Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from Dec. 7-9
Dec 9, 2018, 5:00 PM
(Nick Oza/The Arizona Republic via AP, Pool)
(Nick Oza/The Arizona Republic via AP, Pool)
Ed Pastor’s funeral, a list of sexual abuse claims against clergymen and a potential deal to renovate the Phoenix Suns’ arena.
Here are some stories that headlined the news cycle, both locally and nationally, over the weekend.
Mourners say goodbye to Ed Pastor at bipartisan funeral service
Mourners from both sides of the political aisle said goodbye to Ed Pastor on Friday afternoon at a funeral befitting the bipartisan reputation he earned as a longtime U.S. congressman from Arizona.
Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Arizona) eulogized Pastor during Mass at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in central Phoenix.
Wife Verma and daughters Yvonne and Laura also delivered eulogies for Arizona’s first Hispanic congressman, who died at age 75 on Nov. 27 after suffering a heart attack.
Pelosi remembered Pastor as a lawmaker whose humor united people from both parties.
“Everything he did, he was always making it more wonderful,” the California congresswoman said.
Kyl, who served in the Senate while Pastor was in the House, said the Democrat was humble but enormously effective.
“Let’s face it: It was hard to turn Ed down.” Kyl said. “Ed was always a champion for those who needed the representation the most.”
8 former Brophy clergyman on list of Jesuits accused of sexual abuse
Credible claims of sexual abuse were found to have been made against eight Jesuit clergymen who worked at Phoenix’s Brophy College Preparatory between 1950 and 1993, it was announced Friday.
Jesuits West Province, which encompasses Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington, released a list with the names of dozens of clergymen who have been credibly accused. Many are deceased and none are still in public ministry.
“This list of Jesuits with credible claims of sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult, dating to 1950, is being published as part of our province’s ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability,” the province said in a statement.
Last month, Brophy notified its community that the report from Jesuits West was pending.
“We were not aware of any of these names prior to the province’s release, and Brophy does not have any information regarding any claims made by Brophy students who were victimized by the Jesuits on this list,” Brophy President Adria Renke said in a statement issued after the list came out.
“I can assure you that no current Jesuits or faculty members are implicated in this issue, and no child is currently at risk as a result of these revelations.”
Phoenix City Council to vote on $230M deal that would keep Suns downtown
The Phoenix City Council will vote Wednesday on a $230 million renovation deal that would keep the Phoenix Suns downtown.
The deal would revamp the nearly 30-year-old city-owned Talking Stick Resort Arena, the oldest arena in the NBA that is not currently undergoing renovations, between 2019 and 2021.
The city’s Sports Facilities Fund, made up of tourism tax money, would contribute $150 million.
The Suns would pick up $80 million and be responsible for any costs passing the $230 million mark.
Renovations would include the replacement of mechanical, electrical and plumbing infrastructures.
The new agreement would extend the contract through 2037, with the option to add on five years.
The Suns would be expected to build and pay for an off-site practice facility, which would allow more space in the arena.
Upscale Mexican restaurant Agave del Scottsdale to open early 2019
Agave del Scottsdale plans to bring an upscale dining experience to the Valley in early 2019, the restaurant said in a news release Tuesday.
It promised a menu of authentic Mexican food, drawing on the owners’ Mexican heritage and an executive chef who’s moving from Mexico City to head the kitchen.
Diners will be able to enjoy five types of mole sauces, seafood entrees, made-to-order guacamole, tequila, mescal and more in an open-air dining room or at the indoor-outdoor bar.
Agave del Scottsdale will take over the old Butters Pancakes & Cafe at Hayden Road and Via de Ventura in Scottsdale.
Attorneys for wrong-way driver blame Arizona sergeant for crash, injuries
Attorneys for a wrong-way driver say an Arizona Department of Public Safety sergeant who used his vehicle as a traffic break is to blame for a crash on Interstate 40 that sent both of them to the hospital.
Patricia Carvalho has been indicted on 17 charges, including attempted homicide, aggravated DUI and endangerment. The Los Ranchos, New Mexico, woman had a suspended driver’s license and a blood-alcohol content of more than four times Arizona’s legal limit for driving when she was spotted going the wrong way in Flagstaff, according to court documents.
Sgt. Paul Damgaard used his unmarked, white patrol vehicle as a traffic break. Its emergency lights were flashing as he swerved side to side to slow down traffic before coming to a stop in the middle of three lanes on Nov. 17.
In an email to The Associated Press, Carvalho’s court-appointed attorneys, Steven Harvey and Kara Sagi, contend that Damgaard injured their client and endangered her child. They also contend the state could be using the media to prejudice the jury pool.
