Two medical helicopters collide in Arizona

Federal investigators are trying to determine what caused two medical helicopters to crash in mid-air Sunday afternoon, killing six people and critically injuring a seventh Sunday afternoon.

All three people on one of the helicopters were killed, including a patient and the pilot, said Ian Gregor, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Three others aboard the second helicopter were killed and one critically wounded, Gregor said. The injured flight nurse remains in critical condition.

The helicopters were about 1/2 mile from Flagstaff Medical Center when they collided.

According to the FAA, both helicopters were Bell 407 models: one of them operated by Air Methods out of Englewood, Colo., and the other operated by Classic Helicopters of Woods Cross, Utah. Neither company returned calls from The Associated Press Sunday.

One of the choppers went down in an open field. The other crashed in a wooded area.

Nobody on the ground was hurt when the choppers went down, although three first responders were burned when a fuel tank exploded on the ground. Those people are expected to recover.

The fire from the crash and explosion touched off a 10- to 15-acre fire. Fire crews were able to get that under control relatively quickly.

FAA officials and the National Transportation Safety Board are on site to try and determine what happened.

Teen who committed suicide actually killed by twin brother

In a very odd story, there was a strange twist in the death of a Tucson teenager.

Fourteen-year-old Christopher McIntyre was originally thought to have committed suicide last year but a judge now says he was actually shot to death by his twin brother.

The victim's brother has been charged with manslaughter and will be sentenced next month.

Crown King, Arizona fire, Lane 2 Fire

Fire officials say strong winds have pushed the Lane 2 Fire southeast toward wilderness and more winds are expected Monday to continue the trend.

Crown King, Arizona (AP) A 500-acre wildfire that came very close to a remote mountain community north of Phoenix has moved away from the town.

Fire officials say strong winds have pushed the Lane 2 Fire southeast toward wilderness and more winds are expected Monday to continue the trend.

Prescott National Forest spokeswoman Debbie Maneely says the community is still considered threatened. There is still no containment.

No injuries have been reported among fire crews.

About 120 residents voluntarily evacuated Sunday. Yavapai County sheriff's officials say the blaze began Saturday night after a lost hiker set a signal fire for search and rescue crews.

Shaq Kicked Out of Arpaio's Posse!

Shaquille O'Neal will lose his special deputy's badge in Maricopa County because of language he used in a rap video that mocks former teammate Kobe Bryant.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the Phoenix Suns center's use of a racially derogatory word and other foul language left him no choice. Arpaio made Shaq a special deputy in 2006 and promoted him to colonel of his largely ceremonial posse later that year.

"I want his two badges back,'' Arpaio told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

"Because if any one of my deputies did something like this, they're fired. I don't condone this type of racial conduct.''

Shaq was seen in a video posted on the celebrity news and gossip Web site TMZ.com rapping that ``Kobe couldn't do without me.''

O'Neal skewers the Lakers' star, with whom he won three straight NBA titles from 2000-2002 while with Los Angeles, for not being able to win a championship without him.

"I was freestyling. That's all. It was all done in fun. Nothing serious whatsoever,'' O'Neal told ESPN.com Monday. A call to the Suns on Tuesday seeking comment from O'Neal was referred to his public relations firm, which didn't immediately respond.

Arpaio, who describes himself as "America's Toughest Sheriff'' and is best known for feeding jail inmates green bologna, clothing them in pink underwear, and making them work on chain gangs, said he didn't expect his actions would teach Shaq a lesson. But he hoped he learns that as a role model who wants to someday be a full-time sheriff, he needs to know his words matter.

"Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I don't think that either conduct should be out there publicly, even if media wasn't there,'' Arpaio said.

O'Neal previously served as a reserve officer with the Miami Beach Police Department while playing for the Miami Heat. He also volunteered with the Tempe Police Department after being traded to the Suns in February.

