Hot Links: Gascon's Temp, Guns in Cars, and Bank Robberies

Phoenix City Council will vote this week on three projects: a 12-acre entertainment district on Jackson Street, a $300 million expansion of the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa, and a Latino cultural center on Adams Street. Wednesday is the council's last meeting before the summer recess...As Mesa Police Chief George Gascon prepares to take a job as Chief of Police in San Francisco, Mesa police Operations Commander Vicki Myers has been chosen to serve as interim chief. Myers joined the department in 2007, and will temporarily fill Gascon's position while a national search is conducted for his replacement...A five-year-old child has died after accidentally shooting himself in his family's Mesa home Monday morning. According to reports, the boy was at home with his father when he found a 9-millimeter handgun in a closet and shot himself in the abdomen. He was airlifted to Maricopa Medical Center, but died from his injuries...The Arizona Senate voted on Monday to approve a bill that would allow gun owners to keep their firearms locked in their vehicles while parked at business that ban weapons. Senators approved the measure with an 18-9 vote...Five Valley banks were robbed yesterday in less than seven hours. The first robbery, at Chase Bank off 32nd Street and Indian School, happened just before 10 a.m., while the last reported robbery occurred before 5 p.m. at the Deer Valley Credit Union near Bell Road and Interstate 17. The FBI's Bank Robbery Task Force is investigating the robberies to see if they may be related...An Ohio man faces criminal charges for allegedly driving a bulldozer while intoxicated. Robert Tite was arrested last Friday after he drove the bulldozer onto a neighbor's property and tore up the lawn. From the looks of his mug shot, he's a happy bulldozer.

Phoenix council to vote on 3 closely watched projects

Relative newcomer named Mesa interim chief