A Mexican national will be calling America home for a little while longer after being sentenced in a Phoenix federal court to some lengthy prison time for smuggling cocaine into Arizona.David Efrain Flores-Castro, 33, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison today for his role in a 2008 smuggling…
Arizona legislators played hooky from their legislative responsibilities at a troubling rate this year, and Representative Jerry Weiers is pissed. In response, he has proposed legislation that would dock legislators a day’s pay if they have an unexcused absence during a floor vote.However, we can think of a few legislators…
For those who want to be a responsible citizens and watch the President’s State of the Union speech — but who may get too bored to sit through the whole thing — there’s a solution: turn tonight’s remarks intgo a drinking game.The idea came to two Princeton University students, Marc Melzer and…
Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Roslyn Silver put an end to all-important “matching funds” provisions in Arizona’s clean elections system, saying that — absent a stay from the appellate court — publicly funded candidates will only get a set amount of money this year.This week, the appellate court offered a…
The numbers are in, and the torrential weather seems to have had little effect on the posh Barrett-Jackson luxury car auction in Scottsdale last week — the cars drew some serious coin.The company announced today that, in total, the auction brought in about $68 million in one week, an 11…
Andrew Thomas was said to be appreciative of the Arizona Supreme Court’s appointment of retired Chief Justice Ruth McGregor as a referee in the ongoing county feud. Thomas’ reaction didn’t make much sense then, and it’s making even less now that McGregor isn’t ruling his way. As you may recall, Thomas filed a motion with Special Master McGregor…
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner is keeping true to his word: he’s not gonna pull a Brett Favre and let his retirement decision obnoxiously linger until training camp starts. Warner has scheduled a press conference Friday at the Cardinals practice facility, where he plans to announce his decision.As much as we’d…
How far right is J.D. Hayworth? If you ask him, about one click left of “birther.”The former Arizona congressman turned Rush Limbaugh clone appeared on Hardball with Chris Mathews last night, and when Mathews asked him if he was as far right as a “birther” — sporting his most sinister…
To cop and alter a line from Mel Brooks’ History of the World, Part I, the rednecks are revolting! Yeah, man, they stink on ice.Like you needed more proof that Arizona’s chock full of backwards, toothless puddin’heads who freak at the mere suggestion of any culture other than their own, along…
Florida Governor Charlie Crist can’t seem to take a hint. Last week, it became clear that Mesa was the Chicago Cubs top choice for their new spring-training facilities. On Monday, the Mesa City Council approved an $84 million plan to build the Cubbies a facility. All that’s left is for…
As the search for 8-month-old Gabriel Johnson continues — now one month after he disappeared with his mother, Elizabeth Johnson — the text messages she sent to the baby’s father while on the run have been revealed. It was widely publicized that Johnson told Gabriel’s father that she had killed…
Finally, it’s official: The Suns suck. With that strong start, we wanted to believe. Oh, how we wanted to believe! But after heartbreaking back-to-back losses to Utah Monday night and Charlotte last night, we’re giving up on the Suns’ season. Barring a miracle. Because it will take that for Coach Alvin Gentry’s…
Phoenix police are investigating a home invasion where men dressed in police-type gear and forced their way into a West Valley home. Five to six bad guys reportedly wore black clothes and body armor and were armed with handguns and rifles. No one was harmed in the incident, but the suspects…
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: Joe Arpaio’s Popularity “Collapses” According to Rocky Mountain Poll, But the News Is Not Quite…
For anyone who thought Pat Robertson’s diatribe about Haiti’s “pact with the devil” was offensive, wait ’til you get a load of what former Phoenix Suns reserve forward Paul Shirley blabbed.On his blog, Shirley claims he has not given a dime to the relief effort and has no plans to give a…
The details aren’t yet complete, but both the mayor’s office and writer/PR guy David Leibowitz confirmed to New Times today that they’re finalizing an agreement to have Leibowitz work for Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon.Leibowitz will be helping Gordon, and the city, with communications — from speech-writing to official statements to the…
There is a conference going on right now in London, where some of the world’s leading scientists are discussing one thing: aliens. Of the space variety, not the ones Joe Arpaio herds into his jails like cattle.Speaking at the London Royal Society conference is Arizona State University Professor Paul Davies,…
A new BRC Rocky Mountain Poll shows Sheriff Joe’s approval rating slipping in Maricopa County, though I find the poll’s claim that Arpaio’s popularity has collapsed to be premature. Countywide, only 39 percent of respondents rate Arpaio’s performance as “good” or “very good.” That’s way down from the 54 percent…
The Internal Revenue Service has some bad news for Arizona Cardinals safety Antrel Rolle: He owes the federal government $2.2 million.According to the IRS, Rolle understated his income by about 50 percent on filings from 2005 and 2006, his first two seasons in the NFL.In 2005, Rolle reported $669,000 in taxable…
Now that revenue from photo radar has officially failed to meet the lofty, $90-million expectations of former Governor Janet Napolitano, the Arizona Supreme Court will decide on whether to give the go-ahead to proposed changes in the rules on how the tickets are served.The way it works now is, people…
Two teenage girls made history at a border checkpoint in Yuma, but it’s hardly a record that will make their families swell with pride. The two unnamed girls, ages 18 and 19, were arrested by border patrol agents for attempting to smuggle 47 pounds of meth into Arizona — the…
A Glendale man who shot and wounded a Glendale police officer was sentenced to 24 years in prison by a Maricopa County Superior Court judge. Prosecutors charged 29-year-old Jeremy Kent with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and misconduct involving weapons following the 2006 shooting of Glendale police Officer Jeremy Esh. Kent, according to…
