Can Janet Napolitano Fail Upward to the Supreme Court?

Here we go again. With the announced retirement of Supreme Court Justice David Souter, the buzz is that the White House wants to pick a non-judge female to become one of the nine. So of course this means some analysts with nothing but time on their mitts are suggesting that…

Arizona Republic Unveils Year-Long Investigation of Corrupt Charities

We’d been wondering why Robert Anglen’s byline has been scarce. Turns out the award-winning Arizona Republic reporter has been toiling away — with editor David Fritze and “data reporter” Ryan Konig — on a one-year investigation of corrupt charities and how they hide money for the nefarious purposes of their…

Speed Camera Killing and Debate in NY Times Blog

Worth a quick mention this morning is the post by New York Times writer Jerry Garrett in the Wheels blog about the Valley murder of a speed camera operator. It seems the murder of Douglas Georgianni can hardly avoid being deemed political: While the police have not offered a motive…

Hot Links: Light Rail, Swine Flu, and Running Nuns

Weekend revelers in the Valley might be pleased to know that Metro light rail may be extending its weekend hours. The last train currently leaves at 11 p.m., but officials are considering extending the last run on weekends until 2 a.m….ASU announced on its Web site that two students have…

New State Parks Director Defaced Historic Adobe Wall in ’99

Renee Bahl, the new executive director of the Arizona State Parks Board, carved her name 10 years ago in a historic adobe wall at the San Rafael Ranch in Santa Cruz County. And that doesn’t sit well with one state legislator who says the act should have kept her from being selected by…

Sacaton Woman Sentenced for Killing Live-in Girlfriend’s 3-Year-Old Son

  It’s unusual when a woman murders a little kid, but not unheard of. California has Melissa Huckaby, accused of raping and murdering an 8-year-old girl. And Arizona has Mercedes Howard, 29, who sentenced on Wednesday to 17.5 years in prison for abusing and killing her live-in girlfriend’s 3-year-old son. An investigation showed that Howard,…

Mortgage Fraud Investigators Nab College Teacher/State Worker

An employee with the state Department of Environmental Quality who also teaches for the University of Phoenix has been been indicted for mortgage fraud.Kailash Bhatt tried to sell the granite countertops and appliances of a foreclosed home in direct violation of the mortgage contract, says Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas…