How Many Votes Are Left To Count in Pima County?
Pima County election officials announced today that somewhere between 26,000 and 34,000 ballots from yesterday’s election remained to be counted. Those ballots must have their signatures verified by the County Recorder’s Office before they can be sent to the Elections Department for tabulation. In addition, the county has roughly 18,300 provisional ballots that have to…
Prop Hiking Income Taxes on Highest Earners To Fund Education Appears Likely to Pass
While hundreds of thousands of votes still remain to be counted in the state, it appears a proposition to hike income tax on Arizona’s highest earns to fund education programs is likely to pass. As of Wednesday, Nov. 4, Proposition 208 had the support of 53 percent of voters and was leading by 265,589 votes.…
UPDATE: Republicans Gain Ground in Corporation Commission Races
This story has been updated to reflect new vote totals. With an unknown number of early ballots in Pima County and at least 400,000 votes left to count statewide (per the Arizona Republic), the race for to fill three seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission shifted last night as more votes were counted. While the…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM roundup for Wednesday, Nov. 4: State Tops a Quarter-Million Total Cases; More Than 1,000 People Hospitalized for the First Time Since August; Free Testing Available
With 814 new cases reported today, the number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 250,000 as of Wednesday, Nov. 4, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which saw its number of cases jump by 150 yesterday, had seen 29,291 of the state’s 250,633 confirmed cases. With 39 new deaths reported…
LD11 Republican Incumbents Move Ahead of Democratic Challengers
After trailing in the early returns, the GOP slate of incumbents in heavily Republican Legislative District 11 took the lead over their Democratic challengers last night. State Sen. Vince Leach has captured 53 percent of the vote against Democratic challenger Joanna Mendoza. Leach now leads Mendoza by nearly 7,000 votes. In the House race in LD11,…
Recreational Weed Prop Passes, Income Tax for Education Has a Big Lead
Arizona voters have legalized recreational use of marijuana for adults. Prop 207, which would legalize marijuana possession of up to an ounce for those 21 and older, has 60 percent of the vote and has been called by the Associated Press. The proposition will allow marijuana possession of up to an ounce for those 21…
Dems Pick Up Seat on Pima County Board of Supes, Sweep Other Countywide Offices
With most of the early ballots and about one-fourth of Pima County precincts counted, it appears that Democrats have won a Republican-leaning district on the Pima County Board of Supervisors. In the race to replace Republican Supervisor Ally Miller, Democrat Rex Scott is ahead of Republican Steve Spain with 55 percent of the vote in…
Fox News Calls Arizona for Biden, Kelly
With Democratic challenger Joe Biden holding onto a 9 percentage point lead (54%-46%) over President Donald Trump in Arizona, Fox News is calling Biden the winner. Fox also is calling the U.S. Senate race for Democratic challenger Mark Kelly, who has a 10-point lead over Republican Sen. Martha McSally (55%-45%). Given that McSally was ahead…
Democrats Leading in State Legislative Races
In heavily Republican Legislative District 11, which includes Oro Valley and Marana, as well Pinal County precincts and the town of Maricopa, Democrats are out to an early lead. Democratic challenger Joanna Mendoza had 51 percent against incumbent Sen. Vince Leach. Meanwhile, Democratic challenger Felipe Perez had 35 percent of the vote in his race against Republican state Reps. Bret…
Rose, Shaw and Grivois-Shah Leading TUSD Race
In the race for three seats on the Tucson Unified School District Board, the top candidates are Natalie Luna Rose (with 24 percent of the vote), Sadie Shaw (with 18 percent of the vote) and Ravi Grivois-Shah (with 18 percent of the vote). Coming up in fourth place (with 16 percent of the vote) was…
Recreational Marijuana, Income Tax Hike Props Both Out Ahead
With the first major drop of returns, it appears voters may be ready to legalize recreational use of marijuana for adults. Prop 207, which would legalize marijuana possession of up to an ounce for those 21 and older, has 60 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, Prop 208, which would raise the sales taxes on individuals…
Nanos Opens Big Lead Against Napier in Sheriff’s Race
In a rematch of the 2016 race, Democratic challenger Chris Nanos looked to be unseating Republican Sheriff Mark Napier, the candidate he lost to four years ago. Nanos had captured 54 percent of the vote. In the race for County Recorder, Democrat Gabriella Cázares-Kelly had 63 percent of the vote against Republican Benny White. Democrat…
Dem Rex Scott Opens Big Lead Against Republican Steve Spain in Board of Supes Race
