We remember Debra Weyermann from our long-ago days trolling for stories for the Sierra Vista and Bisbee dailies down at the Mexican border. She was known as "D" in those days when she covered the courts for the Arizona Daily Star, and did a bang-up job.

Kick-ass book by veteran journalist

​Fast-forward to now: Weyermann's newly published book, Answer Them Nothing, Bringing Down the Polygamous Empire of Warren Jeffs is a worthy read, even if you already know the outlines of the creepy tale of incest, rape, greed, power, and religious fanaticism..

Weyermann writes crisply and occasionally poetically and is at her best when recounting the chilling anecdotal accounts of heroic characters such as Ruth Stubbs, a young woman who finally escaped from the bizarre cult after enduring a nightmarish existence under the tyrannical leadership of now-imprisoned "prophet" Jeffs.

We were especially pleased by the extensive (and well-deserved) credit that Weyermann gives to our friend and former colleague John "The Senator" Dougherty, who broke the FLDS scandal wide-open in this paper.

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Image: Giorgio Sciorio

A federal judge has rejected the request by Michael Salman and his wife to stop the city of Phoenix from hassling him over backyard worship services.

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A federal judge has slapped down Pastor Michael Salman's request for a restraining order against the city of Phoenix in Salman's fight over his backyard church services.

Salman's been battling city officials and neighbors for the last few years in his quest to continue the services, which -- he says -- he holds each week for the benefit of about 50 friends. Fire and zoning inspectors maintain that a structure he built in his backyard with the help of some of those friends is a safety hazard.

As we reported last week, officials raided Salman's home in March for a second time and cited him with seven code violations -- as a 60-day jail sentence he received for previous code violations remains on appeal. As a last-ditch effort, Salman filed a federal complaint last week against the city of Phoenix and various officials, as well as a request for a temporary restraining order.

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Image: Giulio Sciorio

Michael Salman still claims he can hold backyard worship services, despite what Phoenix officials say. With a 60-day jail sentence looming, Salman's trying his luck in federal court.

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A Phoenix pastor's fight to hold church services in his backyard has moved to federal court.

Michael Salman has battled his neighbors and the city of Phoenix for years, arguing he has the constitutional right to have about 50 friends each week to worship God in the backyard of his home, near 31st and Northern avenues. Officials say they're concerned that a structure in the backyard, the gathering spot for the pastor's flock, is a potential fire hazard.

New Times wrote about Salman's predicament in 2008 and again in 2009, following a raid by police. In September, Salman was convicted of several zoning and fire-code violations and sentenced to 60 days in jail. The case is on appeal.

Zoning officials stormed the property last month, slapping the pastor with 10 new code violations. (The March 21 citation can be seen in the second PDF below -- it's the last exhibit.) The gazebo-like building in the yard doesn't have fire sprinklers, exit signs, exit doors, proper electrical wiring, and other mandatory items for a commercial building. Salman maintains it's not a commercial building.


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