Good for you Sheriff Joe! Who needs a role model like this big clown anyway.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio crime sweep news footage - June 2008

Ethan fire in Arizona news coverage - June 2008

Support Sheriff Joe and his sweeps in Mesa

I have some videos Iwillbe uploading soon of Sheriff Joe talking about his most recent sweeps in Mesa, Arizona. You know, it's really quite funny when you think about what the anti Sheriff Joe crack pots are saying. They want to talk about how wherever Sheriff Joe goes they will be there to make sure the Sheriffs department doesn't commit any civil rights crimes. The punch line is the fact that Sheriff Joe is the one and only person keeping tabs on illegal aliens and criminals that think they can get away with breaking the law!

If you look at any news footage of the Sheriff Joe protestors, you see them with nazi signs and racist quotes etc. Seems to me the real racists and anti Americans are the Sheriff Joe protestors!

More information on the fire near Phoenix International Raceway, Arizona

A lightning-sparked brush fire burning on the Gila River Indian Reservation near Phoenix International Raceway has grown to 1,200 acres and triggered the voluntary evacuation of several homes.

One hundred to 150 firefighters are battling the blaze. Thursday morning aerial support was brought in for a short time, but was suspended due to no progress being made by the planes.

No homes are in immediate danger, but a total of 80 homes received voluntary evacuations. Eleven homes took authorities up on the evacuations.

The Ethan fire started Wednesday evening southwest of the Valley. The location of the fire is making it difficult for fire crews to get a handle on it. In fact, they had to wait until the sun came up Thursday morning to battle the flames.

The fire was active overnight, growing from 100 acres to at least 1,000. One major concern is the amount of dry tinder -- heavy salt cedar, which burns very hot -- that could feed the flames. Other challenges include the weather and limited resources.

The plan today was to bring in some heavy machinery to cut a fire line. Baseline Road is closed from 83rd Avenue to 91st Avenue because of the fire. It's not clear how long it will be closed. The fire has seemed to grow in size during the high heat of the midday today.

15 arrests made in first hours of crackdown in Mesa, Arizona

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says his crackdown on immigration and other criminal violators in Mesa has yielded 15 arrests within its first three hours.

Arpaio dismissed criticism from about 80 illegal immigrant rights advocates who protested outside his agency's office in Mesa and accused the sheriff office of racially profiling illegal immigrants and Hispanics.

He says the arrests in this and three other sweeps produced arrests of people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. At least five of the people arrested in Mesa during the latest sweep were illegal immigrants.

I saw on the news a few business owners talking about how there was no business today because of the sweeps...funny how they don't stop to think that maybe they don't want business from those type of people? If the Sheriff is coming to town and the town looks like a "ghost town" as one business owner put it, then doesn't that make a lot of sense as to why the sweep was needed.

Way to go Sheriff Joe!!!

More photos of Gila Indian Reservation fire

Brush fire breaks out on Gila Indian Reservation

Fire in Arizona - Gila Indian Reservation

A brush fire has broken out on the Gila Indian Reservation today, shooting a huge plume of smoke into the sky this evening.

Fire crews are having a tough time accessing the fire due to the remote area that the fire has started in. Lots of dry timber is providing plenty of fuel for the flames.

Initial reports are that the fire may have been caused by a lightning strike. Aerial fire units have been called in to assess the situation.

The fire is near Elliot Road West at 91st Ave and the Salt River Bottom.

I did not see any air drops that I can speak of.

Brush fire breaks out on Gila Indian Reservation

Drop house busts on the rise

New figures are showing that the number of drop houses uncovered here in the valley has increased. DPS, ICE and Phoenix police have busted nearly 40 drop houses since December.

AZ groups want 'compassionate' immigration talk

Evangelical leaders are asking for compassionate immigration talk.

About a dozen religious leaders are calling on Arizona's elected officials and community leaders to turn what they call a fear-based immigration debate into a more compassionate dialog.

The mostly evangelical leaders addressed a letter to top politicians in the state urging them to seek out and enact tangible solutions to the nation's immigration woes.

Gary Kinnaman, pastor at large of a 6,000-member church in Mesa, says no one is illegal in the eyes of God.

He says while the faith leaders are not advocating a specific plan to address illegal immigration, they do support discussing a path to citizenship for the nation's 12 million illegal immigrants.

