Cover Story
Trashing Arizona
Illegal immigrants dump tons of waste in the wilderness every day—and it’s devastating the environment
BroFest II
It’s that time of year again: BroFest is just around the corner. For all of you who are asking. “What the heck is BroFest?” please read along. BroFest is a special event that pays tribute to two great young men, Danny and Mikey Mack. They were brothers who died in separate vehicle accidents less than…
The East Bay Express Has It All Figured Out!
The East Bay Express (whose staff is considerably hipper-looking than all of us freaks at the Tucson Weekly), has used their infinite hipster wisdom to come up with the best idea yet for saving print newspapers…. I won’t ruin the surprise…
Tune In!
I’ll be on KUAT-TV’s Arizona Illustrated tonight to talk about the Tucson City Council’s 4-3 vote to fire City Manager Mike Hein. Plus, Republican John Munger and Democrat Vince Rabago will be going toe-to-toe in the political face-off, which is always fun to watch. It’s at 6:30 p.m. on Channel 6.1 on your digital receiver…
Hein Gets The Ax
The Tucson City Council embraced the nuclear option this afternoon and fired City Manager Mike Hein. There were obvious tensions between Hein and some council members, but we’re still surprised that council members Karin Uhlich, Shirley Scott, Regina Romero and Steve Leal pulled the trigger. Why not at least wait until after a budget was…
Star Wars: Gabrielle Giffords Vs. Stephen Colbert!
Here’s an enemy Gabby—or “Miss Pink Sweaters Set”—can live without. The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c Space Module: Colbert – Urine Recycling Room comedycentral.com Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor NASA Name Contest
Washington Post reporter Barton Gellman Visits Tucson
Washington Post reporter Barton Gellman, author of Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency, will be speaking in Tucson next week to help raise funds for the Pima County Library Foundation. Barton says his talk will focus on “power and how it’s exercised in Washington and the lessons—both positive and negative—that Obama has learned from Cheney.” We’ll…
Calexico Does Phoenix
The Range got up to Phoenix this weekend for the launch of Calexico’s Southwest mini-tour that will include a visit to the Coachella Festival in Indio, Calif., before wrapping up with a show at the Rialto here in downtown Tucson on Saturday, May 2. The 1,200 or so fans that crowded into Heritage Square for…
Let The “Criminal Investigation” Count Begin
Want to check in on the 2006 Regional Transportation Authority ballot investigation count? You can check in via the live streaming video feed from the Maricopa County Elections Department Web site. They take lunch breaks, people, so be warned that during certain hours, you may only see a couple of people standing around. Our early…
Magic Carpet 2
Here’s another colored pencil sketch of the Magic Carpet on Speedway. Thanks for the comments on the first one. “Nintz”: Tell Charlie I’ll give the headless rooster a good home. “Sal”: I love those photos; Flickr also has photos of the Magic Carpet Golf in Reno, which looks to be in great shape! (Field trip,…
We Have Met The Killer Robots—And They Are Ours
P.W. Singer gives a terrifying talk about the future of robotic warfare at TED. Here’s a geeks-shall-inherit-the-earth quote: The kinds of things that we used to only talk about at science-fiction conventions like Comic-Con have to be talked about in the halls of power and places like the Pentagon. The robot’s revolution is upon us.…
It’s First Friday at The Loft!
Hey, kids, don’t forget: It’s First Friday Shorts at the Loft Cinema tonight, with host Max Cannon! Bring in your homemade movie or just see what your fellow Tucsonans are doing with the vidcams and laptops. Plus: Pizza and beer!
Waiting For Guffman
The Citizen reported earlier today that Mr. Guffman has not stopped by the offices to kick the tires. Gannett Blog’s take. In an ominous sign for the Tucson Citizen, two investors Gannett identified as “interested parties” have failed to visit the paper, and Corporate has now pulled back two executives it sent to the paper…
Tom Zoellner Reading Rescheduled
Tom Zoellner, author of Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock That Shaped the World, will not be at Antigone Books (411 N. Fourth Ave.; 792-3715) tonight as originally planned, according to a press release. The event has been rescheduled for 7 p.m., Friday, April 17. Refreshments will still be served!
Don’t Forget Your Tea Bag!
Fromer legislative candidate Trent Humphries is one of several small government folk taking up the lead for the local Tax Day Tea Party charge. They even have their own blog, where you can get the latest on their tea party on April 15 at El Presidio Park in downtown Tucson. I understand the movement is…
May We Suggest: Bruce Cockburn Tonight at the Rialto
If you’re not doing anything else tonight, why not go see Bruce Cockburn at downtown’s Rialto Theatre? It’s gonna be great. Details on the show here. And don’t forget: The Rialto is also hosting Ryanhood’s CD release tomorrow. Steve Seigel tells you all you need to know about it.
