Cover Story
One Day in Bisbee
Where to crash and where to shop By Maria Ines Taracena Once you and your friends drive through the Mule Pass Tunnel holding your breath—it’s Bisbee time. Days before you got to that point, you should have booked a room at one of the many cozy, sleeping quarters that this Cochise County, oddball town has…
Go Party with the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance Tomorrow
The Southern Arizona Gender Alliance is celebrating its transformation. The newly-independent nonprofit went through a rough patch while Wingspan (which SAGA was a branch of) prepared to close its doors last summer over financial problems. SAGA’s Abby Jensen says they thought this week would be appropriate, since trans actress Laverne Cox visited us on Monday…
DREAMers Hope a Maricopa Judge’s In-State Tuition Ruling Rubs Off On the Arizona Board of Regents
Alejandra Salazar was surprised to hear a Maricopa County Superior Court judge had ruled DREAMers are entitled to in-state tuition. The decision Tuesday settled a two-year lawsuit former attorney general Tom Horne filed against the Maricopa County Community College District for granting students under Obama’s 2012 DACA program in-state rates. Horne’s suit argued the district…
It Could Cost You $58,000 For a Speeding Ticket (in Finland) (if You’re Rich)
Wrap your mind around this. You get caught doing 64 m.p.h. in a 50 m.p.h. zone. Your fine? $58,000. Outlandish? Yes, but not as absurd as it looks at first glance. Fifty-eight grand, or more, is a possible fine in Finland for someone going 14 m.p.h. over the speed limit. Not driving drunk, not speeding…
Congrats to Congressional Art Competition Winner Dakota Worden
Canyon del Oro’s Dakota Worden is the winner of Congressional District 3’s 2015 Congressional Art Competition. Dakota will be traveling to Washington, D.C., to see her work hung in the U.S. Capitol, where it will be on display for the next year. “Congratulations to Dakota, and all participants in the 2015 Congressional Art Competition, for…
Cheesy Rider Shutters in Foothills Mall
If you’ve been to Foothills Mall recently to pick up a sweet pair of discounted Levi’s, you might have noticed something missing from the mall. That’s because Cheesy Rider, Tucson’s own grilled cheese restaurant, closed their food court location. Cheesy Rider, which was originally a food truck, became known in town for incorporating comfort foods…
’12 Angry Men’ Tackles Hollywood’s Hottest Debate
My favorite comedian did a parody of my favorite film and everything in the world is beautiful. Slate’s take on the episode: Is being an unattractive woman in show business a crime? In Tuesday’s episode of Inside Amy Schumer, a jury gathers to decide whether or not Amy Schumer is “hot enough for basic cable…
A Discussion of TUSD’s Internal Auditor Position
At the end of our Access Tucson TV show, Education: The Rest of the Story, Ann-Eve Pedersen and I have a short discussion of the ups and downs, pros and cons of TUSD’s newly created Internal Auditor position.
Female Storytellers Return with Tales of BFFs
A BFF is the very special kind of person who is always around to finish your sandwiches, and it is BFFs who are the subject of the upcoming Female Storytellers event on Wednesday, May 6. The monthly event delivers funny and true tales on a given topic that changes every time that are written and…
Arizona Press Club Awards: Remember That Time We Talked to Reggie Parks?
The Arizona Press Club award winners were announced today and, hey, our newsroom was recognized a couple times! Tucson Weekly placed in two categories: Brandon Hays placed third in statewide tabloid/magazine cover design for his work on the the Fall Arts Preview. Arizona Press Club said: “This page isn’t without its flaws, but the lead visual…
Southern Arizona Gender Alliance Gives Laverne Cox a ‘Catalyst of Change’ Award
Who got to catch the amazing, intellectual, beautiful and fierce Laverne Cox at the UA last night? At the event—which was sponsored by the UA LGBTQ Affairs, ASUA Pride Alliance, UA Women’s Resource Center, The Men’s Project, FORCE and the ASUA Office of Diversity and Inclusion—the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance took the opportunity to honor…
John Oliver Explains Standardized Testing
Employing his unique 60-Minutes-Meets-Monty-Python style, John Oliver explains pretty much everything you need to know about standardized testing.
