Save for the implied threat of the nativists, today’s children’s march from Sheriff Joe’s Fourth Avenue Jail in Downtown Phoenix to the Wells Fargo Building, where the MCSO keeps two floors of pricey executive offices, was an inspiring spectacle. About 150 persons, more than half of whom were kids, participated…
Sergio Martinez Villaman was in this country legally — with the papers, passport, and VISA to prove it. But sheriff’s deputies thought the Mexican national must be one of those dreaded “illegals.” During a June 2008 crime sweep in Mesa, they pulled him over on one of the usual pretexts,…
Just when we thought crystal meth reigned supreme as the drug of choice among hard dopers, here’s this blast from the past. Remember heroin? Well drug addicts sure do, and according to Phoenix police, “smack” is coming back in a big way.”Between January 2006 and January 2008, we confiscated a…
At this point, there are three reasons Arizona still has a $3.4 billion budget gap: state senators Pamela Gorman, Ron Gould, and Carolyn Allen.Senate Republicans are one vote away from the 16 necessary to pass a plan that would bridge the budget gap, and the three stubborn Republican holdouts aren’t budging.Senate leaders are targeting Allen…
Oops! Authorities say that an error made by a Maricopa County court clerk caused the early release of a man about to be on trial for murder. Albert Sermeno, a 23-year-old who was serving time at the Maricopa County jail for auto theft, was released back into society June 19th after finishing his…
A Phoenix man who police say cried wolf way too many times is behind bars, and potentially facing more than 100 felony charges. Arrested yesterday by Phoenix police, the guy’s suspected of making at least 152 prank calls to police dispatchers since May, 2008. Police described the apparently very bored gent as being in…
Even when things are going well for the Arizona Diamondbacks, somebody or something takes a big ol’ dump in their Cheerios. For example, during Wednesday night’s victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, star outfielder Justin Upton strained his right oblique while attempting to swipe second base in the ninth. (Upton has…
The federal government has awarded a $54 million grant to Arizona for the expansion and creation of charter schools. The state plans to open up to 92 new campuses…The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints plans to build two temples in the Valley, one in Phoenix and one in…
The KKK-wannabes over at ex-KIA dealer Rusty Childress’ United for a Sovereign America have really outdone themselves this time. Not only have they announced their intention to be at Sal Reza’s children’s march Friday in order to intimidate and likely harass Hispanic children. They have also posted a racist image…
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: KFYI’s Barry Markson Eats Birthers for Breakfast, and Orly Taitz’s Online Law Degree Up on…
When an employee at a drive-through fast-food restaurant forgets to include the appropriate condiments in your go bag, you’re irked. If you’re a jerk, you ask to speak to the manager. But you’d have to have a screw loose to try to hit an employee with your car, which is what police…
At least one Valley resident’s been treated for salmonella poisoning linked to beef recalled yesterday by Beef Packer, Inc.Beef Packer Inc. recalled more than 800,000 pounds of tainted bovine after it was discovered that the meat contained strains of salmonella…
When the U.S. Green Building Council brings its 2009 Greenbuild Conference to Phoenix on November 11-13, Sheryl Crow will welcome the Hummer-hating hippies to the Valley with a concert at Chase Field, the group announced today.The Greenbuild Conference is one of the leading forums on all things “green,” and is…
Anybody willing to walk 97 miles through metro Phoenix in August has either a loose screw or a damn good reason.The walkers are members of Right to Marry: Arizona, an organization that seeks equal marriage rights for gays and lesbians. The plan is to walk about 15 miles a day for seven…
Remember when it took only a little weight training and a successful tryout to join your high school football team?Well, several Valley school districts have decided that raw talent alone is no longer enough to make the squad, and are charging “activity fees” for each sport. The fees aren’t small either.Several…
With KFYI 550 AM being the home of conservatard puddin’ head and “birfer” (yeah, I’m spellin’ it right) J.D. Hayworth, whodathunk it that KFYI would also prove to be the voice of reason in the birther debate? At least that was the deal when Phoenix legal beagle Barry Markson was sitting in…
Fire crews battling a blaze at the Covenant of Grace Christian Fellowship Church at the corner of 9th Avenue and Peoria Avenue found the body of a 46-year-old man in a church trash can early this morning. The body was so badly burned that, at first, police couldn’t determine if the…
The virtual world for Tweeters came to a near standstill this morning.Facebook and Twitter, two obscenely popular social networking Web sites, were attacked by a hacker about 6 a.m., which left the Twitter site down completely, and Facebook experiencing problems.Twitter’s status box says, “defending against a denial-of-service attack,” which means a hacker…
Arizona State Representative Doug Quelland filed a lawsuit in state court today to try to keep his seat in the Legislature. In May, the Clean Elections Commission voted 4-1 to give Quelland the boot after it claimed he spent $15,000 to hire a campaign adviser, and failed to report the expenditure on campaign reports…
As we reported Tuesday, when you’re the Arizona State Senate majority leader, and your state is in the midst of heated budget negotiations, taking a Caribbean cruise is probably not your best course of action. Apparently some members of the Republican caucus agree. In a closed door meeting of Senate…
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a talented team that has underachieved all season. Now, with less than a third of the season left to play, they are starting to play like a team with something to prove. Sure, it’s a case of “too little, too late,” but it’s . . …
A north Phoenix church has reached an agreement with city officials that will allow the church to continue serving meals to the homeless, after neighbors in the area complained about homeless people littering. The city’s researching whether or not the church is violating a zone ordinance…Many Valley high schools are…
