Arpaio’s Desperation Move: Lawyers Move to Disqualify Judge Snow

Attorney Mel McDonald, Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s personal Bruce Cutler, rode on the coattails of Birther lawyer Larry Klayman Friday morning by filing a motion in Phoenix federal court to have Judge G. Murray Snow recuse himself from the contempt proceedings in the civil rights case Melendres v. Arpaio. Klayman’s move to…

Maricopa County Mugshots of the Week: Bad Hair Day 2

At the end of the week, we bring you a roundup of visitors to the fun-filled Fourth Avenue Jail in downtown Phoenix. To be considered for Mugshots of the Week, get arrested, strike a pose, and we’ll take care of the rest. This week: The sequel to our February 2014…

Prosecutor Lando Voyles Wastes Public’s Money With Pot Propaganda

Pinal County Attorney Lando Voyles states in a recent news release that marijuana usage has increased statewide because of “looser” marijuana laws that help drug cartels, but can’t or won’t back up the claim. He’s the latest public official to use his and his staff’s time, on the public dime,…

Charges Dropped for Firefighter Caught With 20 Pounds of Pot

Criminal charges have been dropped against Cary Cole, the 10-year-veteran of the Phoenix Fire Department allegedly caught with 20 pounds of marijuana last year. The motion to dismiss his case, filed by federal prosecutors last week and approved by a judge, means Cole currently faces no legal problems related the…

Jade Helm 15 Paranoia Takes Left Turn Over Militarization Concerns

Paranoia over the massive “Jade Helm 15” training exercise by the U.S. Army planned for July has taken a left turn, with concerns emerging about the potential environmental damage and perceived militarization of America. Carol Miller, a community activist and former health official under Presidents Reagan and Clinton, raised the…

The Best and Worst Arizona Counties for Climbing the Economic Ladder

If you’re chasing the American dream, get out of Pima County — quick. Among the country’s 100 most populous countries, Pima ranks 91st for economic mobility, just ahead of Bronx County in New York, according to new research from Harvard professors Raj Chetty, Nathaniel Hendren, and Lawrence Katz. Low-income children…

Rocky Point Condo Owner Didn’t Follow Mexican Rules, Fellow Owner Says

A Rocky Point condo owner who may lose her investment didn’t follow Mexican rules for American buyers, another condo owner says. Neal Harris, who tells us he’s on the homeowner association board at Bella Sirena and owns “multiple properties” in the condo tower, contacted us this morning to criticize the…

Hot-Car Mom Shanesha Taylor to Appear on Dr. Phil Show

The Arizona woman who gained fame by earning $114,000 in donations after her arrest for leaving her two kids in a hot car will appear on the “Dr. Phil Show” this Thursday. Shanesha Taylor’s appearance on the popular, nationally syndicated TV show comes a week after a Maricopa County Superior…

Arpaio Costs County More Than $44 Million in Melendres Expenses

Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s racial profiling ways are making a serious dent in Maricopa County’s budget, to the tune of $44.5 million, and counting. Maricopa County’s fiscal year 2016 budget, which was approved by the Board of Supervisors on Monday, allocates $23.8 million for costs associated with complying with a federal court’s…

Rocky Point Condo Owner Fights Eviction in Lien Battle

A former Scottsdale woman is making a last-ditch effort to avoid losing her Rocky Point condo over a fight between a developer and construction workers. Donna Peckenpaugh faces imminent eviction from her condo at Bella Sirena on Sandy Beach, as well as the total loss of the $350,000 she paid…

ASU Student Accused of Torching Ex-Boyfriend’s House

A Tempe man received an urgent text message from his roommate on Thursday: Your girlfriend broke into the house, and she’s upset. Not exactly the sort of news anyone wants to hear.  Claudia Rose Drinnan, an Arizona State University student and sorority sister, was ticked over something — it’s not clear…

Congressman Gallego’s Military “Dreamers” Proposal Shot Down

Democratic Congressman Ruben Gallego’s proposal to let “dreamers” serve in the military was shot down by the House of Representatives yesterday. The House voted 221-202 in favor of an amendment proposed by Republican Congressman Mo Brooks, of Alabama, to strip Gallego’s proposal from the National Defense Authorization Act. “There was…

Snow Blasts Arpaio’s “Bogus Conspiracy Theory”

During a status conference Thursday in Sheriff Joe’s never-ending contempt case, federal Judge G. Murray Snow laid some much-deserved wood to Arpaio and his Chief Deputy Jerry Sheridan, blasting them for ginning up a “bogus conspiracy theory” against his court. According to Snow, the conspiracy theory resulted from Arpaio’s use of…

Maricopa County Mugshots of the Week: Art Class

At the end of the week, we bring you a roundup of visitors to the desert’s own Fourth Avenue Jail. To be considered for our Maricopa County mugshots of the week, get arrested, strike a pose, and we’ll take care of the rest. 10. Charges: Forgery It’s the thought that…

Brnovich Withdraws Opinion on Public Resources and Elections

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich has withdrawn his May 4 opinion regarding the use of public resources in elections following intense criticism. A link to the opinion now returns a message of the withdrawal, and Brnovich’s office issued a public statement about it on Thursday: “Attorney General Brnovich takes the…

Glendale Police Raid Medical-Marijuana Farmer’s Market Club, Nine Arrested

A popular medical-marijuana club that hosted regular “Farmer’s Markets” was raided by a Glendale SWAT team on Wednesday, resulting in nine arrests at five different locations. Tactical units served search warrants at “locations spanning Glendale, Phoenix and Buckeye,” according to a Glendale police news release, and 20 other people could…