Machines turning on their human masters: It sounds like the plot of science fiction movie, but it actually happened to a Peoria punk who police say likes to burglarize vehicles. The 16-year-old was bragging to his homies about stealing from a car when his mobile phone spontaneously called the police. Perhaps his phone had a…
The left’s finally bringin’ out the big dogs to take on our racial-profilin’ Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Tomorrow in Harlem, Rev. Al Sharpton will denounce Maricopa County’s corrupt, tin-pot tyrant in a national press conference with Bertha Lewis, CEO of ACORN. Sharpton will demand Arpaio’s resignation by the end of May,…
Maricopa County leaders had little but cyncism for the surprising announcement by County Attorney Andrew Thomas this morning to hand off the Don Stapley prosecution. Trusting Thomas will be difficult despite his call for peace, says County Manager David Smith, who somehow wound up under criminal investigation during the fight. Smith says…
Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas is waving the white flag. He’s transferring the investigation of Don Stapley and the planned Superior Court building to Yavapai County. And he’s offering to resolve through a mediator his legal dispute about the county’s civil litigation work. The actions seem to bring this county civil war movie to…
Mark Reynolds has a giant black hole in his swing, and one that’s almost as big in his mitt. Eric Byrnes has a couple of cut-rate hammies. Chad Qualls is a 6-foot-5 question mark. The Arizona Diamondbacks face numerous issues as they head into their season-opening series against the Colorado…
They’re not statistically out of it, but the Phoenix Suns have hoisted the white flag. The good news is that that they destroyed the Sacramento Kings Friday night at US Airways Center, 139-111. But the disturbingly bad news is that they got their asses handed to them by the Mavericks Sunday afternoon in Dallas,…
The Mesa Unified School District plans to lay off 210 teachers today. The cuts do not include personnel with one-year contracts who may not be hired back anyway. A district spokesperson says the cuts will save the school district “30 to 60 million dolllars”…Rawhide Western Town will get new management…
We understand that in the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. Worry not! We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times’ blogs. Today’s entries: Valley Fever: “Blood Guardian” Movie Stars Local TV Reporter Mike Watkiss –…
So I roll back into town today, happy to return to the land of low humidity, and be free from the muggy swamp of D.C. I’m hoping to have a low key day, and save the venom for another time. But then I check out this clip of MCSO Sergeant…
The Don Stapley Legal Defense Fund had a “fair amount of return” from a recent fund-raising letter, says one of the fund’s trustees, Betsey Bayless (above).But the support for the Maricopa County Supervisor under indictment hasn’t come without raising some suspicions. Bayless, like other trustees of the fund, tells New…
Today’s approval of gay marriages by the Iowa Supreme Court isn’t likely to impact Arizona, says a local group that helped see a ban on such marriages approved. No legal challenges to the successful Proposition 102 are expected, says Cathi Herrod of the Center for Arizona Policy. The law can…
Right-wing extremist Roy Warden is claiming credit for forcing Ruth McGregor (at left), Arizona’s Chief Justice, into retirement early — but don’t believe him.Warden, known for his violent-sounding rhetoric and penchant for burning Mexican flags, left comments with the claim on several online articles about McGregor’s decision to leave a…
Deb Gullett, former chief of staff to both Senator John McCain and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, can add another “former” to her list of titles: former ASU employee. Gullett, who’d been serving as the associate vice president for external relations for the College of Public Programs, confirmed to New…
A former sailor and Phoenix UPS driver was sentenced to 10 years in a federal prison today for passing secrets to a Pakistan man who ran an Al-Qaeda recruitment Web site.Paul R. Hall, who has apparently changed his name to Hassan Abu-Jihaad, was arrested in Phoenix in 2007 and charged…
Thirty-two dogs were killed in an East Mesa mobile home fire on Tuesday, the East Valley Tribune reports today, including chows, Chihuahuas, English bulldogs and Labradors. We don’t know about you, but the first question that came to our mind when we saw this was, “What the hell are 32…
A gunman took 41 people hostage at an immigration services center today, killing 13 before committing suicide. Several more were wounded after the man stormed the American Civic Association center in Binghamton.Here are the sites that seem to have had the most details right now as the news began to…
Longtime Channel 3 (KTVK-TV) reporter Mike Watkiss has a bit piece in the locally made movie, “Blood Guardian.”As in, blown to bits. (Or stabbed, rather — see Watkiss’ comment below).”They dispatch me promptly and effectively,” says Watkiss. He’s been in a few other small-time flicks, he says, enjoying the energy…
Following the Phoenix Suns’ 114-109 defeat of the Houston Rockets on Wednesday — coupled with the Dallas Mavericks’ 98-96 victory over the Miami Heat — Planet Orange remains 4 games back from the eighth-and-final postseason spot, with 7 to go. Can we say season over for the Suns? Not officially,…
The City of Phoenix purchased 247 acres of land in Ahwatukee at an auction April 2. The city plans to use the land to add 165 acres to South Mountain Park, among other things…Despite the sluggish economy, there’s been record attendance at Cactus League games for the past six weeks,…
We understand that in the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. Worry not! We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times’ blogs. Today’s entries: Valley Fever: Valley Photographer Says Cops Harassed Him for Taking Pictures in…
For three weeks, jurors heard testimony in State v. Bryant Wilkerson, as the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office attempted to a convince them that a 28-year-old Fountain Hills man was guilty of manslaughter, aggravated assault, and multiple counts of felony endangerment. It took the jury less than two hours today to find Wilkerson…
The Department of Public Safety released details on the arrests of who the agency calls “super speeders” — motorists caught by photo enforcement cameras on Valley freeways.Coincidentally, New Times called DPS last night about the issue, and wrote about it this morning.But get this — it turns out one of…
