Cover Story
Bad Apple?
A remarkable political ad hit the airwaves last week: Gov. Doug Ducey sitting next to his former Democratic rival, Fred DuVal, as they both urged voters to support Arizona’s schools by voting for Prop 123.
11 Restaurants to Treat Your Mom to Mother’s Day Brunch in Tucson
It’s time to break open those piggy banks and spend some of your hard-earned pennies on the woman who brought you into this world. Whether you’re like best friends or it’s best to spend one day per year together, your mom accomplished the superhuman feat of childbirth just for you, so you can spare a couple…
Marijuana Policy Project’s Recreational Weed Legalization Campaign Debuts Mother’s Day-Themed Billboard
Have you noticed the Mother’s Day-themed marijuana billboard on South Sixth Avenue, yet? The Marijuana Policy Project-backed Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, which is one of two groups leading efforts to legalize recreational weed in Arizona this year (the other one is Arizonans for Mindful Regulation), launched the sign on Tuesday at 3640 S.…
Surrendering Political Power in Phoenix
Here’s an Arizona civics question: Who are the six most powerful political people in Phoenix? A clue. The answer isn’t Ducey, Biggs, Gowan, Cathi Herrod and the two Koch Brothers. The most powerful people in Phoenix are any six House Republicans who band together and refuse to vote for a bill being pushed by Ducey, Biggs,…
Pants Down, Rakes Up: World Naked Gardening Day is Approaching
Last week we talked about the plethora of ridiculous holidays we “celebrate” each day of the year, but I think I just found my favorite one: World Naked Gardening Day takes place this Saturday, May 7. From wngd.org: Gardening has a timeless quality, and anyone can do it: young and old, singles or groups, the…
US Fish & Wildlife: Jaguar El Jefe, Other Endangered Species in Santa Ritas Will Survive Despite Rosemont Copper Mine
On Tuesday the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gave final biological approval to the proposed Rosemont copper mine, saying the only known jaguar in the United States, El Jefe—and other species living in the Santa Rita Mountains—will be able to coexist with the mine. In the same opinion—which is a rewrite of a 2013 report—Fish…
An Obligatory Star Wars Blog
It’s May 4, known by many pop culture geeks as Star Wars Day (it’s Cinco de Cuatro for the rest of us). If you’re looking to inject a little Jedi love into your day pick up a copy of The Force Awakens, embark on a 15.5 hour marathon of all seven movies and (we should have known…
Win Tickets to One of Three Wildcat Baseball Games This Weekend
Our bat-wielding Wildcats will be facing Oregon State in three games this weekend and you (plus three pals) could be there! Enter below to win tickets. We’ll call winners on Thursday. Fill out my online form. var w4y8ml21k3eu04;(function(d, t) { var s = d.createElement(t), options = { ‘userName’:’itzdigital’, ‘formHash’:’w4y8ml21k3eu04′, ‘autoResize’:true, ‘height’:’473′, ‘async’:true, ‘host’:’wufoo.com’, ‘header’:’show’, ‘ssl’:true};…
Here’s What the Arizona Budget Has Money For
With the state budget still very much in flux, it looks like there might be enough money to bring the education budget back to zero—no increases, no cuts. The earlier net $21 million cut to education seems to have been negotiated away, though nothing is written in stone until it’s written into law. Also unwritten is…
Best of Tucson: Vote Local, Spread the Word and Stop Typing ‘N/A’
I was ready to call you all cheaters, but that would have been a hot take. The first round of Best of Tucson® voting wraps up May 15, and I’ve started going through the ballots in preparation. Turn out, ya’ll are pretty bad at reading directions. I came across a lot of “N/A” and “?” votes.…
Tucson’s Lando Chill Signed to Label, Check Out His New ‘Coroner’ Music Video
In the Feb. 25 issue of the Tucson Weekly, we explored the reasons why it seemed local rapper Lando Chill was poised to blow up on a national level with his debut LP For Mark, Your Son. Now the artist is one step closer to that, having been signed to indie hip-hop label Mello Music…
ACLU of Arizona: Tucson Police Unlawfully Prolong Traffic Stops to Investigate People’s Immigration Status
The American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona says the Tucson Police Department deliberately prolongs traffic stops in an effort to enforce a section of SB 1070 and check people’s immigration status—which is in violation of TPD’s own policies and constitutional rights, an ACLU of Arizona press release says. The organization sent a letter to new…
Education Funding, the Surplus, the Rainy Day Fund and Cutting (or Raising) Taxes for the Wealthy
