Cover Story
Tales From the Outskirts: Ajo
Ajo is easy enough for Tucsonans to get to—that is, if you have a reason to go there in the first place. Just head west on Ajo Way, and follow it until it ends—at the community of Why, no less—and then drive north on Highway 85 for 10 minutes. Ajo exists because of one man:…
Tucson Community Food Bank’s Grocery Store to Close
A grocery store that many, many low-income folks depend on for their daily bread is closing. From a press release received this afternoon: The Community Food Bank has announced that its Value Market Grocery Store will close on Friday, October 1, 2010. The Value Market, located at the Community Food Bank, 3003 S. Country Club…
Non-Alcoholic Nimbus?
An entry on Nimbus Brewery’s Facebook page says the brewery is getting into the non-alcoholic-beverage business with a new line of signature sodas. The brewery is currently seeking submissions of artwork to be used on the label for its first soda, Nimbus Rootbeer. Click here for more details.
SB 1070 Ruling: There Will Be Commentary
It wasn’t long after the news that a federal judge blocked key portions of the controversial Arizona immigration law, did the commentary start rolling in online. Here’s a sampling: The Guardian’s Michael Tomasky: This is the part of the law that in effect required – okay, let’s not say required; let’s say it made it…
Federal Judge Rules to Block Some Controversial Sections of SB 1070 (Updated)
Federal Judge Susan Bolton has ruled to block some controversial sections of SB 1070, which is scheduled to go into effect tomorrow. Read about it here. Feel free to leave any thoughts concerning this development in the comments section below. Update: Howie Fischer up at Capitol Media Services reports the following sections have been blocked:…
‘The War Funding Vote: A Credit Card for War, But No Cash for Teachers’
In response to the vote on the war supplemental in the House today, Congressman Raul Grijalva and other House Progressives released an open letter: The War Funding Vote: A Credit Card for War, But No Cash for Teachers Once again, war is being paid for with a credit card while investments in our children’s future…
Douglas Tea Party Brews Up Endorsements
The Douglas Tea Party has released a list of endorsements for the 2010 election. Their picks include: — J.D. Hayworth for U.S. Senate. — Jesse Kelly, their “Knight on Capitol Hill,” in Congressional District 8. — “Warrior queen” Gov. Jan Brewer. — Tom “guarding us from the long reach of the Federal Government” Horne for…
Loft’s Children’s Film Festival Rocks On
My family, including my 75-year-old mom, love the Loft’s Tucson International Children’s Film Festival—now in its fourth year. We missed the opening weekend due to vacation, but plan to catch up this week. The festival continues through Sunday, Aug. 1. Every day this week you can see a movie, 10 a.m., for free. We’re also…
Knowledge Is Power: Get Together July 29
According to a Border Action Network press release, community organizations are hosting a “peaceful, educational event” against SB 1070 Thursday, July 29, downtown at Presidio Park, 160 W. Alameda St., from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. In peaceful protest of SB1070’s implementation on Thursday, July 29th, community organizations in Southern Arizona have organized a variety…
‘Arizona Republic’ Picks Paton
Former state lawmaker Jonathan Paton got a nod from The Arizona Republic editorial board today, calling him “a strong candidate who can mount a credible campaign against Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.” They weren’t so kind to his Republican challengers. Paton’s closest rival in the Republican primary is Jesse Kelly, a Marine Corps combat veteran who…
Don’t Give Brewer More Ideas
Yesterday’s border coverage from the Los Angeles Times doesn’t involve beheadings or kidnappings, but climate change. Read it here: Climbing temperatures are expected to raise sea levels and increase droughts, floods, heat waves and wildfires. Now, scientists are predicting another consequence of climate change: mass migration to the United States. Between 1.4 million and 6.7…
Sheriff Joe: On July 29 Expect Raids and Protest Arrests
While we’d like to think he’ll celebrate by wearing pink underwear, when SB 1070 goes into effect on Thursday, July 29, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio will celebrate with raids and arrests:
Arizona’s U.S. Attorney Calls SB 1070 Unconstitutional
