Martha McSally Officially Beats Ron Barber in CD-2 Race

Republican Martha McSally has officially upset Democratic Congressman Ron Barber. The results of the recount were released this morning, and McSally won the district by 167 votes. The recount actually extended the lead for McSally, whose 161-vote lead over Barber was close enough to trigger the recount…

Jan Brewer’s Driver’s License Ban to Be Blocked

Governor Jan Brewer’s executive order that prevents certain immigrants from getting driver’s licenses will be blocked by a court order. A federal appellate court decision earlier this year called for a temporary end to Brewer’s order, and the U.S. Supreme Court today denied the Brewer administration’s request to keep the…

Phoenix Police Union: Rumain Brisbon “Had the Choice to Live”

The Phoenix police union says Rumain Brisbon, the unarmed Phoenix resident who was fatally shot by a Phoenix police officer earlier this month, had the choice to live. The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association issued a lengthy press release rationalizing the shooting, which it normally doesn’t do. “Mr. Brisbon had the…

Phoenix-Area Native American Communities Mum on Legalizing Pot

Legal marijuana could be a reality in the Phoenix area even if pot remains illegal under Arizona law. News broke last week that the Justice Department is advising federal prosecutors not to stop tribes from growing or selling marijuana on their lands, even in states where marijuana remains illegal. According…

Drew Stanton’s Season Not Over, According to Reports

UPDATE 12:17 p.m.: Coach Bruce Arians says Stanton “does not need surgery — just rest.” Read more from Arians at the bottom of this post. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton was knocked out of last night’s game against the St. Louis Rams with a knee injury, but Stanton’s not necessarily…

Merilee Fowler and MATFORCE are Anti-Marijuana Propaganda Tools

The marijuana legalization movement has several foes in Arizona, and Merilee Fowler, executive director of MATFORCE in Yavapai County, is one of the biggies. Both sides are getting an early start on the campaign to pass or defeat a likely ballot initiative planned to be put before Arizona voters in…

Maricopa County Mugshots of the Week: Wild Side

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. This week, we take a walk on…

Joe Arpaio’s Monitor Gets Expanded Power to Investigate MCSO

The federal judge in the racial-profiling case against the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has expanded the investigative powers of the monitor assigned to the agency. Over concerns that MCSO employees “may continue to be engaged in efforts to frustrate the implementation of this Court’s Orders, and may in fact be…

Ask a Mexican on Mexican and Liberal Arts Degrees

I’m a third-year university student, a liberal studies and Spanish major. My family, extended and immediate, always like the chisme. During a family carne asada, we were all talking when one of my tías asked me what I was doing with my life — she and the rest of my…

Phoenix PD Identifies Officer Who Fatally Shot Rumain Brisbon

The Phoenix Police Department has identified the police officer who fatally shot 34-year-old Rumain Brisbon at an apartment complex last week. Phoenix PD identified the officer as Mark Rine, a 7-year veteran of the department. “He has been reassigned to a non-enforcement duty pending the outcome of the investigation,” Phoenix…

Jan Brewer’s Driver’s License Ban Running on Fumes

Governor Jan Brewer’s executive order that prevents certain immigrants from getting driver’s licenses is running on fumes after a series of court losses. A federal appellate court decision earlier this year called for a temporary end to Brewer’s order, and after a series of appeals by the Brewer administration, immigrants…

Phoenix PD’s Killing of Rumain Brisbon Sparking More Protests

Protests are continuing to take place over the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Rumain Brisbon by a Phoenix police officer last week. Brisbon was fatally shot Tuesday night at an apartment complex after a scuffle with a Phoenix police officer who was investigating a drug-dealing complaint. Police say the officer thought…

Video: Police Killings Protested in Phoenix

Police killings across the country sparked a large protest at First Friday in Phoenix this weekend. With police in riot gear at the ready, the demonstrators protested against the killing of Michael Brown in Missouri, the killing of Eric Garner in New York, and last week’s killing of Rumain Brisbon…