News Editor for the Phoenix New Times. Former ballwriter. I watch a distressing amount of television.https://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mqdafmb2m22dPersonal news: I am entering the final two weeks of my time at Phoenix New Times. I already know my next step, but you'll have to wait to find out what it is.10 Jul 2026 22:52 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqdafmb2m22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mqckek4rm22fRobert Gawlitza, the ex-Circle K manager who "bought" the disputed $12.8 million-winning ticket a day after the drawing, isn't going down without a fight. He says he followed Circle K rules to buy it, and says the company fired him for doing so. Story: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/manager-says-he-followed-circle-k-policy-to-buy-12-8m-lotto-ticket-40680931/10 Jul 2026 16:17 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqckek4rm22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mqaoykxxjk2fJanuary: Pinal County Sheriff's deputy roughs up deaf 79-year-old Tom Garro April: Garro talks to @csosin.bsky.social, says he's considering a lawsuit May: Pinal County Attorney decides to file charges against Garro Interesting timing, huh? Story: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/pinal-county-attorney-charges-deaf-man-tackled-sheriffs-deputy-40680921/09 Jul 2026 22:35 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqaoykxxjk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mq3jcy4hzs2zIn an interview with @morgfisch.bsky.social, GOP state Rep. Quang Nguyen called Turning Point COO Tyler Bowyer a "shitter" for tweeting a racist comment at him yesterday. Bowyer questioned whether Nguyen, who fled Vietnam when he was 12, can speak English. https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/turning-point-leader-tweets-racist-dig-asian-gop-lawmaker-40680701/07 Jul 2026 21:10 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq3jcy4hzs2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mq36x44m2k2zBefore passing an ordinance to restrict homeless aid in city parks, the city of Phoenix sent out a survey. The questions were slanted toward support of the ordinance. Yet the responses were overwhelmingly against it. Phoenix buried it. By @csosin.bsky.social: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/phoenix-buried-slanted-parks-ordinance-survey-after-backfired-40680602/07 Jul 2026 18:04 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq36x44m2k2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mpz6i4qmvc2zRuben Gallego is dropping Graham Platner over sexual assault allegations, not long after Gallego had to do the same with Eric Swalwell. His office did not answer questions from @morgfisch.bsky.social about whether Gallego's vetting needs to be more thorough. https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-gallego-yanks-platner-endorsement-rape-claim-40680622/06 Jul 2026 22:51 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpz6i4qmvc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mpp5rkyx2k2zWe've talked to three people who described aggressive encounters with Pinal County Sheriff's deputy Aaron McRae, who tackled a deaf Lyft driver in January. Three others have filed complaints against him. He's been a deputy for 18 months. By @csosin.bsky.social: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/complaints-trail-sheriffs-deputy-who-roughed-up-deaf-lyft-driver-40679105/02 Jul 2026 23:11 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpp5rkyx2k2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mp5mabfhsk2gTwo pastors and a PAC have filed a challenge to the GOP's anti-trans ballot measure that bars trans girls from playing girls' sports and forces them to use boys' restrooms. The filing also claims the bill language outlaws single-occupancy restrooms. https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-pastors-challenge-gops-anti-trans-ballot-referral-40677332/25 Jun 2026 23:42 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp5mabfhsk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mp2srq6fg22xAlejandro Romero, the Tolleson student who was punched in the face by a school resource officer in 2024, is suing over it. An internal school district investigation already found the now-former cop, Eric Hendrix, used excessive force. By @morgfisch.bsky.social: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/tolleson-student-sues-beating-school-resource-officer-40677141/24 Jun 2026 21:01 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp2srq6fg22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3moykdnjvok2xWe previously reported how, in January, a Pinal County Sheriff's deputy roughed up a 79-year-old deaf Lyft driver. Now we have 911 audio from the driver's passenger, who told us she feared the deputy might shoot her. Story by @csosin.bsky.social: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/audio-lyft-user-calls-police-pinal-county-deputy-deaf-man-40677007/23 Jun 2026 23:25 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3moykdnjvok2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3moykdnjvok2xWe previously reported how, in January, a Pinal County Sheriff's deputy roughed up a 79-year-old deaf Lyft driver. Now we have 911 audio from the driver's passenger, who told us she feared the deputy might shoot her. Story by @csosin.bsky.social: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/audio-lyft-user-calls-police-pinal-county-deputy-deaf-man-40677007/23 Jun 2026 23:25 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3moykdnjvok2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mohen4rtbc27Dilan Paredes, the Tempe eighth-grader detained by ICE outside his school alongside his mother in May, has returned home. Rep. Greg Stanton told us that the pair landed at Sky Harbor today after weeks in ICE lockup in Texas. By @morgfisch.bsky.social: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/tempe-teen-taken-ice-outside-school-returned-home-40675289/17 Jun 2026 03:28 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mohen4rtbc27https://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3moenl2zbb22iPhoenix is being sued -- again -- over its parks ordinance restricting food distribution and medical treatment for homeless people in parks. Two nonprofits, Circle the City and Valle del Sol, say it violates the First Amendment. By @csosin.bsky.social: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/phoenix-sued-again-over-parks-ordinance-restricting-homeless-aid-40675186/16 Jun 2026 01:30 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3moenl2zbb22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3moe3kdqe6k2jShould you reach 94 years old, may your well-wishers be of a higher caliber than former mob hitman Sammy Gravano