He says the result of the current debate is a terrified group of immigrants living in the shadows of their communities.

==============
So how many of you think this has something to do with the low attendance at church. All the people who swore they would never step foot in another church again after so many priest child molesters were outted and the facts came out on how the church did all they could to hide these child molesters. Is this is lame attempt to gain more membership?

Bill to Crack Down on Unlicensed Drivers Dies

By the Associated Press

A House-approved bill to crack down on drivers without licenses has been overwhelmingly defeated in the state Senate. The bill would have made it a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail to drive without having a valid license. Such violations now are civil ones that involve fines.

The bill is considered by some lawmakers and others as targeting illegal immigrants. But a Senate critic said it could apply to underage drivers of off-road vehicles or workers who drive equipment across or along a road.

The Senate's vote was 5 in favor and 19 against.
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Simply insane in my opinion!

Applause for Southwest airlines!

Applause needs to go out for Southwest airlines for being a true to the people airline company. The only one that has not raised prices for tickets, made you pay for every bag you bring with you or put a fee for water on your air travels.

Thank you Southwest for doing a great job!

Arizona city Mesa running hundreds of city vehicles on bio-diesel

In an effort to reduce emissions and clean up the air the City of Mesa has switched hundreds of vehicles over to bio-diesel and other alternative fuels.

The move comes as the city struggles with big budget problems. City officials say the switch to cleaner fuels is not making their budget deficit worse now in the short term. They also say that in the long run, it will actually save quite a bit of money.

At a whopping 2 or 3 miles to the gallon, fire trucks are not exactly environmentally friendly to operate but the City of Mesa is taking steps to make them run a little bit cleaner. From fire trucks to sewer trucks, all city diesel vehicles are now running on bio-diesel. They are supposed to be cleaner and not much more expensive. Many of the city's gas-powered cars, like police cars, now run on natural gas.

Mesa is not alone making the switch to cleaner fuels. Cities around the country are doing the same thing to meet a federal mandate to cut emissions from fleet vehicles.

Here's a breakdown of the alternative fuels Mesa is now using on more than 1,200 vehicles. Most are running on natural gas while ethanol and bio-diesel make up about a quarter each.

Mesa's move toward even cleaner fuels will continue. Within the next year Mesa's diesel fleet will use a mix made of 99% vegetable oil. They say the trucks do not run quite as well on the bio-diesel but since Mesa's pretty flat and most of the trucks do not need to go very fast it is not a big deal.

Another hot one in Arizona!

So yesterday was 113 and the day before that it reached 115. Today is going to be more of the same with the news saying it should reach 110+. Stay cool and please do not leave your children or pets in cars with rolled up windows!

Pawn shops, plasma banks new trend for extra gas money

Those rising oil prices are just one of the many reasons people are looking for new ways to save money here in Arizona.

In fact some of the newest trends in saving have people turning to pawn shops and plasma banks. Plasma banks say they are breaking records in the number of donors and pawn shops owners say they are seeing people from all walks of life come in simply for gas money.

Billy Manning with Mo Money Pawn is seeing more and more customers trading jewelry for gas. Manning also says the poor economy is bringing in large loans from people like car salesmen and real estate agents. He has drawers full of small loans.

Daniel Hofer brings his plasma down to the plasma center twice a week to make $70. While the plasma bank tells 3TV some donors do not just do it to earn cash, with the high gas prices they have seen a record number of donors.

That is not a bit surprising for Manning, who tells that the people who pawn things for gas usually come back to pick up their belongings after pay day.

Chuch leaders ask for "compassion" for illegals

Listening to the radio this morning I hear a news like clip of some church leader here in Phoenix, Arizona asking for "compassion" for illegal aliens. I ask these few questions:

1. Where is or was the "compassion" for the molested kids by the church? When the church did everything they could in their power to cover up and hide the pedifile priests that ruined countless lives with the molestation? Where was that then?

2. Where is the "compassion" for gay men and women?

Seems funny to me that the church has been such a force in hiding child molesters, gay bashing among other hard to believe things, but want to break the law and sneak into our country illegally and others just need to show "compassion". HA! Sounds like they want to fill their pews with more like minded law breakers for a little extra "donations" wouldn't ya say.

