Cover Story
The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth
The Avengers assembled. The Spideys were amazing. Hulks smashed. Supermen and Batmen and Wonder Women came in league. And royalty majesty was remarkably common: the Queen of Dragons, Princess Elsa, Sleeping Beauty and Maleficient were all present.
Splash Celebrates Food, Fashion and Art for a Cause at La Encantada
On Saturday, June 27, Splash is hitting La Encantada to present a night full of fashion designers, community art projects and a grip of food and drink samples for attendees. This year, the Southern Arizona Arts and Culture Alliance will be featuring 20 local restaurants that will offer up tastes of many different cuisines, some…
UPDATED: Undocumented Father Gets Another One-Year Stay, Leaving Sanctuary at Tucson Church
(Updated on Friday, June 19 at 7:40 a.m.): Daniel Neyoy-Ruiz—a father and husband who left sanctuary at Southside Presbyterian Church last year after getting a one-year stay from Immigration and Customs Enforcement—received a one-year extension of his deportation relief, and will leave sanctuary at First Christian Church as soon as he has the paperwork at…
Jen Kirkman Brings Comedy to Congress
It’s pretty hot right now. So, any chance for a laugh, one that isn’t caused by manic dehydration, is to be cherished. Luckily for us, comedian and all around funny lady Jen Kirkman is coming to Congress this Friday. Kirkman utilizes self-analyzation and observations on society to create stand up that is easily relatable and…
Homeland Security’s Inspector General: Agency Has Little to No Data on How It Uses Prosecutorial Discretion & That’s Bad
A recent audit of the Department of Homeland Security’s use of prosecutorial discretion says the agency hasn’t properly gathered data on how its implementing the policy nor the methods it uses to back up its decisions in a case-by-case basis. The Department of Homeland Security’s most recent removal guidelines—released Nov. 20, the same day President…
UPDATED: Death of Inmate at Eloy Detention Center Reportedly Ruled a Suicide; ICE Responds to Some Allegations
The death of Mexico native José de Jesús Deniz-Sahagún at the Eloy Detention Center has been ruled a suicide by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, according to a write up from earlier this afternoon by Paul Ingram of the Tucson Sentinel. Deniz-Sahagún was found dead in his cell on May 20. Gregory…
The Arizona Biennial 2015 Artists Have Been Chosen
The Tucson Museum of Art is planning out the 67th year of its Arizona Biennial exhibition and the 33 artists that will be featured in the 2015 show have been selected. The juried exhibition was vetted this year by guest juror Irene Hofmann, Director and Chief Curator of SITE Santa Fe. Hoffman had her work cut…
Grab a Light Lunch for $10 at The Coronet
From now until September, head over to the Coronet for a special lunch deal that will help you save some cash while still treating yourself. Lunches feature different combinations of cups of soup, a la carte salads and half tartines, which are $5, $4.50 and $10.50 (for a whole) respectively on the regular menu. The…
What? You Mean Trickle Down Doesn’t Work?
I didn’t read this in The Nation or some other lefty journal. It was on the CNN Money website. The observation didn’t come from some pinko/socialist/Harvard-teaching/Vermont-living/Kenyan-born Democratic politician. It came from research conducted by the International Monetary Fund. Its conclusion, in the words of the CNN Money subhead: Wealth does not trickle down from the rich…
Congressman Raúl Grijalva: Dept. of Justice Should Investigate Mysterious Deaths & Abuse at Eloy Detention Center
U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch requesting the Department of Justice launch a public investigation into allegations of abuse and two recent deaths at the Eloy Detention Center. About 200 detainees started a hunger strike over the weekend, after finding out inmate José de Jesús Deniz-Sahagún, a native of…
Win Two Tickets to the Diamondbacks Game on Friday
We’ve got two pairs of tickets to Friday night’s Diamondbacks game against the San Diego Padres. The game starts at 6:40 p.m at Chase Field in Phoenix. We’ll draw the winner Thursday (“tomorrow” from when this was published, “today” if you’re seeing this in your newsletter) at Noon. You have to be able to pick…
Veinte de Agosto Park aka ‘Safe Park’ is Temporarily Closed & Is an Urban Camping Ban Ordinance Making a Comeback?
