A Self-Care Toolbox for Mental Health Awareness Month
The following was contributed by Kathryn Owen from Desert Star Addiction Recovery Center. May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and also the month that Arizonans are beginning to dip our toes into the new normal of everyday life as Stay-At-Home orders are lifted. Navigating the uncertainties of pandemic life is challenging even for those of us…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 PM Update for Wednesday, May 6: What We’ve Covered Today
Hey, everyone! How are you all holding up out there? We hope you’re staying safe and staying sane. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so check up on your friends and family, and reach out if you need a little extra help. Here are some of the stories we’ve covered today: The number of confirmed…
Arizona Nonprofit Sector Anticipated To Lose $433 Million By Year’s End
The Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, an advocacy group representing more than 20,000 nonprofits, estimates the state’s nonprofit sector has already lost more than $40 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic and anticipates a $433 million loss be year’s end. These numbers come from the Alliance’s COVID-19 Nonprofit Impact Pulse Survey, which found that 98 percent…
COVID-19 Claiming Lives Inside Arizona Prisons
At least five Arizona prisoners have died from complications related to COVID-19, validating the fear of many advocates and family members of incarcerated people. Now that the highly contagious virus has infiltrated the state’s prisons, the number of deaths are likely to increase. In 2019, 11 percent of the state’s prison population was over 55…
Tucson Medical Center Creates Diabetes Resource Page
For those who’ve lost their job or can no longer afford diabetes supplies due to COVID-19, Tucson Medical Center is hosting a diabetes resource page listing discounts and cost-saving information from the three major insulin manufacturers. The page lists multiple manufacturer patient assistance programs from Sanofi, Eli Lilly, and Novo Nordisk, and even breaks down…
It’s Really Hot Outside So If You Go Hiking at Saguaro National Park, Go Early in Morning So You Won’t Have To Be Rescued
Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, Saguaro National Park East and West have remained open (sans restrooms and parking lots) to allow locals a place to get some fresh air while Gov. Doug Ducey’s stay-at-home order has been in place. While park officials are still determining how to best reopen amenities, they are encouraging park users to…
Rialto, 191 Toole Ask Tucsonans To Contact Their Legislators
The Rialto Theatre and 191 Toole have joined forces with the National Independent Venue Association to ask legislators to provide federal funding for struggling concert halls. Part of this initiative is asking all those who enjoy local independent music venues to sign a letter on the NIVA website, requesting that members of congress support federal…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup: 9,700 Confirmed Cases in AZ; 426 Now Dead; Ducey Disbands Virus Modeling Team After Lifting Restrictions; Trump Says the Worst Is Behind Country as He Tours Phoenix Manufacturing Plant
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona hit 9,707 as of Wednesday, May 6, according to the morning report from the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 1,425 confirmed cases. The coronavirus had killed 426 people statewide, including 116 in Pima County, according to the report. In Maricopa County, the number of…
Claytoonz: Murder Hornets
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Restaurants Can Resume Dine-In Service Next Week but Some Owners Remain Leery
Gov. Doug Ducey has given restaurants the green light to resume dine-in service next week as long as they follow new sanitation regulations and ensure physical distancing between patrons, but some Tucson restaurateurs aren’t sure they—or the public—are ready for the change. “There will be more to follow on this but I want the restaurant…
Native American Pageant Winner Steps Up to Help Tribe and Winds Up Shipping Masks Across North America
PHOENIX – As Miss Shoshone-Bannock, Stormie Perdash has represented her people all across the United States. Now, amid the coronavirus pandemic, she’s representing them in a different way. Growing up on the Fort Hall Reservation in Idaho, Perdash remembers just how badly she wanted the Miss Shoshone-Bannock title – or Miss Sho-Ban for short. “She…
Additional COVID-19 Antibody Tests Available in Pima County
The University of Arizona announced Tuesday that there are additional testing slots available for healthcare workers, first responders, and the general public in Pima County. The tests determine if an individual has developed antibodies against the virus that causes COVID-19. Last month, UA announced it would begin testing 250,000 of Arizona’s health care workers and…
Small farms struggle to get federal relief funds or emergency help from USDA
PHOENIX – Despite the federal government’s unprecedented efforts to aid businesses threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic, small farms are being left further behind, according to one local small farm owner. McClendon’s Select, a family owned farm in Peoria and Goodyear, normally sells its organic produce, citrus and honey to restaurants and farmers markets. Since Arizona…
Drive-Thru Food Bank Reopens at Kino Stadium
The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona’s drive-thru food bank reopened today at its new location at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium to help serve a larger portion of the community faster and more efficiently. “Because unemployment is so high, job loss is so high and people are being furloughed, people are strapped,” said Community Food…
The Bigoted, Conspiratorial Rants of Rudy Giuliani’s Radio Show