I wonder what they would say if some of the border crossers were gay!? OMG heavens no! lol

Salmonella outbreak scare and information!

The death of a man in Texas reportedly could have a connection to a 16-state salmonella outbreak linked to tomatoes.

A Houston health department spokeswoman tells the Houston Chronicle that while cancer is considered the cause of death, salmonella was a contributing factor.

The outbreak is linked to three types of raw tomatoes, and the list of supermarkets and restaurants yanking those varieties is growing.

They include McDonald's, Wal-Mart, Burger King, Kroger, Outback Steakhouse, Winn-Dixie and Taco Bell.

The affected varieties are red plum, red Roma or round red tomatoes unless they were grown in certain states and countries.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that since mid-April, 145 people infected with salmonella with the same "genetic fingerprint" have been identified.

Until the source of the outbreak is determined, the CDC is suggesting that tomatoes should be handled following these guidelines:

-persons with increased risk of severe infection, including infants, elderly persons, and those with impaired immune systems, should not eat raw Roma or red round tomatoes other than those sold attached to the vine or grown at home, and persons who want to reduce their risk of Salmonella infection can avoid consuming raw Roma or red round tomatoes other than those sold attached to the vine or grown at home.

-Avoid purchasing bruised or damaged tomatoes and discard any that appear spoiled.
-Thoroughly wash all tomatoes under running water.

-Refrigerate within 2 hours or discard cut, peeled, or cooked tomatoes.

-Keep tomatoes that will be consumed raw separate from raw meats, raw seafood, and raw produce items.

-Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and counter tops with hot water and soap when switching between types of food products.

-Cook tomatoes at 145 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 15 seconds to kill salmonella.
-Wash your hands thoroughly and often with soap and warm water especially after going to the restroom, before preparing or serving food and after changing a diaper.

Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most persons recover without treatment. Some people may need hospitalization due to severe diarrhea.

The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

Visit http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/saintpaul for more info.

Tempe man arrested for sexual assault, fondling

Phoenix police have arrested a Tempe man accused of sexually assaulting a woman who was riding her motorized scooter chair and fondling another woman in a laundry room.

David Kinsey, 38, a registered sex offender, was booked on one count of kidnapping, two counts of sexual abuse and one count of sexual assault. Kinsey was also charged with two counts of probation violation.

Phoenix police Sgt. Joel Tranter said the charges stem from two incidents that took place in Phoenix.

Kinsey allegedly fondled a 63-year-old woman in a common laundry room near 10400 N. Cave Creek Road on March 5.

The second incident occurred on March 20 in the 2300 block of North Mitchell. A 40-year-old woman was in her motorized scooter chair in public when Kinsey pulled up in his truck. Kinsey, who was naked, stepped out of his truck and sexually assaulted the woman before driving away.

Tranter said that investigators from Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale and Scottsdale believe that Kinsey is involved in more than a dozen cases of indecent exposure. Additional charges on Kinsey are expected.

Police say at this time, there are no known cases in Tempe, where Kinsey resided.

It is believed that Kinsey would drive to various locations in his silver Nissan pickup truck looking for women in the 40 to 70 age range, according to Phoenix police.

Tranter said Kinsey would stop and ask the woman a question and when that woman stepped near his truck, Kinsey would expose himself or already be naked.

Anyone with information on any crimes involving Kinsey is asked to contact the Phoenix Police Department's Sex Crimes Unit at 602-534-2121 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNES.

Guilty plea from man accused of sexual acts with girl

County Attorney Andrew Thomas announced that Andrew Richard Cummings, 59 (DOB 10/9/48), has plead guilty to charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor. Cummings, of Phoenix, was related by marriage to the female victim’s family. Beginning in 2004, the defendant engaged in various sexual acts with the victim, now 12.

Cummings plead guilty on June 13, 2008, to two counts of Molestation of a Child, class two felonies and Dangerous Crimes Against Children in the 1st degree, one count of Attempted Molestation of a Child, a class three felony and DCAC in the 2nd degree, and one count of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, a class 3 felony and DCAC in the 2nd degree.

