It’s like 2010 all over again, in more ways than one, when it comes to the self-described “conservative ice cream guy,” Republican state treasurer and wannabe governor Doug Ducey. Back in 2010, Democrat Andrei Cherny opposed Ducey in the treasurer’s race, and took aim at Ducey’s leadership of Cold Stone…
Maricopa County won’t appeal a federal judge’s ruling that prevents county officials from prosecuting undocumented immigrants for smuggling themselves into the country.Such prosecutions were started by now-disbarred former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, using a relatively new anti-smuggling law that was enacted to target human smugglers, not those being smuggled…
The nation’s largest humanist charity is raising funds to offer legal assistance to the unaccompanied immigrant children flooding over the border. The Humanist Crisis Response program will donate the funds to two organizations that provide attorneys for minors in immigration hearings — the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project in…
As early ballots begin arriving in mailboxes across Arizona, Mayor Greg Stanton is throwing his political support behind Michael Johnson, who is running for a seat on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Johnson, a former Phoenix city councilman, is running against fellow Democrats Steve Gallardo and Marie Lopez Rogers,…
Arizona’s political heavyweights have spent years in federal court challenging the legality of Tohono O’odham Nation’s proposed West Valley Resort, a casino near 91st and Northern avenues. Since the law hasn’t been on opponents’ side, they’ve desperately been trying to change it. Congressman Trent Franks, who is now joined by…
Seven people associated with a motorcycle gang have been arrested for allegedly beating a man and his girlfriend outside a Phoenix bar in March.Police say the seven people are involved with a motorcycle gang called Latin Riderz, and face charges including aggravated assault, kidnapping, and assisting a criminal street gang.Phoenix…
The Barrow Neurological Institute has put its gun-toting brain scientist, Peter Steinmetz, on leave from his job. Steinmetz made national headlines after he was arrested on Friday for mishandling a fully loaded AR-15 he’d brought with him to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Apparently, the gun-rights advocate was just trying…
What is it about the many gringos/gabachos who constantly slaughter Spanish words? Spanish is easy to pronounce (and spell) compared to English. The vowels (a, e, i, o, u) are always pronounced the same way. In English, vowels vary a lot — difficult for new learners. All the other alphabet…
Christine Jones and firearms? Sounds like a fine way to spend a Saturday. Such was my thought when I found out Jones, a contender for the GOP nod for governor, would be at Shooter’s Vault, a gun shop in North Phoenix, for a campaign meet-and-greet. See, I had a few…
A candidate with forged signatures on his nominating petitions won’t be removed from the ballot, despite the existence of a state law against petition forgery.Although Republican Senate candidate Toby Farmer attested to being present when these phony signatures were signed, the Arizona Supreme Court is allowing him to stay on…
Campaign literature is filling mailboxes across the state as the August 26 primary election approaches. In Arizona’s Seventh Congressional District, political attacks documented in ominous black and white flyers are in full swing. Former Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox knocks competitor Ruben Gallego in her flyers for earning a…
Three children from Central America who came to the United States unaccompanied appeared before members of Congress on Tuesday to explain their journeys to the United States.Democratic Congressman Raúl Grijalva hosted the hearing with other members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Grijalva said he didn’t want people, especially members of…
The prestigious Barrow Neurological Institute of Phoenix isn’t saying much about the airport arrest on Friday of AR-15 toting top brain scientist Peter Nathan Steinmetz. The institute is, however, erasing Steinmetz from its website in what appears to be a move designed to curb the dreadful PR arising from this…
UPDATE: Wilcox’s spokesman has responded to the poll. See updates below. A recent poll solicited by Congressional candidate Ruben Gallego reveals that he’s eight points ahead of his primary challenger, Mary Rose Wilcox. The survey released by Camp Gallego finds that Gallego has 32 percent of voters on his side,…
Now just four weeks away from the primary election, the latest poll of Republican voters shows half are undecided on a candidate for governor.Of the Republicans who have made up their minds, former GoDaddy executive Christine Jones is the leader with 18 percent, followed by Treasurer Doug Ducey at 16…
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has announced plans to “greet” legal migrant workers from Central America who have gotten seasonal work in rural parts of the county.Yes, the same Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office that was ordered to stop racially profiling Latinos, as a result of the Melendres v. Arpaio civil-rights…
Dr. Peter Nathan Steinmetz, a brain scientist with Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, was arrested on Friday for mishandling his AR-15 in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Steinmetz was possibly making a point about his Second Amendment rights, police theorize, when he bought a cup of coffee at Starbucks in…
Do I really want to write one more word about recalled ex-state Senator Russell Pearce? Not really. But despite being rejected twice in his own district by a margin of 12 points, first in a historic 2011 recall election and then in the Republican primary for state Senate in 2012,…
This Election Day, young voters may have the most impact in two of Arizona’s congressional districts.The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), a think tank that studies youth voting habits, believe the districts currently occupied by Democratic Congresswomen Kyrsten Sinema (CD-9) and Ann Kirkpatrick (CD-1)…
Alex Spartz, a 17-year-old Glendale high school student, is still in Maui after a July 13 beach accident left him paralyzed. The honor student, swim team captain at Mountain Ridge High School, and soccer player had been doing somersaults on Kaanpali Beach that day while on a family vacation. He…
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has removed its immigrant detainees from the Pinal County Jail, after the county and the federal government failed to come to an agreement over how much the county gets paid to house the detainees.The end of this contract is a victory for human-rights groups that…
Historians, psychologists, sociologists will all have a field day with the mass hysteria prompted by the child refugees from Central America, who came to this country fleeing poverty and violence. Stoked by irresponsible politicians and a too-compliant press corps, the widespread panic, fear, and animosity has been shameful to witness…
