The realism of imitation firearms: Who benefits and who suffers?
Tempe police responded to a 911 call on Jan. 15, 2019, about a suspected burglary in an alley. Officer Joseph Jaen arrived to find Antonio Arce, sitting in a truck with a handgun. Jaen called to Arce, 14, who turned and ran. “Let me see your hands!” Jaen yelled, but Arce continued running, and Jaen shot…
Enough habitat exists to support return of Mexican wolves in Southwest, study says
PHOENIX – A U.S.-Mexico partnership could aid the long-term recovery of the endangered Mexican wolf, a subspecies of the North American gray wolf, and its eventual removal from the U.S. endangered species list, according to a new study. In a peer-reviewed study published Jan. 21, researchers from several universities in Mexico, the University of Arizona…
1 in 4 Arizonans still insist Trump won, as second impeachment continues
WASHINGTON – As the Senate began debate Tuesday on a historic second impeachment of former President Donald Trump, a recent poll shows that more than half of Arizona Republicans believe Trump was the rightful winner of the November election The poll, taken by OH Predictive Insights shortly before President Joe Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration, found…
State-Run Vaccination Site at UA Will Be Supplied by County’s Allocation
Pima County is getting a state-run vaccination site at the University of Arizona that will begin appointments on Feb. 18. The new site will follow the state’s current vaccine eligibility, which includes those 65 and older, educators, childcare workers and protective service workers, according to Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ. As…
Love Is Blind When It Comes to Scams So Watch Out For These Con Jobs
It’s a sad fact of life: Many scammers prey on lonely people, so the FBI’s Phoenix division has issued a bulletin warning about “romance scams” ahead of this Valentine’s Day on Sunday, Feb. 14. Also called “confidence fraud,” these scams involve a criminal adopting a fake identity to gain someone’s trust, then using their phony…
TUSD Proposes March 24 as Tentative Start Date
Tucson Unified School District Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo told the TUSD Governing Board Tuesday night that he hoped to return to some form of in-class instruction on March 24. Under Trujillo’s plan, preschool and elementary parents can choose between full-time remote or on-campus learning. High school and middle school families can opt for either remote learning…
University of Arizona To Become Third State-Run, 24-Hour Vaccine Distribution Center
The University of Arizona will serve as the state’s third 24/7 vaccination site beginning Feb. 18, Gov. Doug Ducey and the Arizona Department of Health Services announced Wednesday. The university will expand its current hours of operation as a POD, or point of distribution, that currently serves educators and childcare workers. It will transition to…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Wednesday, Feb. 10: TUSD tentatively planning a March 22 return to on-campus instruction; Pima County has vaccinated about 15% of population; State’s death toll rises by 176
With 1,977 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 789,000 as of Wednesday, Feb. 10, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 685 new cases today, has seen 105,829 of the state’s 789,245 confirmed cases. With 176 new deaths reported today, a total…
Arizona gets grades from failing to ‘OK-ish’ for anti-tobacco efforts
WASHINGTON – Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. but two recent reports say Arizona needs to do more to help people break free from using tobacco products. “We certainly need a lot more resources here in Arizona to help people quit smoking,” said JoAnna Strother, senior director of advocacy…
15% of Pima County Residents have Received a COVID-19 Vaccine
About 15% of Pima County’s population has received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine since the rollout began in mid-December. As of today, the county has administered a total 160,113 shots out of the 189,725 vaccine doses it had received from the state. The county has used 84% of its total state allocation, according to…
Kevin Dahl Files To Run for Tucson City Council in Ward 3
With Ward 3 Councilman Paul Durham resigning as of March 1 and not seeking reelection, two candidates are emerging to run for the north-central seat later this year—if there is an election this year. (More on that uncertainty later.) Kevin Dahl, the senior program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, filed paperwork today to…
County Superintendent’s Office Celebrates Educators Getting Vaccinated
At the Pima County superintendent’s office, the windows that once revealed ordinary office space are now adorned with photos of educators bearing cheerful eyes behind their masks and holding up paper cards showing one of the first signs of hope in a year-long pandemic. Matt Stamp, the communications director for the superintendent’s office, came up…
Workers rally in Phoenix, U.S. for $15 minimum wage, end of reliance on tipping
Correction: The original headline on this story was incorrect. Organizers still want to allow customers to tip service workers, in addition to an increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour. PHOENIX – Blanca Collazo started working as soon as she could. She was approved for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, at…
Movie Roundup: Yeah…Not a Banner Week for Film in Tucson
