Phoenix Jail Inmate Walks Free in Cellmate’s Strangulation Death, Citing Self-Defense
Emmanuel Chandiga was arrested and booked on one count of second-degree murder on October 9, but five days later, Maricopa County prosecutors announced they would not pursue the case at all. The reason: a self-defense claim they say they cannot disprove in court, stemming from the March 2026 death of his cellmate at Lower Buckeye Jail in Phoenix.
East Valley stalker who sent ‘9 million messages’ shocked it ‘took this long’ to...
Austin Curtis, 32, was arrested after allegedly stalking a former high school classmate, leaving a bag of knives on her porch, and threatening mass violence at a Pride parade. During police questioning, Curtis admitted to sending "about 9 million messages" and banging on the victim's door, blaming his actions on excessive Adderall use and claiming his violent threats were First Amendment "jokes."
Desert Soul Lounge Bringing Live R&B to Phoenix
Desert Soul Lounge is coming to 711 S. Central Avenue, the former Plush Kitchen location, according to a liquor license application submitted to the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control. Owner Jeff Sheard told What Now Phoenix he plans a soft opening in late November 2026, followed by a...
German shepherd curled up in corner of shelter kennel needs a hero before his...
Meet Grover; he is a handsome German shepherd blend at risk of losing his life at the Maricopa County Animal Shelter in Phoenix, Arizona. He’s been at the shelter since September, and no one has arrived to adopt him. Grover is three-years-old and weighs 65 pounds.(A5171240) He is described...
North Phoenix sports bar, 2 Mesa restaurants cited for health violations
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Every week, Arizona’s Family looks up restaurants recently inspected by Maricopa County’s Environmental Services Department. Restaurants with some of the highest numbers of “risk factors,” considered major health code violations by inspectors, are selected for our Dirty Dining Report. For more details on the restaurant inspection scoring system, visit Maricopa County’s website.
Vestar moves ahead with Gateway Crossing, a mixed-use project in southeast Mesa
Vestar is moving ahead with a new mixed-use project on a 37-acre site in southeast Mesa.
The ‘Depressing’ Future For Arizona Water Access
PHOENIX– Terry Goddard, president of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board of Directors, calls the state of the Colorado River "depressing" and is suspicious of other states' involvement in a speech about the river. Venture Café Phoenix hosted Goddard for a conversational event titled The State of the...
$50,000 in jewelry stolen from downtown Gilbert antique store
GILBERT, Ariz. - An antique shop owner in Gilbert is asking for the public's help after she says a thief walked off with tens of thousands of dollars in jewelry. Police and the store owner are hoping surveillance footage will help identify the suspect. What we know:. The front door...
Flies and moldy ice machines: The worst restaurant inspections of September
Flies and mold are never a welcome sight in a kitchen. Less obvious, but equally dangerous issues can stem from staff who don’t understand proper food safety. Health inspectors from the Maricopa County Environmental Services department found all of the above in Valley kitchens last month. Inspectors drop in...
Mesa Music Festival returns this weekend. Here’s the schedule
The Valley’s largest free music festival takes over downtown Mesa this weekend, with more than 200 performances happening over three days. Mesa Music Festival runs from Thursday, Oct. 15 through Saturday, Oct. 17 with emerging artists from around the Southwest playing on eight stages. Nu-metal act P.O.D. headlines a lineup featuring rock, punk, folk, metal, country, reggae and hip-hop. Meanwhile, the Off the Main Comedy Stage hosts local comics, open mic and a roast battle.