Public Policy Polling: McCain Is Vulnerable But Potential Challengers Are Weak
Public Policy Polling has a new Arizona survey that shows that Republicans don’t like McCain very much but they don’t think much of his potential opponents either. PPP’s Tom Jensen notes: John McCain’s troubles with conservatives have him in a whole lot of trouble for reelection next year. Even among Republican primary voters just 41%…
Arizona Board of Regents to Vote on Lower College Tuition for DREAMers Proposal in June
The Arizona Board of Regents will not make a decision on possible lower college tuition rates for DREAMers until their next meeting in June. If approved, the proposal would allow young immigrants brought here as children, and who get a work permit and legal presence in the country under Obama’s 2012 DACA program, to attend…
Sample Ethiopian Cuisine for Just $5 at Cafe Desta
Are you an Ethiopian food fanatic, expertly sopping up different spiced offering with bits of spongey injera? Or maybe you’re a newbie to the cuisine who doesn’t know wat from tibs. Either way, as a part of Local First Arizona’s Localist program, Cafe Desta is offering a unique opportunity to try out their Ethiopian fare.…
Let’s Learn About Astrobiology
The OSIRIS-REx mission is regularly posting snappy YouTube shorts to help you understand more about space science and why the UA and NASA are sending a robotic lab off to investigate the asteroid Bennu. Here’s the latest.
The Value of Going to College
Some people argue that too many people go to college these days. High school grads sign up for community college without the necessary academic skills, and others go to a state university and drop out before they graduate. It’s a waste of their time and money, these people argue, and it’s a waste of taxpayer…
Cinco de Mayo: You Might Want to Learn About the History Before All the Tacos, Tequila & Cervezas
(Please, stop with the “it’s Mexico’s Independence Day.” No, it’s not. La independencia de México falls on September 16 and the carelessness toward history from some people out there is offensive.) The digital news media outlet AJ+ created a short video that will be useful for you to learn a little bit (and be intrigued…
Sierra Club Flunks All But One Republican Lawmaker On 2015 Report Card
The Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter has released its annual legislative report card. Nothing new: All but one Republican flunked, while most Democrats got A’s and a few were knocked down to B’s, C’s or D’s. Sierra Club lobbyist Sandy Bahr notes: This year’s Legislature tried exceedingly hard to move our state backwards on environmental…
McSally Comes Under Fire From Democrats After Supporting Provision That Would Delay New Predatory-Loan Protections for Military Members
Republican Congresswoman Martha McSally came under fire last week after she voted for a delay in new Department of Defense rules meant to protect members of the military from predatory lenders. The vote came in the wee hours of Thursday, April 30, when lawmakers were marking up the National Defense Authorization Act, a lengthy and…
Momma, Big Boy and Gri Gri Need a Home
Name: Momma, Big Boy, and Gri Gri ID No.: 779385, 779387, 779386 Age: 9 years, 9 years, 8 years Gender: Female, Male, Male Species/Breed: Cat/Domestic Short Hair Mix, Cat/Domestic Long Hair Mix, Domestic Short Hair Mix This entrancing trio will steal your heart! Momma, Big Boy, and Gri Gri have been looking for their forever…
Your Best Bets for Mother’s Day Brunch Around Tucson
It’s safe to say one of the most selfless acts a person can do is bear and raise a child—even knowing full well they’ll be rotten teenagers at some point. Well, it’s time to give back to the person that gave up their body and time and life to make sure you were happy and…
Arizona Board of Regents Expected to Vote Today on Universities’ Tuition Hikes, Lower Rates for DREAMers
The Arizona Board of Regents is supposed to decide today on new tuition for the three state universities, as well as a proposed decrease in rates for DREAMers. This new policy asks for tuition for young immigrants under Obama’s 2012 DACA program be 150 percent what residents pay a year. As of now, DREAMers—who despite…
Christians United for Israel hold Pro-Israel event at Fox Theater
Christians United for Israel (CUFI) is the largest pro-Israel organization in the United States. Its primary objective is to build Christian support for Israel throughout the country. It has many education programs including special programs for college students and elected officials. Local chapters across the country hold events. On Tuesday, April 28, the Tucson chapter…
Celebrate May 1 Jonathan Coulton Style
Have a good weekend, everybody.
