Eloy City Council incumbent Jose Garcia says despite election results in August he will continue to serve the community
Jose Garcia, city council member.Courtesy of EloyAZ.gov. Eloy City Council incumbent Jose Garcia, is a very busy man. Not only is he running for his second term on City Council while he awaits yet another school year as a seventh grade special education teacher, but he is also involved with several other committees as well.
Read full storyEloy City Council Incumbent George Reuter: “It is up to us.”
George Reuter, city council incumbent.Courtesy of George Reuter. Eloy City Council incumbent George Reuter is running for re-election. With an eventful term over the last four years and a desire to “bring back pride in [Eloy’s] constituents,” his main aim is Eloy’s progress — even if comes without a seat on City Council.
Read full storyPublic perception of CoreCivic differs from the company’s view of itself
Prison yard.Getty images. Complaints and accusations against CoreCivic are numerous and stem from a variety of perspectives; Department of Homeland Security, stockholders, employees and detainees. However CoreCivic’s revenue remains 1.981 billion and the company continues to win new contracts like one for La Palma Correctional Center in Eloy, AZ.
Read full storyWho is CoreCivic, one of Arizona’s for-profit prison contractors? Two-part series offers answers. Part one: Their side
Man sitting at a table in a dention facility.Getty Images. CoreCivic is a private prison and detention center owner and operator whose specialty is affordable options in “high-quality corrections and detention management” for correctional departments across the country, according to their website.
Read full storyRegarding the recent Frank Atwood execution, victim Vicki Lynne Hoskinson and her family get justice, officials say
Vicki Lynne Hoskinson.Wikipedia. The man convicted of the kidnapping and murder of 8-year-old Vicki Lynne Hoskinson, Frank Atwood, was executed by lethal injection in Florence state prison at 10:16 a.m., Wednesday morning.
Read full storySome Pinal County football conferences have new competitors thanks to Arizona Interscholastic Association changes
The Arizona Interscholastic Association made a plethora of changes to football programs across Pinal County. PinalCentral has dedicated a two-part series to illustrating the AIA moves from conference adjustments to new teams. Schools in conferences 6A-4A play take the field in September.
Read full storyEloy hotels undergo health and safety updates
After complaints from Eloy residents about the poor quality of hotels in the area, Pinal County Health Department, Eloy Fire District, and the Eloy Police Department have come to the rescue.
Read full storyCensus data illustrates Pinal County’s growth
Anna-Maria Toska, survey officer for the 2022 census, conducts a survey.Daniel Karmann/picture alliance via Getty Images. It’s no secret that Pinal County is the fastest-growing community in the country but the U.S. Census Bureau’s Summer 2021 findings, released on Thursday, ranked Queen Creek third in the 15 fastest-growing large cities.
Read full storyCentral Arizona College’s Princess Kara sets new track and field records
Princess Kara.Central Arizona College. Princess Kara is an NJCAA Outdoor Track and Field Champion, again. According to Casa Grande Dispatch The Central Arizona College discus champ threw 185 feet, 5 inches surpassing Stacy Ainlay’s 1991 NJCAA meet mark of 181-2 and fellow CAC champ Ilona Rutges’ 2002 national all-time mark.
Read full storyIn the wake of Dixon execution, Florence State Prison inmate Frank Atwood forgoes method-of-death choice
(Pinal Count, AZ) — In Florence state prison, Clarence Wayne Dixon was executed Wednesday, May 11, 2022, by lethal injection — the default method when inmates waive the right to choose their cause of death. Dixon forwent his decision and so has Frank Atwood.
Read full storyCasa Grande school districts discuss next budget override election
(Pinal County, AZ) — Though Pinal County is projected to experience an economic boom overall, Casa Grande school districts are discussing budget overrides. Casa Grande Dispatch recounted Casa Grande Elementary School District’s board meeting, last week on May 10. Villago Middle School Principal Jeff Lavender delivered a presentation on the importance and rationale of budget override proposals. NewsBreak could not access footage from the meeting, reporters from Casa Grande Dispatch recapped the proceedings.