I haven’t seen any news from Monday’s legislative session, so this post is based on Friday’s budget stalemate, where Ducey and the Republican leadership proposed a budget that would mean a $21 million net loss for our schools, and enough House Republicans balked at the cuts that the votes weren’t there to pass the budget.…
Pima County Sheriff: Panhandling on Medians Ban Good for Public Safety, Still Does Not Address Homelessness
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos says a county ordinance to ban panhandling on medians isn’t about sending people to jail—it’s about public safety concerns. During a meeting in northwest Tucson on April 25, residents demanded Nanos to rid the area of panhandlers and homeless camps. People said they were fed up with excessive trash, crime,…
Spork Press Opening with Readings by Taylor Jacob Pate, Jos Charles and Blake Lee Pate
Spork Press has been operating out of Tucson since the early aughts. Their handmade books and tapes, which have been distributed primarily online and at various events around the country, have found a home in their new storefront (2229 E. Broadway Blvd.) The shop, which doubles as Spork’s production facility, will also be a space…
Cocoa Needs a Home
Woof! I’m Cocoa! I’m a 5 year old baby boy and I’m looking for a home! I was transferred to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona from another shelter so they have limited information on my history. What HSSA does know is that I play well with other dogs and I’m very treat motivated! I…
Cinema Clips: Francofonia
In what amounts to a very different sort of documentary, writer-director Aleksandr Sokurov ruminates on the French during the WWII Nazi occupation and, most notably, its impact on the Louvre art museum. Sokurov utilizes archive footage, stills and reenactments to look over this part of world history and the importance of art to civilization. The…
Zona Politics: UA College Dean Joaquin Ruiz Talks Biosphere Anniversary, Amy Silverman Talks About Her New Book & More!
May 1st, 2016 from Zona Politics with Jim Nintzel on Vimeo. On this week’s episode of Zona Politics with Jim Nintzel: UA College of Science Dean Joaquin Ruiz stops by to talk what’s going on at the Biosphere—including the One Young World conference, the Landscape Evolution Observatory and some plans for farming—as the giant terrarium’s…
Hotel Congress’ Agave Celebration Expands to a Full Week of Festivities, Here’s What You Can Expect
Eight years ago, Aaron Defeo, who was then running Hotel Congress’ bar program, sought to create an event unlike any Tucson had seen before. He wanted to give pros and guests alike the opportunity to sip spirits, rub elbows and learn more about the liquor world through a place-centric tasting event. “There just weren’t any…
Prop 123 is a “First Step”? Let’s Pretend “First Step” Means What Ducey Wants Us to Think It Means
Yesterday I wrote about the gap between what Ducey wants us to think he means when he calls Prop 123 a “first step” and what he really means. He wants to leave the impression that he believes Prop 123 is a first financial step, a down payment on a significant increase in school funding. What he…
INTERVIEW: Explosions in the Sky Trek Into The Wilderness
As an album title, The Wilderness is an apt metaphor for the seventh album from Explosions in the Sky. The heralded Austin, Texas instrumental post-rock quartet—Chris Hrasky (drums), Michael James (guitar, bass), Munaf Rayani (guitar) and Mark T. Smith (guitar)—had recorded three soundtrack projects since the last studio record and deliberately set out to explore…
This Year’s Spring Bazaar at Mercado San Agustin Features Events for Local Food Lovers
The Mercado San Agustin (100 S. Ave. del Convento) Spring Bazaar has become kind of a tradition. With 40 vendors selling handmade and handpicked wares, it’s a great place to buy local gifts and support small artisans. This year, though, MSA’s spring market fest has a little something special for the food crowd too. The…
There’s One Really Good Way to Celebrate National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
There’s a “holiday” or two for (what seems like) every day of the year. According to nationalcalendarday.com (the authority on these matters, I’m sure) April 30 has a lot to celebrate: It’s National Bugs Bunny Day, National Raisin Day and National Oatmeal Cookie Day. I feel like I know how to celebrate those (make some…
World View Lands $15 Million in Venture Capital Investment
Tucson-based World View, the upper-atmosphere ballooning company that recently struck an economic development deal with Pima County that has been criticized by some local conservatives, announced today that it had landed $15 million in venture capital investment. TechCrunch reports: World View, the advanced high altitude balloon company, has raised a $15 million Series B led…
Raison Déjeuner: Café Santa Rosa
Sundays at Santa Rosa means menudo, as it does at many other local eateries. However, Santa Rosa’s menudo is truly something special.
