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.) Gulf War Veteran Mike White Faces His Toughest Battle Yet: ALS

Mike White's eyelids are half-shut. His breathing is slow, heavy. Two days ago, he was hospitalized with pneumonia. He's still taking drugs to combat the illness and he blames the medicine for sapping his energy.

Despite his weariness, White rolls up in his $45,000 motorized wheelchair to Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, a Central Phoenix megachurch, with his parents. It's 7:30 a.m. in mid-October 2013. He's wearing a black Air Jordan jacket with red lining, matching pants, and black unlaced Air Jordan shoes. The 46-year-old is 6 feet tall when standing, which he does only with help, and rarely. White is bald with a neatly trimmed goatee and dark brown eyes.

On his left wrist is a red wristband that reads, "Fighting Lou Gehrig's Disease."

See also: Gulf War Veteran Mike White Faces His Toughest Battle Yet: ALS

4.) Carmen Fischer, Phoenix Attorney, Gets Prison Time for Assisting Gangster Husband

Carmen Fischer, a criminal-defense attorney in Phoenix, has been sentenced to three years in prison for crimes related to helping her husband, a leader of the New Mexican Mafia prison gang.

Fischer was arrested last year and charged in Pinal County, accused of helping her husband Angel Garcia, also known as Chipas, by passing along privileged information she had about the gang, and also helping move money around for the gang.

See also: Carmen Fischer, Phoenix Attorney, Gets Prison Time for Assisting Gangster Husband

3.) Phoenix-to-Las Vegas Interstate Proposal Gets Signs

Twenty-three years after the first official discussions of a straight, interstate-quality path for vehicles from Phoenix to Las Vegas, there finally is physical evidence of progress: some signs.

There's no construction date, no funding, and the studies aren't even done, but the Arizona Department of Transportation has put up four "Future I-11 Corridor" signs along the proposed path of the interstate.

See also: Phoenix-to-Las Vegas Interstate Proposal Gets Signs

2.) Joe Arpaio, Jerry Sheridan Spanked by Judge G. Murray Snow Over Melendres Remarks

Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his Chief Deputy Jerry Sheridan appeared in federal court in Phoenix Monday morning to take a verbal woodshedding from U.S. District Court Judge G. Murray Snow.

Snow was ticked over remarks Sheridan and Arpaio had made to MCSO deputies on October 18, concerning Snow's findings and orders in the ACLU's big civil rights lawsuit Melendres v. Arpaio.

But the judge stopped short of finding Sheridan and Arpaio in contempt. Rather, he accepted assurances from Sheridan and MCSO attorney Tim Casey that mistakes made in that October briefing would not be repeated.

"Your order is the law," Casey assured the judge. "They will comply."

See also: Joe Arpaio, Jerry Sheridan Spanked by Judge G. Murray Snow Over Melendres Remarks

1.) 10 Things Everyone Needs to Know About Pit Bulls Like Mickey

Although Mickey the pit bull mauled 4-year-old Kevin Vicente, a judge decided this week to spare Mickey's life, amid outcry from many people who wanted to have the dog killed.

Many of the people who called for Mickey's head are misinformed or just plain wrong about the situation surrounding Mickey. Read on to find 10 things everyone should know about pit bulls, and dogs in general:

See also: 10 Things Everyone Needs to Know About Pit Bulls Like Mickey