and alleged pedophile David Stringer. @stephenlemons.bsky.social reports from Joe Arpaio's birthday bash: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/joe-arpaio-birthday-party-rife-scuzzy-has-beens-40675113/15 Jun 2026 20:07 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3moe3kdqe6k2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mo2yvsidq22qSomeone get @thr.com a copy-editor12 Jun 2026 05:26 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo2yvsidq22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mnyaviy7sk2kBREAKING: A judge barred Phoenix from enforcing its parks ordinance against a church group. She said the ordinance, which bans giving food to homeless people in parks without a permit, likely violates the group's right to free exercise of religion. By @csosin.bsky.social: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/judge-phoenix-cant-enforce-parks-ordinance-church-group-40673484/11 Jun 2026 03:11 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnyaviy7sk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mnxll5bag22kCounty attorney Rachel Mitchell has a social media troll. She sicced the cops on him -- Phoenix PD, the AG's office, even the FBI. Nothing stuck. State bar charges did. By @stephenlemons.bsky.social, how the county's top prosecutor got her loudest critic disbarred. https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/maricopa-countys-prosecutor-got-loudest-critic-disbarred-40673441/10 Jun 2026 20:49 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnxll5bag22khttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mnsqylwyqk27Phoenix cops and park rangers used a "honeypot" on homeless people in a park. Rangers left gates open after closing time. Unhoused people entered. Later, they and cops locked all but one gate, trapping them and issuing trespass notices. By @csosin.bsky.social: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/phoenix-cops-used-honeypot-to-trap-trespass-homeless-people-in-park-40673200/08 Jun 2026 22:43 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnsqylwyqk27https://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mnsn52pra227Sam Stone is a top official in the Maricopa County Recorder's Office, which oversees voter registration. He likes to tweet a lot of far-right, reactionary shit. And he likes to tweet it while at work, on the taxpayer dime. By @morgfisch.bsky.social: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/maricopa-county-recorder-official-posts-heinous-tweets-work-40673171/08 Jun 2026 21:34 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnsn52pra227https://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mnkl6x32lk27A new Phoenix ordinance, which prohibits unpermitted food distribution and medical treatment for homeless people in parks, takes effect today. At the same time, a church group is suing the city over it, arguing it violates the Constitution. By @csosin.bsky.social: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/phoenix-sued-church-group-ordinance-limiting-homeless-aid-40671976/05 Jun 2026 16:38 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnkl6x32lk27https://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mng4bkoauk2sSeeing a photo of Democratic state Rep. Anna Abeytia and her newborn, GOP state Rep. Nick Kupper decided to bring up that Abeytia once had an abortion. He got screamed at online and, after initially defending himself, deleted the posts. By @csosin.bsky.social: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-lawmaker-sees-colleagues-baby-mentions-her-abortion-40671827/03 Jun 2026 22:00 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mng4bkoauk2shttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mnfzp6hbks2sThe Krysten Sinema homewrecker lawsuit in North Carolina is about to get more personal. Sinema's attorney sought -- and is set to receive -- therapy records for the woman whose husband Sinema had an affair with. By @morgfisch.bsky.social: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-sinema-wants-therapy-records-lovers-ex-40671809/03 Jun 2026 21:14 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnfzp6hbks2shttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mmu3eha3ms2cIn February, Phoenix police and Arizona state troopers killed Jesus Flores in his car as he bizarrely tried to flee despite it being hobbled. His partner, Danielle, had been in the car with him minutes before cops fired a barrage of bullets into it. She tells her story to @csosin.bsky.social: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/phoenix-woman-in-dark-cop-shooting-car-40669975/27 May 2026 17:56 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmu3eha3ms2chttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mmfbd7ddqk2ePhoenix won a pyrrhic victory over fired cop Dusten Mullen. A judge denied Mullen's request to reinstate him. But she also largely took Mullen's side, saying he'd shown that the city likely retaliated against him for exercising free speech. By @csosin.bsky.social: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/fired-phoenix-cop-first-amendment-claims-strong-judge-40668286/21 May 2026 20:33 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmfbd7ddqk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mmc7fgjppc2eFor months, a document with an explosive, unproven sexual assault claim about AG hopeful Rodney Glassman has been passed among politicos. Last week, supporters of Warren Petersen, Glassman's GOP primary rival, publicized it. By @stephenlemons.bsky.social: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-ag-hopeful-allies-push-unproven-sexual-claim-rival-40667965/20 May 2026 15:20 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmc7fgjppc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mmc7fgjppc2eFor months, a document with an explosive, unproven sexual assault claim about AG hopeful Rodney Glassman has been passed among politicos. Last week, supporters of Warren Petersen, Glassman's GOP primary rival, publicized it. By @stephenlemons.bsky.social: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-ag-hopeful-allies-push-unproven-sexual-claim-rival-40667965/20 May 2026 15:20 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmc7fgjppc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/zhbuchanan.bsky.social/post/3mlvspe5aas2bNEW: The dispute over a $12.8M winning lottery ticket sold by Circle K continues. Friday, Circle K said it can't find two people who may have claims: the ex-employee who "bought" it after the drawing, and a customer who asked for but did not pay for it. Story: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-lottery-dispute-circle-k-claims-to-jackpot-40666823/15 May 2026 17:01 +0000at://did:plc:et4h6vanov2csextpp7m26yi/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlvspe5aas2b