Republican Representative Steve Montenegro plans to introduce legislation that would require Arizona high school students to pass a civics test before graduating. The test would be based on the 100-question exam that immigrants seeking to become U.S. citizens must pass, which includes general knowledge questions about the country, like who…
A very close friend of mine is supposed to become a U.S. citizen. He was brought here by his parents when he was 9 and has been illegal since then. When the laws changed, he went through a lot of hoops and it really didn’t look good for a long…
Another victory of sorts for the Tohono O’odham Nation and its plans to open a casino in the West Valley. Glendale officials rejected boxes of petitions gathered by an anti-casino group upset that the City Council formally reversed its opposition to the Nation’s gaming project called the West Valley Resort…
The recent forced resignation of recalled ex-state Senate President Russell Pearce from his position as first vice chair of the Arizona GOP shows the power that public humiliation can have, if the circumstances are right. When I first reported Pearce’s outrageous statements calling for the sterilization of female Medicaid recipients,…
A report by the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency says this year’s influx of Central American migrants has begun to decline, but it calls on Congress for support in keeping the crisis in check…
Maricopa County Treasurer Charles “Hos” Hoskins has issued a response over the controversy surrounding his continued employment of recalled former state Senate President President Russell Pearce, who recently resigned his post as First Vice Chair of the Arizona Republican Party, following his controversial remarks on the forced sterilization of female…
We just talked to an Arizona Republic reporter who tells us, predictably, that the process of having to reapply for a job is “insulting.” Reportedly, editors at the state’s largest newspaper figured the process would be less painful — for them — than pointing fingers at specific people to get…
Matt Bourne spent his spring break knocking over furniture. One day, he broke a dresser in his sister’s room and pulled down a flat-screen television. He punched himself in the face, hit his older sister, and hit his mom. The family dealt with it as they normally did, taking turns…
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is downplaying the federal government’s decision to drop the Sheriff’s Office from a program that allows local law enforcement agencies to obtain military surplus gear. Arpaio’s office issued a press release stating MCSO would be fine without the weapons and equipment obtained through what’s known…
Recalled ex-Senate President Russell Pearce doesn’t seem to be putting in long days at the office in his new job with the Maricopa County Treasurer. For the second day in a row, protesters showed up to the office demanding that county Treasurer Charles “Hos” Hoskins fire Pearce for comments Pearce…
Latino leaders from across the state kicked off National Hispanic Heritage Month by announcing their support for marriage equality. The central Phoenix gathering was organized by Why Marriage Matters Arizona, a coalition founded a year ago by the ACLU of Arizona, Equality Arizona, Freedom to Marry, and the Human Rights…
A federal judge blasted the ATF in a recently released ruling that described how the agency mistreated an Arizona ex-agent who had infiltrated the Hells Angels. Jay Dobyns, sued the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in 2007 for failing to handle death threats against him following his…
More rain is expected to hit Arizona this week, bringing with it the possibility of more flooding in the Phoenix area. National Weather Service meteorologist Gary Woodall tells New Times a flash-flood watch will be in effect from tomorrow morning through Thursday afternoon, although there are indications that Phoenix won’t…
As he already has demonstrated through his vile comments on the forced sterilization of female Medicaid recipients, recalled ex-state Senator Russell Pearce has complete contempt for the poor. The outrage over these remarks, made by Pearce on his weekly radio show, recently forced Pearce’s resignation as first vice chair of…
Protesters filled the office of Maricopa County Treasurer Charles “Hos” Hoskins yesterday, demanding the firing of Russell Pearce. Pearce, the recalled ex-state Senate President, recently landed an $85,000-a-year gig with the treasurer’s office — a job that calls for Pearce to promote a program that provides assistance to low-income seniors…
Phoenix’s Public Transit Department scored a federal grant that city leaders see as a big step toward expanding light rail into South Phoenix. The South Phoenix expansion is still in the planning stages, but the $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation allows the city to get started…
The Gila River Indian Community has spent nearly $11 million in federal lobbying since 2009, the year its sister tribe, the Tohono O’odham Nation announced its plans to open a West Valley casino. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community joined GRIC in its battle to block the casino, and it…
Recalled ex-state Senate President Russell Pearce resigned Sunday night from his position as first vice chair of the Arizona Republican Party, following a bruising weekend during which congressional and statewide GOP candidates, among others, condemned remarks Pearce made September 9 on his weekly talk radio show. In a press release…
It was DC London’s Sean Noble that got the ball rolling on Saturday, calling on fellow Republican Russell Pearce to “resign or be removed” from his position as first vice chair of the state GOP. This, in the wake of Pearce’s hateful comments on the forced sterilization of female Medicaid…
Please see update on Doug Ducey and others joining the chorus of condemnation below. Republican candidate for Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich issued a statement on Sunday condemning remarks made by the Arizona GOP’s first vice chair Russell Pearce, in which Pearce proposed the coerced sterilization of female Medicaid recipients…
Influential GOP strategist Sean Noble of the consulting firm DC London is calling on recalled, former state Senate President Russell Pearce to “resign or be removed” from his position as the Arizona GOP’s first vice chair because of Pearce’s remarks advocating the coerced sterilization of female Medicaid recipients. “There’s nothing…
In case you missed any news action this week, we’ve got you covered. Here’s our recap of the most-read news stories of the week:…
