Top Five Most-Read Phoenix News Stories of the Week

In case you missed any news action this week, we've got you covered.

Here's our recap of the most-read news stories of the week:

5.) Jan Brewer "Abolishes CPS as We Know It"

Governor Jan Brewer says she has signed an executive order that "abolishes [Child Protective Services] as we know it."

Brewer made the announcement Monday afternoon in her final State of the State speech.

See also: Jan Brewer "Abolishes CPS as We Know It"

4.) Animal Abuse Registry Proposed by a Pair of Arizona Lawmakers

Among the bills turned in early this legislative session is a proposal to create a registry of convicted animal abusers.

The bill, sponsored by Democratic Senator Steve Farley and Democratic Representative Andrew Sherwood, calls for the Arizona Department of Public Safety to run the registry, similarly to how it currently operates the state's sex-offender registry.

See also: Animal Abuse Registry Proposed by a Pair of Arizona Lawmakers

3.) Carmen Figueroa, DPS Detective Found to Be Undocumented, Had a Near-Perfect Record

Carmen Figueroa, the Arizona Department of Public Safety detective who had to resign after discovering that she wasn't in the country legally, had a near-perfect record as a police officer.

Figueroa's resignation became a national story last month, as Figueroa had believed what her parents told her since she was young -- that she was born in Texas. When her brother, who's in the military, applied for a passport, the State Department investigated their citizenship, and informed the siblings they were actually born in Mexico.

A review of the 10 years' worth of records in Figueroa's personnel file, released to New Times last week, shows a single incident Figueroa was disciplined for in her law-enforcement career.

See also: Carmen Figueroa, DPS Detective Found to Be Undocumented, Had a Near-Perfect Record

2.) Bill Montgomery Insults "Harvard-Trained Politicians" Who "Cheat on Their Wives," Like, Um, a Certain Arizona Attorney General

Insults, condescension, personal attacks. Hey, it's all in a days work for Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, particularly when it comes to the issue of legalized pot-smokin', which he recently debated on Channel 3's Sunday Politics Unplugged show with state Representative Ruben Gallego.

Gallego, a Democrat, whose wife, Kate, recently won a hard-fought race for a seat on the Phoenix City Council, has announced plans to drop a marijuana-legalization bill during this legislative session.

Monty, being the über-conservative Republican prosecutor that he is, staunchly opposes any such effort in Arizona. Similarly, he's been a loud critic of voter-approved medical marijuana and has done everything in his power to derail it.

The segment, which aired January 12, opened with a clip of one of Monty's press conferences in which he dismissed legalization as a "dumb idea" and tagged supporters of legalization as "either ignorant or indifferent."

See also: Bill Montgomery Insults "Harvard-Trained Politicians" Who "Cheat on Their Wives," Like, Um, a Certain Arizona Attorney General

1.) Phoenix Bucket List - 100 Things to Do Before You Die: Castles, Crescent, and Really Hot Mexican Food

Welcome to the Phoenix Bucket List. Robrt Pela and Amy Silverman -- two New Times contributors and longtime Phoenicians -- have put together a list of 100 things to do in this city before you die. Each week we're presenting another 10; in March we'll wrap it all up in a cover story in New Times. For now, stay tuned to Valley Fever for more installments and be sure to share your suggestions in the comments section. Today, Amy Silverman presents the next 10 items on the list.

See also: Phoenix Bucket List - 100 Things to Do Before You Die: Castles, Crescent, and Really Hot Mexican Food

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Follow Matthew Hendley on Twitter at @MatthewHendley.

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