Jan 3-9, 2019

Jan 3-9, 2019 / Vol. 35 / No. 47

Cover Story

Take Five

Since launching in 2015, the Tucson Jazz Festival has turned mid-January into a music-filled kick off for the year.

Hot Wax | Cash Lansky – Cash is King

For those not clued-up, Cash Lansky ​is an independent hip-hop artist out of Tucson. Lansky has been a mainstay on the scene since Simplicity, his full-length debut, dropped in 2013. The very next year, Lansky was handpicked by living hip-hop legend Murs who released The Tonite Show—a hip-hop collection which features Marley B, DJ Fresh…

Political Purity Tests Make Me Crazy. Take TUSD, For Instance.

Here’s what happened at the TUSD board meeting Tuesday. Mark Stegeman was voted board president. Here’s how the vote went: Leila Counts voted yes along with Stegeman and Rachel Sedgwick. Kristel Foster and Adelita Grijalva voted no. It was a complex discussion coupled with a series of complicated votes, but never mind. When the smoke…

Five Great Things to Do in Tucson Today: Thursday, Jan 10

Freak’N Brewery Beer Dinner. It’s a wondrous melding of the minds! Hailing from Tucson and Peoria, Brother John’s Beer, Bourbon & BBQ teams up with Freak’N Brewing Company for one heck of a dinner. One takes care of the food, the other takes care of the beer—and you take care of the eating and drinking.…

City Councilmember Regina Romero Is Running for Mayor

Tucson City Councilmember Regina Romero is announcing this afternoon that she is running for mayor of Tucson. Jonathan Rothschild, who has served two terms atop City Hall, announced that he would not seek reelection last month. Romero has represented Westside Ward 1 since winning election in 2007. The other big-name Democrat talking about a campaign…

Tucson Remembers January 8 Mass Shooting

The January 8th Anniversary Ceremony began with a prayer. About 100 people gathered on the steps of the Tucson Fire Department headquarters to remember the lives lost and harmed by the mass shooting that shocked Tucson and the nation. On this day eight years ago, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was in front of a northwest…

Three Great Things to Do in Tucson Today: Tuesday, Jan 8

Soul Box Project. Eight years ago today on a truly terrible day in Tucson, 19 people, including U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, were shot at a local Safeway. Six people died and 13 were injured. Gun Violence Prevention Arizona, a local Tucson organization that works to “increase public awareness of the effects of gun violence on…

Northwest Healthcare Planning Eastside Hospital

Northwest Healthcare recently announced the development of a 70-bed hospital near Houghton Road and Old Spanish Trail as part of its “No Boundaries” strategy to increase access points to quality healthcare services for Tucson and surrounding communities. While the company recently announced its intentions, the plan is contingent upon approval of the primary jobs incentive…

GIVEAWAY: Tucson Jazz Festival Shows

This week our cover story highlighted the triumph and talent of the  Tucson Jazz Festival, and here is your chance to go for free! Enter to win a pair of tickets to one of four different shows happening between Jan. 11 and 20. Shows included in the Giveaway are: Joey Alexander, Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington…

Shot in the Dark: An Always-Open Cafe Closes its Doors

Shot in the Dark Cafe announced that on Jan. 25 its always-open doors will close. One of Tucson’s last standing 24 hour cafes, this longstanding Tucson establishment attributes their closure to increased rent and gentrification of downtown. They wrote on Facebook: While their location on Broadway will close, Shot in the Dark hopes to open…

Arizona Survives Late Rally by Utah to Win 84-81 in Overtime

The Arizona Wildcats and Utah Utes engaged in an instant classic at McKale Center on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats (11-4, 2-0), traded blows with the visiting Utes for much of the day, with the two sides all squared at 72 after 40 minutes of regulation. The Utes (7-7, 1-1), matched Arizona shot-for-shot for most of…

