Weekend wrap-up: Biggest Arizona-related stories from this past weekend

PHOENIX — It was hot in the Valley this past weekend — and we aren’t just talking about the weather.

Here are some of the biggest Arizona-related news from the weekend of July 20.

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Phoenix expected to see 118 degree temperatures next week

It’s going to be hot in the Phoenix area next week. Yes, even hotter than usual.

A heat wave is expected to swing through the Valley, with the hottest temperatures coming at the start of the week.

The National Weather Service predicted that Phoenix will record high temperatures of 116 on Monday, with the heat peaking at 118 degrees on Tuesday.

Phoenix-area mosque open to plea agreement in hate-speech incident

A Phoenix-area mosque was open to a plea agreement in the criminal case against two women who recorded themselves spewing anti-Muslim vitriol and taking flyers and pamphlets from the facility.

A news release issued Thursday by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said the case was “in settlement negotiations including all parties.”

In the release, a spokeswoman for the Islamic Community Center of Tempe said the mosque community “would like to see some good come from this heinous attack.”

“We are open to offering an informational and educational session to these two women, their children, and the community at large,” ICC spokeswoman Kristy Sabbah said. “We would also like to see community service hours served here at the Islamic Community Center in lieu of a restitution settlement.”

CVS fires pharmacist who wouldn’t fill transgender customer’s prescription

CVS said it fired a pharmacist accused of refusing to fill a hormone prescription for a transgender customer at a Phoenix-area store.

On Thursday, Hilde Hall wrote a blog post on the American Civil Liberties Union website about her experience at the Fountain Hills pharmacy.

The post began: “On a recent day in April, I left my doctor’s office elated. I was carrying my first prescriptions for hormone therapy. I was finally going to start seeing my body reflect my gender identity and the woman I’ve always known myself to be.”

The pharmacist refused to fill one of the subscriptions, Hall wrote.

“He did not give me a clear reason for the refusal. He just kept asking, loudly and in front of other CVS staff and customers, why I was given the prescriptions,” Hall wrote, adding that she was “embarrassed and distressed.”

The pharmacist wouldn’t give the prescriptions back to her, Hall wrote, so she had to ask her doctor to call them in to another pharmacy.

Arizona Gov. Ducey issues executive order to limit immunity for legislators

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed an executive order that would remove reckless driving from the types of offenses that lawmakers have immunity from during the legislative session.

“No one is above the law, and certainly not politicians,” Ducey said in a news release announcing the order. “Everyone should know that, but clearly a reminder is needed.”

The order came in the wake of scandal surrounding state Rep. Paul Mosley (R-Lake Havasu City), who was captured on video, after being stopped for speeding, boasting that he’d driven as fast at 140 mph.

Valley coach suspended by USA Gymnastics for sexual misconduct

A Valley gymnastics coach has been suspended by USA Gymnastics pending a hearing on alleged sexual misconduct.

According to USA Gymnastics, Daniel Witenstein has been suspended from all contact with gymnasts as it relates to USA Gymnastics bylaw 9.3 — which relates directly to allegations of sexual misconduct.

The allegations against Witenstein — who is the owner and coach of Sunrays Gymnastics & Dance Center in Phoenix — stems from an incident in 1986.

“I have all the confidence in the world in the exceptional and capable staff of Arizona Sunrays,” Witenstein said in a statement Friday. “It is my hope that the situation will be investigated, properly handled and ultimately resolved in a timely manner.

Man shot by police after reversing car into Mesa officer during traffic stop

A man who is suspected of reversing into a police officer and a patrol car during a traffic stop was shot by an officer early Saturday morning, police said.

Around 3 a.m., Mesa police officers pulled over 21-year-old Anthony C. Lopez at Dobson Road and Southern Avenue and suspected the driver of being impaired.

The driver did not follow their directions and then reversed the car. He hit one of the officers and the police car.

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