Zach Buchanan
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zhbuchanan.bsky.social
Zach Buchanan
@zhbuchanan.bsky.social
News Editor for the Phoenix New Times. Former ballwriter. I watch a distressing amount of television.
Five-year-old just scared the shit out of me.

"When I grow up, I'm going to be a DJ."
November 10, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Reposted by Zach Buchanan
Jessica Heidi-Holwell was furloughed by the Department of Veterans Affairs during the shutdown. She DoorDashes to feed her kids.

"I don’t know what we’ll do if we run out of money before Congress agrees on a deal to reopen the government," she writes at @phoenixnewtimes.com.
I’m a furloughed federal worker in Arizona. I DoorDash to survive
I work for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Surprise. Because of the government shutdown, I've missed three paychecks.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Jessica Heidi-Holwell was furloughed by the Department of Veterans Affairs during the shutdown. She DoorDashes to feed her kids.

"I don’t know what we’ll do if we run out of money before Congress agrees on a deal to reopen the government," she writes at @phoenixnewtimes.com.
I’m a furloughed federal worker in Arizona. I DoorDash to survive
I work for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Surprise. Because of the government shutdown, I've missed three paychecks.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Could they maybe have gotten Ethan Hawke a prop gun that doesn't look like it was made in woodshop? Where does the bullet come from?

Cc @sepinwall.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Reposted by Zach Buchanan
In January 2024, a man called the cops on his teenage son, claiming he wouldn't turn over his cell phone.

The cops tackled the kid, breaking his wrist and busting open his chin. They also told the dad he should beat his son.

Story from @tjlheureux.bsky.social:
Phoenix cops broke teen’s wrist, told him his dad should beat him
The teen, who also suffered a busted chin, is now suing the city and the three officers involved.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Reposted by Zach Buchanan
The kid, who is now suing, repeatedly told police his dad was abusive. The veracity of that claim is not clear, partially because none of the cops took it seriously.

They even lied in the incident report about it.

Story: www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/phoenix...
November 3, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Reposted by Zach Buchanan
“He is a child — he only has rights from the government. He has no rights from you. If you wish to beat him, beat him. If you wish to belt him, belt him.”

To the kid, a cop said: “Other than sending you to the hospital, your dad should beat you."

Story:
Phoenix cops broke teen’s wrist, told him his dad should beat him
The teen, who also suffered a busted chin, is now suing the city and the three officers involved.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:23 PM
In January 2024, a man called the cops on his teenage son, claiming he wouldn't turn over his cell phone.

The cops tackled the kid, breaking his wrist and busting open his chin. They also told the dad he should beat his son.

Story from @tjlheureux.bsky.social:
Phoenix cops broke teen’s wrist, told him his dad should beat him
The teen, who also suffered a busted chin, is now suing the city and the three officers involved.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:23 PM
"Will Smith just smacked the shit outta me"
November 2, 2025 at 4:13 AM
The measles outbreak in the Northern Arizona community of Short Creek -- a former fundamentalist Mormon stronghold -- is showing no signs of slowing.

Just on the Arizona side of the Utah border, cases are nearing 100.

From @morgfisch.bsky.social:
The Northern Arizona measles outbreak is approaching 100 cases
The outbreak, centered in the former polygamist Mormon area of Short Creek, is the state's biggest in decades.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 9:37 PM
New: Phoenix is being sued by the mother of a man who was killed by a cop in January.

Though police said the man was armed, body-cam footage does not clearly show that. It does show a cop calmly shooting Christopher Phillips in the back from distance.
Woman sues Phoenix cop who fatally shot her son in the back
Officer William Rodriguez Gallardo calmly picked off an allegedly armed Christopher Phillips with a single shot on Jan. 17.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Reposted by Zach Buchanan
Our @morgfisch.bsky.social went to Short Creek, home to Arizona's biggest measles outbreak in decades. It's also the former home of infamous polygamist leader Warren Jeffs.

Jeffs' reign is over, but measles -- and low vaccination rates -- shows he casts a long shadow.

A must-read:
Uncontained: Short Creek, measles and the long shadow of Warren Jeffs
Arizona's biggest measles outbreak in decades is in a small Arizona town trying to move past its infamous polygamist prophet.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
October 21, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Our @morgfisch.bsky.social went to Short Creek, home to Arizona's biggest measles outbreak in decades. It's also the former home of infamous polygamist leader Warren Jeffs.

Jeffs' reign is over, but measles -- and low vaccination rates -- shows he casts a long shadow.

