News

By Sarah Fenske Expect more layoffs at the Arizona Republic in the next month. That’s the message the Republic’s publisher, John Zidich, sent employees in an email yesterday. The paper’s owner, Gannett, is reportedly laying off 600 employees at newspapers across the country. And even though the Republic has already…

By John Dickerson New Times reporting played a key role in the potential suspension of an Arizona physician’s medical license. The physician, Dr. Elliott Schmerler, was named in the April 10, 2008 feature “Dr. Loophole.” Though banned from performing cosmetic surgery in Nevada, Schmerler slipped through a licensing loophole to…

By Ray Stern A front page story in the Arizona Republic today told us all about Christa Parra, the 27-year-old Latina from Phoenix who’s becoming a nun. Yet the paper didn’t mention Sarah Cieplinski or Jessica Wrigley, two other local women in their early 20s taking their final vows this…

By Stephen Lemons Jackson Browne sues RNC and Old Man McCain over Running on Empty. (Should be McCain’s theme song.) Sgt. Tom Lovejoy could get six months in K9 death, all because of Arpaio. Only six souls sign up for ICE self-deport plan. Meanwhile, Nickel Bag busts 100-plus hunting Hispanics…

By Paul Rubin When word came to us recently that current Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Peyton Thomas underwent a procedure on a shoulder, the first question we had was, “Which one?” Should have known it was the right one. The guy is so conservative that he probably had his left…

By Stephen Lemons Nappy defends prejudiced polecat Russell Pearce, plans to bore Dems at convention. Nickel Bag Joe persecutes Hispanics in the East Valley. Satan keeping Joe’s spot in Hell warm. Buckeye pool closed by nasty crypto bug. D-Backs done-in by Rockies. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will probably play in KC, according…

BIG SHOT’S DEMISE A cesspool of an enterprise: All borrowers who didn’t get the money they were promised by Mortgages Ltd. have rights now as creditors of the estate, and they have been damaged by all of Scott Coles’ lies and attempts to defraud them (“The Rise and Fall of…

As a Mexican, I’m always ashamed of the fact that a lot of Mexican women just come to the U.S. to have babies and to utilize this country’s welfare. I know a lot of them that just keep having children and they do not pay a dollar for the hospital…

NAZI LOVERS This seasoned sapsucker’s nested in many a state. But he’s never found one quite as hospitable to Adolf Hitler-worshippers and other varmints of the white-power type as here in Sand Land. Granted, The Bird’s always figured that no place could be so tolerant of white supremacy and neo-Nazis…

These days, a mom can scrapbook the remnants of her baby’s umbilical cord or blog about her teenager’s period, and no one will bat an eye. But there’s still one place where maternal (or paternal) documentation is sometimes considered an over-share: nude photos of the kids. Particularly when they’re hanging…

By Ray Stern Want to know how to find the Ellis-Shackelford house (pictured above), the “only intact mansion along the downtown portion of Central Avenue?” This colorful map and accompanying key allows computer users to find many such historic sites in downtown Phoenix. It’s somewhat addictive — zooming in on…

By Ray Stern Within a few short years, accidents like the one that happened to Ashley Mortensen last night will be less common. Just as breakaway steering columns, safety glass and even rear-view mirrors were once seen as optional safety measures, backup-safety technology is poised to become standard on all…

This might be how light rail looks in Tempe, but in Phoenix . . . not yet. by Sarah Fenske I have to admit, I was pretty amused by this story in the Baltimore Sun. Reporter Laura Vozzella reveals that the city of Baltimore wants to give journalists and/or bloggers…

By Stephen Lemons Demon law-dog Dennis Wilenchik reps the Sheriff in jails suit. Nathan Sproul talks about the fight for the AZ GOP soul. Russell Pearce wusses out on candidate forum. Wassa matter, Russ, didja hear your momma callin’? State Senate committee gives Jack Harper’s bonehead mic move a pass…

Tomorrow another issue of your favorite alternative weekly will hit the stands and the Web. Take this opportunity to pick Phoenix’s collective brain on last week’s stories. On: Postmodern John McCain: the presidential candidate some Arizonans know — and loathe “Whatever happened to real journalism? Where you remove all the…

By Ray Stern This is a scene from an impressive mountain rescue on Camelback Mountain, shot by KTVK-Channel 3’s news chopper. It was the most dramatic of three rescues on the mountain in just the last two weeks. One of the great things about Camelback is that you can have…

By Stephen Lemons Gold-magnet Michael Phelps scores again. University of Arizona softballers help U.S.A. vanquish Venezuela. Bat-buster Adam Dunn’s now a D-Back. Dems unveil Joesgottogo.com. (And boy does he ever.) Study says most obese still healthy. Fat Bastard breathes a sigh of relief. Suns dancers tryouts provide Tuesday eye candy…

By Stephen Lemons Conspiracy nutbar Karen Johnson wants to be Guv. And Queen of France, too, we hear. The Rep defends the indefensible: Nazi-hugger Russell Pearce. Nickel Bag Joe announces Wednesday sweep to distract from Tuesday jail lawsuit. Jerry Colangelo’s Team U.S.A. trounces China in Olympic b-ball. D-Backs defeat Braves…

A Sheriff’s Office deputy gives a citation to a Hispanic man during an April “crime sweep” in Guadalupe By Ray Stern The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Friday that an investigator from the agency had called employees at the East Valley Tribune last month, after the newspaper had published a…