Zona Politics: City Budget, County Bonds, Gay Marriage at the Supreme Court & More
Zona Politics Eps.28 from Zona Politics with Jim Nintzel on Vimeo. On this week’s episode of Zona Politics: Pima County Republican Party Chair Bill Beard and Pima County Democratic Party Chair Cheryl Cage debate the city budget, whether Tucson is business-friendly, whether Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild is vulnerable this year, what the U.S. Supreme Court…
Let’s Watch Calexico’s New Live Show
Wish I could have been there—but here’s Calexico playing live at the Ancienne Belgique earlier this week. Lots of songs from the newly released Edge of the Sun, so here’s you’re chance to see how they sound live ahead of the band’s yet-to-be-scheduled Rialto show. (Hint: They sound great.) And lots of old warhorses like…
Keep My Face Fashionable: Where Are the Best Glasses in Tucson?
When I meet new people, they either comment on my name (“Are your parents musicians?” No, no they are not) or on my glasses (because they’re really good). I’ve had these frames for almost two years now and they’re just starting to show signs of distress. As someone who wouldn’t be able to wouldn’t be…
Check Out the New Animated Video for BRYDES’ “Bright Eyed Boy”
Chances are, if you’re anything like us, you’ve had BRYDES new EP “Turquoise” on a steady rotation since it was released in mid-March. The synth pop album is part-Haim, part-Chairlift, with a lot of desert love mixed in. (You can read the full review of “Turquoise” here.) Now, the local duo has released their first…
Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby Shows Respect for City’s Youth
For those of you who haven’t learned about the charges against the Baltimore police officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray, I’m getting ahead of the story. During a 16 minute press conference, Baltimore State Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced criminal charges for the six police officers including assault, manslaughter and murder. You’ll be able…
VA Doctors Still Aren’t Allowed to Recommend Medical Marijuana to Their Patients
The U.S. House killed an amendment yesterday that would have allowed physicians with the Department of Veterans Affairs to recommend medical marijuana to their patients. The amendment—introduced by U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and co-sponsored by eight others including Arizona’s Rep. Ruben Gallego, also a Democrat—to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies…
Critics Call McCain’s Oak Flat Tactics a New Low
Something about Oak Flat just brings out the ornery in a politician. And of course that something is money and influence. Stir in a few long-simmering grudges, and you have a rancid stew that bares little resemblance to principled democracy or good policy. Which brings us to Arizona Sen. John McCain. There existed a time,…
Let’s Watch a Video About the Asteroid Bennu
In this week’s print edition, I have an interview with Dante Lauretta, a professor in the UA Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and the principal investigator on the UA’s latest space mission, ORIRIS-REx, a robotic spacecraft that will journey to the asteroid Bennu to study the near-earth object and bring back a sample. To see a…
The Desert Goddess of Glen Canyon
National Geographic’s short film showcase highlights DamNation, a documentary about America’s dams, with an excerpt featuring Katie Lee, the Desert Goddess of Glen Canyon. From Nat Geo: When the Glen Canyon Dam was approved in April 1956, a group of archeologists and river runners set out to document more than 250 culturally significant sites and…
Mother Hubbard’s Recognized as One of the Top 12 Diners in the U.S.
