Ex-'Minuteman' chief arrested in sex case involving young girls

Chris Simcox, who a decade ago helped launch a border-watch group in Arizona, has been arrested in Phoenix on suspicion of having sexual contact with three girls under the age of 10, Phoenix police say.

7K acres near Prescott burn; 460 houses are evacuated

PRESCOTT - Firefighters largely kept control of a blaze burning in Arizona's Prescott National Forest and spared any homes from destruction but were preparing for what should be another windy, hot day today.

Sports Shorts: ESPN says Cats 6th in producing NBA players

The Arizona Wildcats were rated the No. 6 college program in producing NBA players by ESPN on Thursday.

Sports shorts: US soccer team beats Honduras in qualifier

SANDY, Utah - Jozy Altidore scored a goal in his fourth consecutive international match, enough for the United States to edge Honduras 1-0 in a World Cup qualifying game Tuesday night.

Sports shorts: UA's Gordon makes roster for U19 team

Incoming Arizona Wildcats freshman forward Aaron Gordon made the final cut for USA Basketball's U19 World Championship team Monday night in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Sports shorts: Incoming Wildcat Gordon a finalist for USA U19 team

Incoming Arizona Wildcats forward Aaron Gordon was named one of 16 finalists for USA Basketball's U19 World Championship team Sunday, though future teammates Brandon Ashley and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson were not.

KOLD: Gannett purchase of Belo will not affect KMSB content

Gannett Co.'s purchase of Belo Corp., announced Thursday, is not expected to alter the Tucson news landscape.

IBM starts layoffs; Tucson is affected

Major global layoffs underway by IBM Corp. are reportedly hitting the company's Tucson operations, though the extent of the local cuts are unknown.

Sports shorts: With new blood on way, Broncos release McGahee

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Willis McGahee's decision to skip offseason workouts isn't what cost the veteran running back his job with the Denver Broncos.

Sports shorts: Patriots sign Tebow in time for minicamp

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Tim Tebow is back on the field with an NFL team - the New England Patriots.

Soccer: US 2, Panama 0: US takes over first in qualifying

SEATTLE - Jozy Altidore continued his scoring blitz with a goal in his third straight match, Eddie Johnson thrilled his home club fans with a goal in the 53rd minute, and the United States seized first place in its World Cup qualifying group with a 2-0 win over Panama on Tuesday.

Sports shorts: Grizzlies' Hollins out; Pistons hire Cheeks

The Memphis Grizzlies have decided to part with coach Lionel Hollins, and Maurice Cheeks is getting a third shot to be an NBA head coach with Detroit.

Sports shorts: 3 more UA baseball players picked; total 6

Three Arizona pitchers were selected Saturday on the third and final day of the Major League Baseball draft, giving the Wildcats a total of six taken.

Sports shorts: JC lineman commits to Wildcats for 2014

Junior college offensive lineman Kaige Lawrence committed to the Arizona Wildcats during an unofficial campus visit Friday.

Sports shorts: UA football team busy in recruiting

It appears recruiting season has officially arrived for the Arizona Wildcats.

Sports shorts: Arizona Wildcats receive commitment from 3-star safety

Officially, Devon Brewer was recruited to the Arizona Wildcats by head coach Rich Rodriguez and other members of the UA coaching staff.

Sports shorts: Arizona Wildcats add Houston to football schedule

The Arizona Wildcats football program announced a home-and-home series with the Houston Cougars beginning in 2017. The first game will be played at Arizona Stadium. In 2018, the teams will meet in Houston.

Sports shorts: Top Oregon receiver commits to Arizona

Before he left Tucson on Sunday night to head back to his home state of Oregon, wide receiver prospect Jordan Morgan decided to end his recruitment.

Prefontaine Classic: UA's Moline places 2nd vs. top hurdlers

EUGENE, Ore. - Arizona Wildcats senior Georgeanne Moline took second in the 400-meter hurdles at the Prefontaine Classic on Saturday, beating London Olympics winner Natalya Antyukh and U.S. record holder Lashinda Demus.

Sports shorts: UA rugby team faces Cal in quarterfinals

Arizona had never lost a pool-play match in the USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship until Saturday - but the Wildcats still did well enough to advance to today's quarterfinals in Philadelphia.

Sports shorts: Pac-12 heads to see report on officiating

An outside report on Pac-12 basketball officiating will be given to the conference's school presidents this weekend in Park City, Utah.

Business briefs

TUCSON

Sports shorts: Ohio St.'s president makes fun of Notre Dame, Catholics

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The president of Ohio State University said Notre Dame was never invited to join the Big Ten conference because the university's priests are not good partners, joking that "those damn Catholics" can't be trusted, according to a recording of a meeting he attended late last year.

Sports Shorts: Dixon, Newman, Field are named to Pac-12 team

Arizona Wildcats juniors Brandon Dixon and Johnny Field and freshman Kevin Newman were named to the 25-man Pac-12 all-conference team announced Wednesday.

Sports shorts: Late goal by Bevans gives FC Tucson tie

Conner Bevans came off the bench and scored in stoppage time to help FC Tucson salvage a 1-1 draw with OC Blues Strikers FC in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Sunday night.

