Arizona ends use of outdoor prison cells after female inmate died in triple-digit heat

October 13th, 2009 Mo. inmate accused of threatening Obama in letterST. LOUIS — Authorities say a Missouri inmate is facing a federal charge of threatening to kill President Barack Obama after writing a threatening letter from prison.

September 22nd, 2009 AZ corrections workers disciplined in inmate deathPHOENIX — Sixteen Arizona corrections employees have been fired, suspended or otherwise disciplined for their roles in the death of an inmate left in an outdoor holding cell for four hours in triple-digit heat and for a "wait-them-out" practice at the prison where she died. Three of those disciplined were fired, two stepped down in place of being fired, 10 received suspensions ranging from 40 to 80 hours, and one was demoted.

September 16th, 2009 Guards watch Ohio inmate after execution delayLUCASVILLE, Ohio — A condemned inmate whose execution was stopped because of problems finding a usable vein will remain at the maximum security prison where death row inmates usually are held for a day before being put to death. Ohio prisons spokeswoman Julie Walburn says inmate Romell Broom has been placed in a cell in the infirmary at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville and will remain there over the next week.

September 1st, 2009 AZ inmate who died had burns, high core body tempPHOENIX — An inmate who died in triple-digit heat after spending four hours in an outdoor holding cell had numerous first- and second-degree burns on her face and body and a core body temperature of 108 degrees, according to an autopsy report. The report confirmed that Marcia Powell, 48, died of a heat-related illness but also provided more details of her death than were previously known.

August 25th, 2009 US resumes flying illegal immigrants to MexicoPHOENIX — Immigration authorities are flying illegal immigrants deep into their native Mexico from Southern Arizona to discourage dangerous crossings in triple-digit desert heat. The twice-daily flights from Tucson to Mexico City are intended to keep immigrants away from border towns where they would likely run into smugglers who want to sneak them back into the U.S.

August 14th, 2009 Ark. guard denies death-row sex allegationLITTLE ROCK, Ark. — An Arkansas prison spokeswoman says allegations that a death-row guard had a romantic relationship with an inmate were determined to be "unfounded." The guard, Danita Williams, denied Thursday the claims that the inmate committed a sexual act in her presence and passed her love letters.

August 13th, 2009 Fired Ark. guard denies death-row sex allegationLITTLE ROCK, Ark. — An Arkansas prison guard fired after an investigation into allegations that she had a romantic relationship with a death-row inmate says the prisoner never committed a sex act with her.

July 10th, 2009 Al-Qaida inmate gets access to Obama's booksMcLEAN, Va. — The Bureau of Prisons says it reversed course months ago to allow some of the country's most dangerous prisoners to read two books written by President Barack Obama.

June 12th, 2009 Inmate shot during fight at US prison in IndianaTERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Officials at a federal prison in western Indiana say two inmates were injured when guards opened fire while breaking up a fight at the prison's recreation yard.

June 12th, 2009 Ariz. inmate death leads to ban on outdoor cellsPHOENIX — A prostitute doing time behind bars, Marcia Powell was temporarily moved one day last month to an outdoor holding pen with nothing but a chain-link-fence roof to shield her from the searing desert sun. She lasted less than four hours.

June 3rd, 2009 Ariz. permanently ends use of outdoor prison cellsPHOENIX — Arizona is ending its use of outdoor prison cells permanently after an inmate died in triple-digit heat last month, the corrections department said Tuesday. Corrections spokesman Barrett Marson said in an e-mail Tuesday that the decision came after consulting with Gov.

May 29th, 2009 Ariz. halts use of outdoor prison holding cellsPHOENIX — The director of Arizona state prisons has suspended the use of unshaded outdoor holding cells in the wake of an inmate's death. Authorities said Friday that crews will retrofit the cells to provide shade and water.

May 5th, 2009 Dodgers improve to 11-0 at home, beat Arizona 7-2LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first National League team since 1900 to win their first 11 home games, overcoming an Arizona triple play to beat the Diamondbacks 7-2 Monday night with a homer and three RBIs from Manny Ramirez. The defending NL West champions broke the previous league record for longest home winning streak to start a season, set by the 1918 New York Giants and equaled by the 1970 Chicago Cubs and 1983 Atlanta Braves — who were managed by current Dodgers skipper Joe Torre.

May 2nd, 2009 Texas death row inmate indicted in cell phone caseAUSTIN, Texas — A Texas death row inmate and two relatives have been indicted for allegedly smuggling cell phones into a prison which led to a statewide lockdown. Special Prosecutions Chief Gina DeBottis tells the Austin American-Statesman that 30-year-old Richard Lee Tabler, his mother Lorraine Tabler and his 36-year-old sister Kristina Martinez were indicted Friday on charges of possessing contraband in a state prison.

April 20th, 2009 China to clamp down on inmate abuseBEIJING — China plans to clamp down on inmate abuse at its prisons following more than a dozen suspicious deaths this year, according to a report by the country's highest investigative body. Since January, 15 people have died across 12 provinces while in police detention.