After a flurry of activity, the Tucson film scene takes a bit of a breath this week, with only a few new offerings. Sadly, I picked probably the worst new film in the area to view for this week’s Movie Roundup. Here’s the review. Here’s to better weeks ahead. FILM REVIEW: THE RECKONING Screening at…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 9: AZ death toll rises by 231; Hospitalizations continue decline, virus still widespread; Variant strain remains a concern; Vaccines available in Marana/Oro Valley area
With 4,381 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 787,000 as of Tuesday, Feb. 9, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 685 new cases today, has seen 105,606 of the state’s 787,268 confirmed cases. With 231 new deaths reported today, a total…
Auditor says DHS knew ‘zero-tolerance’ would split families at border
WASHINGTON – Then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions knew the Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance” immigration policy would separate families at the border but moved ahead with it anyway, a Justice Department official told lawmakers. Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz told the House Oversight and Reform Committee on that the 2018 policy followed a test program in west…
COVID-19 Cases Declining, But Mitigation Still Needed, Say Healthcare Experts
While Pima County lacks the vaccine supply to vaccinate enough of the population to reach herd immunity, COVID-19 cases are decreasing across the state. Health experts warn, however, that continued mitigation is needed to maintain the downward trend. According to the latest report by Dr. Joe Gerald, a University of Arizona professor who creates weekly…
State Cuts Pima County Vaccine Supply; U.S. Reps, Sens Ask Biden Admin to Increase AZ’s Supply
While Pima County widens vaccine eligibility, it’s receiving a reduced vaccine supply that makes it difficult to keep up with demand. Last week, the Pima County Health Department announced those over 70 are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines by signing up for appointments beginning Monday. While only the 75+ age group, protective service workers…
UA Administers 800+ Vaccines a Day; Immunobiologist Discusses COVID-19 Variants
The University of Arizona has delivered 9,866 COVID-19 vaccines at a rate of 800 shots per day, according to President Dr. Robert C. Robbins. The UA point of distribution, or POD, is targeted toward educators and childcare providers and has two vaccination sites: a drive-through location at the University of Arizona Mall and a walk-through…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Monday, Feb. 8: State’s death toll surpasses 14K; Cases continue decline, virus remains widespread
With 2,250 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases closed in on 783,000 as of Monday, Feb. 8, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 246 new cases today, has seen 104,921 of the state’s 782,887 confirmed cases. With seven new deaths reported today,…
Pandemic exposed social inequities, created backlogs of care, Mayo specialists say
PHOENIX – From the importance of personal protective equipment to dealing with the harsh isolation of quarantined patients, the medical community learned countless lessons during the first year of COVID-19, a pandemic unprecedented in modern times. “Limiting it to one (lesson), it is how profound it is that social inequity kills people,” said Dr. Andrew…
1-Pound Baby Born at Tucson Medical Center
The smallest baby delivered at Tucson Medical Center in eight years was born Monday morning, weighing in at only 1 pound and measuring 11 inches long. Henry Augustus Truhil was born at 8:44 a.m. after his mother, 33-year-old Nicole Truhill, experienced a headache, stiff neck and couldn’t keep food down, TMC said. Upon evaluation, doctors…
2021 Cologuard Classic returns without spectators
The 2021 Cologuard Classic is back at Omni Tucson National Resort last week of February, however, there will be no audience during the tournament’s scheduled events due to COVID-19 restrictions. Tucson Conquistadores has confirmed they were unable to reach an agreement with the Pima County Health Department to allow spectators during this year’s Cologuard Classic…
AIA changes course, allows parents to attend high school away games
PHOENIX – Apprehensive Arizona parents of high school athletes can rest easier now. Citing improving COVID-19 metrics, the Arizona Interscholastic Association executive board has amended its current attendance policy so that up to two parents or legal guardians of student-athletes can attend away games, the governing body announced via a release on Thursday afternoon. Prior to…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Friday, Feb. 5: State cuts Pima County’s vaccine allocation by 40%; AZ death toll closes in on 14K; Cases in decline but health officials call for vigilance, warn against Super Bowl gatherings
With 3,826 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases surpassed 775,000 as of Friday, Feb. 5, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 484 new cases today, has seen 103,932 of the state’s 775,622 confirmed cases. With 196 new deaths reported today, a total…
Supreme Court halts hearings on Trump border cases after Biden reversals
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court postponed upcoming hearings on two Trump administration immigration policies after both had been reversed on the first day of President Joe Biden’s term. The court was scheduled to hear arguments in the coming weeks challenging then-President Donald Trump’s ability to divert Defense Department funds to border wall construction and on…
70+ Now Eligible to Receive COVID-19 Vaccines
