Briefly

Green Valley News and The Associated Press

UA president announces plans for downtown Tucson buildings

The University of Arizona has announced ambitious plans for building the UA Science Center and Arizona State Museum in downtown Tucson beginning in 2009.

It all hinges however on if the city can secure funding.

UA is close to completing schematic designs, which would provide the basic layout for the two museums that would share a lobby, loading docks and other facilities, said Robert R. Smith, UA assistant vice president of design and construction.

At a projected $130 million, the combined science center and state museum is the first big-ticket Rio Nuevo item with an announced starting date.

UA will have to rely entirely on city Rio Nuevo funding to build the dual museums.

The 125,000-square-foot science center/state museum is the largest project slated for Tucson Origins cultural park that would also include a rebuilt Mission San Agustin, the Arizona History Museum and the Tucson Children’s Museum.

Retrial for Border Patrol agent reset to October

Days after ruling that the retrial of a U.S. Border Patrol agent will not move to Phoenix but remain in Tucson, a federal judge has pushed the start back more than a month.

Prosecutors cited a trial conflict on the scheduled Sept. 9 start date, and U.S. District Judge David Bury reset the trial to Oct. 21 during a brief hearing Monday after defense lawyers did not object.

Agent Nicholas Corbett is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and negligent homicide in the January 2007 fatal shooting of Francisco Dominguez-Rivera, a Mexican who illegally entered the United States near Naco.

Corbett claims self-defense; prosecutors claim the shooting was not justified.

Judge David Bury declared a mistrial in March after a jury deadlocked.

State police stop truck carrying nearly $500,000

State patrolmen grabbed almost a half-million dollars in cash at a traffic stop of a truck near New River on Interstate 17.

And they followed that up by stopping the car behind it that was carrying three handguns, several boxes of ammunitions and two silencers.

Arizona’s top cop, Roger Vanderpool, director of Arizona of Department of Public Safety, said the seizures may help lead to other arrests “in the ongoing battle against violent drug cartels doing business in Arizona.”

The truck was stopped for a traffic violation, and as a result of a consent search, the Public Safety Officers found $499,780 in U.S. cash in a false compartment.

More than $600,000 in cash was seized on Arizona highways in July.

Police break up major prostitution ring

Phoenix police say they've broken up a major prostitution ring that operated in the region and set up dates through Web sites.

More than 100 people worked for the organization police allege was mainly centered in metropolitan Phoenix. Most were prostitutes, but many also managed the operation.

Paradise Valley resident Paul Nichta is the alleged ringleader. The 32-year-old was one of nine "key players" arrested in raids that began Monday in the Phoenix area. Police say they seized three homes, a variety of guns and eight vehicles, including a Ferrari.

Police say the ring had ties to New Mexico and Pennsylvania, and additional arrests were made there.

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