In the “they-must-have-too-much-money” department, the New York Times reports that a debt-collection exec with homes in Arizona and Minnesota paid $230,000 for a family guard dog. “Julia” spent three tough years of training in Germany and lived with the family of the training company’s vice-president before moving in with bill…
On its fifth anniversary, John Richardson’s homicide case remains cold, and a hole in his mom’s life remains unfilled. Known as “J.R.,” Richardson was last seen with friends at a house near 43rd Avenue and Thomas Road in Phoenix the night of June 11, 2006, according to police. A year later,…
John McCluskey, one of three inmates who escaped from an Arizona prison last summer — and then went on a multi-state tour of mayhem — goes to trial tomorrow in Arizona for escaping from prison and assaulting two men when he hijacked their truck following his escape.McCluskey still faces two…
Whether the Arizona Diamondbacks can come home Tuesday with a winning record on their latest road trip won’t be determined until after tonight’s game against the Florida Marlins in South Beach. But the team was able to take two of three against the Fish over the weekend. Arizona lost Friday…
Phoenix firm iCloud Communications filed an iLawsuit against Apple last week, alleging the computing giant stole its iName.Apple apparently thinks it has the right to the name, judging by the way it’s been marketing the new iCloud service as a free feature of its operating system, iOS5. Apple’s iCloud “stores…
The enormous Wallow Fire continues to rage in eastern Arizona, and it has rekindled the debate over whether environmentalists are to blame for wildfires.Over the years, environmentalists have filed lawsuits that put restrictions on loggers who clear a lot of the dry brush from the forests. They say “old-growth” logging puts…
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:…
An extraordinary collection of crystals and minerals alleged to have been illegally moved from Sedona to Phoenix last year has returned to Seattle following a lawsuit settlement. Gary Midzor, the man who bought the collection once appraised at $25 million for $1 as part of a real estate deal, now wants the public to know…
Manuel Alvarez says he was only being a good samaritan when he grabbed a 15-year-old girl’s boobs on a Phoenix sidewalk last night. He’s even got a story for why he allegedly tried to kiss her — and offer her money for sex — too.According to court documents obtained by…
Kathryn Elizabeth Hetrick, a teenage drunk driver responsible for the death of local hip-hop artist Abay Lattin last year, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Maricopa County Superior Court. The 18-year-old former Arizona State University student also pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault in connection with the fatal car accident last…
Of the many uses for a laser pointer, terrorizing a airplane pilot should not be one of them.Valley residents apparently didn’t get the memo. In a jump from last year, Valley pilots now have the second highest report of laser strikes in the country.A “laser strike,” more often than not,…
State Senator — and former Senate majority leader — Scott Bundgaard has been charged with a pair of misdemeanors for his February freeway scuffle with his ex-gal-pal “Iron” Aubry Ballard.Bundgaard’s been charged with one count each of reckless assault and endangerment for the freeway fracas that resulted in a night…
State Senate President Russell Pearce and the Republican-controlled Legislature couldn’t be bothered today to change one word in state law to extend unemployment benefits to 15,000 out-of-work Arizonans.But Pearce has had the copious free time to compose a lengthy, five page letter to Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne arguing that…
Senate President Russell Pearce claims illegal immigration costs taxpayers beaucoup cash; in reality Hispanics, legal and illegal, are aiding the state’s economy.A boom in Arizona’s Latino population has resulted in a powerful purchasing bloc that could help save the state’s struggling economy.This, according to a just-released report by the Arizona Hispanic…
our previous post about Joe Arpaio’s immigrant roundup at a downtown Phoenix restaurant this morning, America’s self-proclaimed “toughest sheriff” issued a press release, in which he boasts that his agency “is the only law enforcement agency in the state that is currently enforcing employer sanctions laws.””Employer” being the operative word.However,…
A few women at the state Capitol invited Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce into their daily lives to show him what a few hundred dollars a week from unemployment benefits can buy.Carla Mannes, one of the women at a press conference held by Citizens for a Better Arizona, explained that a…
America’s self-proclaimed “toughest sheriff” conducted another of his signature illegal-immigrant roundups this morning, this time at the Old Spaghetti Factory in central Phoenix.Maricopa County’s corrupt top-cop was targeting seven suspected illegal immigrants following an eight-month investigation. Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s boys in beige only nabbed three of the targets, who were…
A patron of a Scottsdale hotel called police to report a bombing early this morning. When officers showed up at his hotel room, he tried to shoot them.Scottsdale police say the man called 9-1-1 about 4:30 a.m. to report a bomb had gone off at the Clarion Hotel at 5101…
lively exchange at the Downtown Voices Coalition’s mayoral forum at the Lexington Hotel last night. At most forums, candidates cleave to the their talking points and engage in political niceties, but residents who attended last night’s forum got a few fireworks.Downtown Voices leaders allowed candidates to ask questions of each…
A Pinal County woman is dead after falling from a moving car Wednesday night. Police suspect she was drunk, and her husband probably will be charged with impaired driving.About 9 p.m. Wednesday, 57-year-old Tommie Joe Holliday called 9-1-1 and immediately hung up. The operator called him back, and he said…
A Pinal County woman was arrested last month after a fight with her 17-year-old daughter led police to the discovery of more opiates than you’d probably find at a pharmacy.Police were called to the home of Eva Martinez on May 18, because she was fighting with her teenage daughter. Martinez…
We continuously referred to a 13-year-old girl who was allegedly — and willingly — sexually abused by an 18-year-old man as a “victim” yesterday, and it seems we’ve started a bit of a debate: is the the girl really a victim.Sheldon Raquet, 18, was booked on one count each of…