Three Great Things to Do in Tucson Today: Monday, Jan. 7

Brains and Brews: Science Trivia. Do you love science? Then you’ll love the chance to learn more about it and then answer some trivia about it for a chance to win a $25 Borderlands Brewery gift card. Are you intimidated by science? Then what more relaxed atmosphere to sit back and learn in than a…

NRCC Boasts About Spamming Mobile Phone Owners

Judging from the complaints I heard during the election season, sending people unsolicited text messages about political campaigns isn’t the best way to persuade voters to support you. Nonetheless, the National Republican Congressional Committee made a point of spending money to text an unknown number of constituents in Arizona’s Congressional District 2 to let them…

Picks of the Dragon: Sales Rep Tyler Vondrak’s Playoff Wagers

Editor’s note: We gave sales rep Tyler Vondrak a hypothetical $100 to wager on this weekend’s NFL games. We’ll check back in on Monday to see whether his beautiful baby can afford a new pair of shoes. Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans Line: Texans -1 Pick: Colts + 1 Bet: $40 to win $38.10 Love…

Some of the Most Important Education Issues Facing Arizona (And One Item That Doesn’t Make the List.)

Let’s see, what are the most important education issues facing the legislature this year? Fulfilling its promise to continue raising teacher salaries is definitely on the list. So is increasing charter school transparency and oversight to weed out rampant corruption and profiteering. And decreasing teacher shortages. And decreasing class sizes. And increasing education budgets so…

17 Great Things to Do in Tucson This Weekend: Jan. 4 to 6

Nieuwjaarsreceptie: New Year’s Get Together. No, that wasn’t a typo in the event title. The Dutch Eatery is getting ready for a traditional Dutch new year’s celebration with special foods, drink and costumes. (As it turns out, a Dutch new year’s costume is to just wear orange.) Featuring live music from Austin Hoffman and drink…

In Memoriam | Yvonne Ervin

Yvonne Ervin was born and raised in Springfield, Illinois. Her love for music blossomed early. As a child she played clarinet, eventually transitioning to alto and tenor saxophone. Later, at Springfield High School she “booked a band for the first time” for her freshman class dance, testing the waters as impresario. In 1979, Ervin attended…

Spurious Surveys

In early December, the ACJC released a biannual Arizona Youth Survey State Report with numbers on cannabis use by teens in grades eight through 12.

On the Road Again

While Southern Arizona communities have a long list of potential road improvements, at least some of the needed work is getting done and more is scheduled for the new year.

Danehy

A word of advice: Don’t even think of asking Spotify to play “Things Can Only Get Better” by Howard Jones.

Tucson Jazz Festival

Jan. 11 Joey Alexander / Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Band with Terell Stafford Fox Tucson Theatre. 17 W. Congress St. 7:30 p.m. $29-$49 Jan. 12 Special EFX All-Stars/The Groover Quartet Fox Tucson Theatre. 17 W. Congress St. 7:30 p.m. $34-$49 Jan. 13 Tucson Swings Brightly: The Music of Nelson Riddle Fox Tucson Theatre. 17 W.…

Nanny Dearest

Casting Emily Blunt as the iconic title character in Mary Poppins Returns, a sequel 54 years in the making, proves to be a stroke of genius.

Police Dispatch

A drunk man adorned himself with a holiday decoration stolen from a University of Arizona sorority house before peeing nearby

Police Dispatch

A woman believed her dog’s caretaker had stolen tons of expensive clothing and accessories, a Pima County Sheriff’s Department report said.

Island Asian

Jose Chung is of Chinese descent but he grew up in Puerto Rico and Panama. He grew up cooking in a restaurant that mashed up Asian and Caribbean aspects. Can you imagine what that kind of fusion is like?

New Route

Formed in 1970 and led by singer and guitarist Ray Benson, Asleep At the Wheel have won eight Grammys in their 48 years while releasing 25 critically-acclaimed albums

Know Your Product

King Tuff’s music is more than a simple garage rock throwback. The bright guitars and catchy vocals rope you in, but all of the music sounds trapped, encompassed by a grainy lo-fi filter that just adds more to his wonder and mystique.


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