Those over 70 can now begin registering for vaccine appointments that will start Monday, Feb. 8, the Pima County Health Department announced today. While only the 75+ age group, protective service workers and educators were previously eligible, the health department is expanding its 1B priority group of vaccine recipients to include individuals over 70 after…
75+ Can Now Get Vaccinated at Tucson Convention Center
While vaccinations at the Tucson Convention Center were previously targeted toward protective service workers and educators, the Pima County Health Department is expanding vaccines at TCC to the 75+ population. The health department said many educators and protective service workers are not choosing TCC to make vaccine appointments. While the site can handle up to…
Tucson’s Romero, 5 other Arizona mayors join plea for $1.9 trillion COVID-19 bill with city aid
WASHINGTON – Six Arizona mayors were among hundreds who urged Congress to pass a $1.9 trillion pandemic-relief bill that includes $350 billion in aid for state and local governments who say they are on the front lines of the crisis. Republicans in the House and Senate have said they want to approve COVID-19 relief but…
Town of Marana Appoints New Police Chief Reuben Nuñez
For the first time in 10 years, Marana has a new police chief. Former Marana Police Chief Terry Rozema appointed Deputy Chief Reuben Nuñez to take over as chief after Rozema was appointed Marana Town Manager on Tuesday. Rozema has been interim Town Manager since Jamsheed Mehta resigned in October. Nuñez took over as interim…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Thursday, Feb. 4: Cases on Decline but Transmission Rate Remains high; More Contagious Variant ID’ed in AZ; Health Officials Warn Against Super Bowl Gatherings; Vaccine Now Available in Marana
With 4,417 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases surpassed 771,000 as of Thursday, Feb. 4, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 736 new cases today, has seen 103,448 of the state’s 771,796 confirmed cases. With 176 new deaths reported today, a total…
Running events still on hold but virtual racing offers alternative
As the months of pandemic have dragged on and shutdown orders in some form have remained in place in Tucson and Pima County, the social aspect of recreational running has been stifled for nearly a year now. Through it all, local running guru Randy Accetta and his wife Tia have done their best to maintain…
A month of renaissance: Seanloui showcases local artists for Black History Month
Musician and singer Seanloui is making sure Arizona will be well-represented this Black History Month by expanding his Black Renaissance project with a podcast and compilation album highlighting local creatives that will release throughout February. Seanloui started Black Renaissance in May 2019 as an event series “spotlighting black creatives’ influence on mainstream culture,” whether that…
The Skinny: Here are a few of the worst ideas coming out the Arizona Legislature this year
The Skinny has noted the Arizona Republican Party’s descent into madness in recent weeks, what with the ongoing #StopTheSteal BS that courts and mainstream Republicans such as Gov. Doug Ducey and Attorney General Mark Brnovich have rejected. (Admittedly, Brno briefly flirted with signing onto a Texas lawsuit that suggested that Texas should decide the election…
Danehy: Arizona Republicans are getting so radicalized they could soon be as irrelevant at the California GOP
When it comes to avoiding future misfortune, people generally fall into one of three categories. The vast majority of people tend to learn from their own mistakes. They may have to make them more than once, but eventually, they learn. The truly fortunate are those who are able to learn from the mistakes of others,…
Hazy Harmonies: Mute Swan returns noisy as ever on ‘Only Ever’
Mute Swan has kept busy since their last major release in 2016: performing at clubs around Tucson, releasing a handful of singles, touring across the nation, taking the stage at SXSW and even hosting livestream performances throughout 2020—damn near everything indie rockers can do, save for releasing a new album. Now that non-hiatus is ending…
The Marijuana Marketplace: Cannabis dispensaries are now open for business to the general public.
Outside midtown’s Harvest cannabis dispensary, Sammy Magro said she had no problem standing in line to get legal THC cartridges instead of purchasing them off the black market as she had done for years. It was a sunny day in the low 70s and the line was moving quickly, so Magro didn’t mind the wait,…
Editor’s Note: Green Grass and High Tide
After 60 percent of voters approved the recreational use of cannabis by adults in last November, it was pretty clear that the “reefer madness” arguments of prohibitionists were falling on deaf ears. And if the initial lines outside Tucson’s dispensaries when they opened for recreational sales less than two weeks ago are any indication, a…
Skaters raise funds to build a skatepark on the Tohono O’odham Nation
A collective of young skaters from the Tohono O’odham Nation is one step closer to building a skatepark in their district to honor a fallen friend. The Endure Skatepark Group has raised more than $50,000 toward its $66,500 goal to construct a concrete skatepark in the GuVo District with assistance from the Native American Advancement…
Humane Society thrift store moves to Park Place Mall
The Humane Society of Southern Arizona recently moved its thrift store to a new, temporary location at Park Place Mall. The new store serves as more of a boutique than their previous location, but continues to fund the Humane Society’s goal of helping Tucson’s homeless cats and dogs. Humane Society Chief Development Officer Diana Cannon…
