Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from August 23-25
Aug 25, 2019, 6:05 PM | Updated: 6:10 pm
(AP Photos)
(AP Photos)
The first anniversary of Arizona icon John McCain’s death, Joe Arpaio’s announcement he’s again running for Maricopa County sheriff and measles exposure in Phoenix.
Here are some stories that headlined the news cycle, both locally and nationally, over the weekend.
Family, politicians remember Arizona icon John McCain 1 year after death
Family, Arizona politicians and former colleagues in the U.S. Senate paid tribute Sunday to the man most known for being a war hero, maverick and statesman.
John McCain died on Aug. 25 last year after a yearlong battle with brain cancer. His 83rd birthday would have been Wednesday.
The former Republican senator from Arizona’s widow, Cindy, was interviewed by CNN and explained what she missed most about her husband.
“There are so many things I miss about him right now,” Cindy McCain said. “I think most of all was his voice of reason and his common sense. He exhibited that not only in his daily work life, but at home.”
She tweeted a tribute as well, again calling for political civility just days after asking for it in honor of her husband in an op-ed in the Washington Post.
Arizona’s top politicians and former Senate colleagues also paid tribute to McCain.
Joe Arpaio announces bid to once again become Maricopa County sheriff
Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is making another run at the position he held for more than 20 years.
Arpaio, 87, announced Sunday in a press release that he is running to be the county’s sheriff in 2020.
The Republican lost to Democrat and former Phoenix Police Sgt. Paul Penzone in 2016, ending his 24-year run in Maricopa County.
“I will continue to stand and fight to do the right thing for Arizona and America and will never surrender,” Arpaio said in the release.
In the release, Arpaio promised to reopen the controversial Tent City and crack down on border and illegal immigration issues if he were to once again become sheriff.
Penzone in October 2017 closed Tent City, the outdoor jail for low-level offenders that gained national attention for its living conditions and unique inmate wardrobe choices.
Measles exposure linked to teen at dance competition in Phoenix
Valley health officials are warning the public that a teen international traveler tested positive for measles and could have exposed others.
According to a press release from Maricopa County of Department of Public Health on Friday, the teenager was competing in the World Hip Hop Dance Competition on Aug. 9-11 at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix.
Officials also confirmed the teenager was at Sky Harbor Terminal 2 between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Aug. 11.
“Since we’re still finding out more information about where this individual was, people can stay up to date on where more exposure occurred by going to wearepublichealth.org,” Rebecca Sunenshine, medical director for disease control at Maricopa County Public Health, told KTAR News 92.3 FM.
Video shows man punching his own attorney in Phoenix court
A public defender who was punched in the face by a client in a Phoenix courtroom last year says he was mistreated by county staff after the incident.
Attorney Vladimir Gagic told ABC 15 the Office of Public Defense Services suspended him from working as a contract attorney for Maricopa County a month or two after the assault.
He said staff also asked him to return the $1,000 they had paid him to represent Lamont Payne, but he was able to get them to pay for the hours he had already put in.
A Maricopa County spokesperson told the TV station that Gagic’s suspension was due to “multiple complaints about his lack of communication.”
Gagic refuted that claim and said he plans to sue the county.
Wrong-way driver causes 2 accidents on I-10 in Chandler, injures 1
A wrong-way driver has been accused of being the cause of two accidents that closed the Interstate 10 on-ramp at Loop 202 San Tan Freeway early Saturday morning, according to the Department of Public Safety and Chandler police.
This is the second wrong-way driver in as many days and the fifth in the month of August.
Saturday’s wrong-way driver caused a crash at the I-10 and Ray Road and proceeded to keep driving as Chander police responded to the accident, according to Chandler police.
Chandler police say DPS responded to the second crash and was able to arrest the driver for driving under the influence.
At least one person was injured and transported to a local hospital with minor injuries, according to DPS.
