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McCain’s “how-do-I-get-off this stage” faux pas at the end of last night’s debate resulted in what may be the silliest picture ever of a U.S. Senator or presidential candidate. The perspective almost makes it look like McCain wants to literally chew Obama’s ass, doesn’t it? The picture — this one…

By Stephen Lemons Obamarama brushes off Old Man McCain’s attacks in final debates. Polls say Obama won. Sheriff’s SWAT raids Mesa library looking for illegals. Board of Supes protesters duct-tape mouths. (And we thought the Supes’d done that for ’em.) Guard on celly while killing went down in Joe’s jails…

Contrary to newswire accounts, our lawsuit against Sheriff Joe Arpaio, County Attorney Andrew Thomas, and former special prosecutor Dennis Wilenchik is not dead, though parts of it have been compromised by a new ruling. What is true is that Federal Court Judge Susan Bolton found little wrong with this cadre…

A group of very young soldiers in the Mexican Army was being chased through a castle by U.S. Marines. At the end of the chase, the Mexicans realized they were trapped on a balcony. Instead of falling on their bayonets, they wrapped themselves in Mexican flags and leapt to their…

IMMIGRATION NATION Round-ups are a wasted effort: Your story demonstrates how a bunch of racist rednecks are driving the agenda on illegal immigration (“Police State,” Ray Stern, October 2). These bigots have yelled so loud and so long that they have forced every law enforcement agency in Maricopa County (and,…

Almost a year after New Times’ two top executives were arrested and jailed, a federal judge dismissed parts of the newspaper’s lawsuit against the Maricopa County officials involved and left other parts in play. In her October 7 ruling, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton dismissed County Attorney Andrew Thomas from…

The crime was so heinous, it made headlines across the nation — and sent some animal lovers racing to their phones to make death threats. Dr. Joshua Winston, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, had repeatedly punched a Chihuahua in the head, using such force that the poor dog’s…

This is Part 2 of a two-part story. Read Part 1 here. It’s September 24, 2008, seven years to the day since Faylene Grant tumbled off a cliff in Utah. Faylene survived the mysterious fall, only to drown in her bathtub three days later after ingesting enough of the sleep…

If you want to know what it’s like to be a veteran in John McCain’s home state, stop by the Justa Center in downtown Phoenix. On a Thursday morning not long ago, a volunteer named Twyla stands in front of a group of clients at Justa, a day program for…

 Click here for New Times’ most recent coverage of this developing story…

DPS Medic Bruce Harrolle died Monday after being struck by helicopter rotor blades By Ray Stern The Arizona Department of Public Safety on Wednesday published a Web page dedicated to Officer Bruce Harrolle, a Valley resident who died Monday during a rescue of stranded hikers near Sedona. The site promises…

Manuel Nieto Jr., Manuel Nieto Sr. and Velia Meraz By Ray Stern A recording of a 911 call obtained by New Times reveals that some kind of altercation did, in fact, occur last spring between deputies from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and two North Phoenix siblings who allege they…

By Ray Stern The local political blog Sonoran Alliance posted an article today that claims the Arizona Republic is “censoring news” about one of its lawyers, David Bodney, (pictured), who was also editor of New Times back in 1992. The author of the article, “Pat,” didn’t feel comfortable enough with…

By Stephen Lemons Phoenix in the red to the tune of nearly $250M. U.S. deficit is $455 billion. And you thought your credit card bill was bad. Last Obama-McCain debate tonight. Rep reports on MCSA’s crusade against Sheriff Joe and the Board of Supes. Dems claim Sand Land Republicans are…

By Ray Stern The typical voting dilemma: Do you vote for the devil you know, or the devil you don’t know? In the case of Debra Pearson, it might be both. Before she was married on December 31, 2006, Pearson’s name was Debra Brimhall. (Here’s her wedding picture with husband…

By Ray Stern News media interest in Monday’s death of an Arizona Department of Public Safety medic shouldn’t surprise anyone. Bruce Harrolle (pictured) was the first DPS officer to die in the line of duty since 2000, and the macabre way he was killed — struck by the helicopter’s spinning…

By Ray Stern As reported last week, the East Valley Tribune (it’s called the Scottsdale Tribune in Scottsdale) plans to lay off nearly half of its work force in January, publish just four days a week and stop delivering entirely in Tempe and Scottsdale. But don’t expect the Arizona Republic…

By Paul Rubin Calling it a “low blow,” Sheriff Joe Arpaio has rejected a request by a respected local journalist to take a lie-detector test to “prove” he hasn’t masturbated while on duty as the county’s top lawman. The sheriff, currently is running for re-election against Democrat Dan Saban, indicated…

By Stephen Lemons McCain mocks whippersnapper Obama’s stimulus plan. Hillary puts kibosh on second White House bid, kinda-sorta. DPS medic killed by copter blade. Family’s Rottweilers attack baby boy in SoPho. Big Stat back at Suns practice following eye injury. Barbosa returns, too, after visiting sick mom in Brazil. Citizen’s…

By John Dickerson Investigative reporters at KPHO Channel 5 have secured a video that shows one inmate brutally beating another inmate to death in Arpaio’s jail. The sheriff refused to release the video, but KPHO sources were able to secure the footage by other means. Click to watch the video…

By Ray Stern Citizens from Arizona and other states have used YouTube to help catch criminals. Now, officials with the Valleywide Silent Witness program are hoping the popularity of Google’s video-sharing Web site will pay off in leads for unsolved crimes. The non-profit organization headed up by Phoenix police Sgt…