Cover Story
Deserting the Desert: Sonoran plants adapting to increased heat and drought—but only by so much
July 2020 burned into the record books as the hottest month in Tucson history. At least, that was the case until August 2020 had the mercury rise even higher. Both months highlight a rise in temperatures and drought conditions that is particularly affecting the American Southwest. Though the hottest single day remains June 26, 1990,…
Get ready for a busy year fighting wildfires, experts in Arizona warn
Arizona already has seen a few fires this year, and experts say the state is likely to experience another major year for wildfires. In April alone, the Margo Fire in Pinal County burned about 1,100 acres, and another blaze continues to burn southwest of Heber. On Monday, a fire started southeast of Whiteriver and has…
The Daily Saguaro, Sunday 5/2/21
This week we feature Saguaro faces…
The Daily Saguaro, Saturday 5/1/21
This week we feature Saguaro faces…
The Daily Saguaro, Friday 4/30/21
This week we feature Saguaro faces…and this is one of the most striking and unusual appendages I’ve ever seen on a saguaro. I imagine this as a lost soul trapped in a saguaro that forces its way out….
Border deployment the latest in National Guard’s ‘roller coaster’ year
WASHINGTON – When Gov. Doug Ducey sent hundreds of National Guard members to help at the border last week, the move may have been unexpected – but it was not unusual for the troops that have spent a year shuttling from one crisis to another. From stocking pandemic-depleted grocery shelves to fighting wildfires, from setting…
Run the land: Native women across the U.S. take to the roads and trails
TUCSON – “Getting lost is the best part of trail running,” Marlinda Bedonie said with a chuckle as we shielded our eyes from the morning sun, searching for our cars. We spoke on a recent morning while trekking through Tucson Mountain Park on a mostly flat, single-track loop trail. Dipping in and out of washes…
The Daily Saguaro, Thursday 4/29/21
This week we feature Saguaro faces…
Pima County Calls on Youth to Spread Vaccine Awareness
The Pima County Health Department is seeking young adults to encourage vaccination amongst youth through a video challenge. “We have come so far in our battle against COVID-19,” said Dr. Theresa Cullen, Pima County Health Department director. “We are excited and eager to engage with and vaccinate young adults to continue our march to herd…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Wednesday, April 28: CDC says vaccinated people can skip masks in outdoors; Walk-ins welcome at UA vax POD, other locations; Here’s how to set up vaccine appointments
The Centers for Disease Control announced Tuesday that people who are vaccinated do not need to wear masks outside unless they are in thick crowds. The new recommendations say it’s safe to not wear a mask when you go out for a walk, run or bike outdoors with members of your household; attend a small…
Arizona near top of states for bills aimed at voting rights, limits
WASHINGTON – Arizona lawmakers, who began the year with one of the highest number of voting restriction bills in the nation, are winding down a legislative session in which it appears only a few of those bills will survive. But that doesn’t mean voting rights activists are happy. Ryan Snow, associate counsel for the Lawyers’…
The Daily Saguaro, Wednesday 4/28/21
The week we feature Saguaro faces…
Loft Cinema reopening for indoor screenings
After more than a year of outdoor and online events, the Loft Cinema is planning to reopen for indoor screenings beginning Friday, May 7. To begin, screenings will only take place in their main auditorium, and will include staggered seating and mandatory masks for customers and staff (when not eating or drinking). The Loft is…
The Daily Saguaro, Tuesday 4/27/21
This week we feature Saguaro faces…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Tuesday, April 27: AZ cases top 860K; J&J vax back in use; Officials confront vaccine hesitancy; Walk-ins welcome at UA, other locations; Here’s how to set up vaccine appointments
The Arizona Department of Health Services yesterday recommended resuming the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after the CDC and FDA safety review Sunday. On Friday, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend the J&J vaccine, but members wanted clear messaging about the possible risks for women younger than 50 years old.…
‘A perfect storm:’ UA program battles body-image struggles, eating disorders during pandemic
PHOENIX – Beyond the physical toll of COVID-19, many are facing pandemic-related mental health challenges, including the way they view themselves and their bodies. Stress, anxiety, depression and decreased human interaction all play a role in the development of negative body image, said Amy Lerner Wasserbauer, a clinical psychologist and counselor at Arizona State University.…
ADHS Recommends Resuming Use of J&J As Health Officials Face ‘Vaccine Hesitancy’
The Arizona Department of Health Services recommends resuming the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after the CDC and FDA safety review Sunday. On Friday, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend the J&J vaccine, but members wanted clear messaging about the possible risks for women younger than 50 years old. On…
‘No good choices’: HHS cuts safety corners to move migrant children out of overcrowded facilities
After ignoring signs that shelters were filling quickly, agencies are scrambling to get thousands of kids out of Border Patrol jails. But new “emergency” facilities skirt safety standards, while facilities accused of abuse are still getting grants. The startling images have appeared in one news report after another: children packed into overcrowded, unsafe Border Patrol…
Movie Review: If You Like Bloody Video Games, This One is For You
MOVIE REVIEW: MORTAL KOMBAT Now playing at Roadhouse Cinemas and Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18 (while also streaming on HBO Max) Gory, silly and horribly acted, Mortal Kombat is the sort of garbage that one comes to expect in a movie adaptation of a videogame. And, somehow, it winds up being something short of completely horrible.…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Monday, April 26: County working with FEMA on new vax sites; Walk-ins welcome at UA vax POD, other locations; Mask ordinance remains in place in Pima County; Here’s how to set up vaccine appointments