City Councilman Steve Kozachik calls Safe Park an unsafe and unsanitary place. The park has become a small community of houseless residents and advocates that have occupied downtown’s Veinte de Agosto Park and some surrounding areas since 2013. For now, it has been shut down to all until it’s cleaned. Since Sunday, yellow caution tape…
I Got It Wrong When I Defended Sanchez’s Contract/Salary Package
When I first read about TUSD Superintendent H.T. Sanchez’s new contract that extends through 2018, I defended it as being on the high side of normal for a superintendent in a district of this size but within a reasonable range for a newly negotiated contract. After following and participating in the vigorous, wide-ranging discussion in the…
Eloy Detention Center Hunger Strike: Tucson Teen Demands to Speak to Her Father
Tucson teen Ana Cobos Lugo says she called the Eloy Detention Center Monday to check up on her dad Felipe—who’s been recovering from a serious surgery for the past few months—and was hung up on. She and her family were unable to visit him over the weekend because, since Saturday morning, about 200 detainees announced…
Desert Rockers, Congress Wants Your Stuff
Spend enough time in Tucson’s music scene and you will start to hear the term “the Tucson sound.” It comes straight from the musicians’ mouths, from the fans, from the reviews and is embedded in our long history of musicality. What does it mean exactly? Well, like any other classification or genre identifier, there is…
It’s Been 3 Years Since Obama Issued DACA: Here’s the Estimated Economic Impacts of His Immigration Relief Programs
Today’s the third year undocumented youth have been able to apply for President Obama’s 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which granted permission to be in the country and work for a renewable two-year period. It was estimated that roughly 700,000 young migrants qualified, according to the advocacy group Mi Familia Vota. On Nov. 20,…
Put a Bid on This Ukulele Signed by Calexico, Neko Case and More for KXCI
Calexico’s Joey Burns took his ukulele to the WFUV Christmas Concert in 2013 and got Beth Orton, Sam Beam (Iron & Wine), Glen Hasnard (The Frames/Swell Season), Nick Lowe, Kathleen Edwards, Amos Lee and everyone in his band to sign the instrument. Then, while performing on Conan, Burns had Neko Case, Jon Rauhouse, Kelly Hogan…
Dudley Needs a Home
Dudley—3-years-old —Pit Bull Mix—M—#805516 Dudley is one goofy guy! This adorable big-headed fella came to Humane Society of Southern Arizona as a stray back in April and is ready to find a best friend. Dudley has a unique personality and look that makes him one memorable pup! This love-bug is high energy, athletic, extremely smart,…
Penca Serves Up Three Courses on the Cheap, Plans to Add Patio
If there’s one bright side to Tucson in the summer (besides the oppressive, blinding sunlight, of course), it’s summer deals around town. That means right now is the perfect time to seize the opportunity to help your favorite local businesses make it through the dreaded summer slow down and take advantage of culinary experiences that…
Anonymous TUSD Critics Aren’t Happy with H.T. Sanchez’s Renewed Contract
Our very own David Safier gave us a good summary last week of Tucson Unified School District Superintendent H.T. Sanchez’s new contract and salary deal. Basically, Sanchez will head the district until at least 2018, and his base salary is increasing to $260,000 this school year, reaching $280,000 on his proposed final year. There are…
Tickets to the June 17 Diamondbacks Game at Chase Field
We’ve got two pairs of tickets to Wednesday night’s Diamondbacks game against the Los Angeles Angels. The game starts at 6:40 p.m at Chase Field in Phoenix. We’ll draw the winner Tuesday (“tomorrow” from when this was published, “today” if you’re seeing this in your newsletter) at Noon. You have to be able to pick…
Best of Tucson Balloting: Vote Now or Forever Hold Your Peace
Best of Tucson® is a big deal. It’s our most read issue, it’s on our website year round, It’s a resource for navigating the city—and we intend to make it a well informed one. So, do your part. Fill out your Best of Tucson ballot. Be a part of our collective Tucson spirit guide. We’re closing the…
Zona Politics: Ducey Education Funding Plan, Clean Elections vs. Sec of State Reagan, Pima County vs. the State & More
Zona Politics Eps.33 from Zona Politics with Jim Nintzel on Vimeo. On this week’s episode of Zona Politics: Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Lea Marquez Peterson and attorney Jeff Rogers talk about Gov. Doug Ducey’s proposed plan to use money from the state land trust to fund schools; discuss the college achievement…
More Photos from Phoenix ComiCon 2015
The Weekly featured a photo essay from Phoenix ComiCon 2015 in this week’s issue, but we had more photos than we could possibly fit in the print edition, so here’s a slideshow of some of the pics that didn’t make the cut. More to come! Related Stories
Soulful Folk for Free When Hestina Takes Over Che’s Patio