In the race to replace Republican Ally Miller on the Pima County Board of Supervisors, Democrat Rex Scott is out with an early lead over Republican Steve Spain with 53 percent of the vote. If Scott, a former school administrator, can hang onto his lead, this will be an upset victory for Democrats in Pima…
Biden, Kelly Ahead as Early Ballots Totals Released in Maricopa and Pima Counties
With the tallies from early ballots released, Arizona is living up to its designation as a battleground state. In the presidential race, Democratic challenger Joe Biden is out with an early lead over Republican incumbent Donald Trump. Among early voters, Biden has captured 57 percent of the vote, while Trump has 41 percent. In the…
Just before the election, poll on climate change suggests Arizona voters want more federal action
PHOENIX – Twenty-four hours after Tuesday’s election, the U.S. officially will exit the Paris Agreement, an effort by nearly 200 countries to reduce the threat of man-made climate change. This comes as Arizona voters are expressing a growing interest in climate change and environmental policy. A new survey of voters indicates Arizonans are becoming more…
Halloween nightmare: Two Cardinals test positive for COVID-19
PHOENIX – Amid an otherwise relaxing Halloween weekend, Kliff Kingsbury’s biggest scare proved to be breaking news on the virus front, not spooky costumes. And this time, it hit home hard. Two Arizona players tested positive for COVID-19 during the team’s bye week – starting outside linebacker Devon Kennard, who revealed on Twitter that he…
Election Day Update: Following the Turnout
Statewide update now. Pima & Coconino reporting this morning. Update includes poll voters from Maricopa. Didn't mention it earlier, but early votes have passed all of 2016 turnout at this time. Total: 2.7MTurnout: 63%Party Adv: +42k GOP* Details: https://t.co/t8b18G7DDA pic.twitter.com/2pn67vgFDo — Sam Almy (@sfalmy) November 3, 2020 If you want to know who’s voting out…
Elections and chill: Officials temper hopes for election-night returns
WASHINGTON – Tuesday is Election Day, but county election officials are asking voters to think more in terms of election week. Recorders say they do not expect problems – in fact, they believe Arizona is in better shape than most states – but are trying to tamp down expectations in light of what could be…
As corporate America responds to racism, some firms vow to address health disparities
PHOENIX – In the wake of George Floyd’s death last May and subsequent demands for social justice for Black Americans, corporations are pledging to improve hiring practices, institute antiracism training and provide more advancement opportunities for people of color. Others have taken a different approach – vowing to specifically address health disparities that leave Black…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Tuesday, Nov. 3: Cases Continue To Surge in AZ With More than 1,600 today; State Closes in on 250,000 Total Cases; 6K Now Dead After Contracting Virus; Free Testing Available
With 1,679 new cases reported today, the number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases closed in a quarter-million as of Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had seen 29,141 of the state’s 249,818 confirmed cases. With 38 new deaths reported yesterday, a total of 6,020 Arizonans had died…
Election Day Is Here: Vote Today!
Election Day 2020 is finally here. Polls are open until 7 p.m. throughout Pima County. If you need to find your polling location, you can do it here. If you still have an early ballot, it’s far too late to mail it, so drop it off at any polling location. Election officials are asking voters…
Arizona officials expect crowded polls, but hope for smooth final day
WASHINGTON – Election officials anticipate longer-than-usual lines at polling places Tuesday, but said early in-person voting in the state has been going “very, very well” so far. “We have been working on this for the whole year. And we have had other elections during this pandemic, so I think we’re ready,” said Erika Flores, deputy…
Now Playing: Borat is Back, and Rudy Giuliani Is Miserable About It
Given the year we are having, it’s high time we get to watch a movie where a deranged reporter from Kazakhstan offers up his young daughter as a gift to a publicly speaking, sour-pussed Mike Pence while wearing a Trump costume. I dunno…just sort of feels like the right kind of shitshow-encapsulating madness we could…
Marana, Amphi School Districts Managing COVID Cases Among Students, Staff
As Tucson’s schools reopen for in-person classes, some are reporting an increasing number of COVID-19 cases among students and staff—many who are being asked to quarantine themselves if they were in contact with people who have tested positive. As of Monday, the Amphitheater Unified School District has reported 20 active coronavirus cases resulting in 98…
Cities, police brace for possible unrest after heated election
WASHINGTON – National and local law enforcement agencies are preparing to respond in case civil disturbances break out after Tuesday’s elections, which experts fear may have a “different venue for challenging election results, namely in the streets.” And that may be true whichever side wins. Seth Jones, director of the Transnational Threats Project at the…
