Arizona Business Gazette:  “Employers that provide vehicles for their workers can end up liable for workers’ compensation benefits if the employees get into an accident, even ones that occur after they leave work, the Arizona Court of Appeals has ruled.  The judges rejected arguments by Pima County that it was not responsible for paying benefits to the widow of Robert Hooker, who was killed in a car crash while on his way to meet his wife for dinner. The court concluded that the mishap could be considered a work-related injury.”

Arizona Republic:  “The escalating legal battle between county officials manifested itself in more criminal allegations Wednesday when Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and Sheriff Joe Arpaio filed charges against Superior Court Judge Gary Donahoe.   The direct complaint alleges that Donahoe participated in a scheme to commit bribery, hinder criminal prosecution and obstruct a criminal investigation.  The charges center on Donahoe’s role in the sheriff’s and county attorney’s investigation of the criminal court tower under construction in downtown Phoenix.”

See “County files criminal complaint against high profile judge” and “Prosecutors charge judge with 3 felonies.”

Arizona Republic:  “A Gilbert school district technology director at the center of a criminal investigation into computer equipment theft and unauthorized downloads of an extraterrestrial-searching software issued a lengthy statement Thursday to news reporters and governing board members, claiming he is a victim “of a personal vendetta” by the superintendent. . . . Birdwell said administrators became concerned about persistent problems with teachers’ electronic classroom boards turning off because of an unauthorized software, BOINC, found on nearly 5,000 district computers which sorts through telescope-collected data for signs of intelligent life in outer space.”