After you’ve had your Sunday brunch and taken your requisite post-brunch nap, head over to Che’s Lounge to be serenaded by two harmonizing sirens now called Hestina. Sure, Sirens used to be the band’s monicker, but that doesn’t mean their entrancing vocals paired with a lone ukulele are any less alluring under the band’s new…
Trans-Pacific Partnership Legislation Collapses in House of Representatives
The Obama administration suffered a big setback in its efforts to get fast-track authority to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal after a part of the plan was rejected in Congress today. U.S. Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN), who co-chair the Congressional Progressive Caucus, are delighted by this turn of events. Their…
Agile Rascal’s Dara Silverman Talks Biking in the Desert and Their Tucson Performance at BICAS
“It was totally gnarly,” Dara Silverman, playwright and actor for the Agile Rascal troupe, says, “It was really rough.” Her group of seven cyclists and actors primarily from the Bay Area found, while bike touring their play from Encinitas to Tucson, that riding in the desert isn’t easy in June. They started off carrying all…
The New York Times Examines Tucson’s Historical Gems
Guy Trebay of The New York Times meditates on the hidden gems of Tucson architecture: It is a mini-metropolis whose proximity to the Mexican border has resulted not only in a shadow economy but also some fairly stark racial and economic bifurcations. It is a blue dot in a red state, a college town whose…
Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn Brought the World Down Home
Last night Abigail Washburn and her multi-Grammy-winning husband Béla Fleck brought the back porch to the Fox Theatre for an evening of community bonding over worldly, and world class banjo pickin’. The duo are on tour promoting their new self-titled duet album. The playing was predictably dazzling, but the cozy relationships, between the two and…
A Point I Missed About the H.T. Sanchez Contract Deal
After I wrote a long post about the new contract and salary deal for H.T. Sanchez at TUSD, I steeled myself, waiting to have my head bit off in the comments section. To my surprise, that’s not what happened. The commenters took a variety of positions on the contract, but the arguments tended to be…
It’s Bloom Night (Get Excited)
“BREAKING NEWS,” I was told when I answered the phone. “It’s Bloom Night.” If you’re familiar with Tohono Chul’s Bloom Night, you’re already excited. Here’s the deal: every year, Tohono Chul (7366 N Paseo Del Norte) keeps careful watch over their plants. When it’s time for the peniocereus greggii (you might know her as the “Queen…
State Rep. Friese: Not Running for CD2
State lawmaker Randy Friese (D-Tucson) yesterday put to rest rumors that he was considering a run for Congresswoman Martha McSally’s seat. “I have made the decision to stay in the Arizona House of Representatives and keep working to bring people together right here to solve problems for Arizonans,” Friese told supporters in an email. With…
John Oliver, Bail Bonds, Charter School Owners, ALEC and Privatization
So, I was watching the latest Last Week Tonight With John Oliver. The main topic was our out-of-kilter bail system which can victimize low income people and their families from the moment they’re taken into custody, whether they’re innocent or guilty. It’s a topic I’ve become more interested in lately with my growing understanding of…
Anti-Marijuana Legalization Group is Ready to Fight Recreational Weed Ballot Initiative
Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy has chosen the new political lobbyist and communications firm Axiom Public Affairs to represent their movement against the state’s recreational marijuana legalization initiative. The ballot measure’s final draft was submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office in April by the Marijuana Policy Project, which is also leading legal weed efforts for…
Buffalo Exchange’s New Sister Debuts Online
Local, resale fashion favorite, Buffalo Exchange, is welcoming a new member to their family-run business. The clothing store, which started in Tucson in 1974, fulfills their commitment to environmental conciseness by recycling clothes from one fashionista to another. Like their physical locations, their sister store, The Vintage Buffalo, also offers customers used clothing for reasonable…
Downtown’s La Fashionista Art Boutique Is Closing
After two years of selling vintage wares and handmade original art pieces, Eleonor Leon is closing her downtown boutique La Fashionista. The funky little shop located at 45 S. Sixth Ave. will shutter by the end of the month, which Leon attributes to many different factors. “It’s not just one thing,” she says. “Everybody start…
Faith and Folklore
Santo Niño de Atocha, patron saint of migrants traveling the desert today, has long been on a journey of his own. It started as early as the 13th century, in Spain. Equipped with a pilgrim’s cape, a hat, walking stick and a basket of food, the Santo Niño—the Holy Child Jesus—was believed to roam the…
Danehy
Let’s be clear: Dogs don’t belong in the store, in theaters or at church. If they’re away from home, they should probably be on a leash, outdoors, preferably at Brandi Fenton Park.
