In a conversation this morning via phone, Tucson native and rock legend Linda Ronstadt denounced Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s reign of tyranny in Maricopa County and promised to march alongside thousands of activists planning to converge on Phoenix this Saturday, January 16 for a National Day of Action, which will include…
Both of Arizona’s U.S. senators teamed up today to throw some punches at how the Obama administration — namely former Arizona Governor and Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano — handled the Christmas terror scare in Detroit.At an end-of-the-year press conference at John McCain’s Phoenix office, he and fellow Senator Jon Kyl…
Gossip rags from Pebble Beach to St. Andrews are reporting today that golf’s greatest gigolo is already in an Arizona rehab center and being treated for sex addiction.According to X-17, OK!, and several other, um, reputable news sources, Tiger Woods is currently at the Meadows rehabilitation center in Wickenburg, and…
The folks over at the Arizona Department of Health Services seem to have taken a short break from combating pig flu to tackle one of the more, um, pressing issues: Compiling a list of the most popular baby names in Arizona.This year’s big winners: Jacob for the boys and Isabella…
We saw this one coming. The lawyer handpicked by Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon’s public-relations guy to examine a series of payments the mayor made to his girlfriend using his campaign finance funds — former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Zlaket — has cleared Gordon of illegal activity.Gordon is in…
One of the more, um, legally challenged faces of the rap game said so long to fans last night at a farewell concert in New Orleans. Lil Wayne, legally named Dwayne Carter, took the stage last night for what is to be one of his final performances before heading to prison. Wayne hyped the performance by…
Documents released yesterday by a Yavapai County judge show that the October deaths of three people at James Arthur Ray’s “Spiritual Warrior” sweat tent debacle in Sedona were not the first time someone was injured while following Ray toward, um, spiritual enlightenment. More than two months after the event, we come…
Having already suffered two humiliating and lopsided losses to the Los Angeles Lakers this season, the Suns got a chance to experience what it’s like to dish out a massive beatdown to the defending NBA champions, instead of being on the receiving end of said smackdown. Thanks to an enormous performance…
An American missionary from Arizona reportedly has been arrested in North Korea. Robert Park, 28, traveled into communist North Korea via China last week, on a mission to improve human rights. North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency said an American was detained after entering the country illegally, but did not name the man…Utility…
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: Joe Arpaio’s Willful Ignorance, the MCSO’s Shredding, and David Hendershott’s Secret AOL Account Up on…
More than 20 years after they first intended to do so, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors finally approved a resolution today that will compel county officials to disclose their financial dealings. Today’s vote was a direct result of the criminal charges Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas filed against Supervisor…
The gaggle of deputized geriatrics that Sheriff Joe Arpaio unleashes on Valley malls during the holiday season sure took an, um, bite out of crime this year — if you ask the sheriff, anyway.In a news release today, Joe calls this year’s Posse Mall Patrol a success, despite more than…
Scottsdale’s own Hooman Karamian, a.k.a. “Nik Richie,” of The Dirty fame and his “dirty army” of club-going photogs have struck again. The latest victim: A Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader/schoolteacher.In a post on Karamian’s Web site, Thedirty.com, a story was posted on December 7 with the title “The Dirty Bengals Cheerleader.”A lawsuit filed…
Barbara Mundell will step down as presiding judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court this summer, but it has nothing to do with being deemed a criminal conspirator by our local sheriff and county attorney. Mundell took the five-year post on July 1, 2005, so her time will soon be up, says Jennifer Liewer, spokeswoman for the Arizona…
Arizona lawmakers have been playing hooky at an alarming rate during this year’s legislative session, with 21 state legislators missing more than 20 percent of the floor votes in both houses of the Legislature.Eat your heart out, Ferris Bueller…
We’ve been alternately bored/annoyed by the Arizona Republic’s series of top-10 lists devoted to summarizing the Aughts. We know it’s a good way to fill the paper during a slow news week and all … but, really, they couldn’t come up with anything more interesting than this? And go figure:…
A man serving a life sentence for sex crimes was found dead of an apparent suicide at the Arizona State Prison Complex at Florence on Saturday.The inmate has been identified as 47-year-old Monte McCarty. Police say McCarty was pronounced dead shortly before noon on Saturday, but declined to provide further…
Props to the spirit of country legend Hank Williams and YouTuber “politicatty.” The latter has borrowed the tune from the former’s Cajun-styled hit “Jambalaya” for an anti-Joe Arpaio ditty entitled, “Goodbye, Joe!” The lyrics are pretty amusing. Here’s a sample:Goodbye Joe. You gotta go. Take three guesses. Too much dough down…
Two Middle-Eastern men were detained by federal and local authorities Saturday night at Sky Harbor International Airport after passengers on their U.S. Airways flight told flight attendants the pair was “acting suspiciously.”The men weren’t running up the aisles screaming “Allah Akbar” — according to the FBI, the “suspicious” behavior that…
A guy trying to break into a home near Central Avenue and McDowell Road turned out to be a “star” of America’s Most Wanted — a suspect in the April beating death of a trucker’s helper. Phoenix police say they received a report of a man trying to force his way through the back…
If preliminary numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau hold true, Arizona is set to pick up a congressional seat when the census is complete. And the, um, “vast right-wing conspiracy” wages on. According to the newest data, Arizona is one of six traditionally “red states” slated to get a boost…
It used to be that winning 10 pro football games in two seasons was a milestone around here. This year, the Cardinals have won that many in just one season, making Arizona history. But the success hasn’t come without problems. The Cards beat up on the St. Louis Rams yesterday in Glendale 31-10…
