

Cover Stories
New Vision Drives HOCO Fest
The 2018 HOCO Fest, a five-day bash downtown, expands on the formula introduced last year, with a new spin
HOCO Fest Calendar
Where and when to catch all of the shows of HOCO Fest
HOCO Highlights
Our music writers round up some of the best shows at Hotel Congress’ Labor Day music fest
Three Great Things to Do in Tucson Today: Wednesday, Sept. 5
Whiskey Wednesday at Union Public House. If you need just a little extra oomph to get you through the week, Union Public House has your back by offering half-off all whiskey all day. They also claim to have Tucson’s largest whiskey collection, so you’ve got more options than you can try in one fateful Wednesday…
Four Great Things to Do Today: Tuesday, Sept. 4
Les Miserables. Do you hear the people sing? Oh, you will. And the people will hear you sing too because you’re going to have “Look Down” and “On My Own” stuck in your head for probably the rest of your life. This story of the peasant Jean Valjean and his journey to redemption, Eponine’s unrequited…
Stay Safe Out There: September is National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month which reminds everyone to prepare themselves, their communities and families from now and throughout the year for disasters that could happen. Prepare in advance to any situation by improving your skills such as CPR and first aid. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, is encouraging people to get involved on…
Humane Society of Southern Arizona Aims to Adopt Out 25 Pets on Friday
On Friday, Aug. 31, the Humane Society of Southern Arizona aims to adopt out 25 pets. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 635 West Roger Road, Tucson. The prices will lower by 50 percent for every pet during this event. The adoption fees for senior pets will be $25,…
Laughing Stock: Overstock!
Next week we’ll share all the fun things happening around Unscrewed Theatre’s grand opening at 4500 E Speedway Blvd, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 7 and 8. Here are other highlights of Tucson comedy through September 15. Summer Camp Talent Show Tucson comics break out hidden talents for the Farewell to Summer Camp Talent Show comedy…
26 Great Things to Do This Weekend: Friday Aug. 31 – Sunday Sept. 2
Friday, Aug. 31 JOGS Gem and Jewelry Show. Got a minute this weekend? Why not check out one of the leading jewelry events in North America and one of the world’s key jewelry markets? Exhibitors and buyers all over the world are converging to look for new products, exciting artist, unique resources and innovative ideas.…
Four Great Things to Do in Tucson Today: Thursday, Aug. 30
Bike Art Auction. The Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists are holding this auction at the Catalina Brewing Company for all things bicycle art! David Grant is the featured artists, but you’ll also see works from Rudi Cycling Art, Bicibits, Lisa Reeves, V. Valdez Photography and DukesSaguaros. Artists will donate part of their sales for the night…
Let’s Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Arizona and ASU Joining the Pac-12
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the then-Pac-8 adding two vagabond programs, Arizona and Arizona State, to its conference. Those schools, which previously played in the Western Athletic Conference, formally joined the conference in 1978. The move, which centered on the renegotiation of television rights with NBC, allowed both schools to move up to…
Winners Take All
He’s rich as a lord, and as powerful. All worldly pleasures are his at the snap of a finger. People know they must follow his commands to the letter or suffer the consequences. He strides through the world with the feeling that everything is supposed to go his way. “The earth and the fullness thereof…
Local Police Agency Tightens Gun Safety Rules
Tucson Police Department is changing their guidelines on how officers are required to store guns when off duty, highlighting how other law enforcement departments match up. The new guidelines, being adopted this week, say that officers “shall ensure that all firearms and ammunition are locked or safely secured while in their homes, vehicles, or any…
Free Dentistry Event for Those in Need
On Monday, Sept. 3, Risas Dental and Braces will host a Labor of Love Day event where they offer free dental services in Tucson. This is the 7th year of hosting this event and it will take place from 8 a.m. to noon. Patients can select from basic teeth cleaning, cavity filling, tooth extraction and…
Claytoon of the Day: Impeach the Chaos
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Three Great Things to Do in Tucson Today: Wednesday, Aug. 29
Ladies Night at Cobra Arcade Bar. Peach, Samus, Bayonetta, Yuna: what do all these names have in common? (Other than the fact that you’d probably disappoint your parents by recognizing them.) They’re all badass video game heroines! And Cobra Arcade Bar is celebrating ladies both digital and analog by giving out free tokens to ladies…
Democrat David Garcia Will Challenge Gov. Doug Ducey
