News

An independent law firm investigating whether a Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office commander illegally funneled money to the Arizona Republican Party is demanding that the commander produce a list of donors by December 1. But, in a letter to that investigator, Commander Joel Fox (pictured above) insists he’s done nothing wrong — and needn’t turn…

Taser’s stock had the biggest rise in seven years after the United Kingdom announced on Monday it would fund the purchase of 10,000 of the Scottsdale company’s stun guns. The good news for Taser soured somewhat today, though, after New Scotland Yard, headquarters of London’s famous Metropolitan Police, said it wanted no part of the…

When your city government is preparing to shed 1,000 jobs and facing seven-digit budget shortfalls, “you gotta give the other fellow hell,” as the song says. Of course, the news release put out by the city of Phoenix today about “Buy Local Week” (reprinted below) doesn’t openly insult the Valley’s…

  Al Jefferson (above dunking) is most decidedly better than nothing. A linchpin of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ move-him-or-lose-him trade of All-World Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics in the summer of ’07, Jefferson came into his own last season, his first as a T-Wolf.  The 6-10 center/forward played in all…

Travelers must force their way through a gauntlet of photo enforcement vans today on Interstates 10 and 40 in what appears to be the single largest deployment of speed cameras ever. The Arizona Department of Public Safety wants to “cover all of I-10 and I-40 in Arizona,” says the Republic…

We understand that in the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. Worry not! We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times’ blogs. Today’s entries:  Valley Fever:Red-Light Camera Helps Stick It to Suspected Motorcycle ThiefArizona Woman Gets…

His dad — the one he’s accused of killing — was named Vincent Romero. His mother’s name has been reported nationwide as Eryn Thomas or Eryn Bloomfield. The Arizona Republic won’t name either of the boy’s parents to avoid identifying the 8-year-old murder suspect from St. Johns. Though it’s nice…

The office manager of a Sierra Vista drywall firm was sentenced to jail today for hiring illegal immigrants in the case of the first worksite enforcement bust in Arizona by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to this news release by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Arizona, 44-year-old Carol…

Volunteers trained by police to write tickets for able-bodied folks who park in disabled-only spaces have helped reduce the number of Phoenix citations for the offense in recent years, says a Phoenix detective. The civilian volunteers have teamed up with police to ticket offenders since 2000, and city officials want the public to…

As a public information officer for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Paul Chagolla has a widespread reputation for getting nasty when local journalists fail to buy into whatever propaganda he wants to sell. And that means, from Arpaio’s point of view, he must be doing a fantastic job. Judging by a phone message on Chagolla’s telephone…

  Janet Napolitano is catching it from both sides as the national media continues to weigh in on the next likely Homeland Security chief. While conservative pundits like Debbie Schlussel and Michelle Malkin slam Arizona’s governor for her actions on renaming Christmas trees and dealing with illegal immigration, former Arizona Republic reporter Tom Zoellner takes…

One in a blue moon, photo enforcement cameras do something other than make a profit off of momentarily careless drivers like Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. One Phoenix red-light camera helped nab a suspected motorcycle thief recently, says the Arizona Department of Public Safety.  …

Recent headline: “Clippers Crush Thunder.” Let’s hope it’s “Suns Burn Thunder” (don’t think about that too literally) after tonight’s game. But we digress: In what mad otherworld does the NBA’s perennial doormat, the L.A. Clippers, crush anybody? Well, on November 19, the mantle of NBA’s worst was seemingly passed from…

They can’t be serious. Democrats want Barack Obama to appoint Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer to some cushy federal post — doesn’t matter which one — so she won’t be governor when Janet Napolitano abandons the state to run Homeland Security. When that doesn’t work maybe state Dems will…

We understand that in the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. Worry not! We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times’ blogs. Today’s entries:  Valley Fever:Hope for the Phoenix Suns was Reborn Against Portland — Despite…

A “green” public art project incorporated into Arizona State University’s new journalism building in downtown Phoenix puts on a slow-moving light show during the day as it funnels warm air up and out of a stairwell. After the project received extra attention during last week’s official dedication of the Walter Cronkite…

Joel Sinclaire, a 46-year-old Democrat who ran un- successfully this year for Maricopa County Supervisor against Don Stapley, was found dead in his residence Sunday afternoon. Sinclaire’s family called police about 1:15 p.m. Sunday to report the death. When police arrived at the house near Happy Valley and Hayden roads, they found…

State Treasurer Dean Martin (at left) is named in a lawsuit against the state by a group of Arizona municipalities who don’t want to pay millions of dollars in new fees. And Martin hopes he and the state will lose. The treasurer sent a letter today (reprinted below) to state…

It’s about the fast-break points, stupid! The Phoenix Suns, though way off last year’s pace, had six in their weekend game against the Portland Trail Blazers. We wouldn’t say they dominated the Blazers, but they held on to win at home 102-92. In other words, hope was reborn, after the Suns’…