Update May 1, 2010: Rodriguez has apparently weenied out of his “boycott” issuing a statement that he’ll be doing the comedy show at Wild Horse Pass, but he’ll be donating the proceeds from his performance to LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens.At this point, I wish Rodriguez had…
A building fire in a west Phoenix industrial building this morning led fire officials to discover a dead body, and police say the victim was murdered.About 4:45 a.m., the Phoenix Fire Department responded to a fire alarm that went off in the 1200 block of south 35th Avenue.When fire personnel responded,…
We were driving back from Cochise County yesterday afternoon when a funky old Nissan lumbered past and pulled back in front of us. Someone had scribbled in large white letters on the trunk, “HONK AT ME. I’M LEGAL!” What the heck, we thought, flashing on the infamous Senate Bill 1070…
Don Imus, the right-wing radio host who in 2006 gave J.D. Hayworth what the Hayworth campaign then referred to as an “endorsement,” had some not-so-nice things to say about the Senate hopeful on his Fox Business show this morning.While talking to Chris Wallace, Hayworth’s name came up, to which Imus…
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said on Monday that he won’t make an announcement about any plans he may have to run for governor over the weekend because Vice President Joe Biden will be in Phoenix on Saturday and he “wouldn’t want to take the press away” from the VP.This…
A bank robbery suspect turned a Chandler bank into a drag show yesterday, when he dressed like a woman while committing his heist. According to witnesses, the suspect — wearing a black cotton knee-length summer dress with a purple shirt underneath and a long, black curly wig tucked under a black and purple checkered…
The Diamondbacks blew a six-run first inning — and won? Strange but true. Well, not really so strange considering that the back end of the D-Backs’ rotation is pretty weak and the bullpen isn’t much better. Thank goodness, this year’s team knows how to hit, as the offense carried the…
Two people were injured after a car chase involving suspected gang members turned into a shooting in Phoenix yesterday afternoon. While driving east on Roeser Road, someone in the black vehicle began to shoot at a sedan, hitting the car several times and the driver. The driver drove off the road…
Albert Manuel walks through the desert near Gila Bend, reminiscing about the days when Indian villages sprawled across the landscape. He grew up in this southwestern desert, played under its mesquite trees, and hunted quail and dove with his brothers. “We’d go to the water tank or sit under the…
FOLK, YEAH! Let’s enjoy the moment: Love it! So glad that Courtney Marie Andrews, Michelle Blades, and the whole River Jones Music crew are getting this attention. So much hard work and great music has been happening! This scene is important, and Modified Arts or not, it needs to be…
I don’t always remember to honor our veterans. Typically, I work through Memorial Day. (And Labor Day, for that matter.) I can’t even tell you when Veterans Day is. But this year, I found myself riveted by festivities for the most obscure veterans holiday we have in Arizona: Vietnam Remembrance…
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon continues to face scrutiny for entangling his personal and professional lives and for lacking transparency in how he conducts certain business in his office. Gordon hired the sister of his girlfriend’s business partner on a roughly $4,000 a month contract to work as his administrative assistant…
THE RECKONING Filled to overflowing with individuals of all races, Phoenix’s First Institutional Baptist Church played host recently to a slew of religious and political leaders gathered to denounce state Senator Russell Pearce’s pro-racial profiling bill, SB 1070, signed into law Friday by Governor Jan Brewer. Present as guest of…
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: Linda Ronstadt Returns, Joe Arpaio Hunts Hispanics, and ACLU Announces Plans to Sue Over SB…
Alberto Gutier, director of the Arizona Department of Highway Safety, admitted to New Times today that he made contributions to Governor Jan Brewer’s campaign under the name of a subordinate employee and his family — when the money came from Gutier himself.Gutier characterized the contribution as a “huge mistake” and…
A second suspect was arrested in the brazen, daylight kidnapping last week of four family members in Phoenix, and the victims were released unharmed. Yesterday, we told you how two kidnappers hijacked a car with four people last Wednesday morning on 35th Avenue. (All the victims were adults). Cops arrested Cesar Angeles-Ballester…
Murder? Apparently there’s an app for that, too. That’s according to Phoenix police who say a local guy was murdered by a 19-year-old fellow he met using a social networking iPhone app often used by gay men to hook up. Mark G. Woodland, 54, was found dead at his apartment…
If you believe the latest poll, Senator John McCain’s lead over his opponent in the GOP primary for Senate, J.D. Hayworth, has just gone from substantial to huge.According to the most recent poll, conducted by Phoenix-based Behavior Research Group, McCain now leads Hayworth 54 percent to 28 percent — a…
Bill Montgomery, a potential candidate for Maricopa County Attorney backed by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, disparaged the sheriff in an hour-long talk with County Supervisor Don Stapley, a county official says. The whole thing was caught on tape without Montgomery’s knowledge. County officials plan to release a digital version to the…
Tomorrow will be a big day in Sand Land, with Latina pop icon Shakira meeting with Mayor Phil Gordon over their opposition to Arizona’s new racial profiling law. Normally, that alone would make for a huge news day here in Cactus Country, but both the ACLU and Sheriff Joe plan…
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is demanding documents from Sheriff Joe Arpaio related to a possible misappropriation of detention funds — and if he doesn’t comply, a county spokeswoman tells New Times, Arpaio could be found in contempt of court or even face arrest.The supervisors have been demanding the…
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio continues to fan the media flames over his potential run for governor by announcing that he will not announce his gubernatorial plans this weekend because Vice President Joe Biden will be in town for a Democratic Party dinner on Saturday night.If you’re thinking Arpaio’s decision to…