The race for Arizona governor is now between Democrat David Garcia and Republican incumbent Doug Ducey. Garcia defeated state Sen. Steve Farley and Southern Arizona YWCA CEO Kelly Fryer for the Democratic nomination. While votes remain to be counted, Garcia had 48 percent of the vote to Farley’s 34 percent and Fryer’s 16 percent as…
Lea Marquez Peterson Is Most Likely Republican Nominee in Congressional District 2
Tonight the lobby of the Viscount Suites midtown hotel erupted with chants of “Lea! Lea! Lea!” as Republican Congressional District 2 candidate Lea Marquez Peterson hosted a primary election watch party. She and more 100 supporters spent the next few hours watching poll numbers trickle in on the Arizona Secretary of State’s website. But as…
Challengers Sweep in Oro Valley; Marana Incumbents Hang On
Four incumbents in Oro Valley were swept out of office in favor of a new mayor and three new council members. Challenger Joe Winfield defeated Mayor Satish Hiremath. With some votes still outstanding, Winfield was leading Hiremath by roughly 1,800 votes. Winfield says he always knew he would walk away with a victory, though he…
LD 9 Newcomer JP Martin Loses to Incumbents in State House Race
Incumbents Pamela Powers Hannley and Randy Friese took the stage at the Pima County Democratic election party. They easily won over newcomer JP Martin, who got about 12 percent of the vote. Powers Hannley and Friese split the rest of the votes almost equally, with Freise getting a few percentage points more. Freise said he’s…
State Legislature Races: Close Contests in Pima County
With an unknown number of votes left to count, some legislative contests in Southern Arizona remain close: • In the three-way Democratic primary for two seats in the House of Representatives in District 3, Andres Cano has 35 percent of the vote, while Alma Hernandez has 33 percent. Trailing both is Olivia Cajero Bedford, the…
Kirsten Engel One of the Winners in LD 10 Dem Primary
Kirsten Engel gave her acceptance speech for the LD 10 Democratic House primary. She was one of four candidates, and as of Tuesday night has about 40 percent of the vote. Her opponents each have around 20 percent, so it’s still too close to know who will go with her to the general to run…
Sec of State Michele Reagan Is Getting Crushed by GOP Challenger Steve Gaynor
Secretary of State Michele Reagan, whose multiple blunders as the state’s chief elections officer resulted in numerous bad headlines, is getting crushed by GOP challenger Steve Gaynor, who has 69 percent of the vote. Gaynor will face Democrat Katie Hobbs, a state lawmaker who was uncontested in her Democratic primary. While the Secretary of State…
David Garcia Declared Winner in the Arizona Democratic Governor’s Race
David Garcia was announced winner in the Democratic primary gubernatorial race. Tucson Unified School District Boardmember Kristel Ann Foster spoke on his behalf at the Pima County Democrats election party. She said he thanks his two opponents, Steve Farley and Kelly Fryer, for raising important issues and making him a better candidate. “And we can’t do…
Ann Kirkpatrick Gives Acceptance Speech with Comfortable Lead
Ann Kirkpatrick is in the lead for Congressional District 2, beating out six other candidates. She took the stage at the Pima County Democrats election event to say she’s ready for the general. “We won this campaign because we were out there talking to people about a Washington D.C. that has completely gone off the…
Victoria Steele wins LD 9 Senate
Victoria Steele was declared the winner of the LD 9 Senate race, winning over her opponent Jim Love with over 82 percent of the vote. She said the last time she was in this room, at Brother John’s where the Pima County Democrats are holding their election party, she lost. And since that experience, she…
Garcia Out Ahead in Dem Gubernatorial Primary; Ducey Crushing Bennett
In the Democratic primary for governor, David Garcia has 48 percent of the vote in these early results, while state lawmaker Steve Farley of Tucson has 35 percent. Kelly Fryer is, at this point, a distant third with 17 percent. On the GOP side, to no great surprise, Gov. Doug Ducey is crushing challenger Ken…
Kirkpatrick Leads Dem Pack in CD2; Marquez Peterson Is Leading the GOP Side
In the hard-fought, seven-way Democratic primary in Southern Arizona’s Congressional District 2, former member of Congress Ann Kirkpatrick has taken an early lead in early ballots out of Cochise County. Kirkpatrick has 41 percent of the vote. Former state lawmaker Matt Heinz has 31 percent; former Pentagon official Mary Matiella has 9 percent; former state…
Steve Farley Calls for Unity
An hour before the numbers started to come in for the governor’s race, Steve Farley said he’s proud of all the work his volunteers did with his campaign, truly showing the voters who he is as a candidate. He says hundred of teachers joined his campaign after they saw him on the House floor, pushing for…
McSally Cruising To Victory, Setting Up Expected November Showdown Against Sinema
In the U.S. Senate Republican primary, Southern Arizona Congresswoman Martha McSally is cruising to an easy win over former state lawmaker Kelli Ward and former Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio. McSally has 51 percent of the vote, compared to Ward’s 29 percent and Arpaio’s 20 percent. To no great surprise, in the Democratic primary for…
