Phoenix News

Former Phoenix radio personality Bill Heywood was being remembered Thursday by friends, former co-workers and his longtime boss as someone who got the city going in the morning with his quick wit and calming, smooth voice.

Heywood and his wife were found shot to death Wednesday in a hotel room in Scottsdale, police said.

Neither the Suns (2-3) or Mavericks (2-4) have won consecutive games this season but enter tonight’s 6:30 p.m. (Arizona time) tip-off after each winning on Monday.

Dallas won all four games against the Suns last season and has won seven consecutive home games against the Suns. Phoenix last won at American Airlines Center in March 2007 when Amar’e Stoudemire scored 41 and Steve Nash had 32 points and 16 assists in double-overtime win.

The struggling Phoenix Suns have signed former All-Star guard Michael Redd to boost their scoring depth, the National Basketball Association (NBA) team said on Thursday.

Redd, 32, has averaged 20 points in 11 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks since being drafted as the 43rd overall pick in 2000.

Some people in Phoenix are threatening to pull their support for the Humane Society after it euthanized a cat brought in for medical treatment by a former heroin addict.

The Arizona Republic reports (http://bit.ly/tNzWqN ) that Daniel Dockery’s 9-month-old cat, Scruffy, was put down not because of its wounds but because the 49-year-old Phoenix man couldn’t immediately pay for its care.

Dockery had been searching for Scruffy since taking it to the Humane Society three weeks ago and learned of Scruffy’s fate on Tuesday. He says he’s devastated.

It’s the time of year when people get into trouble exploring the Valley’s mountains.

Between bowl games and holiday visitors, Phoenix Fire Captain Scott walked said it’s the busiest time of year for rescues. More >

All Whites midfielder Jeremy Brockie and his Newcastle Jets had an extra training session on Boxing Day after Friday’s 5-2 thrashing at the Wellington Phoenix.

Brockie says they were called in for some extra training following the humiliation and they trained again on Tuesday to work off any Christmas indulgences as coach Gary van Egmond cracked the whip.

Newcastle face the Perth Glory at home next on New Year’s Eve – both are on the same points with the Glory one place higher in seventh on goal difference, and both have lost their last three straight games.

Phoenix Racing has confirmed that Kurt Busch will drive the team’s No. 51 Sprint Cup entry in 2012.

Busch won two races and finished 11th in the point standings driving Penske Racing’s No. 22 Dodge in 2011. More >

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and the Phoenix Police Department moved Monday to distance themselves from responsibility for an altercation early Friday at the Fourth Avenue Jail that left a Peoria man in critical condition and on life support.

Family members of Ernest “Marty” Atencio, 44, were waiting for two of Atencio’s sons to fly into Phoenix on Monday before deciding whether to take him off life support, the family’s attorney said.

Occupy Phoenix protesters were out in front of St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Fourth Avenue Jail Sunday expressing their anger after law enforcement used a stun gun while and inmate was being booked. More >

The Wellington Phoenix are likely to return to Dunedin next season after Football Federation Australia officials gave Forsyth Barr Stadium their seal of approval on Wednesday night.

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