Last year, Josh Nieto-Cruz got run over by a Maricopa County Sheriff's boat at Bartlett Lake, sending him to the hospital. An incident report blamed him for it. He's suing, saying video shows the boat was zooming directly at him. Story: www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/maricop...

Our @stephenlemons.bsky.social went to the carnival that was the Border Security Expo. It had officials bragging about arresting citizens and sending immigrants to tiny African nations. Weapons displays. Military-grade vehicles. The most ghoulish things he saw:

Our @stephenlemons.bsky.social went to the carnival that was the Border Security Expo. It had officials bragging about arresting citizens and sending immigrants to tiny African nations. Weapons displays. Military-grade vehicles. The most ghoulish things he saw:

Last year, Josh Nieto-Cruz got run over by a Maricopa County Sheriff's boat at Bartlett Lake, sending him to the hospital. An incident report blamed him for it. He's suing, saying video shows the boat was zooming directly at him. Story: www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/maricop...

As expected -- or dreaded -- the Phoenix City Council passed restrictions on feeding and treating unhoused people in city parks. Some say it'll make parks safer. Aid groups say it'll make homelessness worse for those experiencing it. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Marcos Gaspar Da Silva was held at ICE's overcrowded Mesa airport facility for 10 days this year -- 20 times longer than it's supposed to house people. He and his wife told @morgfisch about sleeping on feces-covered floors and drinking rancid water.

NEW: A federal judge ruled that Phoenix can continue its disciplinary process for Sgt. Dusten Mullen, who showed up to a Chandler student protest masked and armed and said he wanted to bait kids into attacking him. Story:

Marcos Gaspar Da Silva was held at ICE's Mesa airport facility for 10 days. The overcrowded facility has no beds or showers: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/mesa-ice-facility-detainee-slept-feces-covered-floor-40664745/

Phoenix police have been investigating Dusten Mullen, the off-duty cop who came masked and armed to a student protest. Mullen has sued over it. In federal court today, a Phoenix lieutenant testified that he felt the department rushed him in the probe.

Every Arizona representative voted to strip pesticide companies using glyphosate of liability immunity in lawsuits. Except two. Andy Biggs wasn't there but said he would have voted yes. David Schweikert voted to protect pesticide companies.

Every Arizona representative voted to strip pesticide companies using glyphosate of liability immunity in lawsuits. Except two. Andy Biggs wasn't there but said he would have voted yes. David Schweikert voted to protect pesticide companies.

I got the chance to talk to Editor & Publisher about news fatigue, a phenomenon that goes hand-in-hand with feelings of powerlessness The antidote, for @phoenixnewtimes.com + other local media, is coverage that gives our readers a stronger sense of agency www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/why-...

“I don’t mind being arrested for saving someone’s life." Our @csosin.bsky.social tagged along with Circle the City's street team to see the work it does to help unhoused people in city parks. Next week, the Phoenix City Council may vote to make that work illegal.

Due to expiring federal funding, a crucial domestic hotline that has served the Valley for 15 years will go dark next month. Victims relied heavily on it to connect to services, including shelters. @csosin.bsky.social with more:

Due to expiring federal funding, a crucial domestic hotline that has served the Valley for 15 years will go dark next month. Victims relied heavily on it to connect to services, including shelters. @csosin.bsky.social with more:

BREAKING: Kris Mayes is suing to stop the controversial planned ICE facility in Surprise from opening. The suit claims that the Department of Homeland Security did not perform required environmental reviews. Story:

at @phoenixnewtimes.com we have a membership program. throw us a few bucks, we turn your money into ball-busting local reporting. and we're nearing our spring goal! if the spirit moves ya, you can still get bespoke merch by a Phoenix artist ... phoenix-new-times.fundjournalism.org/support/?cam...

Axon executives gave tens of thousands of dollars in campaign cash to lawmakers who pushed through a controversial bill to pave the way for the company’s new Scottsdale headquarters. Gov. Katie Hobbs, who signed the bill, didn't get the same treatment. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Just days before Phoenix cop Dusten Mullen allegedly tried to bait student protesters into attacking him, his supervisors rated him as 'exceptional' in a performance review. What did police miss about this guy, and are these evaluations worth a damn?

Just days before Phoenix cop Dusten Mullen allegedly tried to bait student protesters into attacking him, his supervisors rated him as 'exceptional' in a performance review. What did police miss about this guy, and are these evaluations worth a damn?

There are plenty of things to wonder about Ruben Gallego and Eric Swalwell. But whether Gallego spent campaign cash on his wedding hotel -- as suggested by the Daily Mail today -- isn't one of them. The Gallego campaign shared literal receipts.

