Longtime Democratic activist and political leader Alfredo Gutierrez has died. The Arizona native was an advocate for civil rights and education.
Gutierrez was born in the mining town of Miami, Arizona. He later enlisted in the Army, and served a year in Vietnam.
After his time in the military, Gutierrez enrolled at Arizona State University, but was kicked out due to his role in campus protests advocating for civil rights.
He then helped found Chicanos Por La Causa, a foundation that provides social and economic benefits for the Latino community.
In 1973, he was elected to the state Legislature, where he served for 14 years. He remained active in politics later in life, including an arrest in 2010 while protesting SB 1070, Arizona’s controversial immigration enforcement law.
He later returned to ASU and earned his degree. Gutierrez was 79.
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Robbie Sherwood served as district director for Harry Mitchell from 2007-2011; he’s currently the communications director for Arizona House Democrats.
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As mayor, he played a major role in developing Tempe Town Lake; in Congress, he was a sponsor of the 21st Century G.I. Bill and also voted for the Affordable Care Act.
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Lattie Coor was ASU’s 15th president, serving between 1990 and 2002. During his tenure, Coor helped launch Barrett, The Honors College and expanded ASU into a multicampus institution.
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Douglas McCain, the eldest son of late Arizona Sen. John McCain, has died. The McCain Institute first reported his death on Saturday.
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Goodyear police identified 77-year-old Penny Orloff as the victim of a fatal collision earlier this month. She was an actor, dancer, singer and author, with a career that spanned more than 50 years.