Iowa Rocks: Why Can’t We?
What a concept: Gays and lesbians have rights? Yes, evidently, outside of the state of Arizona, some people believe this to be true. Where? America’s heartland. The Iowa Supreme Court legalized gay marriage today. “We are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further…
Study Says: Poetry Is Cool, Don’t Be a Fool
OK, there really isn’t a study, and I included some bad poetry in my title, don’t let that keep you from experiencing what you know is true: Poetry is cool. The Tucson Poetry Festival kicked off last night, but the meat of the feast is this weekend, giving you plenty of time to take in…
“Princess Bride” at Valley of the Moon
Scoop up the young’uns this weekend for a presumably abridged version of The Princess Bride designed to fit the tunnels and castles of the Valley of the Moon. It’s free for kids 6 and under and just $3 for young adults from 7 to 13. Big folk pay $5. Proceeds go toward fixing up the…
So Say We All
The Onion reveals what’s really bringing Obama down: The end of BSG. WASHINGTON—According to sources in the White House, President Barack Obama has been uncharacteristically distant and withdrawn ever since last month’s two-hour series finale of Battlestar Galactica. “The president seems to be someplace else lately,” said one high-level official, speaking on condition of anonymity.…
Hey, Boss! I’ve Got A Great Idea for Club Crawl!
The Smoking Gun presents: In a law enforcement first, Ohio cops this month arrested a man for drunk driving on a motorized bar stool.
Are You Kidding Us?
Espresso Pundit wonders if J. Fife Whiteguy III would challenge Gov. Jan Brewer. We can’t figure out if it was just a sly April Fool’s Day prank. Fife’s budget plan: Put all the state’s assets into his wife’s name and then have Arizona declare bankruptcy!
NY Times: Kyl To the Rescue of America’s Rich!
One day after GOP congressional leaders unveiled a tax proposal that actually raises taxes on the middle-class while cutting them for the wealthiest Americans, The New York Times delivers some smack to Sen. Jon Kyl for his push to cut inheritance taxes for the ultra-wealthy: The Senate budget debate began this week against a backdrop…
Journal Cuts Salaries Six Percent
The media biz hackings continue. Employees of Journal Communications—which includes the Journal Broadcast Group’s KGUN Channel 9 and four radio stations in Tucson—got this notice today. Here’s an excerpt: Today we announce an additional company-wide cost saving effort—An Employee – Wage Reduction Program. Here is how it will work: • Beginning with our first pay…
Check This Out Why Dontcha
From time to time, Erik Ryberg’s Bike Lawyer blog has a new entry about his assistant, Lauren, who is now riding her bike across the country, heading east from Tucson. Of course, Lauren and her friend maintain a blog about their experience. What I like most about the blog: the cool pictures they’ve taken of…
Another One Bites the Dust?
On Tuesday, San Francisco Chronicle management reported that 120 employees voluntarily agreed to leave as part of an effort to save costs to keep the paper running. Sound familiar? The company is expected to announce on Friday how many buyout applications it receives in this ongoing round of cuts and cuts. Reaction to the possible/eventual…
Radioactive Man
Tom Zoellner, a sometimes-Tucsonan who has written the engaging Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock that Shaped the World, will be Jon Stewart’s guest on The Daily Show tonight. We at The Range are, of course, seething with jealousy. Hampton Sides, bestselling author of Ghost Soldiers, and winner of the PEN award for nonfiction, has…
O’Sullivan
Americans are already too distracted … and now we’re talking about legalizing pot?!