Stay up to date about WNYC and ProPublica’s investigations into the president’s business practices. This story was co-published with WNYC. Presidential lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has largely fallen out of the public eye since his starring role in President Donald Trump’s impeachment. But Giuliani hasn’t gone silent. Instead, he’s in…
Opinion: Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is the holiday held on May 5, commemorating the Mexican Army’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin. In the U.S., Cinco de Mayo has taken on a significance beyond that in Mexico and the date is best…
Whack-a-troll: Watchdogs scramble to keep up with COVID-19 scams, fraud
PHOENIX – To get an idea of how fast scams are developing around the coronavirus, just ask Katie Conner, a spokesperson for Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich. “It seems like every day … a new scam pops up,” said Conner, who said the attorney general’s office has been closely monitoring consumer fraud claims. “And we…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Tuesday, May 5: AZ Cases Top 9K; 395 Now Dead After Contracting Virus; Ducey Says Barbers Can Cut Hair This Friday, Restaurants Can Reopen Next Week
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona topped 9,000 as of Tuesday, May 5, according to the morning report from the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 1,379 of the states’ 9,305 confirmed cases. The coronavirus had killed 395 people statewide, including 105 in Pima County, according to the report. In Maricopa…
Claytoonz: TrumpZero (Animation)
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Your Southern AZ COVID-19 PM Update for Monday, May 4: What We’ve Covered Today
May the Fourth be with you. Here are the stories that we covered today. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona topped 8,900 as of Monday, May 4, according to the morning report from the Arizona Department of Health Services. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey gave a “green light” to reopen more businesses, he announced…
A Conservative Legal Group Significantly Miscalculated Data in a Report on Mail-In Voting
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their biggest stories as soon as they’re published. In an April report that warns of the risks of fraud in mail-in voting, a conservative legal group significantly inflated a key statistic, a ProPublica analysis found. The Public Interest Legal Foundation reported…
Trump Hasn’t Released Funds That Help Families of COVID-19 Victims Pay for Burials. Members of Congress Want to Change That.
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Democratic members of Congress are urging President Donald Trump to authorize FEMA to reimburse funeral expenses for victims of the coronavirus pandemic, citing ProPublica’s reporting about the administration’s policies. “Just as with all…
Gov. Ducey Unveils Timeline to Reopen Dine-in Services, Barbers and Salons
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey gave a “green light” to reopen more businesses, he announced during a Monday press conference, including dine-in services at restaurants and barbers and salons. Salons and similar services can reopen Friday, May 8 with reduced capacity and comprehensive sanitation procedures among the required adaptations. Ducey also suggested moving to appointment service…
Why You Can’t Always Trust Your Coronavirus Antibody Test Results
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Many people across the country experienced COVID-19 symptoms but could not get a test to confirm if they actually had the virus. Now some are looking to a different kind of coronavirus test…
YMCA Shifting Focus to Emergency Childcare Before Launching Summer Camps
The YMCA of Southern Arizona is accepting childcare applications from healthcare workers, first responders and other essential workers through May 22, the company announced. The move, intended to help Tucson families meet their needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, opens up childcare opportunities at six total sites for children between 1 and 12. “Before the current…
Republicans Lawmakers Unhappy with Ducey’s Extension of Stay-at-Home Order
While local Democratic officials have been cautiously supportive of Gov. Doug Ducey’s decision to keep Arizona’s stay-at-home order in place through May 15 while lifting some restrictions for retail businesses, some Republican state lawmakers say Ducey isn’t moving fast enough to reopen Arizona. Rep. Mark Finchem, an Oro Valley Republican who represents Legislative District 11,…
Sahuarita Reopening Services and Buildings This Friday
The Town of Sahuarita will reopen all town services and facilities this Friday, May 8, including the town clerk’s office, planning, and building, the Anamax Recreation Center, and more—although programming is still delayed. “We do this cautiously and responsibly with the utmost concern for public health, and for the health of our local businesses, residents,…
UA Physicians Co-Author Paper On Advanced COVID Therapy
Two physicians from the University of Arizona are among the authors of a new research paper detailing the best practice guidelines for patients in intensive care units requiring advanced life-saving therapies due to COVID-19. Regents Professor Marvin Slepian and assistant professor Christian Bime of the Department of Medicine drew on their years of experience to…
Caregivers Can Receive On-The-Job Training After Governor’s Order
Arizona assisted living communities are gearing up to hire aspiring caregivers after Gov. Doug Ducey signed an executive order last month allowing on-the-job training for caregiver certification amid an entry-level healthcare worker shortage. The order requires potential caregivers to complete 62 hours of training with a licensed healthcare professional and pass the Arizona Board of…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Monday, May 4: State’s Confirmed Cases Reach 8.9K; 362 Now Dead; Some Biz Reopening This Week; Restaurants Still Limited to Takeout; GOP Criticizes Ducey’s Extension of Stay-at-Home Order
