Hot Links: Earthquakes, Scooter Accident, and Phoenix Suns

​A 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit Baja, California yesterday. The quake rocked high-rise buildings in San Diego and Los Angeles. A number of surrounding areas also have reported feeling aftershocks, including residents across Phoenix…Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies are searching for three men who fled the scene of a fatal scooter accident early this morning…

Hot Links: Sunday Booze, Pipe Bombs, and 10,000 Easter Eggs

A bill that would allow retailers to sell alcoholic beverages at 6 a.m. on Sundays received preliminary Senate approval Thursday. If the bill passes, alcohol sales on Sunday would begin four hours earlier than they do now. An analysis by budget staffers states that the new bill would generate 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 from…

Gilbert Junior High School Student Competes on Jeopardy! Kids Week

Despite criticism of the Valley’s educational system and its students, a girl from a Metro Phoenix school landed a pretty cerebral gig. Andrea Salt, 12, of Gilbert was one of 15 kids chosen by the producers of quiz show Jeopardy! to compete on the program’s “Kids Week”  — scheduled to be aired Monday, July 5,…

Hot Links: Cappie Pondexter, Snakes, and Gang Rape

A 15-year-old Liberian boy pleaded guilty in a juvenile court to his role in the July, 2009 gang-rape of an 8-year-old girl. The teenager pleaded to charges of kidnapping, sexual assault, three counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, and one count of attempted sexual misconduct with a minor. His…

Hot Links: Carjacking, Puppies, and a Condo Fire

Maricopa County officials voted yesterday to give their lawyers permission to file a lawsuit over a $456,000 bus the Sheriff’s Office bought to transport inmates. County officials question the legality of the purchase, because it wasn’t put out for competitive bidding. Sheriff Joe Arpaio defended the purchase, saying he has…

Caffiend: Ol’ Glory

There are so many energy drinks on the market these days, and so few that truly stand out — even visually. A walk down the energy drink aisle at the store becomes a monotonous montage of black and silver aluminum, decorated with various logos in bright orange and florescent green…

Hot Links: SRP Fire, Rancher Killed, and Cocaine Trafficking

A huge fire early this morning at a Salt River Project substation sent a big smoke plume several miles to the west. The burning transformer, at the SRP substation near 121st Avenue and Broadway Road, hasn’t caused any reported power outages so far. A dozen firefighters battled the blaze through…

Hot Links: Motorcyclists Killed, Mesa Arts Center, and Boats

Three people were killed yesterday when a dump truck hit a group of motorcyclists in north Phoenix. Eight motorcycles were stopped at a red light near 27th drive and Carefree Highway when the dump truck hit them from behind, pinning three people under the truck. Six more people were taken…

Hot Links: Smoking Bans, Marijuana Tax, and SRP Vandalism

In the next month, student groups at all four ASU campuses will vote on a proposed smoking ban. The ban would prohibit smoking anywhere on the campuses, and university administration says it probably will accept the votes. If the ban passes, ASU would join about 381 colleges in the United…

Hot Links: Gas Leaks, Stephen Tuopeh, and Chateau on Central

A gas leak has prompted the evacuation of about 20 homes in the area of Doubletree Ranch and Scottsdale Roads. No injuries were reported, and Southwest Gas has been notified, but Scottsdale Road is closed at Doubletree Ranch in both directions. Traffic is being diverted southbound at Mountain View and…

Phoenix Makes Top 20 in EPA’s List of Most Energy-Efficient Cities

The Environmental Protection Agency released its second annual list of U.S. cities with the most energy-efficient buildings. Phoenix ranked number 20, just ahead of Ogden, Utah, and Charlotte, North Carolina.The EPA’s list is determined by the number of energy-efficient buildings in each city. Phoenix has 52 buildings with “Energy Star”…

Hot Links: Fiesta Bowl, Scorpion Stings, and Kyrsten Sinema

The Fiesta Bowl wants a refund from the city of Glendale for at least $600,000 for overpayment of taxes on ticket sales. Fiesta Bowl officials say, for the past three years, they’ve overpaid for taxes at University of Phoenix Stadium. Glendale would not confirm or deny the request, but city…

Caffiend: Urban Beans’ Caramel Toffee Nut Mocha

What a sugar rush! Usually, we shy away from super-sweet coffees, choosing instead to add sugar and cream on our own to often bitter house blends. But in the case of Urban Beans’ caramel toffee nut mocha, we didn’t need to add a thing.Urban Beans serves a variety of coffees,…

Hot Links: Cremation, Fish on Feet, and Ranch Market Blaze

Some counties in Arizona have turned to cremating the indigent. Citing budget woes, lack of space, and the high cost of burials, Yavapai, Navajo, and Yuma counties have begun cremating the indigent rather than burying them in paupers’ graves. Indigents are still buried in Maricopa County, but officials say budget…

Hot Links: Abortion Bill, Oil Refineries, and Car Surfing

The Arizona Legislature advanced an abortion bill yesterday, while delaying a concealed-weapons bill. The abortion measure, which requires final passage before moving to the Senate, would require healthcare personnel who treat women with complications from abortions to submit a report to the state. The House delayed consideration of another bill,…

Hot Links: Guns, Motorcycles, and Janet Napolitano

A controversial bill that would allow faculty to carry guns on campuses has advanced in Arizona. According to Senator Jack Harper, who introduced the bill, his proposal would deter gunmen from opening fire on Arizona campuses. A preliminary committee voted 5-2 to approve the bill, and it now goes to…

Joe Bonamassa

Acclaimed blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa has been blazing a path in music since B.B. King first discovered the six-string slinger when he was 12 and took him on the road as his opening act. He’s been featured on the cover of Guitar World, Guitar Player, and Guitarist; he continues to…

Hot Links: Immigrant Center, Adoption Bill, and Kayak Rescue

Federal immigration officials are opening a processing center in Mesa to handle an influx of Central-American immigrants. The center, which will operate at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, will serve as the final stop before the illegal immigrants are put on planes for home. The facility will open in about two weeks…The…

Hot Links: Homeless People, Hot Air Balloons, and Snail Mucus

According to a recent count, more than 2,700 homeless people live on the streets of metropolitan Phoenix. The Maricopa Association of Governments says this is a 6 percent decrease from the year before. Of the 2,729 people living on Valley streets, 236  are younger than 18…Lockheed Martin’s Arizona Support Center in…