UA Online Ranked Third in Arizona
The University of Arizona’s online program was ranked third in the state by onlinecolleges.com. Northern Arizona University clinched the top spot with Grand Canyon University at number two. The website ranks schools based on 11 criteria including graduation rate, tuition, electronic library collections, number of programs and services among others. Onlinecolleges.com named NAU as the…
Claytoon of the Day: Clay’s Weird News
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Three Great Things to Do in Tucson Today: Tuesday, Aug. 28
“A Seat at the Table” at The Coronet. This summer series is a five-course meal of some of the finest dishes to be found in Tucson: bruleed stone fruit, roasted snails, black truffle, Egyptian fava beans, hot chili lamb, pistachio orange biancomangiare, and so much more. Now that’s class. Email sally@cafecoronet.com to book your seat.…
The Royal Room Packed for Poetry Saturday Night
The Royal Room, a wine bar that has been open on the corner of Sixth Ave. and Sixth Street for about a year now, was full to the brim Saturday night for a collaboration with local literary art non-profit Casa Libre. The audience squeezed into the warmly lit wine bar for three reasons, wine, Sophia Terazawa…
In View of Bennu
University of Arizona-designed robotic spacecraft, OSIRIS-REx got its first view of target asteroid Bennu earlier this month. UA’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL) says OSIRIS-REx will enter Bennu’s orbit Dec. 3. The robot was launched in 2016 and is designed to orbit and survey the asteroid for about two years before bouncing on the surface…
Theodore Needs a Home
“Do you love to cuddle cats? I could be your guy! I love to be held and cuddle.” -Theodore Bring your family to meet Theodore at HSSA Main Campus at 635 W. Roger Rd. Have questions? Call 520-327-6088, ext. 173 to speak with an adoptions counselor.
Reactions Continue to Pour Out for Late Senator John McCain
After news broke of Senator John McCain’s passing, reactions from around the state, country and international community started pouring in. Two days later, family, friends, co-workers and those impacted and inspired by the Senator continue to share their memories and condolences for McCain and his family. The U.S. Navy, in which McCain served from 1954…
Claytoon of the Day: John McCain
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Three Great Things to Do in Tucson Today: Monday, Aug. 27
Chipotle Percentage Night. Listen, you and I both know you’re going to be eating at Chipotle sometime soon anyhow. So why not use your burrito date for a good cause and support Tucson High Badger Volleyball? Tell the cashier you’re supporting the cause to make sure that 33 percent of the proceeds will be donated…
Reaction to the Death of U.S. Sen. John McCain
Meghan McCain remembers her father, Sen. John McCain, who died yesterday at age 81. I love you forever – my beloved father @SenJohnMcCain pic.twitter.com/Y50tVQvlVe — Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 26, 2018 Sen. Jeff Flake remembers his fellow Arizona senator: And now, in a way that would probably have him making wisecracks, we are wistful for…
‘You are not forgotten’: Arizona Residents Honor John McCain
Across Arizona, as a the sun set on a motorcade carrying the body of Sen. John McCain, others honored him in words and in actions. An engineer lowered flags at the state Capitol, a woman sobbed as the motorcade passed her along Interstate 17 and leaders of the Vietnamese community remembered him as a fighter…
‘We are a better, stronger country because of him’: Political Leaders Reflect on Sen. John McCain
Sen. John McCain, a six-term senator and Vietnam War hero, died Saturday, a little more than a y ear after being diagnosed with brain cancer and four days before he would have turned 82. U.S., Arizona and world leaders, from the political realm to the sports world, shared condolences and thoughts on McCain’s legacy. Arizona…
Sen. John McCain Dies One Year After Brain Cancer Diagnosis, Leaves Legacy of Leadership
John McCain, the six-term Arizona senator who went from defiant prisoner of war to straight-talking Republican presidential candidate and conservative ideologist, died Saturday little more than a year after doctors diagnosed him with brain cancer. He was 81. McCain began his public life as an outsider, but he morphed into an Arizona icon with national…
Reason’s In-depth with Backpage.com’s Founders
For an update on the Backpage.com shutdown and a deep dive into what led to the website’s closure, check out Elizabeth Nolan Brown’s great reporting. Backpage started as the literal back page of the Phoenix New Times. Co-founders Michael Lacey and James Larkin started the weekly paper in 1970. And from the get-go, they were radical.…
Double O Teacher
Betsy DeVos is thinking about using Department of Education funds to buy guns for schools. Arizona Ed Supe Diane Douglas thinks state law already allows teachers to carry guns, though others beg to differ. Battles over school employees packing heat are raging across the country. If guns are going to be put into the hands of…
HOCO Fest is Coming Up Fast