Rhythm & Views
The Runaway Five The Runaway Five Raygunomics Self-Released The Runaway Five will play a CD-release gig at 9:30 p.m., Saturday, April 4, at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St., with Verdant (also releasing an EP) and The Otterssey. $5; 798-1298. The high-energy pop-rock of this young local quartet’s debut EP is spiked with the jittery melodicism…
¡Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: Why are Mexicans so proud of the brutality of their police force? They seem to glamorize it in all of their music and telenovelas. Batons Are Bats, Or Super Oracles Dear BABOSO: I’ll let you know when Dirty Harry, Det. Sipowicz, Chief Wiggum and the producers of COPS get back to me, m’kay?…
Rhythm & Views
Blind Pilot Blind Pilot 3 Rounds and a Sound Expunged Blind Pilot performs at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St., with the Smile Ease and Redlands, at 9:30 p.m., next Thursday, April 9. $7; 798-1298. Blind Pilot’s core is two Portlanders, Israel Nebeker and Ryan Dobrowski, who play guitar and drums, and who have toured the…
Mailbag
Article on the City’s Housing Program Led to Positive Change I believe the article written by David Devine for the Feb. 5 edition (“Multiple Roles,” Currents), and his conversations with city staff, helped those involved in the subsequent grant-solicitation process for city housing monies develop a more inclusive and accountable process that is better for…
Noshing Around
Tork’s Reopens Tork’s Café and Grocery (3502 E. Grant Road; 325-3737) has reopened after closing for several months while the owners did a little globetrotting. Tork’s serves simple Middle Eastern fare (the falafel sandwich is especially notable), and the exotic scents from the market will have your mouth watering long before your order arrives. Hours…
Silent Protest
The UA Pride Alliance finds an angelic way to counter Brother Jed and Sister Cindy
Media Watch
Digital Transition Comes Early To KUAT
A Dog’s Life
Petland stores feel the heat over a puppy-mill protest
Tucson Q&A
Edria Johnson
Considering the Alternative
House Democrats unveil their budget plan for Arizona
The Skinny
RTA: OUR WAY OR NO WAY About a week after the Attorney General’s Office took procession of the 2006 Regional Transportation Authority ballots, election-integrity activists made it clear that they were unhappy about the lack of security and oversight during the move. They were also peeved about the fact that the ballots were going to…
Green Houses
Two county programs promote the construction of eco-friendly homes
Nine Questions
Janet K. Miller
Oh, the Humanity
Jesse Eisenberg shines in this realistic, funny coming-of-age flick
Pick of the Week
A Folking Good Time
Crazy Creatures
The funny ‘Monsters vs. Aliens’ edges DreamWorks ever closer to Pixar territory
Live
Junius, Juarez, The Hundred Days, Plush, Friday, March 27
Plays After Dark
Two new late-night theater efforts follow in the footsteps of LTW’s successful Etcetera series
Top Ten in Books
Mostly Books best-sellers for the week
Soundbites
SOME ALBUMS TO MONITOR That noise you hear is the sound of local albums dropping. A lot of local albums dropping. Over the next couple of weeks, loads of new CDs—including new titles by Al Perry, Cathy Rivers, Ryanhood, The Runaway Five and Verdant—will be feted with release parties. And that’s not all. This week,…
Intangibly Good
After three years, acoustic duo Ryanhood is finally releasing new album ‘The World Awaits’
Top Ten in Movies
Casa Video’s top rentals for the week
Now Showing at Home
“Big Stan,” “Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter and Under the Hood,” “Never Say Never Again (Blu-Ray),” and “Bolt (Blu-Ray and Digital Copy)”
Feeling in the Music
Al Perry’s old-school twang gets the treatment it deserves from legendary sound engineer Jack Miller
Top Ten in Music
Zia Records top sales for the week
City Week
White Bunnies and Top Hats! Magic, Illusions and Dreams 8 p.m., Saturday, April 4 Berger Performing Arts Center 1200 W. Speedway Blvd. 888-0509; arizonarose.cc When you go to the Arizona Rose Theater Company Web site, a small YouTube clip welcomes you. This humorous clip about a man holding his breath for three days offers a…
Chinese on the Santa Cruz
Dragon(‘s) View is back in top form in the hands of owner Harry Gee
Danehy
GOP legislators’ refusal to raise taxes and only make cuts will harm the public they’re ‘serving’
Sacrificial Lands
Gregory McNamee has gone and written an environmental manifesto
Savoring the Region
A second look at Signature Grill reveals delicious food and fine service
The Launch! The Launch!
At long last: The all-new tucsonweekly.com is here. Please, go and check it out for yourself. (If you’re reading this on the new Web site … good for you!) We’re still working out some kinks, of course—please drop me a line should you find any glitches—but we’re elated with how it turned out. Some things…
Rhythm & Views
Hungry Bird, completed three years ago but just released in February, is a quietly triumphant reintroduction for Clem Snide, the Brooklyn-turned-Nashville band that spun more than a decade of charms from the quirky and clever songwriting of Eef Barzelay. Never fitting in with the conventional alt-country scene, Clem Snide has stripped those elements completely from…
Guest Commentary
Three degrees, a lot of experience, only one unsuccessful job interview
Police Dispatch
One Attack, Two Arrests East Sliding Rock Road, March 6, 2:31 p.m. An intoxicated senior citizen, apparently sick of his in-home caretaker, called police after attacking her with his mobility device, according to a PCSD report. In his call to dispatchers, the reportee announced that “there was a crazy lady yelling at him,” with a…
Our Anniversary Scooter!
Isn’t it awesome?
That’s the Kind of Insight We Expect From a University Professor
Stop the presses! Shyam Jha, a professor at the UA’s Eller College of Management, has discovered that newspapers are in financial trouble! Turns out there’s this Internet thing that’s lessening the demand for the print product and blogs that provide commentary and all these new things like Twitter that break news.In an op-ed from today’s…