It’s good to know where U.S. Attorney of Arizona Dennis Burke stands, since his civil rights division will prosecute racial-profiling complaints if SB 1070 becomes law. Read today’s Arizona Republic story here: Burke calls the law “unconstitutional, unworkable, unfunded and confusing.” He agrees that the federal government needs to do more to combat illegal immigration.…
CD8: Kyl Endorses Paton
Former state lawmaker Jonathan Paton, who is competing against Jesse Kelly, Brian Miller and Jay Quick in the Aug. 24 GOP primary that will decide who faces Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in November, has the endorsement of Sen. Jon Kyl. I wrote a few months ago about how Kelly courted Kyl and John McCain before…
Rasmussen: Glassman Leads in Senate Primary
Former Tucson City Council Member Rodney Glassman is leading his three opponents with 15 percent voter support in the Arizona Democratic primary senate race, according to a new Rasmussen poll. However, almost half of the voters surveyed remain undecided, meaning anybody could still prevail. The other three candidates are close behind: ex-State Representative Cathy Eden…
Giffords to Congress: Fund the Dang Border
Congresswoman Giffords sends news on Congress canceling cash for border security. WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and two colleagues from southwest border states are urging House leaders to restore $701 million in border security funds that were stripped from an appropriations bill last week by the Senate. “This funding is essential to maintain safe…
Show Cancelled at Solar Culture
The Wobbly, MaryClare Brzytwa and Jess Matsen show at Solar Culture, 31 E. Toole Ave., previously scheduled for tonight, has been cancelled according to www.solarculture.org.
Elephant in the Room: Hate
More on “Arizona’s White Supremacist Problem” from The Daily Beast: Support of Arizona’s immigration law by white supremacists is not surprising, says Heidi Beirich, a SPLC expert on hate groups, who contends folks who want the United States populated by whites only view the law as one good way to reduce the population of brown…
Baggin’s to Take Over Old Jason’s Deli Location
Baggin’s Gourmet Sandwiches at 5056 E. Broadway Blvd. is moving down the street to the former Jason’s Deli location at 5420 E. Broadway Blvd. Norma Gentry, who handles public relations for Baggin’s, said the move is expected to happen in mid-September. A closing date for the current Baggin’s location has not been set. The new…
‘Smile Til It Hurts: The Up With People Story’ Screening
Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18, 5455 S. Calle Santa Cruz, will screen Smile Til It Hurts: The Up With People Story the following days and times: Tuesday, July 27 and Wednesday, July 28: 7:10 p.m.Thursday, July 29 through Saturday, July 31: 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Up With People formed in 1965 as an international singing…
‘The New Yorker’ Tackles Immigration
The New Yorker has this to say about the politics of immigration reform and the border—and what to do with the millions of people who already crossed over it. Senator John McCain, of Arizona, in a floor speech defending his state’s newly passed law requiring local officers to investigate individuals’ immigration status, described “an unsecured…
Dave Ewoldt Wants to Chat
Dave Ewoldt, a Green-turned-independent candidate for the state Senate LD 28, wants to talk. Here’s a news release: Tonight, 7 pm to 9 pmMonday Evening Community Conversation2602 E. Grant Rd. Tucson, AZ(Across Forgeus Ave from Kingfisher restaurant) What issues are you most concerned about? What can we rationally and reasonably do about them? How can…
Rasmussen: McCain leads Hayworth by 20
Rasmussen Reports says that John McCain has opened up a 20-point GOP primary lead over former Congressman J.D. Hayworth, according to its latest poll. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely GOP Primary Voters in the state shows McCain attracting 54% of the vote, while Hayworth earns 34%. For Hayworth, this represents another decline…
Republican Write-In Campaign in LD28 Is Potential Trouble for Democrats
We told you a few weeks back about how Ted Downing, a former Democratic state lawmaker, is now making a run for the state Senate as an independent. By going the independent route, Downing is able to avoid a Democratic primary against incumbent Sen. Paula Aboud in midtown Tucson’s Legislative District 28. Downing lost a…
‘Red’ Trailer
Here’s a trailer of the upcoming film Red starring Bruce Willis. This was shown at Comic-Con, which runs through Sunday in San Diego.
Primary Registration Deadline Monday! Early Voting Starts Next Week!
