Weekend wrap: Here are the biggest Arizona news stories from March 6-8

PHOENIX — From a Paradise Valley mansion selling for $20 million to a Kari Lake verdict, here are some of the top Arizona news stories from March 6-8.

9-bedroom ‘Casa de Ninos’ estate in Paradise Valley sells for $20M

A nine-bedroom estate in Paradise Valley with tall hedges, arched gateways and a koi pond sold on Wednesday for $20 million.

The 17,250-square-foot estate with six bedrooms in the main home, two apartments and a guesthouse sits on more than 4 acres of land.

The one-level residence boasts 26-foot-high ceilings and high arched doors leading to the grounds, which include a tennis court, a resort pool with a swim-up bar, a pool house with a sauna and a ramada with charcoal and gas barbecues.

There are also six outdoor televisions and two beer taps.

Moving inside, the estate’s interior has numerous luxury features, including limestone and marble floors and Honduran mahogany woodwork.

Privacy was key to the designers, since there’s a large electronic gate at the entrance, a block wall and tall hedges.

Visitors can travel up the long, curved driveway to admire the grounds, which Josh Shaver, an agent with Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, said were akin to a park.

“Masterfully crafted by Nance Construction, the home is set within a breathtaking, park-like setting featuring lush mature landscaping, a tranquil meandering koi pond and striking views of Camelback Mountain,” Shaver said.

The address of the Paradise Valley mansion is 6161 N. 59th Place.

Kari Lake illegally ran US media agency, federal judge says

Kari Lake did not have the legal authority to run the U.S. Agency for Global Media, a federal judge ruled Saturday, invalidating many of the actions she took while overseeing the government-funded broadcaster Voice of America.

In a decision issued in Washington, U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth said the arrangement that put Lake in charge on July 31 violated federal law because she was never properly appointed by the Senate to lead the agency.

Lake returned to the role of Deputy CEO on Nov. 19, two days after the filing of the plaintiffs’ motion, court documents show.

The Saturday ruling came in a lawsuit filed by several agency employees, including Patsy Widakuswara, the White House bureau chief for Voice of America. The plaintiffs argued that Lake had been exercising the powers of the agency’s chief executive without going through the legal appointment process required for the position.

Lamberth agreed, writing that officials improperly gave authority to Lake, effectively making her the agency’s chief executive “in all but name.”

The decision throws into question a series of moves made while Lake was overseeing the agency, including personnel actions that placed large numbers of employees on administrative leave and eliminated hundreds of contractor positions.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media, which supervises Voice of America and other U.S. government-funded international broadcasters, distributes news programming to audiences around the world.

Lake, a former television news anchor at Fox 10 Phoenix and Republican political candidate, had argued she was working to overhaul what she described as a dysfunctional agency. Lake said on X that she plans to appeal the ruling.

Former Arizona school district employee pleads guilty to stealing public funds

A former Yuma Elementary School District employee has been convicted after stealing almost $86,000 in public funds, authorities said.

According to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Mercedes Brena worked as a human resources specialist for the district and stole money from November 2021 to October 2022.

Brena was convicted of two felonies: misuse of public monies and possession of a forgery device.

Prosecutors said Brena stole taxpayer money by:

• Taking money orders meant for the Yuma Elementary School District.
• Forging and submitting fraudulent timesheets to a third‑party payroll company.
• Buying personal gift cards with school district credit cards.

Brena pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 15, according to the attorney general’s office.

“When public funds meant for the education of Arizona’s children are stolen or misused, there must be accountability,” Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a Friday press release.

As part of her plea deal, Brena must pay a minimum restitution of $85,988.70.

“My office will always stand up for the students, families and taxpayers who deserve their tax dollars being spent appropriately,” Mayes said.

State Route 51 improvement project expected to disrupt Phoenix traffic until fall

A road improvement project along State Route 51 in Phoenix is expected to begin Friday.

The $17.8 million project, which is set to begin Friday and last through the fall, will improve pavement along a 10-mile stretch of State Route 51 between the Interstate 10 “mini-stack” interchange and Shea Boulevard, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).

Crews will remove the top layer of older asphalt pavement along the freeway and use diamond grinding to smooth the pavement.

Southbound SR 51 will be closed between Cactus Road and Northern Avenue from 9 p.m. Friday, March 13, to 5 a.m. Monday, March 16.

The project will also require weeknight lane and ramp restrictions or closures, according to ADOT.

ADOT advises drivers to use southbound Interstate 17 as an alternate route. Traffic exiting on southbound State Route 51 at Cactus Road will be detoured west to southbound Seventh Street and eastbound Northern Avenue.

49-year-old woman dead following afternoon collision in north Phoenix

A 49-year-old woman is dead after a crash in north Phoenix on Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

The Phoenix Police Department identified the woman who died as Alanna Duval Cziperle.

According to police, officers responded to the area of Aviano Way and Deer Valley Drive for reports of a collision resulting in injuries around 2:15 p.m. and found Duval Cziperle suffering from serious injuries.

She was taken to a nearby hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

The preliminary investigation suggested that Duval Cziperle was making a left turn onto Deer Valley Drive when she collided with another vehicle, which was traveling eastbound on Deer Valley Drive, police said.

According to authorities, speed appears to be a factor in the crash.

The other vehicle remained at the scene after the collision.

Police said any charging decisions will be made after the collision reconstruction process is completed.

The investigation into the fatal north Phoenix crash is ongoing.

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