You will remember the quirky case of Michael Marin if you read our paper regularly, but here is the link to the original story, “Burning Man,” about the man, the fire and the repercussions, which now include a prison term for Marin if the jury at his criminal trial in downtown Phoenix…
A federal judge is being asked for a second time to order that records in the criminal case of Arizona Legislator Ben Arredondo that refer to other investigations will be kept secret.This seems to be more proof that while the feds probably were happy to nail Arredondo for his alleged corrupt acts, the…
UPDATE: 4-year-old Toryn Buckman has died.A 4-year-old girl is brain dead at Phoenix Children’s Hospital after an alleged series of abuses at the hands of her mother and her boyfriend.Ashley Buckman and her boyfriend James Edwards, both 22 years old, were arrested yesterday after police were called to their apartment,…
Back in the day, we had several occasions to bat against Mike White, a native New Zealander who happened to be one of the greatest fastpitch-softball pitchers of all-time. Whitey wasn’t a big guy, but he had great command of all of his pitches, and was an absolutely fierce competitor. …
Yesterday, we told you about Scottsdale gun-law author Alan Korwin, who claims to believe the word “birther” is a derogatory term “equivalent of the ‘N’ word.”This claim somehow made it onto the websites of both the East Valley Tribune and Arizona Republic.”‘Birther,’ used by the media with impunity, is a…
Ousted state Senate President Russell Pearce actually is trying to get elected again, this time in Senate District 25, where he’ll have to contend with fellow GOP hopeful Bob Worsley.We’re obviously looking at a picture of Pearce with a baby — taken from an invitation to join him for an “ice cream…
Andrew Thomas is a failed politician in serious need of good publicity.After being disbarred in April for unethical acts as Maricopa County Attorney, Thomas also wants to strike back at the judiciary system, which he feels screwed him over.So now, he’s putting himself on public display as the face of…
If you know the guy who decided to turn flashlights into IEDs that blow up when people try to turn them on, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering $10,000 for you to give him up.Three of these devices have been found in the last three weeks,…
NB: Please see my update at the end of this blog item, with links to the full autopsy and toxicology reports.The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office has issued a determination as to the cause of death for Marty Atencio, the Army vet brutally beaten and Tased in Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s…
The search of the landfill where police believe they may find the the body of missing 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley will end, but police don’t yet know when.Glendale police spokeswoman Tracy Breeden tells New Times that news outlets saying the search is ending in June are “drawing the wrong conclusions.”There’s no…
Disgraced Democratic-turned-Independent ex-state Representative Daniel Patterson isn’t making an official end to his political career.Patterson took to Twitter to say he’s not running again for his former seat, based in Tucson, but ends with “2014?”That might be a tough one, since Patterson resigned a bit after an ethics committee report…
Shut down Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s notorious outdoors-deathtrap Tent City? Sounds like a solid idea to me, and one the Phoenix human rights organization Puente will be pushing Saturday, June 23 during a rally and vigil outside Joe’s al fresco gulag.I had to look twice at the announcement for this action…
State Representative Ben Arredondo pleaded not guilty (as expected) yesterday to charges of bribery, fraud, attempted extortion and making false statements.A motion to keep evidence in the case secret — which revealed “other investigations,” which are “both closed and ongoing” — was denied.It’s likely that the protective order on the…
According to a Scottsdale gun-law author, the word “birther” is a derogatory term “equivalent of the ‘N’ word.” Perhaps it’s not surprising to hear something a bit nuts coming from the author of After You Shoot: Your Gun’s Hot. The Perp’s Not. Now What?, but Alan Korwin actually got this…
Yesterday, we brought you the letter from Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk, explaining to Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery why no charges will be filed against Tempe Mayor-elect Mark Mitchell.Aside from the “absence of a reasonable belief of probable conviction,” Polk also notes Mitchell’s age at the time and the…
Why can’t the United States and Mexico agree on one only name for the Rio Bravo-Grande river? And I don’t understand why the Americans lo dice en español? Marfa Maven The Mexican is a Californian by the grace of God so doesn’t dare tread the intellectual waters of the Lone…
LIES LIES LIES Dwindling political prospects for Babeu: Tremendous story by Monica Alonzo on the prevaricating chameleon Paul Babeu (“The Great Exaggerator,” May 17). To have practically all his distortions [catalogued in one place] is eye-popping! After this latest exposé, he won’t be re-elected sheriff, even though he has dropped…
Arizona Senate Minority Leader David Schapira tried to address bullying in the state’s school districts this year. Schapira — an instructor at Arizona State University, a former high school teacher in the Paradise Valley School District, a member of Tempe Union High School District governing board, and a ranking member…
Bottle-blond bangs swept over one eye — this, the other boys whispered, was not a man’s haircut. One of them — a popular, handsome specimen — grew particularly incensed at his classmate’s new look. He formed a posse and found a pair of scissors. After locating the blond boy, the…
Correction: In the following story, Manny Cruz serves as executive director for the Abandoned Mine Safety Organization (AMS) Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit. In the 20 years since she founded The Family School, Sue Johnson is hard-pressed to think of a kid with more cognitive challenges than Rocky Cruz. The popular…
Mark Dixon of Casa Grande is ticked off at Arizona Supreme Court Disciplinary Judge William O’Neil, that much is clear.O’Neil, former presiding judge for the Pinal County Superior Court, had the contractor come out to his property to do maintenance and they had a “very close friendship,” according to an…
Seven candidates are vying to serve as the next sheriff of Pinal County, a post now held by one of those candidates — embattled incumbent Paul Babeu. Babeu faces stiff competition from three Republicans, two Democrats and one Independent. Babeu quit his race for a seat in Arizona’s Fourth Congressional…