Democratic Party Organizers and UArizona Affiliates Are Pushing Student Voter Turnout in Tomorrow’s Election
University of Arizona junior Celeste Marquez is voting in her first election. “I am voting because I want a leader who believes in science, who stands for women’s and minorities’ rights and someone who will make mine and others’ futures better,” said Marquez, a 21-year-old studying family studies and human development. Sophomore Alan Cristobal Elias,…
Voters, officials prepare for possible intimidation at the polls
Just days before Election Day, elections officials are on alert for voter intimidation – which can range from threatening emails to campaigning too close to a polling location – and working to educate voters about their rights and how to respond. Intimidation is illegal under state and federal law, and can result in lawsuits, fines…
Cases Rising Around Campus as Police Encounter More Parties
The University of Arizona is reporting elevated COVID-19 cases reflective of a state-wide uptick after large gatherings occurred over the Halloween weekend, UA President Robert C. Robbins said in a news conference Monday, Nov. 2. From Oct. 23 through Nov. 1, UA found 79 positive coronavirus cases after administering 7,122 tests for a positivity rate…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Monday, Nov. 2 Total AZ Cases Top 248K; Ducey Says “Storm Ahead” as Cases Surge in AZ; Free Testing Available
With 666 new cases reported today, the number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 248,000 as of Monday, Nov. 2, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had seen 28,914 of the state’s 248,139 confirmed cases. With one new death reported yesterday, a total of 5,982 Arizonans had died after contracting…
Arizona voters have already cast a record 2.3 million early ballots
WASHINGTON – Arizonans are already setting voting records this year, driven by a bitterly contested presidential race, a large number of new voters and COVID-19 fears that voting in-person may not be safe. With four days left until Election Day, state election officials had already received 2.3 million ballots Friday, closing in on the total…
GOP Supervisor Candidate Steve Spain Takes Campaign Dollars from “Cabal”
This year, Pima County voters will decide a new District 1 Supervisor after Republican Ally Miller held the seat for eight years. Now, Republican Steve Spain and Democrat Rex Scott are vying for the Pima County Board of Supervisors’ seat in District 1, a position that determines a wide range of public policy in the…
Ducey defends decision to toughen rules to return to virtual schooling
An Oct. 29 Cronkite News story mischaracterized the Arizona Department of Health Services policy on in-person versus virtual schooling during COVID-19. The policy sets recommended guidelines for local schools, which have the ultimate authority on how to proceed. WASHINGTON – The Ducey administration defended its decision Thursday to make it harder for Arizona schools to…
Coyotes at center of ‘cancel culture’ debate after cutting ties with draft pick Mitchell Miller
PHOENIX – The Arizona Coyotes’ decision to part ways with a draft pick accused of bullying a classmate with developmental disabilities has put the organization at the center of a national debate about forgiveness and cancel culture. The Coyotes on Thursday renounced the rights to their 2020 fourth-round draft pick Mitchell Miller, 18, after more…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM roundup for Friday, Oct. 30: More Than 1500 New Cases Today; Total AZ Cases Top 244K; Ducey Says “Storm Ahead” but Not Planning New Restrictions; TUSD Returning to Classroom; Gem Show Canceled; Other News of the Week
With 1,565 new cases reported today, the number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 244,000 as of Friday, Oct. 30, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had seen 28,296 of the state’s 244,045 confirmed cases. With 16 new deaths reported yesterday, a total of 5,934 Arizonans had died after contracting…
Trump support among Latinos steady; still trails Democrats by far
WASHINGTON – Phoenix resident Rey Torres is “very happy to have been born into my culture” of a Mexican-American family – just don’t ask him if that means Democrats will be getting his vote this fall. President Donald Trump has “respect for American jobs and … a laser focus on bringing jobs back to our…
OSIRIS-REx Team Announces Successful Sample Retrieval
The University of Arizona-led space mission to retrieve a sample from an asteroid endured a tense day that turned out to be a blessing. On Tuesday Oct. 20, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft touched down on the asteroid Bennu more than 200 million miles away to capture some of the rocks and dust on its surface. While…
Ducey Says “Storm Ahead” on COVID Cases but No New Restrictions on the Horizon
