GOP gubernatorial hopeful Christine Jones held a tele-town hall Monday night to address criticisms being leveled at her campaign from fellow Republicans. She deserves points for the effort, though with National Review Online digging up an old Facebook post of hers from 2012, encouraging people to “get excited” about Obama’s…
Activists say authorities’ response to the alleged rape of a transgender woman at an immigrant detention facility in Eloy was unacceptable.Marichuy, whose legal name is Jesus Leal Gamino, claims she was sexually assaulted by her cellmate last month at the Eloy Detention Center, after she says she warned detention staff…
The debate over Common Core has been central to the race for State Superintendent of Public Education, and one challenger of incumbent John Huppenthal’s claims that his opponent is sending mixed signals on exactly where he stands…
Ersula Ore, the assistant professor at Arizona State University whose violent arrest became national news because of a viral video, was sentenced today to nine months’ supervised probation. Ore pleaded guilty earlier this month to one count of passively resisting arrest, a misdemeanor. She’d been charged originally by the Maricopa…
Facebook went down this morning in an apparent worldwide outage, throwing social media users into a panic and boosting the use of rival site Twitter. With no Facebook on which to share thoughts for — what, about 23 minutes? — Twitter was abuzz with various quips and laments about the…
At the end of the week, we bring you a roundup of visitors to the desert’s own Fourth Avenue Jail. To be considered for our Maricopa County mugshots of the week, get arrested, strike a pose, and we’ll take care of the rest.This week, prepare for weirdness. Enjoy…
Peter Steinmetz, the brain scientist arrested last week after bringing an AR-15 to the airport, plans to address reporters at a Monday news conference. Steinmetz is scheduled to appear and give a public statement at 3 p.m. Monday at the law office of Marc Victor, 3920 South Alma School Road,…
Local McDonald’s workers rallied for higher wages, better working conditions, and the right to unionize without retaliation at a press conference this morning. The workers are involved in the Fight for 15 campaign, a drive to push McDonald’s and other fast-food chains to pay workers 15 dollars per hour…
It’s like 2010 all over again, in more ways than one, when it comes to the self-described “conservative ice cream guy,” Republican state treasurer and wannabe governor Doug Ducey. Back in 2010, Democrat Andrei Cherny opposed Ducey in the treasurer’s race, and took aim at Ducey’s leadership of Cold Stone…
Maricopa County won’t appeal a federal judge’s ruling that prevents county officials from prosecuting undocumented immigrants for smuggling themselves into the country.Such prosecutions were started by now-disbarred former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, using a relatively new anti-smuggling law that was enacted to target human smugglers, not those being smuggled…
The nation’s largest humanist charity is raising funds to offer legal assistance to the unaccompanied immigrant children flooding over the border. The Humanist Crisis Response program will donate the funds to two organizations that provide attorneys for minors in immigration hearings — the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project in…
As early ballots begin arriving in mailboxes across Arizona, Mayor Greg Stanton is throwing his political support behind Michael Johnson, who is running for a seat on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Johnson, a former Phoenix city councilman, is running against fellow Democrats Steve Gallardo and Marie Lopez Rogers,…
Arizona’s political heavyweights have spent years in federal court challenging the legality of Tohono O’odham Nation’s proposed West Valley Resort, a casino near 91st and Northern avenues. Since the law hasn’t been on opponents’ side, they’ve desperately been trying to change it. Congressman Trent Franks, who is now joined by…
Seven people associated with a motorcycle gang have been arrested for allegedly beating a man and his girlfriend outside a Phoenix bar in March.Police say the seven people are involved with a motorcycle gang called Latin Riderz, and face charges including aggravated assault, kidnapping, and assisting a criminal street gang.Phoenix…
The Barrow Neurological Institute has put its gun-toting brain scientist, Peter Steinmetz, on leave from his job. Steinmetz made national headlines after he was arrested on Friday for mishandling a fully loaded AR-15 he’d brought with him to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Apparently, the gun-rights advocate was just trying…
What is it about the many gringos/gabachos who constantly slaughter Spanish words? Spanish is easy to pronounce (and spell) compared to English. The vowels (a, e, i, o, u) are always pronounced the same way. In English, vowels vary a lot — difficult for new learners. All the other alphabet…
Christine Jones and firearms? Sounds like a fine way to spend a Saturday. Such was my thought when I found out Jones, a contender for the GOP nod for governor, would be at Shooter’s Vault, a gun shop in North Phoenix, for a campaign meet-and-greet. See, I had a few…
A candidate with forged signatures on his nominating petitions won’t be removed from the ballot, despite the existence of a state law against petition forgery.Although Republican Senate candidate Toby Farmer attested to being present when these phony signatures were signed, the Arizona Supreme Court is allowing him to stay on…
Campaign literature is filling mailboxes across the state as the August 26 primary election approaches. In Arizona’s Seventh Congressional District, political attacks documented in ominous black and white flyers are in full swing. Former Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox knocks competitor Ruben Gallego in her flyers for earning a…
Three children from Central America who came to the United States unaccompanied appeared before members of Congress on Tuesday to explain their journeys to the United States.Democratic Congressman Raúl Grijalva hosted the hearing with other members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Grijalva said he didn’t want people, especially members of…
The prestigious Barrow Neurological Institute of Phoenix isn’t saying much about the airport arrest on Friday of AR-15 toting top brain scientist Peter Nathan Steinmetz. The institute is, however, erasing Steinmetz from its website in what appears to be a move designed to curb the dreadful PR arising from this…
UPDATE: Wilcox’s spokesman has responded to the poll. See updates below. A recent poll solicited by Congressional candidate Ruben Gallego reveals that he’s eight points ahead of his primary challenger, Mary Rose Wilcox. The survey released by Camp Gallego finds that Gallego has 32 percent of voters on his side,…
