Cover Story
Sharkk Heartt blends electronics and activism on her debut album
Though much has changed since 2016, local musician Lara Ruggles has remained steadfast in her devotion to combine electronic music and social commentary into modern anthems. On her debut album Wars Our Mothers Fought, released under the moniker Sharkk Heartt, Ruggles traces struggles both personal and national — evident right from the track names like…
Asylum seekers dropped off in S. Ariz. towns that have few resources get help from nonprofits
SOMERTON – After two years of waiting in Mexico and four days of detention in the U.S., Indira Diaz Cortina, 22, an asylum seeker from Cuba, found herself in a parking lot last month, waiting for COVID-19 test results. She and 37 others were dropped off by Customs and Border Protection agents at a makeshift…
Initial response strong to special Affordable Care Act open enrollment
WASHINGTON – Open it, and they will come. A special open enrollment period for Affordable Care Act coverage drew 528,005 new enrollees nationwide in its first six weeks, with 9,569 of those consumers in Arizona, according to a report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Enrollment from Feb. 15 to March 31 was two…
CVS Offers Walk-In COVID-19 Vaccinations, Same-Day Appointments
CVS pharmacies are now accepting same-day COVID-19 vaccination appointments, and at some locations no appointment is necessary. About 190 locations in Arizona are taking walk-ins, but appointments are also available within an hour of scheduling. “We continue to orchestrate an all-out effort to vaccinate the nation against COVID-19,” said CVS Health President and CEO Karen…
Marge Pellegrino selected as Pima County Library’s latest Writer-In-Residence
The Pima County Public Library has selected Tucson author Marge Pellegrino as its 12th writer-in-residence, following a previous PCPL residence in 2017. Pellegrino will serve in the position from May to July, hosting one-on-one writing consultations, as well as special programs on how to boost your writing style. Her books include “The Sculpture Speaks: A…
Flores family wants to hear your memories of El Charro for 100th anniversary
The owners of El Charro Cafe are collecting stories from patrons to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the restaurant’s opening. The Flores family is asking the community to submit “memories of special occasions, favorite dishes, and stories that are a part of the lore and love of this iconic restaurant,” according to a news release.…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Wednesday, May 5: How to get vaccine shots with or without an appointment
As health officials work to overcome vaccine hesitancy among some members of the public, Pima County and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are teaming up to launch mobile vaccination units this weekend to reach vulnerable communities with high risks of COVID-19 exposure and infection. The operation includes two mobile vaccination units (MVUs), able to…
County Approves $10 Million Plan to Fund Early Education Programs for Low-Income Families
The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to approve a $10 million plan to fund early education scholarships for low-income families at Tuesday’s meeting. On Feb. 16, the county approved a measure to allocate $10 million for the upcoming fiscal year budget to fund full or partial scholarships to parents who wish to enroll…
With legalized sports betting coming to Arizona, concerns about gambling addiction increase
[image-1] PHOENIX – The ability to attend a sporting event, place a bet on a team and possibly return home a winner will soon be a reality in Arizona. So, too, could an uptick in gambling addiction, some worry. Excitement surrounded Gov. Doug Ducey’s decision to sign a bill on April 15 that allows a…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Tuesday, May 4: State closing UA vax POD at end of June; County rolling out mobile vax clinics with FEMA support; Total AZ cases surpass 865K
The University of Arizona plans to decommission its vaccination site as of June 25 and has announced new hours. With the decline in vaccine demand and “as other avenues for vaccination become more readily available,” the UA POD plans to scale back its hours and on Monday transitioned to fully indoors at the Ina E.…
UA POD Shutting Down at the End of June
The University of Arizona plans to decommission its vaccination site as of June 25 and announced new hours last Thursday. With the decline in vaccine demand and “as other avenues for vaccination become more readily available,” the UA POD plans to scale back its hours and on Monday transitioned to fully indoors at the Ina…
Tucson mom ‘knew instantly knew he was dead’: Drug overdoses surge during pandemic, piling tragedy upon tragedy
TUCSON – It was a Tuesday afternoon, two months into the pandemic, when Theresa Guerrero got the call from her brother-in-law: Her son, Jacob, had been found unresponsive. She was standing in the middle of a Ross store in south Tucson picking out a pillow he’d asked for, throwing it to the floor as she…
Tucson Parks and Rec reopen ramada rentals as COVID cases decline
The Tucson Parks and Recreation Department reopened its park ramadas on Monday for rent for groups of fewer than 75 people. This move is in line with Pima County’s department of Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation, which opened park facilities for rent in late March. According to Tucson Parks and Rec, ramadas are reserved for…
Movie Review: There’s Truffles in Them Thar Hills!