Where has the summer gone? Before you know it HOCO Fest will be here and rocking and rolling in downtown Tucson for five days. The Aug. 29 to Sept. 2 line up includes over fifty acts in an array of musical and entertainment styles. Check out our facebook page for a chance to win a…
McCain To Discontinue Medical Treatment for Brain Cancer
Sen. John McCain announced this morning that he would discontinue his medical treatment for the brain cancer he has battled for the last year. The statement from McCain’s family: Last summer, Senator John McCain shared with Americans the news our family already knew: he had been diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma, and the prognosis was…
Claytoon of the Day: Truth Isn’t Truth
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29 Great Things to Do This Weekend: Aug. 24 – 26
Friday, Aug. 24 Southern Italy Wine Dinner. So you might not be able to travel the Southern coast of Italy whenever you want, but with this event at Maynard’s Market & Kitchen, you’ll get to try the area’s food and wine—and really, what else do you need? There are three courses that include smoked eggplant, bluebeard…
Tucson Indoor Football Introduced as newest Indoor Football League Team
The 10-year-old Indoor Football League introduced its seventh and newest club inside the cavernous Tucson Arena on Thursday afternoon. The to-be-named squad, which will take to the artificial turf inside the venerable arena for the league’s 2019 regular season, will be the Old Pueblo’s first professional indoor football team. A quartet of people responsible for…
Zona Politics: Reporter’s Roundtable Previews the Primary Election
On this edition of Zona Politics with Jim Nintzel: Tucson Weekly/Tucson Local Media executive editor is joined by Tucson Local Media reporter Danyelle Khmara and Arizona Daily Star reporter Hank Stephenson to talk about legislative and congressional races in next week’s primary election.
Zona Politics: Congressman Raul Grijalva and Congressional District 2 Candidate Mary Matiella
On this edition of Zona Politics: Tucson Weekly/Tucson Local Media executive editor Jim Nintzel sits down with Congressman Raul Grijalva to discuss abolishing ICE, family separation at the border, climate change, the future of public lands and more. Then CD2 congressional candidate Mary Matiella talks about why she’s running for the office.
The Charming ‘Oaf’ Returns to Scoundrel and Scamp Theatre This Weekend
For those of you who missed Scoundrels and Scamp’s Oaf earlier this year, lucky you. It’s being offered again through this weekend, giving you the opportunity to spend a delightful hour or so with Matt Walley, who is Oaf. Walley is an actor who has had extensive training in the field of physical theater, and…
Claytoon of the Day: The New Normal
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Tucson Salvage
“Really, our church is getting out on our bikes, out in nature,” said Trish Baird. She is deceptively tough. She whoops ass in a man’s game.
Poetry Both Passionate and Political
Salas Rivera has been getting invitations to read in all parts of the country, and the poet is looking forward to making a first visit to Tucson.
Editor’s Note
Find out where the good stuff is in the paper this week.
Columnist Clapback
After our longtime columnist Tom Danehy wrote a critique of morning daily columnist Jonathan Hoffman’s recent columns on #RedforEd (Danehy, Aug. 16), the Weekly invited Hoffman to write a rebuttal.
Reel Indie
Movies to see on the big screens of Tucson’s local indie theaters this week
State Senate Showdown
With no Republican challenger in the very Democratic Legislative District 3, whoever wins the primary will in all likelihood win the race for Arizona Senate.
Positively Partying
Andrew W.K. might be the most interesting man in American rock-and-roll music, bringing more than a decade’s worth of hedonistic hits with an underlying theme of positivity
Quick Bites
Where to fill up this week in Tucson.
Know Your Product
The dynamics in Sasami Ashworth’s music go far beyond abrupt volume switches, although they are enamoring and make you whirl.
City Week
Fun events to keep you busy in Tucson this week.
Nightcrawler
This one’s into fessin’ not frontin’, a lover not a fighter all the way down that well-straddled reggaeton-trap line.
Police Dispatch
A man walking around late at night refused to admit he was doing anything illegal…
Sandwich Spell
The third thing I ate when I moved from San Francisco to Tucson 12 years ago was the Omar sandwich from the Sausage Deli.
Infusion Invasion
As the adage goes, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, and that seems to be the alcohol industry’s take on the cannabis market.
Police Dispatch
A case of the missing (dog) meds…
XOXO
All the best live music shows around Tucson this week.
Animal Attraction
Alpha, the story of man’s first interaction with a dog, turns out to be a winner if 1) you are a dog person and 2) you can watch a movie set 20,000 years ago and believe that the inhabitants could have such styling leather jackets.
The Skinny
County wins another round in court against Goldwater Institute over the World View deal and turns out that Democrat Catherine Ripley has a lousy voting record