A must-read:
Uncontained: Short Creek, measles and the long shadow of Warren Jeffs
Arizona's biggest measles outbreak in decades is in a small Arizona town trying to move past its infamous polygamist prophet.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
October 21, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by Zach Buchanan
Not sure the folks at NBC/Peacock thought this one through
October 18, 2025 at 9:31 PM
The best signs Phoenix New Times saw at the "No Kings" protest at the Arizona Capitol.
The 15 best signs we saw at the Arizona Capitol ‘No Kings’ protest
A good sign catches the eye. A great one makes you laugh. These are our favorites from Saturday.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
October 18, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Oct. 2 wasn't the best day for Phoenix police.

That morning, officers killed Victor Altamirano. Body-cam footage showed he was yelling "kill me!" and stumbling away when he was shot from a distance of about 40-50 feet.

Story by @tjlheureux.bsky.social:
Video: Phoenix cops shoot, kill suicidal man stumbling away from them
Victor Altamirano was holding a knife and yelling "Kill me" from about 40-50 feet away from officers before they shot him.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
October 17, 2025 at 7:51 PM
The QAnon Shaman spoke to @tjlheureux.bsky.social about his $40 trillion lawsuit against Trump.

"I’m suing that motherfucker because I believe it was him and his administration that’s directly responsible for the harassment campaign that I endured."

Link: www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/phoenix...
October 10, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Republicans want to free the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office from federal oversight, citing a $350M price tag. So, the federal judge ordered an audit.

It found that 72% of costs charged to court-ordered compliance had little to do with that at all.

By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:
Audit: Maricopa County Sheriff overstated compliance costs by $163M
Republicans have whined about the price tag of complying with federally mandated reforms. That may be the sheriff's fault.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
October 9, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Reposted by Zach Buchanan
Hernan Castro's a big deal in Tucson's mushroom scene.

He has a green card, has lived here since age 12. But now, he's in prison for allegedly lying on a citizenship application.

Friends feel ICE is targeting him for deportation.

By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:
He’s Tucson’s ‘mushroom man.’ The feds may deport him over paperwork
Hernan Castro has a big following among Arizona mushroom enthusiasts. He's been in federal lockup since late May.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Hernan Castro's a big deal in Tucson's mushroom scene.

He has a green card, has lived here since age 12. But now, he's in prison for allegedly lying on a citizenship application.

Friends feel ICE is targeting him for deportation.

By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:
He’s Tucson’s ‘mushroom man.’ The feds may deport him over paperwork
Hernan Castro has a big following among Arizona mushroom enthusiasts. He's been in federal lockup since late May.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Reposted by Zach Buchanan
Jan. 6 rioter Jacob Chansley -- aka the QAnon Shaman -- is representing himself in a suit against Donald Trump, the U.S. government, Israel, the IMF and other entities.

He's seeking $40 trillion and claims he's the rightful president.

By @tjlheureux.bsky.social:
QAnon Shaman says he’s rightful president, sues Trump for $40 trillion
In a rambling complaint, Jacob Chansley claims DJs are spies, that the NSA stole his work for a Batman movie and more.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
September 26, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Reposted by Zach Buchanan
In a rambling complaint, Jacob Chansley claims DJs are spies, that the NSA stole his work for a Batman movie and more.
QAnon Shaman says he’s rightful president, sues Trump for $40 trillion
In a rambling complaint, Jacob Chansley claims DJs are spies, that the NSA stole his work for a Batman movie and more.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
September 26, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Jan. 6 rioter Jacob Chansley -- aka the QAnon Shaman -- is representing himself in a suit against Donald Trump, the U.S. government, Israel, the IMF and other entities.

He's seeking $40 trillion and claims he's the rightful president.

By @tjlheureux.bsky.social:
QAnon Shaman says he’s rightful president, sues Trump for $40 trillion
In a rambling complaint, Jacob Chansley claims DJs are spies, that the NSA stole his work for a Batman movie and more.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
September 26, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Reposted by Zach Buchanan
David Denogean was murdered in 2022. Police ID'd a suspect in 2023.

No one told his family until we got the police report.

"They use that all the time: 'We dropped the ball.' That must be the department catchphrase instead of 'to serve and protect.'"

By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:
Murdered man’s family slams ‘shocking’ police communication failures
"They use that all the time: 'We dropped the ball.' That must be the department catchphrase instead of 'to serve and protect.'"
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:59 PM
David Denogean was murdered in 2022. Police ID'd a suspect in 2023.

No one told his family until we got the police report.

"They use that all the time: 'We dropped the ball.' That must be the department catchphrase instead of 'to serve and protect.'"

By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:
Murdered man’s family slams ‘shocking’ police communication failures
"They use that all the time: 'We dropped the ball.' That must be the department catchphrase instead of 'to serve and protect.'"
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:59 PM