Phoenix New Times | The Leading Independent News Source in Phoenix, Arizona

a rusted car in front of a wall with a postcard-style "Seligman" on the side

A septic tank in this tiny Arizona town could crack a 2006 cold case

By Stephen Lemons

May 28, 2025

Keith King vanished 19 years ago in Seligman. A private detective thinks he knows where King’s body is — and who killed him.

A measles outbreak is ‘inevitable’ in Arizona. Are we ready?

By Morgan Fischer

May 6, 2025

Arizona hasn’t had a measles case — yet. But with a low vaccination rate and funding cutbacks, an outbreak is inevitable.

an illustration of a cardboard budtender with a quizzical look on its face

Do Arizona budtenders know less than they used to?

By TJ L'Heureux

Apr 18, 2025

Expert budtenders can match you with the right strain. Industry insiders say there are fewer of them than there once were.

Dig up Alice Cooper's overlooked 'Easy Action' to hear a star being born

By Cory Frye

Mar 21, 2025

Shortly after high school, Phoenix's own Alice Cooper was exploring a newfound gritty, idiosyncratic sound in his 1970 LP.

three phoenix birds — one covering its eyes, one covering its ears and one putting a feather to its mouth to say "shhhh"

See No Evil: Phoenix’s Ethics Commission hides more than it finds

By TJ L'Heureux

Feb 11, 2025

Nearly a year in, the independent body tasked with keeping city officials above board has yet to find anything amiss.

Why Phoenix Idiotarod is the Valley’s bawdiest, booziest event

By Benjamin Leatherman

Feb 4, 2025

“It’s an epic day with amazing costumes where you get to make an ass of yourself."

A local TV journalist set his arm ablaze for Gaza. He has no regrets.

By Morgan Fischer

Jan 8, 2025

In October, ex-Arizona’s Family staffer Sam Mena shocked many by lighting his arm on fire at a protest. Now, he explains why.

a person in a hoodie sitting depressed with luggage and clothes on the curb, with a superimposed eviction notice behind

A day in eviction court, where the Valley housing crisis wrecks lives

By Morgan Fischer

Dec 10, 2024

Maricopa County is on track to break a 20-year-old evictions filings record. Here’s why things have gotten so bad.

Bruises, fights, a fall: Allister Adel’s rumored domestic violence ordeal

By Stephen Lemons

Aug 5, 2024

Her time as county attorney was troubled. After her death — and her husband's violent demise — some wonder what they missed.

two billboards, one that says "Call Rafi!" and one that says "Call Gil!"

A bomb threat, a lawsuit and ‘Call Rafi’: Inside a nasty Phoenix lawyer feud

By Zach Buchanan

Jul 17, 2024

Brandon Rafi's face is all over the Valley. Now he and a rival lawyer are locked in a bitter feud exploding into public view.

A sexy outfit can get you arrested in Phoenix — especially if you’re Black or trans

By Katya Schwenk

Jul 14, 2023

Phoenix cops have cited more than 450 people. "You're being prosecuted because of what you're wearing."

Phoenix’s favorite Suns: An oral history of the 1993 NBA Finals

By Benjamin Leatherman

Jun 21, 2023

A look back at how Charles Barkley took the Phoenix Suns to the NBA’s big time against the Chicago Bulls 30 years ago.

How a Phoenix threshold choir reframes death for both the living and dead

By Chris Coplan

May 26, 2023

More than singing to the ill and/or dying, these groups promote important conversations about healthcare, grief and more.

Phoenix Police Killed Jacob Harris. Prosecutors Charged the Teen’s Friends with His Murder

By Meg O'Connor

Mar 14, 2023

“They didn’t have to shoot my son down like a dog in the street.”

Meet the ‘Cow Guy’: Gail Palmer Is Fighting Grand Canyon University to Keep His Land

By Katya Schwenk

Feb 17, 2023

Gail Palmer has a cow pasture in the middle of Grand Canyon University's campus. And he's determined not to give it up.

West Valley Residents Savor a Burst of Local Flavor as Independent Restaurants Move In

By Georgann Yara

Feb 2, 2023

The West Valley may finally shed its chain reputation as local restaurants move in.

The Edge: An Oral History of Phoenix’s Iconic Alt-Rock Radio Station

By Benjamin Leatherman

Jan 27, 2023

A look back at the rise and fall of the Valley's beloved alternative radio powerhouse.

The Departed: A Final Farewell to Notable Arizonans We Lost in 2022

By Phoenix New Times Writers

Jan 25, 2023

A judge and mother, a beloved bar owner, a neighborhood activist, artists, an advocate for the unhoused, a Holocaust survivor, and so many more. Here's our by no means comprehensive list of notable Arizonans we lost in 2022.

Barstool Sports Expands Its Boorish Brand With a New Scottsdale Bar

By Natasha Yee

Jan 11, 2023

Barstool Sports' new Scottsdale bar is now open, marking another step in the controversial company's Arizona expansion.

Soulful Spirit: Meet the Couple Foraging Flavors to Craft a Uniquely Arizona Gin

By Chris Malloy

Dec 21, 2022

Juniper berries foraged from the Sedona wilderness flavor this uniquely Arizona spirit.

Longform

Meet Josh Kesselman, the Phoenix ‘Willy Wonka of Weed’

Stopped on a bike, killed by a cop: Inside a family’s grief

Longform

Meet Josh Kesselman, the Phoenix ‘Willy Wonka of Weed’

Stopped on a bike, killed by a cop: Inside a family’s grief

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