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ARIZONA’S SHAME Throw out the trash: I love Phoenix and Arizona, but we will forever be a second-rate city and an embarrassment until we clean up the political scene by throwing out the trash. [The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office’s] Joe Arpaio, Joel Fox, David Hendershott, and Lisa Allen, as well…

Why does El Tri act like pendejos every time the U.S. men’s national soccer team kicks their ass? They won’t even shake hands or exchange jerseys after the game and they always act like the U.S. got lucky with the win, even though the Americans have destroyed Mexico on the…

Something is rotten in the city of Glendale. That’s my conclusion after poring over bankruptcy files for the Phoenix Coyotes, reading hundreds of pages of municipal records, and getting an earful from some insiders. I can’t say for sure what’s happening — Glendale officials are using the specter of litigation…

It’s painfully early on a weekend morning in the ‘hood, and Phoenix graffiti artist DOSE and his homie FOES head south through streets filled with homeless crack- and meth-heads. The scene looks like something out of a Rob Zombie flick, with undead hookers and addicts plodding aimlessly from one side…

​​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: Feathered Bastard: Orly Taitz and KFYI’s J.D. Hayworth, Wacko Birthers of a Feather Up on the Sun:…

This is not good for Glendale.Two days after he pushed back the date of the auction of the Phoenix Coyotes hockey team, U.S. District Court Judge Redfield T. Baum ordered that the rescheduled auction will open to all bidders — not just those who plan on keeping the team (however…

Phoenix city officials have been going out of the way to assure residents that the whole “kidnapping capital of the world” thing is media hype — and that you, your family, and any tourists who want to visit town are absolutely safe here.Someone apparently forgot to get the message to…

A complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in Phoenix today alleging that several Kansas-based telemarketing firms have been ripping off suckers and the elderly in countless states including Arizona.The complaint says Landmark Publishing Group, Grant Writers Institute, Apex Holdings International and Real Estate Buyers Financial Network, would sell consumers a “federal grants…

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent Arizona Governor Jan Brewer a letter today, offering to rent space on the outside walls of the state capitol building and use it to advertise its veggie-driven agenda.PETA wants to pay the state to drop a giant banner down the front of the…

We’ve never laid eyes on Shelby Scharbach, and we’ve only spoken to her by phone a time or two. ​But we were happy to learn a few minutes ago that Maricopa County has promoted its finance director to a new position as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Honestly, we have…

A Liberian official came to Phoenix today to represent the Liberian government in talks between authorities and the families involved in the alleged rape of an 8-year-old girl last month.Edwin, Sele, Liberia’s deputy chief of missions in the United States, seems to be coming to the Valley to defend the…

Arizona state Senate Republicans are pulling out the big guns and taking aim at Senator Carolyn Allen to get the final vote needed to pass the 2010 budget.Allen is one of three Republicans who is still giving the GOP plan a no-go, but the leadership is confident that she will…

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office wants to charge a second teen attacker as an adult in the sexual assault of an 8-year-old Liberian girl.Last month, police say the 8-year-old was sexually assaulted by four Liberian boys — ages 9, 10, 13, and 14. After the assault, the girl was said…

If the Arizona Senate could vote on a budget as quickly as members vote on leadership positions, we might not still have a $3.4-billion budget gap.Senate Republicans named Steve Pierce acting majority whip Tuesday, just hours after former-Majority Whip Pamela Gorman bailed on the position because she couldn’t play nice with other…

Border Patrol agents seized nearly 1200 pounds of marijuana from a truck near Yuma. Agents say they spotted the vehicle using night vision equipment, and used deflation devices to cripple the truck’s tires. The driver and passenger fled on foot, leaving behind their haul, which has an estimated street value…

​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: Feathered Bastard: Sheriff Joe Arpaio Inspires Children’s Crusade Against Him This Friday, August 7 Up on the…

Picture young girls who just watched their mother slob around drunk for a day. Now, imagine them getting screamed at for not giving the drunken mom her car keys so she can go careening around the streets of Tempe smashed. After a few minutes of yelling, mom then pepper-sprays them…

We almost forgot about Warren Jeffs when he was thrown in prison to serve two consecutive five-to-life sentences. But his name’s bubbled up again. And, this time, it’s not connected to the rape or forced marriage of underage girls: Warren Jeffs has decided not to eat. Authorities say Jeffs has…