By The Book
The Rogue Theatre holds fast the idea that a great piece of theater can only arise from a great piece of literature.
B-Sides: Summer Record Swap
The Summer Record Swap will feature 12 local record sellers offering up the hits of their voluminous inventories for you to shuffle through to find new gems for your own collection.
Letter to the Editor
It’s OUR House.
B-Sides: Mariah McCammond
Mariah McCammond is no one-trick pony.
Surprise Visit
Neil Simon is now 88 years old, and I hope he’s enjoying his old age. He’s earned it.
T Q&A
Moctesuma Esparza is a wizened Hollywood filmmaker, producer and social activist.
Letter to the Editor
A note from the owners of Boondocks Lounge.
Film Fatales at the Loft
The event will feature a collection of new short films by female directors from the Film Fatales organization and talks with Tucson filmmakers Brooke Sebold and Lisanne Skyler.
Letter to the Editor
Love our teachers.
Beautiful Mutant Art Exhibit
Come check out the new work by local artist Alexandra Gjurasic
Unhappily Ever After
What producers didn’t realize soon enough was that Hemsworth basically SUCKS when he’s doing anything other than playing Thor.
Arizona Stands Against Racism
Take a stand against racism.
Police Dispatch
A hallucinating man covered in cactus spines awoke a quiet family while trying to escape some (likely imaginary) people chasing him.
Chess Fest at Hotel Congress
The creme de la creme of Old Pueblo the chess world
Danehy
It was 100 years ago this week that the bloody Easter Rising ripped through Dublin, setting Ireland on a course toward independence after centuries of brutal British rule.
Editor’s Note
Some artists touch your soul.
Folk Convention: Tucson Folk Fest
As a teen in small-town Wisconsin, John McCutcheon learned to play the guitar and write songs from a Woody Guthrie book he picked up from the local library.
Dust Devil
Once upon a time a paisa crossed the line
The Skinny
Tucson City Council votes to move forward with Broadway project, State lawmakers move to repeal troubled abortion legislation and Radio show host making Tucson appearance
Take Back the Night
The annual event is held to raise awareness about sexual assault and to support survivors.
Media Watch
KGUN adds Pat Parris to morning lineup and American Warrior Radio expands platforms
Police Dispatch
A golf club, street barricade and car wheel were used as weapons in a small-scale turf war over who held the rights to use an alley.
Letter to the Editor
Poetry time.
Sunn Like It Haute: Sunn O)))
Metal is inherently pretentious, and we don’t care if outsiders get it or not.
Letter to the Editor
Poetry Part 2.
B-Sides: Prince Tribute
Picking your favorite Prince song is kind of like picking which limb you could live without.
The Second Coming of TAG
Angry “Frank” is presiding at the Temple Gallery Downtown.