Gov. Doug Ducey and Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ provided a COVID-19 update at a press conference today amid rising cases throughout the state. On Oct. 29, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported 1,315 new COVID-19 cases throughout the state, with a percent positivity of 9.7%. Pima County reported 105…
DOWNTOWN Kitchen + Cocktails Closing
In more bad news in the restaurant sector, Chef Janos Wilder has announced that DOWNTOWN Kitchen + Cocktails is ending its 10-year run, and will not reopen its doors. DOWNTOWN Kitchen + Cocktails was known for serving high-quality dishes inspired by cuisines from around the world, as well as Sonoran flavors. After COVID closures, the restaurant…
#ChalkTheVote: Arizona families hit the sidewalks to encourage voting
PHOENIX – Divya Yoder and her family were out on the sidewalk in front of their home one recent Sunday, writing chalk messages to encourage their neighbors to vote. “Vote early,” one read. “United we stand,” read another. The Yoders weren’t the only family taking chalk to concrete with similar messages in recent days. Hundreds…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Thursday, Oct. 29: More Than 1300 New Cases Today; Total AZ Cases Top 242K; Get Tested for COVID
With 1,315 new cases reported today, the number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 242,000 as of Thursday, Oct. 29, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. With 105 new cases reported today, Pima County had seen 28,067 of the state’s 241,116 confirmed cases. With 14 new deaths reported yesterday, a total of…
Arizona’s status as a toss-up gives voters clout, draws Trump, Harris
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris were back stumping in Arizona Wednesday, evidence of what one report calls the high “voter power” of residents of the swing state. The WalletHub report, “2020’s States with the Most and Least Powerful Voters,” rated Arizona the state with the fifth-most powerful voters,…
Chow: Troll Trouble
Editor’s note: Following further reporting, the Tucson Weekly has updated and revised the article “Troll Trouble” (October 29). The updated story is below. Several people who have been critical of Vail’s Viva Coffee House over issues relating to facemasks have found themselves facing online harassment, including having photos of their homes posted on social media. The…
Put to the Test
As the calendar turns to November, third-party testing is about to become mandatory for medicinal marijuana, which could lead to shortages at your local dispensary in the short term and higher costs for medicine down the road. With the passage of Senate Bill 1494 in August 2019, Arizona joined most other states with medical cannabis…
Paycheck Politics
The candidates for Pima County Recorder certainly have differing approaches to the office, but one candidate recently criticized the other after third-quarter campaign finance reports were released. Republican candidate for county recorder Benny White posted a photo of Democratic candidate Gabriella Cázares-Kelly’s cash operating expenses that show she paid herself with campaign funds. The post…
Phone Tag
You may want to check twice before ignoring that call from a mysterious number. The Pima County Health Department is calling those who have tested positive for COVID-19 or who have potentially been exposed to someone with the virus, reaching out to possible contacts in a process known as contact tracing. The department’s contact tracing…
Touch and Go
On Tuesday, Oct. 20, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft touched down on the asteroid Bennu for 4.7 seconds, a maneuver that was more than a decade in the making. Scientists at the University of Arizona nervously watched the data from the autonomous process — because the asteroid is more than 200 million miles away, messages from the…
Danehy
With the National Reckoning only a few days away, I wish to take the time to mourn the passing of Lyon Tyler. The 95-year-old Tyler was half of a brother duo that constituted one of the most amazing factoids in American history. Until a couple weeks ago, Lyon Tyler was alive in the year 2020.…
City Week
Hyper Hygienic Halloween. We’re all for doing scary stuff on Halloween, but when it comes to something as real-life scary as the coronavirus, caution is of the utmost importance. This event at the MSA Annex is a chance to celebrate in person at a spacious,17,000-square foot venue. There will be group seating and individual seating…
Editor’s Note: Just Vote, Dammit
We’ve nearly made it to Election Day 2020. You may have already voted—Pima County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez informed us last weekend that more than a quarter million of Pima County’s voters had already turned in their ballots—but if you haven’t, don’t drop your ballot in the mail. (You might have heard that President Donald…
A Rich Proposal
This election season, voters will approve or deny an initiative to raise income tax on Arizona’s highest earners and reroute the money to better fund education in the state. Proposition 208, or the Invest in Education Act, would impose a 3.5 percent income tax on income exceeding $250,000 for single tax filings, or $500,000 for…