Cummings was arrested by Phoenix Police on March 3, 2008. The victim’s mother noticed signs of physical contact after her daughter’s return from a visit with her grandmother. Upon questioning, the victim informed her mother of the sexual nature of the contact with the defendant. The defendant was arrested later that day.

Cummings will be sentenced on July 16, 2008, in the courtroom of Judge Gary Donahoe, where he will face 35 years in prison. Cumming’s wife, Thelma, also plead guilty on June 13, 2008, to a child abuse charge for failing to protect the victim. She will be sentenced the same day and faces a sentence of lifetime probation.

“Under the plea, Cummings would be 94 years old before he gets out of prison,” said Thomas.

Friday the 13th unlucky - Police bust drop house; arrest 4 suspected smugglers

Phoenix police busted a drop house near Eighth Street and Oak on Friday the 13th.

Detective Reuben Gonzales with Phoenix Police said at this time they have 15 people in custody, including four suspects, one of them is a female.

Investigators are on scene trying to determine if the female and mother of two is the renter of the apartment.

Police were first called out to the apartment on a check welfare call, when upon investigation they discovered many people huddled in a bedroom.

IMPACT will assume the investigation and processing of the illegal immigrants.

Five teens accused of shooting at 17 homes, cars

A serial shooting spree is over after police say they have arrested the suspects responsible for a string of drive-by shootings in the East Valley.

Police say five teenagers arrested Tuesday are responsible for shooting up 17 different houses and vehicles in the Valley. Fortunately nobody was injured or shot as a result of this spree. The drive-by shootings reportedly took place between Thursday and Sunday of last week in Chandler, Tempe and Mesa.

Police say three of those arrested are known gang members. They are all minors except for one. The suspects range in age from 14 to 19 years old, which includes four males and one female.

Police made the arrests after a tip they received from an unrelated aggravated assault arrest. Officers issued a search warrant Tuesday night and made a few arrests in a Mesa home. Tips from that arrest led law enforcement to another few arrests Tuesday morning.

Detectives say they uncovered the gun used in a drive-by shooting in the home of the 14-year-old suspect. It was a .22 caliber rifle with the stock sawed off so it could be used as a handgun.

Investigators say that a few of the homes that were shot up could have been gang-related but for the most part they say the shootings were just random. Law enforcement is not calling this vandalism but an attack on our society.

The Tempe Police Chief said in a news conference, “Gang members that have been involved in causing chaos, commotion and fear in our community, driving through neighborhoods shooting randomly and indescrimenintly at homes, in our neighborhoods is an attack on our society.

Police say all suspects will be charged as adults, even the 14-year-old. They face several charges including felony charges relating to shooting up homes and property.

Arizona Water park owners investigated for hiring illegal immigrants

The following is a press release from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

PHOENIX -- After receiving information that the valley’s largest outdoor entertainment company may be knowingly hiring illegal immigrants, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Human Smuggling/Employer Sanctions Squad began an investigation four months ago which today led to the execution of two search warrants and the arrests of nine employees of Golfland Entertainment.

Golfland/Waterworld/Big Surf/Sunsplash is a valley-wide outdoor entertainment conglomerate with locations in Mesa and north Phoenix.

The Sheriff’s Employer Sanction squad arrested employees for identity theft and using forged documents to obtain employment. Information on those arrested came from a former employee of Waterworld who told Sheriff’s detectives that the owners of the water parks are knowingly employing illegal aliens.

Detectives also served search warrants were also executed on the company’s two locations allowing them to seize company records.

According to the Sheriff, his detectives have already obtained personnel records from Golfland Entertainment which points to the real possibility that as many as 104 of the 198 employees listed as working there have potential discrepancies with social security numbers such as more than one name associated with those social security numbers.

Arpaio said today, “We will examine Golfland’s employee documents thoroughly with the ultimate goal being to determine whether the owners of this company are willfully hiring illegal aliens which is now a violation of Arizona law.”

