Cover Story
Trumped!
Once again, we’ve read the rags, watched the boob tube and surfed the wild world-wide web to gather some of the most ridiculous stories of the year.
Another School Ranking. The Same Old Story.
Here’s yet another national school ranking reported on in this morning’s Star with expected, if a bit eccentric results. A company, niche.com, founded by some Carnegie Mellon University students over a decade ago, has developed a rating system for all the public schools in the country, district and charter. Here’s the national list, and here’s…
Education Forum Tomorrow Will Focus on Issues Driving Arizona Teachers to Leave the Field
Teachers in Arizona are leaving their jobs at an alarming rate. The state simply cannot retain its educators because of low salaries and a lack of monetary investment in the school system. These, and several others education shortfalls in our state, will be at the core of a forum tomorrow morning, primarily hosted by the…
Obama Takes Executive Action to Limit Gun Violence. Let the Shouting Begin.
President Obama just finished giving a speech about measures he plans to take using executive action to try and lower the incidence of gun violence in this country. I’m not going to outline his plans. You can read and hear about them all over the media. If you want, you can learn how terrible “Emperor Obama’s…
Win Tickets to Ballet Tucson’s Winter Concert
It’s that time again, ballet fans! In the fall, Ballet Tucson gave us tickets to a few of their shows for the 2015-16 season. It’s time to give away a few pairs of tickets to the winter concert, Rhythms of the Americas. There are shows Feb. 5-7, and winners will be able to select which…
Obama on Gun Control Executive Actions: ‘Gun Lobby May Be Holding Congress Hostage But It Cannot Hold America Hostage’
President Barack Obama referenced the Jan. 8, 2011 mass shooting in Tucson during the announcement of his executive actions on gun control—the tragedy’s fifth anniversary is just three days away. The president said during a speech this morning that when he saw former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords as she recovered from being shot in the head,…
Tucson May Be Among Poorest Cities in US But We Sure Are Active
Congratulations Tucson, you are among the top 10 most active cities in the country. When it comes to exercising and roaming the outdoors, the Old Pueblo ranks 7th among 100 of the U.S.’s most populated metro areas, according to a report by the website Wallethub. The site looked at things like monthly gym fees, number of…
DHS Sec. Jeh Johnson: More Border Security, Deportations Don’t Address Violence, Poverty in Central America (But We Still Have to Do It)
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says that 121 individuals were taken into custody over the weekend—primarily from Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina—as part of the Obama administration’s efforts to remove hundreds of undocumented migrants from Central America who unsuccessfully sought asylum in the country. The families are being temporarily held at Immigration and Customs Enforcement…
Into the Mild: Journal From a Refugee Camp, Week Three
Lesvos Island, Greece This is part four of a journal I’m keeping during my month working at a refugee camp in Greece. Part three, covering working at Camp Pikpa and branching out to find my role on the island, is here. Dec. 21 A couple more volunteers left over the weekend, leaving nobody to conduct…
Batch Serves Up Donuts and Whiskey on Congress Street (SLIDESHOW)
Taking over wine bar Unplugged’s former location, Batch celebrated its grand opening the weekend of Friday, Jan. 1 with donuts and whiskey at 118 E. Congress St. The rotating daily selection features about ten different donut varieties, several topped with popular kid cereals like Cocoa Puffs and Fruity Pebbles. Filled donuts are $3.50 and hole…
Mark Kelly: Closing Background Check Loopholes “Will Have a Significant Impact on the Number of People That Die in This Nation”
President Barack Obama’s administration is developing new restrictions aimed at curbing gun violence, including a change in the definition of “gun dealer” that would require background checks on sales at gun shows. The New York Times reports that Obama will hold a town hall meeting on gun violence this Thursday, on the evening of the…
Trump Is Going to Fall, Hard, Sometime During the Primaries
Back in the 80s, Rodney was one of my junior English students. He wasn’t the smartest kid in the class by a long shot, but he tried, and he was a pretty decent, friendly guy. One day he walked into class a few minutes early wearing a T-shirt I hadn’t seen before. “Ozzy for President!” he…
Scenes from Glow in the Dark New Year’s Eve with XIXA and Howe Gelb (SLIDESHOW)
Check out these shots from Rialto Theatre and R Bar’s New Year’s Eve event featuring XIXA, Howe Gelb, DJ Dirtyverbs and a light show courtesy of local artist Daniel Martin Diaz.