Media Watch
Chase Rankin, who spent a whopping 14 months as the president and publisher of the Arizona Daily Star, is off to the Valleyand Taking jabs at corporate run radio clusters almost seems unfair, because more often than not they make it too easy.
Audience Appeal
Borderlands Theatre has always been committed to producing new works, and The Rogue Theatre on a regular basis adapts works of fiction into plays, as they did last season with some of Virginia Woolf’s work. Recently SheworXX was formed by a group that will emphasize creating and developing work by women. And just recently, the…
Artist’s Life
As revealed early in the fascinating documentary, Dark Star: H.R. Giger’s World, a young Giger had a human skull gifted to him as a child. Naturally, he tied a string to it and dragged it around in the streets while other little boys were pulling choo-choo trains and wagons. From an early age, Giger wanted…
Warhol’s Beauties Leaving Soon
Andy Warhol’s very name conjures up pop-art soup cans and beautiful mod girls smoking cigarettes at the Factory.
B-Sides: Destruction Unit
Phoenix’s psych punk band Destruction Unit are maybe one of the biggest acts to come out of Arizona in the past few years and with good reason.
It Isn’t Grandma’s Monkeying Around
Mention the circus and a string of imagery comes to mind immediately. Tightrope walkers, freak shows, lions, elephants and cotton candy have been synonymous with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey since the early 19th century.
Reforma Cocina & Cantina: Refine and Reform
Grant Krueger’s Union Public House at St. Phillip’s Plaza has its devotees so when he announced he’d be opening a new joint inspired by the cuisine of Central Mexico right next door, it seemed like a pretty smart move. Promising an encyclopedic agave distillate list with over 200 options, as well as unique takes on…
Editor’s Note
One example given was a lawsuit filed against the alternative newsweekly Washington City Paper filed by the owner of the Washington, D.C. NFL team.
Celebrating Diversity
People come and go, and most of us can make the choice to leave our home for a new one. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine the life of a refugee who can’t make that choice.
Tom Russell: Cowboy Opera
Tom Russell calls his latest album “Les Misérables in cowboy hats.” Twenty years in the making, The Rose of Roscrae is a cowboy folk opera, a frontier musical, a 52-song double album, two-and-a-half hours of music that tells the story of a sheriff chasing Russell’s protagonist, the Irish-born outlaw Johnny Behind-the-Deuce across the West as…
Dust Devil
First they are “pollos”. Chickens. Then they are “illegals”, just so much contraband, or “aliens”, strange creatures from another place, to be feared.
Ceremony: Danceable Gloom
It may seem like Ross Farrar has been breaking up in song for a long time.
Pose and Pint
Dude, yoga is no longer reserved for pretty girls in yoga pants, somehow acceptable garb for any situation.
Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: Why are lowrider artists obsessed with surly clowns?
Whole Lot of Soul
Tucson is no stranger to the blues. Our very own frequent blues music purveyors, The Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Foundation and KXCI, are showcasing a talented artist in her Southern Arizona debut.
Poll Grow
The Behavior Research Center’s latest Rocky Mountain Poll found that 53 percent of Arizonans support making possession of a small amount of marijuana legal for personal use, while 39 percent opposed.
Police Dispatch
A man with disheveled hair walking down Tumamoc Hill assaulted and threatened to harm—or possibly kill—a worker on the hill who advised him against bringing his dogs there, a UA Police Department report stated.
Pleasure Activist
It does not have to be your first time in a sex toy store to be overwhelmed while staring at a wall full of vibrators. Things I often hear include: “I don’t know where to begin!” “Boy, things have changed!” or “Which one’s the best?”
Police Dispatch
A man whose cat went missing was convinced that someone stole the animal—without really having reason.
B-Sides: Tucson’s Trans Van Santos
Think of Tucson’s Trans Van Santos as the universe and this Thursday, June 11 as proof of Hubble’s Law. That’s because the band will be filling out with an amped up line-up of musicians that frontman Mark Matos has collected from all over the west coast and beyond.
In Transition
By the time Sam Wagner begins his junior year in high school, most of his family, his close friends and classmates will know he is transgender. He was assigned female at birth, but for the past year and a half, Sam has gotten a clearer understanding of his gender identity.
B-Sides: Cali Agents
In honor of the 15-year anniversary of their debut album “How the West Was One,” Cali Agents are hitting the road and playing songs off their 2000 release.
The Skinny
Planned Parenthood, Pima County and Sec of State Michele Reagan highlight a particularly litigious week in politics and State Rep Wheeler drops out of CD2 race following eye injury.