Read full storyClarence Wayne Dixon: A timeline of his life, alleged crimes, and mental health history, as told by the State
Clarence Wayne Dixon and a court document from May 3, 2022.Courtesy of Arizona Department of Corrections and AZ Central. (Pinal County, AZ) — Arizona has been hearing the name Clarence Wayne Dixon since the mid-eighties, but his alleged crimes predated his appearance on our radars. Here’s a timeline of Clarence Dixon’s life, crimes, and mental health history; recorded and documented by the State, constructed from the Combined Index and Exhibits to Motion to Determine Mental Competency to be Executed:
Read full storyDespite disabilities, Clarence Wayne Dixon will be executed on May 11, 2022
Clarence Wayne Dixon and an execution chamber at Florence state prison.Arizona Department of Corrections, AZ Central, Reuters, and The Guardian. (Pinal County, AZ) — Clarence Wayne Dixon —the Navajo man convicted of the 1978 rape and murder of Arizona State University student Deanna Bowdoin — was declared mentally compentent for execution on May 11, 2022, despite mental health issues.
Read full storyOne of the new candidates on the Florence Town Council ballot: Cassandra Scherm
It’s no secret that Florence might be gearing up for one of the most interesting Town Council election seasons it's seen in a long time. New candidate on the ballot Cassandra Scherm uses the breadth of her personal and professional skills and titles to try her hand at local government.
Read full storyMeet Nicole Buccellato — one of five candidates running for a Town Council seat
(Pinal County, AZ) — Senior Diversion Officer, mom, wife and Pinal County lifer Nicole Buccellato is throwing her hat into the Town Council’s ring. There are five people running for Florence’s three city council seats complete with a breadth of powers and responsibilities ranging from public safety and budgeting. Buccellato joins two other candidates — Cassandra Scherm and Jose “Mo” Maldonado — as first time political candidates. NewsBreak sat down(virtually) with Buccellato to discuss her life in Florence, her journey to the ballot and her plans if elected.
Read full storyGroundwater: A crisis or not a crisis? That is the question
(Pinal County, AZ) It turns out Pinal’s potential groundwater crisis was debunked by Pinal Groundwater Task Force members, water resources managers of Arizona Water Company, Terry Sue Rossi; senior Vice President of Global Water Resources, Jake Lenderking; senior adviser to Arizona Water, Bill Garfield and Pinal County Supervisor, Steve Miller.
Read full storyPrison paralytic: Don’t call it a comeback, Zyklon B has been here for 80 years
(Pinal County, AZ) — Deana Bowdoin was a 21-year-old student at Arizona State University in 1978 when her life was ground to a halt; now the man convicted of her brutal demise is facing his own. Clarence Wayne Dixon will be the first inmate executed on death row since Joseph Rudolph Wood’s III execution in 2014 and Walter LaGrand’s execution in 1999.
Read full storyNew Florence charter school American Leadership Academy blends learning with value-based lessons
(Pinal County, AZ) — American Leadership Academy, Anthem South (7-12) is the newest, tuition-free addition to Charter One’s American Leadership Academy. Besides ALA, Anthem South (7-12), which is still under construction, there are only three other facilities schooling students grades seventh through twelfth: ALA, Gilbert North (7-12); ALA, Queen Creek (7-12) and ALA, Ironwood (7-12).
Read full storyA hungry burglar leaves contact info for job opportunity
(Pinal County, AZ) — A stereotypical description of a criminal — a burglar specifically, would probably involve dark clothing, a ski mask and criminal interest in someone else’s bejeweled family heirlooms.
Read full storyAs Florence prison prepares for closing, comment section debate over prisoners’ rights mimics Supreme Court debate
Correctional Officer Tracy Sisson works Condemned Row’s command post at the Special Management Unit (SMU) in Florence.MIKE FIALA/AFP via Getty Images. In January, the Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation and Reentry announced its newly awarded contract to long-time detention management partner, CoreCivic, growing the La Palma Correctional Center’s inmate population by almost 3,000 and closing Florence prison.
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