In a somewhat shocking turn of events, one of those national listicles actually got something right when it named Mother Hubbard’s one of the top diners in the country. Men’s Health, of all publications, went on a modest tour of diners across the country and our little haven for waffles and Native American eats made…
The Pleasure Activist
For this installment of Nine Questions- The Sexuality Edition, I got the opportunity to interview rope bondage enthusiast, Territory. Here is a bit about her from her bio: “Territory has been involved in the local kink community since the summer of 2013 and has been playing with rope for about as long. She does kink…
Outside the Lines
Tucson is full of creative types who continue to find rather mainstream ways to do their thing. But they are always searching for new avenues to find connections with each other and with the community. Playwrights constitute a healthy chunk of Tucson’s artists, and there are places for them to gather and critique each others’…
Danehy
There’s this kid whom I have been tutoring in Pre-Calc and a couple weeks ago, out of the blue, she asks, “Are you going to come see me show my pig?” Now, kids sometimes have a funny way of talking and I thought maybe, in some roundabout way, she was asking me if I wanted…
B-Sides: Justin Moody
LNG Studios | Justin Moody | Highway 89 from The LNG Company on Vimeo. For a more low-key way to spend your Wednesday evening, consider heading across the street to Club Congress, located at 311 E. Congress St., for Phoenix singer-songwriter Justin Moody’s live show. Joined by Laura Kepner Adney and Steff Koeppen, the show…
Legal Theft, Part II
Read Legal Theft, Part I Attorney Vernon Peltz points out two different concerns in Ron Johnson’s case: his unfounded arrest and the seizure of money, jewelry, his medical marijuana and more the night of May 10, 2013 (which is what triggered the lawsuit he filed this month on Johnson’s behalf), and the attempt of a…
Tacos Apson: Offally Good
Down in South Tucson beneath the junction where the I-10 and I-19 split, there’s a little taco shack that centers everything it does around a grill. The grill at Tacos Apson really is a thing of beauty. Crusted and black with years of grease and animal fat burned on, there are layers of thinly sliced…
Ray Wylie Hubbard: Folk Farm
When blackbirds show up in Ray Wylie Hubbard’s songs, they don’t leave the stage until they’ve spoken their piece. In “All Loose Things,” the swamp-blues opener from Hubbard’s latest album, amid gamblers and pilgrims trapped in fits of lust and fury, the blackbird shows up to deliver an ominous warning: “The gods can’t save us…
B-Sides: OK Go
Remember the first time OK Go released one of their now characteristic choreography driven music videos? Well whether the members of the prolific pop rock group are gliding on treadmills or rolling on wheeled office chairs accompanied by a bunch of puppies, they never fail to entertain. Typically, the band incorporates some of that well-timed…
Editor’s Note
When it comes to honest discussion about racism, I know that there are only a handful of absolute truths. One of those is that a true, frank conversation is difficult. It is uncomfortable for all involved. Sitting in the large community room at the Tucson YWCA off Bonita Avenue in Menlo Park this is something…
The Great Laverne Cox
Actress Laverne Cox has changed and challenged transgender perceptions, and most of that has had nothing to do with her role on the Netflix series Orange is the New Black. She took the media on and won, and don’t forget that beautiful Time magazine coverage. So, here we are Tucson, Cox will be here Monday,…
Dust Devil
Road Trip One view pushes me onward to another. Nature’s vibrant skyscrapers lead me to vistas far beyond. Many generations have passed by this uninhabited land. Organic songs from above break the stillness. Lost in endless dreams. The dipping sun settles deeper, casting restful shadows. Overwhelming beauty blankets the air. Wild voices now tame. Looming…
Hula, Hula
Update: Bad News, TW readers! We received word this morning that the Great Hula Challenge has been postponed until the Fall. If you’re itching to get your Hula on, sign up for updates from the organization. Original Story: Have you tried to hula recently? If you stopped at the Great Hula Challenge booth at Cyclovia…
Police Dispatch
San Xavier Beat March 2, 3:34 p.m. A woman found her husband at a Western-themed bar, extremely intoxicated, and begged him not to drive—only to be rewarded with a dented bumper on her own car after he insisted he was fine and promptly drove right into it with his large pickup truck, according to a…
Free Comic Book Day 2015
Tucson is blessed with its share of comic book stores and lovers, but for this religious comic-loving holiday, we’re going to throw some love to our favorite place in all the land—Fantasy Comics, 2595 N. First Ave. Free Comic Book Day is Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. We hear from our…