If you’re interested in voting in next month’s primary election, you need to register to vote by Monday, July 26. And remember: Independents are eligible to vote in primaries in Arizona, so you don’t need to register as a Democrat or a Republican to cast a ballot in those races. Details on how to register…
AZ Capitol Times: McCain Spends More Than $15 Million on Campaign
Jeremy Duda of the Arizona Capitol Times delivers the news of McCain’s big spending on his reelection campaign: U.S. Sen. John McCain has spared no expense in his primary battle against J.D. Hayworth, spending more than $15 million in his bid to hold off the former congressman’s challenge from the right. According to a quarterly…
VP Biden Coming To Arizona
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords tells us that Vice-President Joe Biden will be joining the summer tourist crowd at the Grand Canyon: As part of Recovery Summer, next week Vice President Biden will visit Yellowstone and Grand Canyon National Parks, where $25 million in Recovery Act funding is creating jobs and jump-starting previously-deferred construction and maintenance projects.…
A Tender, Loving Letter From a Reader
This three-page letter was anonymously sent to me. It’s … special.
Rasmussen: Brewer 56%, Goddard 37%
Rasmussen provides some new Arizona poll numbers: A new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey finds Brewer leading Democrat Terry Goddard by a 56% to 37% margin. That’s little changed from a month ago. Just two percent (2%) prefer another candidate while five percent (5%) are undecided. Brewer’s prospects dramatically improved after she signed the much…
CD8: Kelly Makes Big TV Time Buy
With early voting starting in a week, Republican Jesse Kelly has made a big TV buy for the above ad. Kelly faces former lawmaker Jonathan Paton, Air Force vet Brian Miller and metal-shop owner Jay Quick in the Aug. 24 primary that will decide which GOP candidate faces Democrat Gabrielle Giffords in November.
Support Arizona State Parks
Tonight at 7:30 p.m., the Arizona Heritage Alliance presents Postcards From the Parks, a documentary by Sam Jansen about the state park system in crisis, at Grand Cinemas Crossroads, 4811 E. Grant Road. Arizona Heritage Alliance is a nonprofit “which educates about and tries its utmost to protect the Heritage Fund.” The Heritage Fund was…
Water World
For many Southern Arizonans, the Gulf of California is primarily a Mexican beachfront destination, a place to cool off, cast a lure and unwind. The gulf has always been a place where gringos go to take it easy or party until their faces fall off. But the Gulf of California is so much more than…
Top Ten in Books
Mostly Books best-sellers for the week ending July 16, 2010
Ahead of Its Time
There is something new to dissect and digest in almost every scene of Christopher Nolan’s Inception, a film made with so much bravura that it’s hard to dismiss any part of it. A near-perfect heist movie, a near-perfect sci-fi movie and a near-perfect film noir, Inception is the work of an absolute clinician in total…
Family Matters
The Ozarks come off as another universe altogether in Winter’s Bone, a momentous achievement for director Debra Granik, and a showcase for the talents of relative newcomer Jennifer Lawrence and character actor John Hawkes. Lawrence plays Ree Dolly, a 17-year-old living in a rundown cabin in the woods. Her father has disappeared; her mother sits…
Top Ten in Movies
Casa Video’s top rentals for the week ending July 18, 2010
Tales From the Outskirts: Amado
The sun is already blazing at 7 a.m. as Valarie James sets out to walk the Marley, the big ranch across the road from her place west of Amado. Her three dogs bound eagerly toward the outback, and James pulls apart a couple of strands of barbed wire to allow all of us to pass…
Now Showing at Home
Greenberg (Blu-ray); Night Train to Munich; Insomnia (Blu-ray); In Bruges (Blu-ray)
Tales From the Outskirts: Small Town Sports
The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA), the Phoenix-based organization that governs high school interscholastic athletics in the state, has existed in one form or another since 1925. The AIA’s task of balancing the needs of schools big and small, metro and rural, public and private, is not an easy one, and can be likened to herding…
Police Dispatch
Riding under the influence; Not free to pee
Key Ingredients
In the restaurant business, as in life, the devil is in the details. Carlota’s Authentic Mexican Cuisine at the Foothills Mall—the sister restaurant of the similarly named restaurant in Catalina—is divided into two parts: a spacious bar (which is a spot for live music and karaoke on weekend evenings), and a dining room, which includes…
