News

By Sarah Fenske Score another victory for New Times — and Arizona’s public records law. On Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court rejected Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s request to revisit the appellate court decision which spanked his department for stalling on public records requests filed by this newspaper. The court…

Hannah Ruebbelke-Smith. By Benjamin Leatherman Hannah Ruebbelke-Smith got both good news and bad news in court this week. The assault charge the 28-year-old bicyclist was facing in Phoenix Municipal Court was dropped by Judge John L. Wiehn on Tuesday morning after the city prosecutor’s office filed a motion to drop…

By Stephen Lemons Remember the gal claiming she killed her bf on Tom Leykis? It was bogus. 18 to 29 year-olds ain’t feelin’ Old Man McCain. Know why? ‘Cause he’s old. MRSA discovered at Tucson high school. D-Backs dominated by St. Louis. AZ Supreme Court says Arpaio dragged feet on…

By Amy Silverman I’ve always said that it’s nice to be invited to the party, even if you don’t want to attend — but really, this is ridiculous. I get a lot of strange e-mails, but few as unexpected as the one that popped into my New Times in box…

By Stephen Lemons North Carolina may fall out of McCain column, though McBush is safe in AZ. Prosecutors challenge five trials ordered for disgraced priest Dale Fushek. Libertarian rag Reason gives it to Russell “White Pride” Pearce with both barrels. Supes will do over session they broke open meetings law…

Despite being served with a gag order and an Injunction of Harassment, San Francisco-based blogger David Nahmod continues to post blogs about a couple in Surprise, Arizona that he claims “brainwashed” his ex-boyfriend, Beecher Goodwin, into leaving him. He’ll participate in a Maricopa County Justice Court hearing via phone on Thursday, September 25, to request that the gag order be removed.

By John Dickerson Juan Mendoza Farias appeared to be in good health — or at least his face was — in a booking photo taken four days before his bruised body arrived at the county morgue. Farais, 40, a legal U.S. resident with a valid social security number, died after…

By Stephen Lemons Tina Fey 30 Rocks the Emmys, loses purse in the process. Local Dems go after County Attorney Thomas and Supervisor Brock in attempt to yank Arpaio’s leash. AP poll shows bigotry factors into McCain/Obama contest. Redskins leave Cards reeling. Rockies battered by D-Backs. Bulldogs gobble up Sun…

Channel 3’s Carey Pena By Ray Stern My head is still reeling after talking last week to Channel 3 news reporter Carey Pena and Andrew Thomasites Jason Rose and Barnett Lotstein. With Rose and Lotstein, confusion and spin is to be expected. Rose is the big-haired veteran political hired gun…

Courtney Kendrick – is proving that the Internet does have a soft spot, and that non-news blogs can serve a purpose higher than self-promotion or curt critiques of movies and music. Kendrick’s been using her blog, “Cjane Enjoy,” to raise funds for her sister and brother-in-law — both residents of Mesa, Arizona — who were involved in a private plane crash back in August and are still undergoing extensive reconstructive surgeries and skin grafts in the burn unit of a Phoenix hospital.

By Ray Stern Scottsdale police swooped down on a peaceful photo radar protest last night and arrested activist Jason Shelton [pictured] for the second time in three weeks. As one photo-radar watchdog Web site reports today, this was another “crack down on those who disagree with the city’s photo enforcement…

By Paul Rubin Last night about 6, Norm Frauenheim stepped into the lovely and delicious Mexican restaurant Coyoacan with longtime lady Francisca Montoya. Frauenheim, to put it mildly, was shocked to see about 20 close friends awaiting his arrival for what was a surprise “retirement” party at the South Central…

By Stephen Lemons Hispanics heart Obamarama, as well they should. Most folks would rather watch football with Obama instead of Old Man McCain any day. (Think McCain dozes during halftime?) Palin’s studly hubby Todd stonewalls Alaska legislature’s Troopergate probe. County Supes may do over votes after public lockout and open…

By Benjamin Leatherman Indie concert promoter Stephen Chilton (far left) speaks at this morning’s transportation and infrastructure subcommittee meeting. Downtown Phoenix activists and entertainment business people urged the city of Phoenix this morning to keep the soon-to-be-launched light-rail system running until 2 a.m. on weekends. As was reported last night,…

By John Dickerson Scott Coles paid $375,000 to have a benefit lunch with Donald Trump, according to an April 1, 2007 article in the New York Post. The money was no April Fool’s Joke. It was one day in a lifestyle of uber-wealth that ultimately sunk the company Coles’ inherited…

By Stephen Lemons Rep lays off 37. Sheesh, do they have anybody left? High court upholds employer sanctions, leaves door open to future challenge. Anti-Joe protests at Wells Fargo finally covered by Rep. Guess they found a reporter for that. County Supes lock out public, cancel sheriff’s contract with Guadalupe…

I am a chica struggling with the choice to come out to my parents about my sexual orientation. My family is Catholic and my parents are old school. While we are very close, I am afraid of how badly this can go. My parents have been living in the U.S…

ANOTHER JAIL KILLING Joe Arpaio’s nauseating situation: I’m constantly sickened to my stomach over the reported treatment of inmates in the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office’s jails (“Dead Again,” John Dickerson, September 11). Why does it seem that the people who work for the MCSO get away with so much abuse?…

So far, we the people have given Sandra Kennedy $248,000 to run for the Arizona Corporation Commission. But when it came time to answer questions about that money last week, Sandra Kennedy was nowhere to be seen. A process server was attempting to serve Kennedy with papers demanding she appear…