During his controversial tenure as Maricopa County attorney, Andrew Thomas may have styled himself as a “tough” prosecutor — but insiders knew that the real iron in Thomas’ proverbial fist came from Lisa Aubuchon. The notoriously aggressive Aubuchon took on high-profile political cases with a vengeance. She served as lead…
Hundreds of demonstrators protested Arizona Schools Superintendent Tom Horne in Tucson today over his backing of Sand Land’s new ethnic studies ban. The new law forbids classes that teach “ethnic solidarity,” promote the overthrow of the U.S. government, or “are designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group.”Coming on…
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: Feathered Bastard: COED Magazine’s “72 Sexy Reasons to Boycott Arizona,” Gawker’s Navel-Gazing, and ChuckUFarley’s Insane Animation Los…
A Washington man apparently tried to kill himself this morning when he crashed his car — packed with all sorts of explosives — off a cliff near Oatman.Seemingly to his dismay, not only did the man live, but he was arrested for the failed suicide attempt. …
During his last six months as Maricopa County Attorney, Andrew Thomas took on a series of high-profile defendants and pursued both criminal cases and civil litigation against a host of other county officials.But even during that frenzied time, Thomas maintained the barest of presences at his county office. In fact, records…
Maricopa County health officials denied reports by the Sheriff’s Office that 160 jail inmates had been quarantined two months ago because of four illegal immigrants with chicken pox. Officials also downplayed a news release issued by Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s office last night about chicken pox found in immigrants busted yesterday,…
The death of former University of Arizona golf phenom — and LPGA Tour member — Erica Blasberg shocked the golf world and now, three days after her body was discovered in her apartment near Las Vegas on Sunday, there are few answers.Blasberg, 25, was found dead in her apartment on…
The Los Angeles City Council today joined the growing list of cities and organizations boycotting Arizona because of our new “papers please” legislation SB 1070. Well, kinda sorta.According to LA Times reporter Phl Willon, the council voted to “ban most city travel to Arizona and future contracts with companies” here,…
A judge today dismissed an order of protection for the unborn baby of an Arizona couple who police believe are trying to sell the child somewhere in Utah.Utah’s Third District Juvenile Judge James Michie ruled that because the baby — as far as he knows — has not been born…
Although Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon doesn’t leave office for another year and half, political wonks already are speculating about the final lineup of candidates for the 2011 mayor’s race.Former Attorney General Grant Woods? Arizona Democrat Jim Pederson? Deputy Attorney General (and former Phoenix councilman) Greg Stanton? Without an incumbent to challenge, since…
At last, an iPhone application that does something a little more useful than finding the closest Applebee’s.Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale are conducting clinical trials on a new iPhone app that would allow doctors to view brain scans with their iPhones.The new app was designed by Ross Mitchell,…
Three kids from El Salvador, held for ransom after their parents paid to have them smuggled into the United States, were released in Phoenix after ICE agents began working the case. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau got wind of the kidnapping on Monday and “worked round-the-clock” to find the children, ages 11…
The basketball gods seem to like Phoenix.It’s reported that Phoenix Suns big-man Robin Lopez will play — in some capacity — in game one of the NBA Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, beginning Monday at 6 p.m. (The Lakers have home-court advantage so the first two games will be…
An “upscale companion escort” beat a valet with her high-heeled shoe on Monday night at the Valley Ho in Scottsdale, leaving the man bloody and shaken, police said. Just after 10 p.m., Jennifer Thomas, 26, exited the lobby of the hotel at 6850 East Main Street, rambling to herself and screaming at…
The news has been such a downer lately, what with Arizona declaring war on Hispanics, the near-universal condemnation of Arizona’s new “papers please” legislation, and a boycott of Arizona that could cost the City of Phoenix alone $90 million, that I’ve decided we all need some lighter fare, if only…
We read that in yesterday’s Romenesko, a well-read insider blog about the media that appears on the Poynter Institute’s excellent Web site. Huh?! The boss of Village Voice Media and Phoenix New Times (who usually looks a little better than in this photo) didn’t tell us he was planning on adding a new New to…
Terrible tragedy off Interstate 17, up the big hill north of Black Canyon City last weekend, that took the lives of a Valley attorney and his 7-year-old son. According to news accounts, 47-year-old Conrad Hernandez did have a lot on his plate, including financial worries and previous suicidal ideation. But…
The Glendale City Council signed off on a deal with the National Hockey League last night that should guarantee that the team stays in Glendale for at least one more season. The NHL had requested that the City of Glendale pick up the tab on any financial losses the team may suffer…
Every Diamondbacks pitcher who stepped on the mound last night wound up sucking — even the usually mighty Dan Haren. Though Haren struck out the first nine batters he faced through three innings, things eventually fell apart, and he wound up giving up four runs on 10 hits to the Los…
On Monday night, Governor Jan Brewer signed into law a bill that legalizes the sale and use of certain types of fireworks in Arizona.The bill doesn’t permit cool fireworks like bottle rockets or M-80s, but it allows Arizona residents to buy, sell, and use things like sparklers and those stupid ground…
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: Feathered Bastard: Arnold Schwarzenegger Latest Celeb/Politician To Dis Arizona’s SB 1070 Up on the Sun: Kimber Lanning…
Guadalupe activist Andrew Sanchez and activist Margarito Blancas got the CNN treatment today, in a piece running on CNN’s Web site with the header “Cop-watchers look for racial profiling on the streets of Phoenix.”CNN tagged along with Sanchez and Blancas (CNN has the latter’s name as “Blanco,” though I’ve always…