Doing Shots in Canada
The CEO, the publisher, the art director, the advertising director and I spent the better part of last week in Toronto at the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies Annual Convention. A good time was had by all, especially at the luncheon on Friday, July 16, when the winners of the 2010 Altweekly Awards were announced—and I…
Weekly Wide Web
When does a smartphone cease to be smart? Many owners of the new iPhone found that if they held the new smartphone in a certain way, it caused reception problems, thanks to its internal antenna. Good luck if you hold your phone with your left hand. In a press conference last week, a less-than-jovial Apple…
Noshing Around
Local Honey!; Sushi Cortaro; Prince Pizza and Family Restaurant; Joe Mama’s Grill Adds Dinner Hours; Wine, Wine, Wine; Closed
Danehy
Mi suegra vive en Douglas … so we go down to visit her whenever we can. As mothers-in-law go, she’s about average. To be sure, way back when, she wasn’t all that fired up about her precious daughter marrying a gavacho. (I’ve always wondered why that “¡Ask a Mexican!” guy spells gabacho with a “b,”…
Cooperation for Creatures
Spreading southwest from Tucson, the Altar Valley is a rumpled patchwork of flood plains, mesquite bosques and tangled creosote reaching down to the Mexican border. At first glance, it hardly seems like the kind of place where biological breakthroughs might occur. But out in this valley, the tiny Chiricahua leopard frog is struggling back from…
Wheels on Fire
Nobody told whoever mothered Phosphorescent, a Brooklyn-based indie-folk/alt-country act led by singer/songwriter Matthew Houck, to discourage her babies from growing up to be cowboys. Indeed, the band enjoyed a long, superb country trip in the last year, thanks to an excellent tribute album, 2009’s To Willie, a covers collection of songs penned by the Red…
Downing
We live in an age of great television. Not all television is great, of course—not even a small percentage of it is worth a single minute of your time on Earth. From what I’ve heard (and yes, I’m condemning reality TV sight-unseen), watching shows like The Real Housewives of New Jersey is the entertainment equivalent…
Meals in the Park
One day in January, Karin Elliott decided to make a couple of pots of tortilla soup and take them to Santa Rita Park to feed the homeless. “I just opened the tailgate of my car, and I yelled, ‘Are you hungry? I have food,’ and they just came,” Elliott says. The Tucson woman now serves…
Soundbites
Deadhead Delights; A True Blue Legend; Short Takes; On the Bandwagon
Mailbag
Thanks to Patriot Hoffman for Defending the Rights of the Rich! I am writing to thank Jonathan Hoffman (Guest Commentary, July 8) for defending the rights of the wealthy and corporations in America to decide who is running our nation through their donations. Money is free speech, and I am glad Rupert Murdoch, Bill Gates,…
Media Watch
Arizona Public Media looks for new hire to consolidate platforms; KGUN adds Chapin to reporter roster
Nine Questions
Native Tucsonan Xavier Otero is a musician, songwriter and all-around lover of the arts. A former Tucson Weekly staffer, Otero was the event coordinator for the first-ever Tucson Area Music Awards (aka TAMMIES). He now works in health care at University Medical Center. What was the first concert you ever saw? Kiss, in 1977, at…
One Street’s Story
Because of the criminal activity that once took place there, some Menlo Park neighborhood residents refer to Linda Avenue—only one block long—as “Crazy Street.” Others, however, see a bright future for Linda Avenue’s 10 homes and one building that once held commercial establishment. Situated off Congress Street west of Interstate 10, the gateway to Linda…
Talented Graduates
Five young local artists are featured in Sensory Overload, an exhibit at Lulubell Toy Bodega. All five artists graduated from the UA in 2009, said featured artist Alex Riegert-Waters. “All of us featured in the exhibit are old friends,” said Riegert-Waters. “This gives us the chance to show off all the work we’ve been doing…
Live
Burger Records Caravan of Stars: Apache, Cum Stain, Cosmonauts
The Skinny
Surprise: the GOP candidates in Congressional District 8 don’t like the Democratic Wall Street reform laws … Republican Jonathan Paton’s whips out a big poll … Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has the biggest wad of cash … and more!
