Mayor Phil Gordon’s finding out what it’s like to be a big fish in a small oasis during a junket to Saudi Arabia this week with nine other U.S. mayors: Phoenix is by far the largest city represented. Middle Eastern media reports the mayors were received today by the Acting Governor…
A man who stole a pipe from a Mesa smoke shop slammed his car into a manager who had tried to stop him, police say. The incident began on Saturday just before 3 p.m. when the man, who wasn’t identified immediately by police, walked out of DJ’s Smoke Shop, 2034…
The Arizona Republic and other local media still haven’t reported that the $280 million lawsuit against KB Home and Countrywide Financial was launched by a labor union. The Las Vegas Sun, on the other hand, realized its original story about the mortgage-fraud class action lawsuit had missed a main point,…
Before Sunday afternoon, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ weekend series against the Washington Nationals at Chase Field was looking like a disaster. Following a pair of tough losses on Friday and Saturday, it seemed the Snakes were about to get swept by the basement-dwelling Nats, giving new manager A.J. Hinch the ugliest possible start.Thankfully, the…
Starting today, the city of Phoenix has instituted a fire ban at city parks. Charcoal, wood, and open fires are not allowed in mountain preserves, and smoking outside vehicles is prohibited. However, propane and gas grills may be used in designated areas…A Valley homeless man named Greyson Malzac is being…
I’ve really got to wonder about these so-called “Christians” who spend all of their time hating on Mexican immigrants, legal and otherwise. I mean, did they ever go to Sunday school? Hear the parable of the good Samaritan? Read the Sermon on the Mount? Or any of the New Testament,…
In the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. Worry not! We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times’ blogs. Today’s entries: Up on the Sun:Arty Girl: Michael Cajero at Eric Firestone Gallery in Tucson Curtains: Theater…
A group of homeowners affiliated with LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America — has sued KB Homes and Countrywide Mortage for allegedly conspiring to pad the value of homes to defraud home buyers.Seven West Valley homeowners who belong to the Alliance for Homebuyer Justice, a LIUNA spinoff,…
There was a lot of talk about “passion” Friday afternoon as the Arizona Diamondbacks new manager was officially announced. Most of it from the fledgling skipper himself, A.J. Hinch. Let’s hope his exuberance rubs off on the lackluster D-Backs lineup. We want to be optimistic that a positive attitude is…
The Arizona Department of Public Safety should open a farmer’s market. This morning, the agency told us about a truck driver busted with 508 pounds of pot hidden with watermelons. A few minutes ago, DPS announced it had made an even bigger produce-related seizure on Monday: More than 5,000 pounds of marijuana…
Arguments are set to begin Monday morning in a case that pits the would-be owners of a Tempe tattoo parlor against officials who think the business is seedy. Tom and Elizabeth Preston, who already own a tattoo shop in Mesa, told the press in 2007, when the lawsuit was first…
Police are warning women to take precautions when out and about after a Phoenix resident was brutalized in a field near 7th Avenue and Indian School. The 47-year-old woman had been walking through alleyways on her way home from work about 2:30 a.m. Thursday when a man grabbed her, hauled her into a…
The traffic stop of a big-rig near New River on Tuesday turned into a juicy bust for the Arizona Department of Public Safety after 508 pounds of pot was discovered along with a load of watermelons.DPS says the rig (below) was hauling its load from Nogales, Arizona, where the driver picked…
In the mood for a garden party? Try the Anniversary Tea this morning in downtown Phoenix. The cause: To celebrate the 80th annivesary of the Washington Garden Club. Sounds like a bloomin’ good time…
As far as losses go, yesterday’s Arizona Diamondbacks’ 4-3 extra-inning loss to the San Diego Padres didn’t seem to be that big of a deal, all things considered. But to the team’s front office, however, it might have been the last straw, as manager Bob Melvin got his pink slip…
As we reported yesterday, Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin was fired. Now, it looks almost certain his replacement will be Director of Player Development, A.J. Hinch. An official announcement will be made today at a 3 p.m. press conference…Mesa police arrested four illegal immigrants and confiscated 16 pounds of meth…
In the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. Worry not! We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times’ blogs. Today’s entries: Feathered Bastard:Joe Arpaio Fanboy/Neo-Nazi “Vito Lombardi” is Thomas Vito Coletto, Alleged Columbine Copycat Up on…
An allegation of racial profiling in the East Valley Tribune’s Pulitzer-prize-winning series on Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was unsubstantiated by the Sheriff’s Office because of a series of memory lapses. We’ve been waiting for months for this report, the record of an internal affairs investigation against a 287(g)-trained deputy assigned to…
Two years ago, Arizona Diamondbacks skipper Bob Melvin was the National League’s manager of the year. And now he’s (reportedly) toast. KTAR sports jock John Gambadoro (of Gambo & Ash fame) is reporting that Melvin will be axed as soon as he returns from San Diego, where Arizona lost 4-3…
The number of bank robberies in the Valley have doubled compared to the first few months of 2008, prompting authorities to pledge to work harder on the cases. From January to May 1 in 2008, robbers held up 44 Valley banks. In the same four months in 2009, they hit 88. There…
You can get a glimpse of a real fox in downtown Tempe near Arizona State University — we’re not talking about the college girls, but rather the small, predatory canines. Urban coyotes have been getting all the attention in recent years, but it appears that at least some native…
We did a double-take The story spoke of a filly named Rachel Alexandra, who may be running against the guys next week at the Preakness, the second leg of racing’s Triple Crown. “She is a graceful athlete,” Rachel’s owner said of the record-breaking filly with the big white stripe running…
