Unlike the rest of us, Arizona Congressman Ben Quayle can rest easy — Texas tough guy Chuck Norris doesn’t want to kick his ass. In fact, the played-out punchline of endless jokes is diggin’ him some Ben Quayle.The man who will “never have a heart attack because his heart isn’t…
Republican Arizona Congressman Trent Franks’ decision on whether to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Senator Jon Kyl will apparently not be made by Franks — rather, it will be made by god and his constituents, the Congressman told GOPers.Franks spoke to a group of Sun City Republicans…
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try (and try) again — no matter how absurd what you’re trying to accomplish may be.A little over a month after the “Birther Bill” failed in the Senate Judiciary Committee, GOP legislators are pushing to send the proposal back to both houses for…
(Gulp) Good news, Arizona — we’re one step closer to solving a problem that doesn’t actually exist in the Grand Canyon State: gender and race-based abortions.The Arizona Senate — which apparently thinks its oversight extends to regions of China, where these types of abortions are actually a problem — passed…
Phoenix City Manager David Cavazos sent a message to Phoenix employees praising them after results of a citywide Community Attitude Survey reveal that 95 percent of residents are pleased with customer service.Not bad considering that in 2008, the survey showed that 86 percent of residents reported being treated professionally and…
A news release this morning from state Attorney General Tom Horne states that his office released a video of Raza studies supporters this morning. That statement’s not correct. And that’s just the first weird aspect of many surrounding this story. If you’ll follow the link to the video in the…
Despite getting the boot from his leadership position by Senate GOPers earlier this week for last month’s freeway fracas with former gal-pal Aubry Ballard, former state Senate Majority Leader Scott Bundgaard apparently still has some friends on the Senate Ethics Committee.The committee voted 3-2 along party lines today to dismiss…
Charlie Sheen’s “winning” knows no bounds, which is why it should come as no surprise to learn that when pegged against former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in a race for president, Sheen’s “winning” among independent voters.The left-leaning polling firm Public Policy Polling conducted a poll asking voters who’d they…
Arizona’s economy is in the tank, the state has a pesky $1.15 billion budget shortfall to deal with, but fear not, Arizonans, Governor Jan Brewer’s got a plan: prayer.In January, the governor proclaimed a “Day of Prayer for Arizona’s Economy and State Budget,” which happens to be Jan’s best idea…
The Arizona Senate passed legislation yesterday that would eliminate Spanish translation of election materials in information booklets distributed by the Secretary of State, first reported by the Yuma Sun. Russell Pearce acolyte — or is it wannabe? — Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, introduced the measure. Aside from it being an…
The Arrogant Butcher, downtown’s newest dining spot, has been running a straw poll to gauge who might be Phoenix’s next mayor.The results for Week One are in, and former Deputy Attorney General and Councilman Greg Stanton is leading the pack. Stanton: 168 Councilman Claude Mattox: 126 Councilwoman Peggy Neely: 78…
A panel of independent experts charged with reviewing Phoenix’s kidnapping statistics will be headed by Karen Thoreson, president of Alliance for Innovation. The other members are retired FBI Agent Larry McCormick, retired Arizona Court of Appeals Judge Cecil Patterson, retired Arizona Supreme Court Justice Michael D. Ryan and Michael White,…
As New Times noted last week, it was only a matter of time before Senate Majority leader Scott Bundgaard got the boot from his leadership position, and today it happened.Senate sources confirm to New Times that Republicans voted to remove Bundgaard from his leadership spot over last month’s scuffle with the…
Congressman Jeff Flake’s bid to become Senator Jeff Flake is picking up steam — and GOP senators are beginning to take notice, including Utah Senator Mike Lee, who endorsed Flake’s candidacy today. “Jeff Flake’s record on fiscal conservatism speaks for itself,” Lee says in a statement. “He was offering legislation…
State Senate Republicans are expected to revisit the Scott Bundgaard fiasco this morning, and New Times’ sources say there’s no chance of the majority leader escapes the meeting with the title of “majority leader.”However, that was before Bundgaard apparently passed a lie- detector test that his lawyer claims verifies his…
Say what you will about Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman, but he’s a man of his word — at least when it comes to the word “suck.”In an apparent attempt to make up for his ruthless censorship of New Times” work, the mayor said the word “sucks” 11 times at last…
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, we learned earlier this week, is rumored to be planning to base her hypothetical presidential campaign in Scottsdale, but GOP sources tell New Times the one-time darling of the Conservative movement might be coming to the Grand Canyon State for a different reason: to run…
Local lawyer Mark Goldman’s alleged actions in the investigation of Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley have become evidence against former County Attorney Andrew Thomas and Thomas’ political go-to girl, Lisa Aubuchon. Goldman also helped Aubuchon fight her State Bar complaint. Now bad-boyfriend and state senator Scott Bundgaard is counting on…
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer’s most memorable quote isn’t a quote at all — it’s about 12 seconds of painfully uncomfortable silence, which the governor recreated Wednesday night in Mesa.Jan was discussing economic development and education when it happened…again.”As we limit the growth of the public sector and restrain unnecessary regulation,…
Pinal County Assessor Paul Larkin had a .11 blood alcohol level the night he was arrested on suspicion of DUI last month. The elected official was arrested February 7 following a tip to a Pinal County Web site that he often hits a bar after work and drives home “inebriated,”…
Embattled state Senate Majority Leader Scott Bundgaard had a interesting yarn for his GOP colleagues in the Senate on Tuesday: he now claims that in addition to giving him a black eye during last month’s scuffle on the side of a highway, his now-ex-gal-pal Iron Aubry Ballard pulled out a…
State Senate Majority Leader Scott Bundgaard may have staved off being ousted from his leadership position when he met with Senate Republicans yesterday to explain his involvement in last month’s alleged domestic-violence incident, but sources tell New Times that the chances of Bundgaard remaining majority leader after his colleagues revisit…