City Week
Author Ellwood W. Norquist; Free tai chi class; BBQ class at Catalina Barbecue Co.; Monsoon Monday Nights
Nas and Damian Marley: Distant Relatives (Universal Republic)
Fans of hip-hop can rejoice in Distant Relatives, a well-done mixture of rap and reggae from musical heavyweights Nasir Jones (Nas) and Damian “Junior Gong” Marley. Some music-lovers may shake their heads at the rap/hip-hop world, where many artists display more of an interest in their bank accounts and egos than their music. But here,…
T Q&A
A class at Brandeis University helped Jordan Hill realize that there is something special about connecting with people by telling a good story. Hill has lived in Tucson for two years, and is a regular at local cultural and kiddie events. Hill will perform today, Thursday, July 22, at the Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market,…
Admiral Radley: I Heart California (The Ship)
A while back, I heard a feature on NPR about the concept of the summer single—the one song everyone hears everywhere all summer long that defines that summer and forever links the song to that summer’s romances, smells and sights. For those of us who don’t exist in a world of radio singles, we have…
Galactic Recycling
There may not be a galaxy full of laughs provided by the Gaslight Theatre’s Space Wars, a blast-off spoof of the Star Wars saga, but thanks to help from Linda Ackermann’s constant keyboard accompaniment, there are just enough laughs to add up to a couple of hours of decent entertainment. The Gaslight formula is pretty…
Nathaniel Rateliff: In Memory of Loss (Rounder)
Nathaniel Rateliff, a singer-songwriter from Missouri by way of Colorado, bridges the stylistic gap between Tin Pan Alley and contemporary folk-rock. Most of the intense, personal songs on his appealing solo debut—which alternate between whimsy and melancholia—stick to austere acoustic arrangements, such as the fiddle, guitar and piano on soothing opening track “Once in a…
Cities and Earth
The Great Hall at MOCA right now contains exactly what you’d expect to see in a venue for über-cool contemporary art. Dangling from the ceiling of the industrial space—once the garage of the downtown firehouse—are minimalist sculptures so spare and so neutrally colored that you barely register their presence when you enter the room. A…
¡Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: I heard Mormonism is quickly spreading down in ye olde Mexico. What is it about this religion that a lot of Mexicans find so fascinating? Jack Mormón Dear Gabacho: Historically? Mexico has long had the second-largest community of Mormons in the world after the United States—official LDS figures estimate 1.2 million members live…
Politico on CD8: “Jesse Kelly Shakes Up Arizona Race”
Politico weighs in the fight between former state lawmaker Jonathan Paton and Jesse Kelly in the CD8 Republican primary: But Paton still faces a primary against former Marine Sgt. Jesse Kelly, whose his long-shot, Tea Party-driven campaign poses a legitimate threat, insiders say. “Jesse Kelly is one of the true darkhorse kind of stories of…
TCC Elton John Concert Rescheduled for Tomorrow
The Elton John concert scheduled for the TCC Arena tonight has been postponed until 8 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, July 22. The singer is reportedly ill due to food poisoning. Tickets purchased for tonight’s show will be honored tomorrow night. Those unable to attend tomorrow can receive a refund at point of purchase.
Senate Democratic Candidates Debate Tonight: Dougherty Calls for End to War on Drugs
The four Democrats who want to unseat Republican John McCain—Rodney Glassman, John Dougherty, Randy Parraz and John Dougerty—taped a radio debate in Yuma earlier today. We don’t know about any local broadcast, but you can stream it from the website of KAWC tonight. Details here. Dougherty sent us a release saying he came out strong…
SB 1070 Fallout: Spin on Sound Strike
Spin looks at Sound Strike, the boycott of Arizona by musical acts and other artists in response to Arizona’s new immigration law: Curtis McCrary, general manager of Tucson’s 90-year-old Rialto Theatre, doesn’t know how much longer he can last. Since Cypress Hill canceled a show at his venue in May to protest the controversial Arizona…
CD8: Candidates Talk Wall Street Reform! Plus, The GOP Contenders Fight It Out Again Tonight!
It’s Wall Street Reform Day! As you might expect, Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is cheering the signing of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, while her GOP opponents don’t like it one bit. You can find details in this week’s Skinny column.BTW, Republican candidate Jay Quick’s comments didn’t make it into the print…
