the first time beating out…
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu is at it again — trying to gin up fear about immigrants running wild and ready to “commit crimes against the citizens in our state.” That’s what he claimed during an appearance on CNN. He’s echoing criticism by Republicans that comes in the wake of…
An anonymous donor has pledged $100,000 to Arizonans for Gun Safety, a nonprofit organization, to host in May a gun buyback in Phoenix and destroy the firearms. The Mayor’s Office and the Phoenix Police Department are working with a nonprofit agency to take guns out of circulation. “I think this…
Richard Hank Mueller spent an October evening at the Firehouse Bar and Grill in Tempe, drinking, antagonizing security officers, and “creeping” out the ladies. Mueller capped off his night arguing with Pierce Birkhold, a bar patron trying to stop Mueller from hitting on his girlfriend. Mueller, instead, ended up hitting…
