East Valley Tribune - Local News

Wanted felon barricades self in hotel

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:23:15 -0700

A wanted felon is holed up in the attic of a Mesa hotel, police said.

Special report: Blood and Money, Part I

Thu, 15 May 2008 23:20:00 -0700

Human smugglers have built a lucrative and often brutal industry that generates billions of dollars annually moving loads of illegal immigrants through Arizona. When things go smoothly, the immigrants pay their money and move on. But when things turn bad, beatings, rapes and murders often follow. In a three-day series, the Tribune looks inside the industry that treats human beings as cargo – from the plazas in Mexico where the human smuggling trail begins to the drop houses in the Valley where it sometimes reaches a bloody end.

Prof. told 911 PVCC student used drugs, alcohol

Thu, 15 May 2008 20:19:52 -0700

During a nine-minute 911 call, Paradise Valley Community College psychology professor Michael Todd calmly told a dispatcher that Andria Ziegler did cocaine and drank 17 beers at his home hours before she died.

Panel won't act in sheriff's plagiarizing

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:33:50 -0700

The state board that oversees police misconduct says it will not take any action against Pinal County Sheriff Chris Vasquez for plagiarizing more than a dozen times in his monthly letters to residents.

Secrecy in serial killings arrest draws fire

Thu, 15 May 2008 21:53:21 -0700

Trent Benson, Mesa's suspected serial predator, spent nearly 20 hours as a secret detainee of the Valley's justice system.

Tempe plans higher rates for city services

Fri, 16 May 2008 01:30:22 -0700

The cost of water, sewage and trash pickup will skyrocket in the next several years in Tempe — probably by 50 percent or so in the next half-decade. The city plans to boost rates in November by 9.4 percent for the average homeowner. That comes to $5.55 a month, or $66.66 a year.

Gilbert schools to reconsider weapons policy

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:38:43 -0700

High school students found on Gilbert district campuses with small pocketknives and no intent to harm will not be subject to expulsion, according to a weapons policy draft the district is revising.

Wounded dog recovering from gunshot

Thu, 15 May 2008 21:07:01 -0700

Tank, a 2-year-old 100-pound Rottweiler who lives in south Scottsdale, is down in the mouth right now, but considering the circumstances, he's a lucky dog.

A.J. budget cut as revenue dips, but no layoffs

Fri, 16 May 2008 01:28:27 -0700

Declining sales tax revenue is hurting Apache Junction’s budget for the next fiscal year, but no layoffs or cuts in city services are planned for now, city officials said. The city’s proposed General Fund budget for the next fiscal year is about $26 million. That’s down by $4 million from the current year.

Several sections of freeways in Valley to close this weekend

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:45:09 -0700

Drivers will find several freeways closed this weekend, including Loop 101 in Tempe and east Phoenix, Interstate 17 and state Route 143.

Suspect in serial slayings, rapes identified

Fri, 16 May 2008 01:34:04 -0700

Sometimes he bought a hot dog from her deli, and other times she bought ice from his store. They were two business owners in the same Mesa strip mall - both single and both trying to make a living.

School vouchers from state ruled illegal

Fri, 16 May 2008 01:40:06 -0700

A state law that gives tax dollars to private and parochial schools to educate youngsters is illegal, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled Thursday. In a unanimous decision, the judges said the program, authorized by lawmakers two years ago, runs afoul of a provision in the Arizona Constitution that specifically bars the use of tax dollars to aid those kinds of schools.

Wrecked car display warns of driving dangers

Fri, 16 May 2008 01:16:27 -0700

The overturned black Kia Spectra lying at the edge of Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn hospital's parking lot drew the attention of three women walking along Drinkwater Boulevard Thursday morning.

Q.C., A.J., Mesa near accord on state land use

Thu, 15 May 2008 22:32:10 -0700

Potential conflicts over planning and land use for a 10-square-mile stretch of state trust land in Pinal County could be headed toward a resolution.

Thunderstorms usher in triple-digit temps

Thu, 15 May 2008 21:00:15 -0700

The thunderstorms that brought blowing dust and sprinkles of rain to the Valley on Thursday were unseasonable. But triple-digit temperatures, not unusual for this time of year, are just a few days away.

'Angels' to fund Q.C. scholars' South Korea trip

Thu, 15 May 2008 20:41:12 -0700

Three Queen Creek High School sophomores who qualified for a world academic competition in South Korea may get a chance to go after all. The owners of A Child’s Place at the Ranches day care center in Gilbert say they will pay the travel costs for the three students and a parent chaperone.

Thunderstorms roll into East Valley

Thu, 15 May 2008 15:17:45 -0700

Strong thunderstorms rolling through the East Valley on Thursday blinded motorists and knocked down trees.

Mesa police seek child molestation suspect

Thu, 15 May 2008 13:01:12 -0700

Mesa authorities are looking for a child molestation suspect who fled before his trial.

Florence chooses name for second high school

Thu, 15 May 2008 12:16:46 -0700

Poston Butte High School, scheduled to open in July 2009, will be the name of Florence Unified School District’s second high school. The school is under construction at 32375 N. Gantzel Road, at Gantzel and Bella Vista roads, in the Queen Creek area.

Police arrest serial strangler suspect

Thu, 15 May 2008 20:25:38 -0700

Mesa police have arrested a man in connection with a serial strangler case where two women were killed and two others have been sexually assaulted since 2004.

VIDEO: Mesa Police Chief George Gascon talks about the arrest

GRAPHIC: View a map of the attack locations

Scottsdale hunts for hacker of trees in wash

Thu, 15 May 2008 01:38:22 -0700

The decimation of desert trees and vegetation along a Scottsdale-owned wash has infuriated neighbors and led to a criminal police investigation.