Andrew Thomas added, “The County Attorney’s Office will review the evidence gathered and later determine if the employer violated the Legal Arizona Workers Act. It’s important for all employers to remember that undercutting wages using illegal labor is wrong and against the law.”

ORIGINAL STORY:
PHOENIX -- Maricopa County sheriff's deputies made a number of arrests relating to the employer sanctions law at two Valley water parks on Tuesday. Search warrants were served Tuesday morning at Golfland Entertainment/Waterworld in north Phoenix and Mesa, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

Employer files were seized to further investigate whether owners of the entertainment complex are knowingly hiring illegal aliens.

UPDATE:Children left alone while dad's out drinking

UPDATE 6/13: The father, Carlton Anderson, made his initial appearance in court Thursday evening.

Court papers indicate he admitted to leaving the house around 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday to pick his wife up from a bar. When she refused to leave he then met a friend and began drinking with them until the early morning hours.

The wife has still not been located by police.

===============

ORIGINAL 6/12: PHOENIX - Police responded to an apartment complex near the I-17 and Glendale where two kids were found walking near the freeway just before 6 a.m. on Thursday. Two more kids were located in a nearby apartment complex, all under the age of four. Police say the victims include a 1-year-old, two 3-year-olds and a 4-year-old.

The father of the four boys, identified as 28-year-old Carlton Anderson, returned home a little after 8 a.m. and was arrested by Phoenix Police.

According to Phoenix Police a good Samaritan was driving on the I-17 frontage road near Glendale Avenue when they noticed two kids, a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old, walking around with no parents.The good Samaritan pulled over and called 911. The good Samaritan stayed with the children until police arrived.

Police then found two more children inside a nearby apartment in the Las Ventanas Complex.

Detective Reuben Gonzales said conditions inside the children's apartment were shocking. There was broken glass and trash all around, plus it appeared as if the children's diapers had not been changed recently. He also said that it appeared the kids were eating food from the trash.

The kids are now in CPS custody. The 24-year-old mother of the kids is still outstanding. Anderson was booked into MCSO jail and faces four counts on child abuse.

Babies killed in hot cars, no charges against parents

It happens all too often that children are left alone in hot cars.

New details were released in two high-profile cases here in the Valley. In both cases children were left in the car for hours and died from their injuries. 3TV has learned no charges will be filed in either case.

Police were pushing for negligent homicide charges against the parents in both of these cases but instead of sending back indictments of the parents the grand juries said there is not enough evidence for criminal charges.

When a Hooters waitress left her 17-month old son Ryan in her car for her seven-hour shift, police called it gross negligence. Nevertheless neither parent whose child died in parked cars last year will suffer any criminal consequences.

That decision has child advocacy groups in an uproar. Grand juries decided the parents will not be prosecuted. Attorneys say it boils down to the question: Is there enough evidence to indict the parents on criminal charges?

The county prosecutor would not comment on camera or release what evidence the grand juries reviewed. Child advocates say criminal charges would have set an example.

Nearly one year after their children died these parents are undoubtedly suffering, just not at the hands of the law.

The county prosecutor's office says the decisions not to prosecute these two cases is not a signal that other parents in the future would not be criminally charged.

Spring time in Arizona!

Here is a short clip of what some of us here in Arizona get to experience during the spring.

U.S. Mint Releasing AZ State Quarter

Gov. Janet Napolitano picked the design from among five finalists recommended by a state commission that sifted through thousands of ideas submitted by state residents.

The U.S. Mint is releasing the Arizona state quarter on Monday, with Mint and state officials honoring the release with a ceremony at the State Capitol.

The top of the tails side of the Arizona quarter shows a view of the Grand Canyon, and there's a a desert scene dominated by a Saguaro cactus below. A "Grand Canyon State" banner joins the images.

Gov. Janet Napolitano picked the design from among five finalists recommended by a state commission that sifted through thousands of ideas submitted by state residents.

The Arizona quarter is the 48th in the series featuring all 50 states. The coins are issued in order of statehood.

Napolitano and Mint Director Ed Moy are scheduled to participate in the 10 a.m. ceremony on the Senate lawn.