Hot Links: Priest Booted, Coyotes Broke, Teen Tased

Police in Mesa are investigating what the East Valley Tribune's calling the city's first homicide of the year. The victim, Rick Glum, was stabbed to death in a West Mesa neighborhood . A motorist found Glum's body Sunday morning...Catholic priest Chris Carpenter has been excommunicated from the Phoenix Diocese. Carpenter, who'd been on leave for three years, is the second priest in six months to be excommunicated. The diocese says Carpenter joined an offshoot church, which lead to the decision to excommunicate him...Officials from the city of Glendale released a statement in response to the Phoenix Coyotes' recent declaration of bankruptcy. In the statement, they say the Coyotes' bankruptcy is under investigation by the NHL, which has taken control of the team. Meantime, Canadian resident and BlackBerry co-CEO Jim Balsillie has offered to buy the team for $213 million dollars...Lauren Jackson, former two-time MVP of the WNBA, has re-signed a contract with the Seattle Storm, ending speculation that the basketball star might join the Phoenix Mercury. Jackson had been considering the move to Phoenix after spending the winter playing on a Russian team with Mercury guard Diana Taurasi...A Glendale police officer tased a teenager at a Glendale middle school. The officer was allegedly trying to break up a fight between two students, and used the taser as a last resort. An internal investigation is being conducted, but the officer hasn't been placed on leave...The owners of a Croatian bakery have placed a life-sized photo of Chuck Norris in their front window, with a sign that warns "This shop is under the protection of Chuck Norris." The owners say they were robbed weekly until they put Norris' photo up, and haven't had a break-in since. It just goes to show that even the toughest crooks won't mess with Walker, Texas Ranger.

Mesa police investigate 1st homicide of year

Second priest excommunicated from diocese within 6 months