The Pima County Health Department is working to launch six mobile vaccination sites with FEMA funding. Pima County Medical Director Dr. Francisco Garcia discussed the move on Friday, saying that the county hoped FEMA would help cover some of the costs of setting up the clinics as county officials work to vaccinate more residents. Garcia…
As air travel increases, so do concerns about COVID-19 safety measures
WASHINGTON – With vaccination efforts in full force, airlines and airports are on their way to bouncing back from a year in which passenger traffic fell as much as 96% because of the pandemic, officials told a Senate panel Wednesday. And that improvement has also been seen at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, where “we were…
Pima County Pursues “Plan B” after state blocks federal offer of vaccine doses
The Pima County Health Department has pivoted in the direction of “Plan B” after plans for a federal POD died before implementation. At the Tuesday Board of Supervisors meeting, County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry announced the Arizona Department of Emergency Management Division had informed them that the State Department of Health and the Federal Emergency Management…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Friday, April 23: Walk-Ups welcome, no appointment necessary for UA Pod; 7K new appointments for next week opening today; Here are other ways to get your shot
With 896 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases rose past 857,000 as of Friday, April 23, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 96 new cases today, has seen 114,721 of the state’s 857,347 confirmed cases. With 17 new deaths reported this morning,…
Suspect in fatal Tucson shooting arrested in Buckeye
A suspect in a fatal shooting on Tucson’s East Side was arrested Thursday in Buckeye. Buckeye Police received a tip that a suspect in the Thursday morning shooting was at Loves Truck Stop at Miller Road and Interstate 10. He was located and arrested, police said. Officials have not released any more information.
Critics blast bill that would purge names from list of mail-in voters
WASHINGTON — Voting rights advocates and Arizona Democrats on Wednesday denounced a bill that would remove voters from the Permanent Early Voting List, calling it an attempt to disenfranchise up to 150,000 voters, particularly those of color. SB 1485, which passed the House Tuesday and is expected to win final approval in the Senate, would…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Thursday, April 22: Ducey’s opposition forces county, FEMA to give up on joint vax center; New cases remain on a plateau; Here’s how to set up vaccine appointments
With 647 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases continued to climb as of Thursday, April 22, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 187 new cases today, has seen 114,625 of the state’s 856,451 confirmed cases. With 22 new deaths reported this morning,…
Summer Invaders: Increased fire risk threatens all inhabitants of the Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is not what it used to be. Over the past century, invasive grasses have spread across the region and transformed the landscape from the familiar diverse desert to more of an arid grassland that is highly susceptible to fires. Invasive grasses — from buffelgrass to red brome to love grass — have…
City Week: Weekly Picks
Whew! It’s good to be back. Aside from a brief stint where we tried to revive City Week in the fall, then nervously pulled the plug as we watched COVID-19 cases climb, it’s been about a year since I put together an event roundup for the Tucson Weekly. It’s been so heartening to find that…
Bottle Service: Independent bottling company showcases Whiskey Del Bac in spring 2021 release
An East Coast boutique bottling company focused on releasing unique American whiskeys produced by independent distillers has chosen three single malt spirits from Tucson’s Whiskey Del Bac to be a part of the company’s offerings this spring. Staying true to the 200-year-old Scottish bottling tradition, Lost Lantern searches the country for one-of-a-kind regional whiskeys to…
Moving Pictures: Etherton shows off decades of photos in two new shows
For 33 years, art lovers have been climbing the daunting staircase up to Etherton Gallery, perched high on the second floor of downtown’s historic Oddfellow Hall. It’s always been worth it. Right now, for example, if you trek up the 27 steps, you’ll see not one but two stunning exhibitions of 20th century documentary photography.…
The Skinny: Out of political spite, Ducey blocks opportunity to get vaccines to low-income and minority neighborhoods
It’s been more than a month since FEMA first approached Pima County about opening a clinic to vaccinate people in minority and low-income neighborhoods. The vax clinic could have been up and running already, but Arizona Health Director Cara “Let Them Eat COVID” Christ and Doug “Drop Dead” Ducey first refused to allow it, leading…
Quick bites
AC Hotel Tucson Downtown’s weekly ‘Wine and Dine’ event As many of us are starting to come out of our COVID caves and rejoin the world, downtown’s AC Hotel Tucson Downtown has a new “Wine and Dine” series where guests get to sample three regional wines—Provisioner Arizona Rose, Arizona Stronghold White Tazi, and Provisioner Arizona…
Editor’s Note: Plant in Peril
In honor of Earth Day, this week we bring you two stories focusing on how climate change is transforming our little corner of the world. Associate editor Jeff Gardner looks at how drought and rising temperatures are affecting our cacti and other flora, while UA intern Madison Beal looks at how fire danger is increasing…
Green Thumbs Up: Local grower supplier teams up with cannabis consultants for a learning experience
Growing pot is now legal in the state of Arizona, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a challenge to start that little victory garden. Adults over the age of 21 can legally grow up to six plants (or up to 12 in a residence housing two or more adults over 21). But many potential rookie…
Court Rules TUSD Free of Desegregation Case After Nearly 50 years
After almost half a century, a U.S. District Court judge recommended granting full unitary status for Tucson Unified School District, district officials announced Monday. As a requirement, the district must complete a post-unitary status plan overseen by Special Master Dr. Willis Hawley to maintain their status, according to TUSD Governing Board President Leila Counts. The…
