The most important political race in the state this year is one you know nothing about. The five elected directors of the Maricopa Integrated Health System toil in unpaid anonymity. Yet their actions will determine the future of Arizona’s only public hospital at a critical time. And that’s not hyperbole:…
The most visible hammer of ethnic cleansing in greater Phoenix — which has swept 50,000 Mexicans from our community — is Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Two weeks before the election, his deputies — 60 strong — executed a home invasion of Mesa’s City Hall and library. Decked out in flak jackets,…
In January of 2004, Courtney Bisbee’s life was hitting a hectic but welcome stride. The divorced mother of one had recently landed a nurse’s job at Horizon High School in affluent northeast Phoenix, close to the border of Scottsdale, where she lived. Across the street, her 4½-year-old daughter attended preschool…
Ambrett Spencer sat up in bed. It was 2:40 a.m., and the pain in her stomach was not right. She was nine months pregnant, but this didn’t feel like labor pains. She’d been pregnant before, and given birth to a healthy boy. This was different. So Spencer climbed out of…
So Chagolla clearly stated that the sheriff’s office consulted with the special prosecutor. And one of the assistant special prosecutors, William French, clearly stated that the sheriff’s office consulted with the special prosecutor.
And Hendershott is now claiming that he acted unilaterally? Beyond that, he’s claiming he never consulted with either Andrew Thomas or Special Prosecutor Dennis Wilenchik?
Technically, sure, maybe Hendershott did not consult with Thomas or Wilenchik. But someone from his office clearly consulted with someone from their office.
By Sarah Fenske Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas went to bizarre lengths yesterday to pressure radio stations from playing a Democrat-funded ad that compares his tactics to those in police states from Soviet Russia to “Castro’s Cuba” — going so far as to threaten lawsuits against the stations if the…
The New York Times makes mistakes just like any other news outlet, but the multiple name errors in the cover story of the New York Times Magazine last Sunday resulted in a larger-than-normal correction: Correction: October 26, 2008 The cover article on Page 52 this weekend about Senator John McCain’s…
Sheriff Joe gets wood from his prejudiced pals. Photo courtesy of Barriozona Magazine. The racists of Rusty Childress’ United for a Sovereign America, the most vicious anti-immigrant hate group in the Valley, have been getting off their geriatric duffs of late. Sunday afternoon, about a dozen of them hit the…
By John Dickerson Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s staff continues to withhold the video of jail inmate Juan Mendoza Farias’ final minutes – even as a New Times’ lawsuit seeking the footage moves forward. Arpaio’s staff is also refusing to release the video to Farias’ widow, after telling the dead inmate’s family…
By Ray Stern Stop the presses! Presidential candidate John McCain was involved in serious car accident (in 1964)! And there’s more — McCain also hosted a family reunion on an island naval base at taxpayer expense (in 1991)!…
By Ray Stern Barack Obama has closed the gap with John McCain in Arizona, and the race between Democrat Tim Nelson and Republican Andrew Thomas for Maricopa County attorney is too close to call, a new poll by local PBS station Channel 8 (KAET) shows. Experts predict this election could…
By Sarah Fenske The top aide to Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Chief Deputy David Hendershott says he ordered the late-night arrests of New Times executives Michael Lacey and Jim Larkin last October. Hendershott (pictured) apparently made the startling admission in an affidavit at the behest of Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas…
By Stephen Lemons Arpaio’s Chief Deputy David Hendershott ordered arrests of Village Voice Media/New Times execs Lacey, Larkin, document claims. Somehow we’re not surprised. New ASU/Channel 8 poll has Obama-McCain dead even in AZ. Same poll claims Arpaio out in front of Dan Saban. AP poll has Barack ahead in…
By John Dickerson Look for a New York Times story tomorrow about the trend of executive suicides, including the tragic death of Phoenix millionaire Scott Coles. The New York Times contacted Phoenix New Times today, in connection with our coverage of Coles, who took his life on June 2. He…
James Saville with his sister Linda, in 2004. By John Dickerson Taxpayers spent $1,102,528.50 this year to settle another of Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s lawsuits, New Times has learned through a public records request. The suit was brought by a man whom Arpaio framed in 1999 in a staged murder plot…
By Sarah Fenske This just in: The Arizona Republic will be laying off 10 percent of its staff in December. The move was apparently announced to staffers today — and, judging by this post on Gannett Blog, is happening at all 83 of the Republic’s sister newspapers. The newspaper’s parent…
By Stephen Lemons ATF stops neo-Nazi plot to whack Obamarama. WeHo house hangs Palin in effigy. And Cali’s not even a swing state. Get it? ASU sacking faculty because of budget cuts. Wacky Gilbert Mayor Steve Berman reconciles with wife, supposedly. Trib previews new Suns team. Kurt Warner kickin’ butt…
Duffy Kilrain’s prison mugshot By Ray Stern State corrections officials released the name of the prisoner killed last week — Duffy Kilrain — but few details about the crime. Kilrain, 51, was assaulted by “several inmates” at the Department of Corrections Eyman Meadows Unit and taken “immediately” to St. Mary’s…
By Sarah Fenske Mark Jacoby, who New Times first linked to fraudulent signature-gathering in Arizona, has been arrested in California. The Los Angeles Times reports Jacoby was arrested in Ontario, California October 18 on “suspicion of voter registration fraud.” Jacoby, police there are alleging, used a former address to register…
By John Dickerson Here in Maricopa County, we’re all too familiar with politicians who punish media outlets they don’t like. New Times readers know that right-wing Sheriff Joe Arpaio retaliates against media outlets he despises, refusing to give them interviews or even press releases. His pal and colleague County Attorney…
By Ray Stern The East Valley Tribune’s editor Jim Ripley will reportedly be retiring in early January, (at the same time nearly half the newspaper’s staff is being laid off). But in the meantime, it seems he’s more than happy to keep the pressure on oddball Gilbert Mayor Steve Berman…
Arizona Department of Corrections Eyman Complex By Ray Stern A 51-year-old Arizona prison inmate who was assaulted a week ago died of his injuries on Sunday, a prison spokesman confirmed this morning. The man’s name and more information about the assault will be released later today, said Nolberto Machiche, spokesman…