MOVIE REVIEW: THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS Now playing at The Loft Cinema as part of their Open Air Cinema series Don’t know much about truffles. Pretty sure I’ve never eaten one. Not knowingly, anyway. Apparently, some folks love those truffles. The elderly men of Piedmont, Italy, the subjects of Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw’s documentary, The…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Monday, May 3: County rolling out mobile vax clinics with FEMA support; Shots available without appointments
This week, Pima County and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are teaming up to launch mobile vaccination units to reach vulnerable communities with high risks of COVID-19 exposure and infection. The operation includes two mobile vaccination units (MVUs), able to administer 250 vaccines per day each, along with administrative staff and federal vaccinators with…
Not just for the pros: Arizona high schools, colleges turning to baseball analytics, technology
[image-1] PHOENIX – GateWay Community College coach Rob Shabansky admits he wasn’t a huge fan of technology and analytics in baseball. He didn’t understand its true purpose, or the information it produced. He couldn’t grasp how this data could help improve the performance of his players on the diamond. Shabansky, like many others in the…
Pima County Partners with FEMA for Mobile Vaccination Effort
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is sending mobile vaccination units and staff to Pima County to reach vulnerable communities with high risks of COVID-19 exposure and infection. This follows the decision by the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs to not sign an agreement that would set up a federal vaccination site, independent…
State Representative Tests Positive for COVID-19 After Being Vaccinated
In a statement released Wednesday, Rep. Alma Hernandez (D-Tucson, District 3) said she tested positive for the virus COVID-19, despite being vaccinated. “I have taken COVID-19 very seriously and have worn my mask, washed my hands, socially distanced. Yet despite those measures and being vaccinated I have come down with the COVID,” she said. “I…
UA Nurses, Students to Host COVID-19 Vaccination Event
University of Arizona faculty and students will provide up to 1,000 COVID-19 vaccines on Saturday. The vaccination event, open to the public, will be led by Kristie Hoch, a member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, volunteer Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and student registered nurse anesthetists at the university. The event offers only the…
Rio Nuevo approves three projects to help with COVID recovery
The Rio Nuevo board advanced three projects in an effort to recovery after the COVID pandemic: The board unanimously approved extensions to Gadsden Company’s funding and construction deadlines for its new Monier Luxury Apartment complex, which are expected to begin renting as early as June. Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink was granted $100,000 to assist…
BIPOC-owned businesses eligible for free ‘technology makeovers’
Black-, Indigenous- and People of Color-owned small businesses in Arizona are eligible for free technology upgrades. Comcast is accepting applications through May 7 for “technology makeovers,” according to a news release. The upgrade includes computer equipment, and internet, voice and cybersecurity services for up to 12 months. Local BIPOC-owned small businesses are encouraged to review…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Thursday, April 29: Pima County passes 115K cases; Here’s how to set up vaccine appointments
You no longer need an appointment to get a shot at the UA vaccination point of distribution. The POD will now accept anyone over the age of 16 who comes in for a shot. The pod, which offers both a drive-thru clinic on the UA Mall and a sit-down clinic in the Ina E. Gittings…
Danehy: Arizona’s so-called “election audit” is an illegitimate sham
On the night of August 6, 1930, Judge Joseph Force Crater left a Manhattan restaurant where he had been dining with one of his mistresses. Crater either got in a cab or began walking down 45th Street. He was never seen or heard from again. Crater was a Justice of the New York Supreme Court…
The Skinny: County Supervisor Christy Cites Bogus Study in Effort To Lift Pima’s Mask Mandate
Pima County Supervisor Steve Christy cited a bogus study making its way around right-wing websites when he made a run at lifting Pima County’s mask ordinance at last week’s board meeting. Christy’s motion died for lack of a second. In justifying his push to lift the ordinance that requires Pima County residents to wear face…
Showdown at the shopping mall: No charges expected following shooting at Arizona Pavilions
The Pima County Attorney’s OFFICE is being tight-lipped regarding whether prosecutors plan to file charges against a man who shot another man during a physical altercation, presumedly over a parking space at a Marana shopping mall earlier this month. While the Marana Police Department posted their criminal investigation unit was notified by the county attorney’s…
Editor’s Note: The Times, They Are A-Changin’
Tucson Weekly founder Doug Biggers, who launched this paper way back in 1984, told me a long time ago that the only constant in the newspaper biz is change. He got that right. In the three decades I’ve been working around here in various roles, it’s been my great pleasure to work with a long…
Mining for fun: Beat the pandemic blues with a day-trip to Bisbee
The town of Bisbee was once one of the state’s most bustling mining towns. In fact, by the early 1900s Bisbee was the biggest city between St. Louis and San Francisco, boasting a population of 20,000 in its hilly homes. Today, Bisbee remains an experience. With its collection of artists and characters, the town has…
Pandemic puts the squeeze on fashion industry, but local shops remain part of the fabric of the community
Local fashion boutiques and designers continue to face challenges due to the pandemic, but some have recently seen shoppers looking for new clothes alongside a push for more sustainability in the industry. Last March, businesses—especially non-essential businesses like boutiques and thrift shops—were forced to close. The pandemic had a rippling effect across the industry as…
City Week: Weekly Picks
Theater Tell Me About You. Are you ready to get out of the house for some live, original, safe theater?! This installment of Live Theatre Workshop’s Etcetera Series is a one-woman show written and performed by Ally Tanzillo and directed by Gabriella DeBrequet. Tanzillo has created a show about dating that is equal parts earnest…
Vietnamese Street Food: These Vietnamese sandwiches are so good, you may become Banhdicted
It’s been described as a banh mi boom when an information technology executive partnered with a real estate professional last fall to respond to a paucity of local purveyors of Vietnam’s street food staple. But without previous restaurant experience, what could they offer to patrons who would bring certain expectations for authenticity to their door?…
Weed Limit: Pot prohibitionists regurgitate tired tropes from the bygone days of the War on Drugs
As pot legalization rolls through the U.S. like a modern-day Johnny Reeferseed, there have been concerted efforts to continue the demonization of weed that has lit up prohibitionists for decades. Even as advocates work to pass initiatives to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana for adult-use or for medical patients, there is a parallel phenomenon amongst…