Rodeo Life
Believe it or not, Tucson has rich rodeo roots.
Roses Need Love
Growing roses in the Sonoran Desert requires some extra love and care.
Mother Artists
Tucson Flamenco artist Mele Martinez with Luz Showcase and Tertulia Flamenca, present LUZ: a flamenco project honoring mothers who live and work as artists.
Editor’s Note
Tomorrow will be 2016. I read that letter and wondered, what will we choose next year? Fear? Ignorance? Hope?
Arts Shuffle
“It’s been nine years,” Roberto Bedoya says. “I’m really proud of [Tucson Pima Arts Council], and what it’s accomplished. I’m ready to go. I’m just exhausted.”
Dust Devil
A crocus rushes into bloom
Tell Tale
dyssey Storytelling, which debuted on Congress Street nearly a dozen years ago, will explore each of those themes in 2016, along with “Lost,” “Fraught,” “Strange,” “Johns,” “Again” and “D.I.Y.”
Police Dispatch
A small and very polite young man was caught breaking into random cars to steal odd, inexpensive personal items he apparently fancied (especially sunglasses).
Gold on the Silver Screen
1 – Spotlight A real throwback movie, not just to its most obvious ancestor, All the President’s Men, but also to the rest of the sober, fight-the-power films of the 1970s that ultimately helped launch the independent film movement. Very good performances— delivered without a showy scene-stealer among them—all support the year’s best screenplay. 2…
Police Dispatch
A UA student got a not-so-nice holiday surprise after leaving his BMW on school property—returning to find it covered in human feces.
B-Sides: Willie Nelson
If you have the chance to see a musical legend, you pretty much have to take it, right? Of course you do. That’s why you’d be silly not to head to Desert Diamond Casino (1100 W. Pima Mine Road, Sahaurita) on Sunday, Jan. 3. Crooning country troubadour Willie Nelson will be making a stop down…
False Pretense Part II
In January, people won’t be allowed to sit or lie on public sidewalks between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., when people are allowed on sidewalks, their belongings will have size restrictions and you will need a permit to feed 10 or more people at a park.
B-Sides: SLAPZ!
You won’t want to miss what happens when the worlds of hip hop and comedy collide .
Letter to the Editor
Ms. Herreras, I’ve been meaning to write you for months, but this week’s extraordinary, precise and humane Editor’s Note on Tucson’s dismissive and disheartening failure to help solve the problem of homelessness propelled me to tell you that I find you an amazing, heartfelt Managing Editor. You take literary risks, pushing the issues out front to…
B-sides: Sleep Like Trees
Guitar-and-drums duo Sleep Like Trees are bringing their special brand of shoegazey instrumental jamming to Club Congress.
Letter to the Editor
Cannabis prohibitionists (New Conditions, Dec. 24, 2015), discriminating against citizens, including sick citizens have been a menace long enough. Arizona citizens may stop cannabis prohibitionists from harming sick citizens with a golden opportunity to completely RE-legalize the relatively safe, extremely popular God-given plant cannabis on the next Election Day. Colorado citizens no longer need a doctor’s…
Ask a Mexican!
How come all the Mexicans who came here two or three generations ago look like “almost-white” people while the ones coming now look like those little guys who live naked in the Amazon and kill things with blowguns? —No Indios Need Apply (NINA) Dear Pocho: Chalk the phenomenon up to the natural unfolding that is…
Danehy
Two thousand sixteen is going to be a monster year; Tom just knows it.
Media Watch
The old Access Tucson is gone.
Walk the Line: Street Taco & Beer Co.
Street Taco & Beer Co. gives off a Chipotle vibe, but it’s much more than that.
Hey, Hal
Our glorious friends at the Loft Cinema are giving us 70 mm screening of 2001: A Space Oddessy on Saturday.
I’m a Believer
Here’s a suggestion: In 2016, make it a priority to go to more galleries and support local artists.
Guest Opinion
After 31 years I have had the opportunity to travel this past October until December of this year to revisit family in Pakistan. While away from my home in Tucson, Arizona I was hoping to test a new diet plan, a news diet, but I failed. While I did my best to stand my ground…
Guest Opinion
She asks if I ever wanted to give up, when I was so ill like her. She wants to give up.