Sports shorts: Ventura County hands FC Tucson first loss of season

FC Tucson suffered its first loss of the season, falling to the host Ventura County Fusion 2-1 Saturday night.

Sports shorts: Vilarasau's 2-under 70 lifts Cats to 8th-place finish

USC won the women's golf national championship in Athens, Ga., on Friday, while Arizona placed eighth.

Sports shorts: Four Wildcats advance to nationals in track and field

Four Arizona Wildcats advanced to the NCAA track and field championships with performances Thursday on the first day of the NCAA West Preliminary Round in Austin, Texas.

Sports shorts: Eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker Urlacher calls it quits

CHICAGO - Brian Urlacher wasn't sure how dominant he could be any longer, so he's calling it a career after 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears.

Sports shorts: Bad back forces Murray to pull out of French Open

LONDON - Andy Murray withdrew from the French Open on Tuesday because of a chronic back injury and will focus on preparing for the start of the grass-court season next month.

Sports shorts: Pima softball team ends 3rd in nation

After matching No. 2 Salt Lake run for run in extra innings, the Pima College softball team saw its NJCCA Division I national title hopes end in a bizarre way Saturday.

Sports shorts: Pima needs 3-0 mark today to claim softball title

The Pima College softball team is one of the last three teams standing at the NJCAA Division I national tournament in St. George, Utah.

Sports shorts: Pima softball 2-0 at national tourney

Yvette Alvarez pitched a three-hit shutout as the Pima College softball team won its second game at the NJCAA Division I national tournament in St. George, Utah, on Thursday. The Aztecs (48-17) defeated Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 4-0 to advance in the winner's bracket.

Sports shorts: Pima wins opener at softball nationals

The Pima College softball team opened the NJCAA Division I national tournament with a 6-4 win over Paris (Texas) Junior College in St. George, Utah, on Wednesday.

Sports shorts: Ex-Cat Scott to get more snaps with Jags

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Former Arizona Wildcats quarterback Matt Scott should receive more snaps during offseason workouts with the Jacksonville Jaguars now that the team is down two three quarterbacks.

Sports shorts: UA's Barrett, Lalang honored nationally

Arizona's Brigetta Barrett and Lawi Lalang swept the women's and men's national athlete of the week awards, presented Monday by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association.

Sports Shorts

UA's Rivera-Morales, Lalang win Pac-12 titles

Sports shorts: UA's Barrett jumps to collegiate record

Arizona senior Brigetta Barrett broke the collegiate record in the women's high jump, leaping 6 feet 6 1/4 inches Saturday to help give the Wildcats the lead at the Pac-12 track and field championships in Los Angeles.

Sports shorts: Wildcats still in 10th place at NCAA golf regional

The University of Arizona women's golf team remained in 10th place after the second round of the NCAA West Regional at Stanford Golf Course in Palo Alto, Calif.

Sports shorts: Gold medalist dies as yacht capsizes

SAN FRANCISCO - A 72-foot-long, high-tech catamaran sailboat capsized Thursday in San Francisco Bay while practicing for the America's Cup races this summer, killing an Olympic gold medalist from England and injuring another sailor, authorities said.

Sports Shorts: Ex-UA AD Livengood calls it quits at UNLV

UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood announced Wednesday that he is retiring, ending a four-year run at the school. Livengood left the UA for UNLV in 2009 after spending 15 years in Tucson.

Sports shorts: Suns hire GM from Celtics front office

PHOENIX - The Phoenix Suns have hired Boston Celtics executive Ryan McDonough as their next general manager.

Sports shorts: Pacquiao, Rios set for bout in China

LOS ANGELES - Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring Nov. 23 against Brandon Rios at the Macau Venetian resort in China, Pacquiao's promoter said Monday.

Sports shorts: At age 60, Dirtadian rolls to 5th city title

Armen Dirtadian won his fifth Tucson City Amateur golf championship Sunday, his first since 2002.

Sports shorts: Alvarez hurls Pima to softball nationals

For the second straight year, the Pima College softball team is headed to the NJCAA tournament after pitcher Yvette Alvarez and the Aztecs beat top seed Central Arizona twice Saturday for the Region I, Division I title.

Sports shorts: Princess of Sylmar wins Kentucky Oaks

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A filly that trainer Todd Pletcher waffled on entering in the Kentucky Oaks has him poised to complete a rare double today in the Kentucky Derby.

Sports shorts: Driver helps McIlroy share lead in N.C.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - For all the talk about the greens, Rory McIlroy's most important club was his driver Thursday in the Wells Fargo Championship.

Sports shorts: Orb is 7-2 favorite for Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Orb was made the early 7-2 favorite for the Kentucky Derby, with undefeated Verrazano the second choice in a full field of 20 horses.

Sports shorts: Jags WR Blackmon suspended by NFL for substance abuse

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The NFL suspended Jaguars receiver Justin Blackmon on Tuesday for the first four games of the 2013 season for his second violation in less than a year of the league's substance-abuse policy.

Sports shorts: Tebow Time in NY over as Jets cut QB

NEW YORK - The Jets waived quarterback Tim Tebow on Monday, the end of an unsuccessful one-season experiment in New York that produced more hype and headlines than production on the field. And it all ended quietly, with a three-paragraph news release.