Funny thing about the ruling Republican caste here in Sand Land: they like to give themselves meaningless awards that look legitimate to the unskeptical eye, in a bald attempt to trick the electorate into thinking that they’re a bunch of good guys and gals.Case in point, the “Friend of the…
The federal government is moving ahead with a forfeiture proceeding for a 105 mm Howitzer from a Globe company that illegally tried to sell it three years ago, court records show. The modern cannon doesn’t work and was being used as a front yard “lawn ornament” at the home of partner in…
Three hoodlums whose SUV ran out of gas during a June robbery forced one of their victims at gunpoint to use his car to push the vehicle to a gas station, police say. Cops released surveillance photos today of one of the robbers with the hope of developing some leads in what a Phoenix police…
A man who accidentally shot himself in the penis while walking through the parking lot of a Chandler grocery store last week was under the influence of prescription drugs, police believe. Cops who responded to the August 2 incident reported that Joshua Seto, 27, seemed too calm and oblivious to pain, says Chandler Sergeant Joe Favazzo. The officers thought the…
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Josh Collmenter got a much-needed bounce-back performance Wednesday night as the D-Backs won their second straight against the lowly Houston Astros at the woefully underattended Chase Field. Collmenter had been downright awful in previous two starts, giving up 11 runs in just six innings. But in…
After a U.S. District Court judge stripped key provisions out of Arizona’s SB1070 law, Governor Jan Brewer appealed. Like the district court, the Ninth Circuit Court found unconstitutional the parts of the law that allowed police officers to hassle suspected illegal immigrants and made it a state crime for immigrants to leave home…
Here is my problem: I was raised in a typical gabacho family. My siblings and I all enjoyed a typical gabacho relationship. We are as close as cats. I phoned my brother year-before-last and was gratified to learn that he was still alive. That call went so well, I may…
For all the jibber-jabber about the Phoenix mayoral and City Council races remaining “non-partisan,” here’s a thought: Why not go partisan? Basically, Phoenix is an island of Democratic blue in a statewide sea of Republican red. Sure, Independents (or those registered with no party affiliation) outnumber registered Democrats in Phoenix…
PATRIOT GAMES Real Republicans ignore Tea Baggers: The interesting thing about Tea Baggers is that they’re digging their own [political] graves by lying all the time, botching facts, being pathetically uninformed, and puffing up to the point that their heads almost explode over some lunatic [conspiracy] they allege (“Tea Party…
Last summer, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s deputies raided two Western Sizzler restaurants, one in the West Valley and the other in the Northeast Valley, netting 23 suspected illegal immigrants. “This is another example of a case where desperately needed jobs are being occupied by illegal aliens who have disregarded…
The home of 81-year-old artist Dick Seeger doesn’t have a lot of curb appeal. Located in a quiet, upscale neighborhood of North Scottsdale, it certainly doesn’t look like it’s the location of anything particularly remarkable. Half-hidden by scraggly creosote bushes, its unpaved circular driveway is littered with fallout from trees…
In the 24-hour news cycle, it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times’ blogs. Today’s entries:…
Another day, another 6-year-old Valley kid beaten by a parent with a belt.On Sunday, the day before the horrific incident we reported earlier involving a 6-year-old and a belt, Scottsdale mom Gabriela Barraza, 23, left “numerous” bruises on her 6-year-old son’s butt and thighs by beating him with a belt.The…
Hundreds of thousands of impoverished Arizonans with health problems apparently will have to tough it out following a court ruling today that upholds healthcare cuts.Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Mark Brain ruled that a group of people suing the state can’t forced Arizona lawmakers to keep funding their free health care.Proposition 204,…
Governor Jan Brewer wants to the U.S. Supreme Court to take a look at Arizona’s contested immigration law, SB1070, following the law’s shoot-downs in lower courts. “I am hopeful that the U.S. Supreme Court will choose to take this case and issue much-needed clarity for states, such as Arizona, that…
A 6-year-old boy is on the verge of death after a severe beating by his parents, Phoenix police say. The parents, Benny Gibson, 49 and Jennifer Paul, 37, were arrested in connection with possible child abuse charges. Police and paramedics raced to the home near 7100 North 19th Avenue just…
U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton let Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne file his extra-long response in Governor Jan Brewer’s federal marijuana lawsuit after all.So much for Horne’s quip that the response, made to refute the defendants’ motion to dismiss the lawsuit, would get better if it got shorter.The ruling…
The $102,000 bill for the job of rooting out high-level corruption at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office included $351 for a five-and-a-half-hour meeting in January between an investigator and Sheriff Joe Arpaio. But New Times has learned that a transcript of the interview is nowhere to be found among more…
The two people who admitted to locking 10-year-old Ame Deal in a tiny footlocker — where she ultimately died last month — have been formally indicted on first-degree murder charges.In addition to the murder charges, Sammantha Allen — Ame’s cousin — and her husband, John Allen have been indicted on…
If I didn’t know that his fundraising appeals are written by the usual political hacks, Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s latest e-mail blast would make me doubt the man’s sanity.Not that there isn’t plenty of reason to doubt it otherwise, but an e-mail blast sent out yesterday signed by Joe rails about…
Police put out an all-points correction this morning on incorrect news reports that Kiowa Gordon of Twilight series fame was arrested for suspicion of DUI.He wasn’t even driving. But he was busted on Monday — for an outstanding warrant.Mesa police, in a news release this morning, blamed Channel 12 News…
We hadn’t attended an Arizona Diamondbacks game in weeks, and when the lowly Houston Astros ran up a 7-1 lead at Chase Field last night, we headed home in disgust. After all, the D-Backs had lost 9-1 to the ‘Stros the night before, and it looked like more of the…
