State House Speaker Kirk Adams, a Mesa Republican, has launched a series of YouTube videos that explain Arizona’s budget crisis — from the point of view of Republican legislators like him, of course. Sonoran Alliance, (where we first read about the videos), calls the series a public-relations offensive. Adams has apparently decided Governor Jan…
The State Senate is scheduled to vote today on a bill that would prohibit Arizona schools from offering classes that encourage “ethnic solidarity.” The bill also bans classes “designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group.” Pushed by state schools chief Tom Horne, its main target is a $2-million “Raza Studies”…
After a disastrous weekend in Seattle, Max Scherzer stopped the bleeding on Tuesday night for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The young power pitcher shut down the slugging Texas Rangers, and the top of the D-Backs’ batting order poured on the offense in an 8-2 win at Chase Field. Everything that could…
Residents in an unincorporated community near Queen Creek have voted to name the area San Tan Valley. About 2,000 people voted, choosing the name over another consideration, Bella Vista…Residents of northeast Mesa held a meeting Tuesday night with Councilwoman Dina Higgins to discuss instituting a noise-abatement program from nearby Sky…
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: Mad Max Rules: The Arizona Legislature’s Mandatory Handgun Ownership Laws Up on the Sun: Queen…
The Arizona Supreme Court today decided not to force lawmakers to send Governor Jan Brewer a budget bill she wants to veto, but only because lawmakers said they’d send the bill in five days. Brewer’s argument — that the State Legislature should not be allowed to hold back on sending the…
Moments after we posted our article about Mesa Assistant Police Chief Mike Denney (at right), a Mesa officer called to let us know other named replacements for Chief George Gascon have been investigated, too. The officer, who wanted to stay anonymous, tells us that department policy dictates that any complaint…
One of three possible replacements named for Mesa Police Chief George Gascon was investigated last year for hitting another officer with a water bottle, says a report by heatcity.org. Assistant Chief Mike Denney was accused of striking Commander Fred Ruhland in the groin with a water bottle after Ruhland made some smart-alecky comment. The whole…
Steven Anderson today released the Taser report from his bloody and shocking encounter with authorities at a Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 8 near Yuma. We mentioned the report earlier this month, but didn’t have the actual paperwork. Anderson’s wife, Zsuzsanna, e-mailed us a copy today. One very minor difference from…
Want to know where to find Web cam shots of the hottest chicks? Just follow the Arizona Republic’s political insider news service on Twitter, azinsider. Earlier today, the tweets coming from the state’s largest newspaper chirped about various government goings-on, as usual: Court concludes its hearing with requests to both…
State Representatives Daniel Patterson and Jack Brown were called “heroes” this week by the AFL-CIO for their committment to vote “no” on most Republican bills. Patterson and Brown began their voting boycott a couple of weeks ago and haven’t yet relented, resulting in some kind words from the labor union: …
We came upon this scene of doggie drama while hiking Camelback Mountain Sunday morning about 9 a.m. The woman in the white hat had dragged her fat golden retriever nearly to the top of the mountain, where it overheated and wanted to go no farther. A group of concerned citizens splashed the animal’s fur…
Since the old Washington Senators franchise moved to Arlington, Texas, in 1972, to become the Rangers, it’s been consistently known for only two things: hitting and collapsing in the humid north Texas heat. Though the Rangers have fielded some talented teams over the years and are beloved, more or less,…
An analysis released Monday by the Office of Management and Budget shows that legal disputes between Maricopa county officials cost taxpayers about $1.1. million in fees. In the past year, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, County Treasurer Charles Hoskins, and the Board of Supervisors have battled in…
Just when you thought our gun-lovin’ legislature had gone as far over the deep end into Mad Max territory as possible, our lawmakers up and make gun ownership mandatory for all lads and ladies 21 and above. Okay, so not explicitly, but under the bills proposed by the legislature’s firearm freaks, you’d better…
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:Shawna Forde, Alleged Kid Killer, Extremist, Phoenix Tea Party Attendee, and Ghost of Tea Parties Future…
It’s been a particularly bloody few days for Valley children. Loggan Lampert, 14, is bludgeoned to death by his uncle. A 2-year-old beaten with a belt buckle, allegedly by her mom’s boyfriend, dies. Another 2-year-old dies after being hit by a car in his trailer park. And now this: A…
The Arizona Republic has a noticeable ad on its page A5 today for bogus fuel-saving devices. The ridiculous products, known as “platinum gas savers,” have been debunked as worthless wastes of money by independent testers. The ads and the publications that print them have received criticism when run in other cities. …
The Phoenix Coyotes ice hockey team is staying in Glendale — for now. On June 15, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Redfield T. Baum ruled that a June 29 deadline on Canadian Jim Balsillie’s bid to buy the team and move it to Canada was not workable. But Baum didn’t set auction…
“Here comes Satan. I’m the anti-Christ. I’m going to kill you…” Those are supposedly the lyrics from an Eminem song that Michael Miller says he screamed to his wife before stabbing her and his daughter to death on May 30, according to a recently released 911 tape. Media reports…
Image: Tempe police Police captured a mentally ill man this morning in Tempe who stands accused of bludgeoning to death his mother and 14-year-old nephew. Phoenix police report this afternoon that Erick Lampert, 35, was caught in near 8600 South River in Tempe it was reported that someone suspicious was…
Image: Wikimedia Commons What’s the difference between a “speed-enforcement campaign” and a “speed trap?” Well, maybe it’s just the terminology, says Mike Tellef, spokesman for the Peoria Police Department. But speed traps are typically set up where the posted speed limit is artificially low, and where cops try to stay hidden, he adds…
