When Kyrsten Sinema spoke in favor of an AI data center at an Oct. 16 Chandler City Council meeting, she failed to mention she was there as a paid lobbyist. Now, Sinema may have created an opposition she hoped to avoid. By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:

When Kyrsten Sinema spoke in favor of an AI data center at an Oct. 16 Chandler City Council meeting, she failed to mention she was there as a paid lobbyist. Now, Sinema may have created an opposition she hoped to avoid. By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:

MAGA darling and Avondale City Council member Jeannette Garcia is being sued by an anonymous plaintiff. He claims she drunkenly offered him a job at Turning Point in exchange for sex and, when he said no, briefly kidnapped his teen daughter. Story by @tjlheureux.bsky.social:

BREAKING: A top Kris Mayes division chief was arrested yesterday by postal inspectors. Mayes' office says that Vanessa Hickman resigned as state government division chief on Monday. From @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Happy to have @kyleodegard.bsky.social writing at @phoenixnewtimes.com. Here, he weighs in on the Cardinals' impending divorce with Kyler Murray -- and lays out how the Cardinals got themselves into this mess.

Five-year-old just scared the shit out of me. "When I grow up, I'm going to be a DJ."

Jessica Heidi-Holwell was furloughed by the Department of Veterans Affairs during the shutdown. She DoorDashes to feed her kids. "I don’t know what we’ll do if we run out of money before Congress agrees on a deal to reopen the government," she writes at @phoenixnewtimes.com.

Jessica Heidi-Holwell was furloughed by the Department of Veterans Affairs during the shutdown. She DoorDashes to feed her kids. "I don’t know what we’ll do if we run out of money before Congress agrees on a deal to reopen the government," she writes at @phoenixnewtimes.com.

Could they maybe have gotten Ethan Hawke a prop gun that doesn't look like it was made in woodshop? Where does the bullet come from? Cc @sepinwall.bsky.social

In January 2024, a man called the cops on his teenage son, claiming he wouldn't turn over his cell phone. The cops tackled the kid, breaking his wrist and busting open his chin. They also told the dad he should beat his son. Story from @tjlheureux.bsky.social:

The kid, who is now suing, repeatedly told police his dad was abusive. The veracity of that claim is not clear, partially because none of the cops took it seriously. They even lied in the incident report about it. Story: www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/phoenix...

“He is a child — he only has rights from the government. He has no rights from you. If you wish to beat him, beat him. If you wish to belt him, belt him.” To the kid, a cop said: “Other than sending you to the hospital, your dad should beat you." Story:

In January 2024, a man called the cops on his teenage son, claiming he wouldn't turn over his cell phone. The cops tackled the kid, breaking his wrist and busting open his chin. They also told the dad he should beat his son. Story from @tjlheureux.bsky.social:

"Will Smith just smacked the shit outta me"

The measles outbreak in the Northern Arizona community of Short Creek -- a former fundamentalist Mormon stronghold -- is showing no signs of slowing. Just on the Arizona side of the Utah border, cases are nearing 100. From @morgfisch.bsky.social:

New: Phoenix is being sued by the mother of a man who was killed by a cop in January. Though police said the man was armed, body-cam footage does not clearly show that. It does show a cop calmly shooting Christopher Phillips in the back from distance.

Our @morgfisch.bsky.social went to Short Creek, home to Arizona's biggest measles outbreak in decades. It's also the former home of infamous polygamist leader Warren Jeffs. Jeffs' reign is over, but measles -- and low vaccination rates -- shows he casts a long shadow. A must-read:

Our @morgfisch.bsky.social went to Short Creek, home to Arizona's biggest measles outbreak in decades. It's also the former home of infamous polygamist leader Warren Jeffs. Jeffs' reign is over, but measles -- and low vaccination rates -- shows he casts a long shadow. A must-read:

Not sure the folks at NBC/Peacock thought this one through

The best signs Phoenix New Times saw at the "No Kings" protest at the Arizona Capitol.

Oct. 2 wasn't the best day for Phoenix police. That morning, officers killed Victor Altamirano. Body-cam footage showed he was yelling "kill me!" and stumbling away when he was shot from a distance of about 40-50 feet. Story by @tjlheureux.bsky.social:

The QAnon Shaman spoke to @tjlheureux.bsky.social about his $40 trillion lawsuit against Trump. "I’m suing that motherfucker because I believe it was him and his administration that’s directly responsible for the harassment campaign that I endured." Link: www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/phoenix...