Risa Lombardo, a Green Party governor candidate, may be a GOP spoiler. The Green Party disavows her. She has no campaign website. She founded a conservative group that hosted Jay Feely and Andy Biggs, and was paid by a local GOP committee twice in 2025. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Kris Mayes and APS reached a $7 million settlement over shutoff policies. APS won't cut power for nonpayment when temps reach 95. APS previously halted shutoffs based on calendar date. In May 2024, an 82-year-old woman died when APS cut her power on a 99-degree day. By @csosin.bsky.social:

Several years ago, Scottsdale police trumpeted an investigation into two strip clubs over an alleged "Hustlers" style scheme to drug clients. Records show police uncovered no real evidence of that happening. By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:

Several years ago, Scottsdale police trumpeted an investigation into two strip clubs over an alleged "Hustlers" style scheme to drug clients. Records show police uncovered no real evidence of that happening. By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:

Going through Jay Feely's campaign donors list is a real exercise in Remembering Some Guys. Charles Barkley: $7,000 NFL owners: $70,500 Jerricho Cotchery: $49 Tony Romo's mom: $7,000 Story:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. just wrapped up a five-day Arizona swing. At the same time, a new Valley measles case was reported. 🔗: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/queen-creek-measles-exposure-reported-rfk-jr-arizona-trip-40658481/

A new (actually, really old) legal tactic is freeing detainees from interminable stays in ICE lockup: habeas corpus petitions. Two were filed in Arizona federal courts in March 2025. Nearly 350 were filed last month. And they're working. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Turning Point invested heavily in a pro-industry slate of candidates for the massive utility, and mostly lost. Read the full story: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-srp-elections-big-loss-turning-point-candidates-40658264/

in their wisdom Turning Point packed Phoenix's utility regulators election with pro-"industry" (i.e. fossil-fuel) candidates who'd punt on solar power. In the sunniest city in the world. During an oil shock. It didn't go so hot. By @zhbuchanan.bsky.social www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona...

In February, the Arizona Senate trespassed members of the Latino activist group LUCHA, giving them bare-bones notices typed on plain white paper -- no letterhead, signatures, details or names. Now, the group is suing Senate President Warren Petersen.

Michael Marion is fighting prostate cancer while caring for an adult daughter with Down syndrome. He needs state help, but the Arizona Department of Economic Security wants records from more than 25 years ago to prove she was diagnosed before age 18.

Richard Mueller, disgraced cop and top investigator for Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller, can't stop won't stop. In March, he roughed up a 150-pound Black teen who was riding home from school on an ebike. By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:

Richard Mueller, disgraced cop and top investigator for Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller, can't stop won't stop. In March, he roughed up a 150-pound Black teen who was riding home from school on an ebike. By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:

There are photos going around of Turning Point volunteers collecting tons of SRP ballots. They're being accused of ballot harvesting, which is illegal in most elections. But not in SRP's. Learn more here:

A woman running for Abe Hamadeh's congressional seat this November made an AI show tune calling out Surprise for not fighting back against ICE's planned detention center. It's...kinda catchy. Listen here:

Want to be governor of Arizona? Are you willing to eat a taco on camera and, if so, can you do it while looking like a normal human being? Explaining today's very stupid gubernatorial, uh, beef. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

A student from Surprise, Arizona calmly + methodically drags the town's leaders. They don't seem to care how a gargantuan ICE detention center will affect kids who have to walk past it to and from school new in @phoenixnewtimes.com www.phoenixnewtimes.com/opinion/surp...

The new Surprise ICE detention center is within a mile of Dysart High School, writes student Cali Overs. Students must pass by it every morning. "Our elected representatives have responded with silence, deflection or worse: telling us to get used to it."

GOP congressional candidate Jay Feely says he wants to bring back American manufacturing. Until recently, he was selling campaign merch made in foreign factories. When we asked about it, Feely took down his online campaign store. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Today, the Phoenix City Council may vote to remove Cesar Chavez's name from the many city memorials to the now-disgraced activist. But the statue at Cesar Chavez Park may stay up for a while. Learn why in this explainer from @csosin.bsky.social:

today Phoenix's airport is crawling with ICE agents who don't even seem to know why they're there. but of course ICE's massive cost is one reason TSA isn't getting paid right now. just amazing stuff all around, very stable genius country we're running here. www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/phoenix...

ICE agents were all over Sky Harbor on Monday. They...just kind of stood around. More from @morgfisch.bsky.social, who talked to travelers -- nervous, supportive, indifferent -- and TSA union leaders, who said no one told TSA employees about the ICE deployment.

Phoenix police investigated six cops for arresting and charging George Floyd protesters as a bogus gang in 2020. Three who still work for the department were cleared. Three who have retired or quit were not, but Phoenix PD cannot punish them. By @csosin.bsky.social:

Phoenix has released a proposal that would bar ICE and other law enforcement agencies from using city property (for staging, processing, etc) without explicit permission. The city council will vote on it next week. By @csosin.bsky.social:

Last year, a security guard at Club DWNTWN cold-cocked a restrained patron, who died three days later. Two Phoenix cops stood by and watched. Now the man's family is suing the city, the club and the security guard over his death. By Clarissa Sosin:

2026 is off to a deadly start for one of the most scrutinized local law enforcement agencies in the country. 🔗 https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/phoenix-cops-killed-three-people-past-five-days-40652856/

There have been three fatal Phoenix police shootings since Thursday. In the first two and a half months of 2026, Phoenix cops have killed five people. That's almost halfway to last year's total of 11 police killings.

The Army Navy Country Club is a high-class place. There, D.C.’s elite can unwind in card rooms or gorge themselves at banquets. Or, they can plot ways to deploy the military on U.S. soil. 🔗 https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/trumpists-plotted-deploy-military-on-us-soil-before-election-40650142/

Last spring, an ASU student jumped off the roof at an off-campus SAE party, aiming for the pool. She missed and broke her foot. Now she's suing SAE and ASU for negligence.