Like you needed additional evidence that we live in a sick society, we now have “Mickey cam,” a 24-7 camera fixed on a vicious pit bull that mauled the face of a little boy, leaving him with permanent, painful injuries. Who’s responsible for this obscenity? Who else? Sheriff Joe Arpaio,…
What would I do without Republicans in this state? Their Jerry Springer-esque antics are a hoot, and would make for an excellent reality show, which I propose calling, with a hat tip to Snoop Dogg, “Deez Nutz.” Thursday night, the Maricopa County Republicans’ Executive Guidance Committee — under the leadership…
Arizona’s home to the most political corruption in America. That’s according to a survey of reporters nationwide, done by researchers at Harvard University’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics…
I’m concerned about hate-filled attacks on all minority populations, regardless of what group is on the receiving end. Yet I’m puzzled at the disparate reactions to two targets of wacko Tempe Pastor Steven Anderson’s hate-filled sermons: Jews and gays. Recently, the Anti-Defamation League of Arizona alerted folks that Anderson had…
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, most of our inmates have…
Updated 6 p.m. Sheriff Joe Arpaio may face civil and even criminal contempt charges stemming from his office’s failure to comply with a court order issued in the Melendres civil rights case. In that case, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office was found to have illegally racially profiled Latinos in its…
Gerie Leigh Clayton, the owner of Scottsdale-based custom motorcycle maker Sucker Punch Sallys, has been arrested on felony theft charges. Scottsdale police say Clayton, 64, defrauded at least two people by taking money for custom bikes that were never made. “They had placed orders from out of state or out…
If a 2016 presidential candidate wants the Latino vote, he or she will have to support President Obama’s executive order on immigration. That’s according to a nationwide poll released by several Latino voter-outreach groups, which asked Latino voters whether they would support Hillary Clinton if she pledged to continue Obama’s…
I teach writing at a local community college. My students are writing their final essays on a local problem; I have one student who has decided to write about illegal immigration (specifically Mexican). We were discussing, as a class, each student’s project, and this student made a comment that I…
Dennis Wilenchik, attorney for the son and daughter-in-law of U.S. Senator Jeff Flake, has a message for the lynch mob in the Green Acre Dog Boarding case: cut down the ropes. Late Tuesday, Wilenchik, aided by his son and fellow lawyer Jack, hit the court with three motions rebutting the…
An unarmed 34-year-old Phoenix resident was fatally shot by a Phoenix police officer Tuesday night after a scuffle between the two men at an apartment complex. The officer, whose name hasn’t been released, attempted to detain Rumain Brisbon as part of a drug-dealing investigation at the apartment complex, near Interstate…
Twenty years ago, Arizona became the second state in the nation to allow charter schools to operate in the public education system. In honor of the anniversary, New Times is taking a hard look at charters in Arizona. Earlier stories in this series examined how charter schools often fail kids…
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio can bring a criminal defense lawyer to a hearing on Thursday — and he might need such help, a federal judge says. The ruling by Arizona U.S. District Court Judge G. Murray Snow comes in response to the motion for determination of counsel by Arpaio…
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Darnell Dockett entertained his 200,000 Twitter followers yesterday by supposedly live-tweeting his trip to jury duty. Dockett’s colorful courtroom tweets became national sports news, with media outlets like Deadspin, the Washington Post, and FOX Sports posting reports. Problem is, at least part of Dockett’s story is…
The Tempe City Council is set to vote this week on entering into negotiations to develop the historic Hayden Flour Mill. The companies chosen to enter into these negotiations over the site, led by Baum Development, submitted a proposal that includes some ideas of what they may want to add…
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s request for a court-appointed defense lawyer merely seeks to clarify if a federal judge thinks he really needs one. That’s according to Jack MacIntyre, a deputy chief and spokesman for Arpaio. As we reported previously, Arpaio’s lawyers submitted a court motion to Arizona U.S. District…
Some Phoenix fast food workers plan to go on strike this week in an effort to call for union rights and a $15-an-hour minimum wage. Phoenix is one of 150 cities across the country where fast-food workers plan to protest on Thursday, with the backing of the Service Employees International…
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio wants a federal judge to appoint him a criminal defense lawyer in case he’s charged with contempt. Citing a threat of contempt charges at a November 20 court hearing, two of Arpaio’s lawyers write in a motion filed today that neither they, nor County Attorney…
Arizona could generate an additional $48 million in revenue each year by legalizing and taxing marijuana, an analysis by the State Legislature shows. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee produced a report in September on the estimated impact of legal marijuana, but didn’t release the data publicly. New Times obtained a…
The 133 disputed votes won’t be counted in the congressional race between Democratic Congressman Ron Barber and Republican challenger Martha McSally. The Barber campaign came up short in its bid to get the votes counted, and state officials approved the election results in a ceremony this morning. “The Court finds…
White boys battle anarchists in the streets of Old Town Note: Please see update(s) at the end of this post. On Saturday, about 50 assorted anarchists and others took their anti-cop message right to the heart of conspicuous consumption in the Valley: Old Town Scottsdale. Organized online by the group…
During an online chat, Pastor Anderson proudly describes how he got four rabbis to participate in his upcoming, anti-Semitic documentary Remember Steven Anderson? You know, the lunatic pastor of Tempe’s Faithful Word Baptist Church, infamous for praying for President Barack Obama’s death, as well as for calling for the execution…