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona topped 8,900 as of Monday, May 4, according to the morning report from the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 1,346 confirmed cases. The coronavirus had killed 362 people statewide, including 89 in Pima County, according to the report. In Maricopa County, the number of…
Claytoonz: The Boyfriend’s Back
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Claytoonz: Success Story
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Claytoonz: Michigan Freeedumb
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Your Southern AZ COVID-19 PM Update for Friday, May 1: What We’ve Covered Today
We’ve made it through April and another work week. It’s finally Friday and a start to a new month, so let’s take a moment to reflect on what we covered today: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona reached 7,962 as of Friday, May 1, according to the morning report from the Arizona Department…
U.S. Rep. Tom O’Halleran: Next Coronavirus Package Must Work for Arizona Families, Not Just for Washington
Americans are facing an invisible enemy and one of our greatest challenges ever as a nation. To date, Congress has passed, and the president has signed into law, four legislative packages to mitigate the public health and economic impacts of the coronavirus. Unfortunately, many of these new programs and provisions to assist families, businesses, local…
Amphi Teachers and Volunteers Surprise Seniors With Congratulatory Signs
Carrying signs and plastic mallets, the hardworking educators of Amphitheater Public Schools recently showed how much they value their graduating seniors by placing congratulatory signs in their front yards. Emblazoned with the mascot of each school, the signs remind the students that they are the “Pride of Amphi.” The signs were the result of a…
Judge Not: Former Lawmaker Paula Aboud Among Justice of the Peace Candidates Who Won’t Be on Ballot This Year
Justice of the Peace Paula Aboud, a former state lawmaker, is among the three candidates for Justice of the Peace in Pima County who won’t be on ballot this year after challenges to nominating petitions. Aboud, who served in the Arizona Legislature from 2006 to 2012, withdrew her candidacy rather than defend her nominating petitions…
COVID-19 in Arizona: Trump to visit Phoenix mask maker during Ducey stay-home order
A White House official confirmed Wednesday that President Donald Trump will visit the Phoenix Honeywell facility for an industry event May 5, despite Gov. Doug Ducey extending his stay-at-home order to May 15. The visit marks the first time the president has traveled outside Washington, D.C., since the end of March. The visit is meant…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup: State Has 7.9K Confirmed Cases; Death Toll Rises to 330; UA Plans To Resume Classes in Fall; Ducey’s Stay-at-Home Order Extension Draws Praise from Dems, Criticism from GOP
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona reached 7,962 as of Friday, May 1, according to the morning report from the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 1,267 confirmed cases. The coronavirus had killed 330 people statewide, including 81 in Pima County, according to the report. In Maricopa County, the number of…
Claytoonz: Bezos And Buzzards
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Plan to ‘revive’ uranium mining called unneeded, unwanted by advocates
PHOENIX – Environmentalists are blasting a Trump administration call for “bold action to revive and strengthen the uranium mining industry,” an industry whose history they say has left a “toxic trail” through the Grand Canyon. They are responding to a report last week by the Department of Energy’s Nuclear Fuel Working Group, which called for…
Four Pima County Sheriff Employees Test Positive for COVID-19
Yesterday the Pima County Sheriff’s Department announced that four employees have tested positive for COVID-19. The employees, including one correctional staff member from the county jail, have been placed on pandemic leave. The corrections staff member had been away from work for unrelated reasons since April 17, according to a department press release. The employee’s…
UA Plans to Resume In-Person Classes in Fall
On Thursday, April 30, University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins announced a plan for bringing students, faculty and staff back to campus for the fall 2020 semester, which begins Aug. 24. “I am pleased to publicly announce today our intention to return to in-person classes at the University of Arizona for the fall semester,”…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Thursday, May 1: 7,600 Confirmed Cases in AZ; 320 Now Dead; You’re Gonna Have To Stay Home Awhile Longer
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona reached 7,648 as of Thursday, April 30, according to the morning report from the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 1,241 confirmed cases. The coronavirus had killed 320 people statewide, including 80 in Pima County, according to the report. In Maricopa County, the number of…
Editor’s Note
Day of Decision
Current: Within Hearing Distance
Mental health and substance abuse providers relying on telehealth during COVID-19
The Skinny
Updates on election coverage
Music: Boogaloo Fever
Orkestra Mendoza’s new album will keep you dancing through the pandemic
Danehy
Tom just can’t keep living this way – and he doesn’t think you can, either
Weekly COVID-19 Roundup
Some of the stories we covered this week
Quick Bites
Helping hands
MMJ: Quack Cures
Watch what you think you know about coronavirus and treatments
Chow: Pandemic Produce
Quick action allows fresh fruits and vegetables to be delivered to local food banks