Tragic Celluloid
Orson Welles may top the list of cinema’s most tragic figures. One of the medium’s most talented performers—it would be hard to name a director as good at writing and acting, or a great actor who is also among our most influential directors—Welles’ legacy is equal parts “Citizen Kane” and Paul Masson wine, “Touch of…
The Brilliant Idea of a Seed Exchange
The first International Seed Library Forum is in Tucson, May 3 to May 6, and as part of the forum is a seed swap, at the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd., from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Here, all seed folks, gather around and swap ye seeds, as well as cuttings. Organizers hope to bring…
Police Dispatch
Foothills Area March 2, 10:40 p.m. A local hippie type was called to court after he reportedly disturbed the peace with loud music—even though it was folk music—a PCSD report stated. A deputy was dispatched to an address he recognized from a previous noise-disturbance incident, meeting the reportee in front of the subject’s house. From…
May Day March
The May 1 Coalition, reminding us that it’s perfectly acceptable to get radical as often as possible, bring us the May 1 gathering every year. This year, on Friday, May 1, the march starts at 5 p.m. at Santa Rita Park at 22nd Street and Fourth Avenue and goes to Mirasol Park at 29th Street…
Mission to Bennu
The UA Lunar and Planetary Lab team behind OSIRIS-REx, a mission to send a robotic spacecraft to study the asteroid Bennu, recently passed a major milestone when it competed NASA’s Mission Critical Design Review. Construction of OSIRIS-REx is now underway. Principal Investigator Dante Lauretta recently sat down to talk about the $800 million mission, which…
Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: Why do Mexicans make up such glaringly obvious lies? Like this galán who had his sister call me and said it was really him, with a cold. Or my friend who pretends to be traveling around the world but is really sending emails from his mother’s home computer. Or the random person on…
Media Watch
There are two distinctly different sounds emanating from the two radio clusters that occupy portions of the Oracle corridor. On Roger Road, just behind the Big Lots, Cumulus Tucson is in damage control mode, attempting to explain away why lynchpin radio station KIIM 99.5 FM delivered its worst ratings book in at least a decade.…
Pure Ballet Ballet
Isaiah Sumler is the big news at Ballet Tucson. The company’s new male principal dancer is “impressive physically with a really elegant presence,” says artistic director Mary Beth Cabana. “He has a real star quality.” Sumler, a Spokane native who trained at the Rock School in Pennsylvania, will dance his first full narrative ballet for…
L.A. Witch: Season of the Witch
It definitely takes attitude to name your band L.A. Witch and that attitude comes through in the band’s music. Dark, mysterious and very clearly influenced by psychedelia, L.A. Witch’s named alludes to both the music and motifs the band puts out. “The original line up was all girls with really long dark hair and we…
B-Sides: SwedeFest
Regular Tucson Weekly readers know that music guru and regular TW contributor Eric Swedlund has some pretty stellar taste in bands. That’s why you’d be absolutely silly to not get your buns out of the house to go check out the seventh iteration of his music fest event: SwedeFest. The bigger and better than ever…
Truth, Possibilities
“You mean if I say this and you cut me here and shoot me full of that then I can get a piece of paper from a judge that says I get this initial rather than that initial on my driver’s license?” Susan Stryker was incredulous with some of the policies set in place for…
ConDanza with ZUZI!
In a weekend packed with dance, the big show is Ballet Tucson’s “Sleeping Beauty.” But at ZUZI!, a dancer who performed with Ballet Tucson for 17 years is debuting his own contemporary choreography, performed by his troupe ConDanza. César R’ Degollado, formerly known as César Rubio, says he no longer does exclusively ballet. “This is…
The Skinny
Fundraising Feat Rothschild has already wrapped up his fundraising for 2015 campaign Monday, April 27, was the first day that candidates for this year’s city election can file their nominating petitions with the city—and Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild celebrated by dropping off not only the maximum number of signatures, but also all the paperwork to…
B-Sides: Kinky
Now I’m not saying anything’s going to happen, but it is undeniable that Mexican alternative dance outfit Kinky might put you in the mood—you know, for dancing. What did you think I meant? Well, anyway, you can catch Kinky at Rialto Theatre on Wednesday, May 6 when the groundbreaking, game-changing electro-pop rock band that fuses…