Republicans want to free the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office from federal oversight, citing a $350M price tag. So, the federal judge ordered an audit. It found that 72% of costs charged to court-ordered compliance had little to do with that at all. By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:

Hernan Castro's a big deal in Tucson's mushroom scene. He has a green card, has lived here since age 12. But now, he's in prison for allegedly lying on a citizenship application. Friends feel ICE is targeting him for deportation. By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:

Hernan Castro's a big deal in Tucson's mushroom scene. He has a green card, has lived here since age 12. But now, he's in prison for allegedly lying on a citizenship application. Friends feel ICE is targeting him for deportation. By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:

Jan. 6 rioter Jacob Chansley -- aka the QAnon Shaman -- is representing himself in a suit against Donald Trump, the U.S. government, Israel, the IMF and other entities. He's seeking $40 trillion and claims he's the rightful president. By @tjlheureux.bsky.social:

In a rambling complaint, Jacob Chansley claims DJs are spies, that the NSA stole his work for a Batman movie and more.

Jan. 6 rioter Jacob Chansley -- aka the QAnon Shaman -- is representing himself in a suit against Donald Trump, the U.S. government, Israel, the IMF and other entities. He's seeking $40 trillion and claims he's the rightful president. By @tjlheureux.bsky.social:

David Denogean was murdered in 2022. Police ID'd a suspect in 2023. No one told his family until we got the police report. "They use that all the time: 'We dropped the ball.' That must be the department catchphrase instead of 'to serve and protect.'" By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:

David Denogean was murdered in 2022. Police ID'd a suspect in 2023. No one told his family until we got the police report. "They use that all the time: 'We dropped the ball.' That must be the department catchphrase instead of 'to serve and protect.'" By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:

Love a good lightning storm in Phoenix

Back again with a view from nowhere

He was the reason I subscribed

Just got the transcript of Scottsdale PD's interview with Paul Bissonnette after a gang of dudes attacked him outside Houston's last year, and this bit made me crack up.

No church had a closer association with Charlie Kirk than Dream City Church in Phoenix. At its Sunday service, its pastors grappled with Kirk's death, playing a message from an AI version of Kirk's voice and preaching about "spiritual war."

Before Kirk’s killer was even identified, several Arizona Republicans jumped to demonize their political opponents.

These are calls for mass political violence, against all Democrats. They openly call for the bombing of "Democrat" cities and for the jailing or killing of Democratic politicians. They are from some of the most influential voices in right-wing politics. Will anyone say anything?

Outside Turning Point's headquarters in Phoenix, Charlie Kirk supporters shed tears and left flowers. On the ASU campus, where TPUSA has a large presence and where Kirk held many events, feelings were . . . complicated. From @tjlheureux.bsky.social and @morgfisch.bsky.social:

As Border Patrol union president, Brandon Judd enthusiastically embraced Donald Trump, to the dismay of some agents. Now, that sychophancy is being rewarded with an ambassadorship to Chile. The latest in the Arizona Watchdog Project from @stephenlemons.bsky.social:

Ex-Cortez High School teacher Eric Chapman faces 20 felonies for having sexual encounters with male students at school. A police report says documents indicating a positive syphilis test for someone -- it's not clear who -- were found in Chapman's desk. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Ex-Cortez High School teacher Eric Chapman faces 20 felonies for having sexual encounters with male students at school. A police report says documents indicating a positive syphilis test for someone -- it's not clear who -- were found in Chapman's desk. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

As Border Patrol union president, Brandon Judd enthusiastically embraced Donald Trump, to the dismay of some agents. Now, that sychophancy is being rewarded with an ambassadorship to Chile. The latest in the Arizona Watchdog Project from @stephenlemons.bsky.social:

The Trump-lovin’ conspiracy theorist is on the warpath to rid the federal government of anyone not sufficiently MAGA.

All the Dude wanted was to get campaign press releases...

Today in Colossal Stupidity:

AG candidate Rodney Glassman has been touting a bunch of law enforcement endorsements, including from Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot. One problem: Wilmot says he hasn't endorsed Glassman. By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:

This @tjlheureux.bsky.social story on a woman who says someone else is buried in her grave contains my top legal understatement of the month: "Even though Plaintiff has not deceased ... it became obvious that the situation ... would eventually become a problem."

people should be far beyond caring what corporate shill-era snoop dogg thinks about anything

Last fall, a federal appeals court ruled that the Maricopa County Sheriff's public mugshot database was pretrial punishment and unconstitutional. That ruling stands. This week, new Sheriff Jerry Sheridan brought the database back. By @tjlheureux.bsky.social:

Last fall, a federal appeals court ruled that the Maricopa County Sheriff's public mugshot database was pretrial punishment and unconstitutional. That ruling stands. This week, new Sheriff Jerry Sheridan brought the database back. By @tjlheureux.bsky.social: