Anyone else miss the good ol’ days, when the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs were locked in a bitter struggle for ideological supremacy (and home-court advantage in the playoffs)? When the Lakers and Hornets were laughable, and the thought of a return to form for the Boston Celtics was…
Tragic beating: Cops arrest a 36-year-old man after two boys, 7 and 10, are found with severe head injuries at a Phoenix park. Mesa Police Chief George Gascon fires back at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, arguing that an affidavit used in October’s raid on Mesa City Hall was flawed…
We understand that in the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. Worry not! We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times’ blogs. Today’s entries: Valley Fever: East Valley Tribune Finds New Ways to Spell Hypocrisy Andrew…
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has essentially fired County Attorney Andrew Thomas when it comes to handling civil lawsuits for the county. Thomas, who was re-elected in November to a second four-year term, will still be the county’s chief prosecutor. But the county supervisors stripped Thomas of the responsibility for…
The Arizona Court of Appeals today struck down Phoenix’s giveaway of $97 million in sales tax that was promised to a developer in exchange for building the Kierland-Commons-like CityNorth center. A few months ago, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled in favor of Phoenix’s be-kind-to-developers deal after it was contested…
When he’s not voting for public art or voting against a recommendation to make horse-tripping illegal, Claude Mattox likes to jam out with his classic rock band, the Screamin’ Javelinas. The Phoenix City Councilman has been playing at city and charity events for the last few years, and his band is…
At the ASU-Idaho State men’s basketball game at the Wells Fargo Arena that just finished a few minutes ago (Sun Devils won 90-55), we couldn’t help but notice a well-lit advertisement at courtside directly across from the official scorer’s table. “East Valley Tribune–Where Local News Is First,” it read. …
Captain Joel Fox of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office wants to appeal his $315,000 fine for making an illegal donation in the name of the mysterious “Sheriff’s Command Association.” Fox filed a request for a hearing and informal settlement conference yesterday, New Times has learned. See below for a link…
The county power struggle continues as Maricopa County Supervisors announce plans to retain former County Attorney Rick Romley as a bulwark against current County Attorney Andrew Thomas. Which side are you rooting for? Fabian Cota, head of the Mesa police union, is under investigation for what you might call a police senior moment: He’s accused of leaving…
Yours truly is unavoidably engrossed in Christmas obligations at present, but here are two new Dennis Gilman videos on the arrests of MCSA/ACORN activists for applauding at a public meeting. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas, folks! That includes Todd Stallion, as well. Expect light blogging for the next couple of days,…
We understand that in the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. Worry not! We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times’ blogs. Today’s entries: Valley Fever: DMX Extradited to Arizona; Rap Star Fugitive Cooling Off in…
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors can tell an elected county official how much money to spend each year, but aren’t supposed to dictate how the money is spent. Yet that’s exactly what the supervisors are trying to do at the County Treasurer’s office, says the treasurer, Charles “Hos” Hoskins…
This is the best Xmas gift ever! This video is tailor made for the holiday blues: A secretive cadre of Kris Kringles who’ve labeled themselves “Santas Against 1984,” are seen here “wrapping” photo enforcement cameras in Tempe. Waving to passing cars as they go, they hit a photo enforcement camera at Rio Salado…
David Spade doesn’t forget his roots. The former Valley resident cut a $100,000 check today to fund the purchase of new rifles for the Phoenix Police Department. In a news release, (reprinted below), police say Spade “had been made aware” of a program — covered in a previous Valley Fever blog post –…
Maryland teens reportedly have found a new use for a speed-camera program launched last year in that state’s Montgomery County. According to an online “exclusive” in the Montgomery County Sentinel newspaper, high school students in the area came up with a game called speed-camera “pimping” to send photo-enforcement tickets to teachers or…
Rapper DMX was flown back to Phoenix and booked into the Maricopa County Jail following his brief escapade as a fugitive in Florida. Seen here in his latest booking photo, DMX — who’s real name is Earl Simmons — looks downright unhappy to be back in the filthy jail run by Sheriff Joe Arpaio. According…
SREK’s work, for instance, would look impressive on the side of a light rail car.Keith Haring. Jean-Michel Basquiat. The creators of Arizona’s petroglyphs. What do they all have in common? They were all practitioners of graffiti. Indeed, graffiti is the oldest art form known to man. The earliest found examples…
It wasn’t the worst defeat in Cardinals history. The worst was a 49-0 ass-kicking by the Kansas City Chiefs in December, 2002. But it was an ass-kicking, all right. I know we’ve said it before, but the Cardinals were really pathetic this time. And it wasn’t all about the weather in…
The Suns have looked good for two games in a row! Unfortunately, they lost the first of these in a heartbreaker against an emerging Portland team. On Saturday night, Phoenix actually won the turnover war (16 to 21) against a good Denver Nuggets team, and therefore the game. Keeping turnovers down is…
No question, University of Arizona football has been lousy at best for about a decade now. Alums like ourselves who pay attention to such weighty things quietly were suffering through yet another mediocre season until — Hallelujah! — the Wildcats throttled ASU down in Tucson a few weeks ago and…
The Mexican government can’t figure out how to stop thugs from killing and kidnapping citizens. No wonder so many people want to flee the country. Still, there’s no competing with the cycle of violence in the Middle East where Israel is threatening a large strike against the Hamas-rule Gaza Strip. Closer to home, we’re worried…
We understand that in the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. Worry not! We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times’ blogs. Today’s entries: Valley Fever: Shaq’s Big Truck Gets Loaded With Presents — Santa Must…
