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Your Southern AZ COVID-19 PM Update for Wednesday, June 17: What We’ve Covered Today
Halfway through the week, and we’re still keeping an eye on many hot topics. Let’s see what we covered today: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped to nearly 41,000 as of Wednesday, June 17, after the state reported 1,827 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.…
Pima County Board of Supervisors Set To Vote Friday on Mandating Masks
The Pima County Board of Supervisors will meet Friday to vote on whether to mandate masks when people go out in public to slow the rising spread of COVID-19. After Gov. Doug Ducey announced this afternoon that he would give local jurisdictions the power to mandate masks, Board Chairman Ramon Valadez called for the 3 p.m.…
Ducey Reverses Course, Says Mayors Can Set Local Standards for Face Masks
Protect yourself. Protect others. Help contain the spread of #COVID19. Wear a mask. #MaskUpAZ pic.twitter.com/jtWuZmyiqF — Doug Ducey (@dougducey) June 17, 2020 In a reversal of his previous policy, Gov. Doug Ducey announced today that he will allow local jurisdictions to mandate the wearing of face masks in an effort to slow Arizona’s skyrocketing spread…
College arms, bloodlines tell the story for Diamondbacks in MLB draft
PHOENIX – The first time Deric Ladnier, the Diamondbacks’ director of amateur scouting, saw Bryce Jarvis, he knew he wasn’t ready for the big leagues. “The stuff that was coming out was very marginal. And I remember telling (his father Kevin Jarvis), I said, ‘I like him. He’s not where he needs to be,’” Ladnier…
How — and When — Can the Coronavirus Vaccine Become a Reality?
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their biggest stories as soon as they’re published. It’s been six months since researchers in China said they had identified a novel coronavirus spreading in the city of Wuhan. Hope and desire for a vaccine to end the global devastation is…
BK’s Closes Dine-In Service Starting Tomorrow to Stop the Spread of COVID-19
One of the Old Pueblo’s most revered Sonoran hot dog institutions is temporarily shutting down dine-in service in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 and is challenging other local restaurateurs to follow suit. BK Carne Asada and Hot Dog’s is moving to delivery, carryout, and drive-through service only starting Thursday, June 18, at…
Bighorn Fire Spares Summerhaven Overnight but Now Covers More than 17,000 Acres; High Winds Expected To Make Trouble for Firefighters Today
Mount Lemmon’s community of Summerhaven was spared as the Bighorn Fire continued to rage in the Santa Catalina Mountains. The fire has now devoured 17,500 acres and is 40 percent contained, primarily on the eastern and southern edges of the blaze near Oro Valley and the Catalina Foothills. according to a morning incident report. Residents…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 Roundup for Wednesday, June 17: Total Confirmed Cases Nearly at 41K, with More Than 1800 New Cases Today; Record Numbers of People in Hospital Beds, ERs, ICU Units; Local Officials Ask Ducey To Give Them Power To Slow the Spread
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped to nearly 41,000 as of Wednesday, June 17, after the state reported 1,827 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 4,385 of the state’s 40,924 confirmed cases. That’s more than double the 20,123 confirmed cases the state had…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 PM Update for Tuesday, June 16: What We’ve Covered Today
Here’s a look at the stories we covered today: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped past 39,000 as of Tuesday, June 16, after the state reported a record new 2,392 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum began a phased reopening today,…
Supreme Court expands ‘sex discrimination’ to protect LGBTQ workers
PHOENIX – The Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Civil Rights Act protections against “sex discrimination” also protect gay or transgender employees from discrimination, even if they are not specifically mentioned in the 1964 law. The long-awaited ruling involved three separate cases of workers who were fired, two because they were gay and one who…
Administration unveils sweeping plan to tighten rules on asylum-seekers
PHOENIX – The Trump administration has unveiled its furthest-reaching plan yet to change asylum law in the U.S., redefining the meaning of “persecution” and raising the bar for refugees seeking protection under the Convention Against Torture, among other changes. The 161-page proposal, officially posted Monday in the Federal Register, would also streamline the asylum-approval process,…
Evacuation Order Issued for Mt. Lemmon, Summerhaven
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has issued a “GO” order to the areas of Mt. Lemmon and Mt. Bigelow north of Organization Ridge Road, including Summerhaven, due to the encroaching Bighorn Fire, now nearly 16,000 acres. Evacuees are to safely move south on Catalina Highway and leave the mountain. PCSD is also going door to…
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Reopens with COVID-19 Safety Precautions
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum began a phased reopening today, June 16, with new safety precautions based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The natural history museum, located at 2021 N. Kinney Road, is also a zoo, botanical garden, and aquarium. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, they frequently hosted art gallery events and educational…
Salvation Army, Fresh Bites Foods distributing free emergency food boxes
Do you and your family need a helping hand to fill out your pantry and refrigerator? Look no further than The Salvation Army Tucson Amphi Corps Community Center, 218 E. Prince Road, where free emergency food boxes will be distributed Tuesday afternoon. The Salvation Army Tucson Amphi Corps and Fresh Bites Foods are teaming up…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Tuesday, June 16: SHOCKER! Total Confirmed Cases Jump by Nearly 2400 Overnight; Total Cases Top 39K; 1.2K Now Dead After Contracting Virus; Local Officials Plead with Ducey: Allow Us To Set Our Own Rules To Slow Spread
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped past 39,000 as of Tuesday, June 16, after the state reported a record new 2,392 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 4,329 of the state’s 39,097 confirmed cases. On June 1, the state had 20,123 confirmed cases.…
Claytoonz: Hater Waiver
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Your Southern AZ COVID-19 PM Update for Monday, June 15: What We’ve Covered Today
Halfway through June already! Let’s look at the stories that we covered today: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped past 36,000 as of Monday, June 15, with a jump of 1,014 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. The Bighorn Fire is now approximately 14,600 acres…
University of Arizona Launches New Master’s Degree in Bilingual Journalism
The University of Arizona will now offer a Master of Arts in Bilingual Journalism, which is expected to prepare future journalists to “cover complex issues affecting Latinx people in the U.S. and abroad,” according to a press release from the UA’s School of Journalism. Associate Professor Jessica Retis will head the master’s program beginning in…
Bighorn Fire Continues Toward Mt. Lemmon, Catalina Evacuation Lifted
The Bighorn Fire is now approximately 14,600 acres and is 22 percent contained. While fire crews have been successful in keeping the blaze from foothills homes, the fire is now progressing northeast and threatens the community of Summerhaven on Mount Lemmon. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department announced that Mount Lemmon residents should remain “set” to…
Hughes Federal Credit Union wins marketing awards
Local financial firm Hughes Federal Credit Union recently earned awards for its website, inclusivity initiatives and marketing strategies by Progress Software and the Credit Union National Association, the company announced Monday. Hughes earned the 2020 Progress Sitefinity Website of the Year Award in the financial services category. The awards recognize websites powered by Progress Sitefinity…
Ina Road Interchange wins partnering award for Sundt Construction and Kiewit
Sundt Construction Co. and its partner Kiewit picked up an award for their joint efforts on the Ina Road Traffic Interchange earlier this month, the companies announced in a press release. The project, which shut down access to Interstate 10 from West Ina Road for more than two years, wrapped up last April. The project…
Arizona Science Center Reopens June 20; Here’s What to Expect
If you have kids, summer in Arizona usually contains many trips to the pool, splash pads, museums, or summer camp. This year has been a bit different. Although splash pads are now open in some local communities, pools are not. Many summer programs have been completely canceled, and most public spaces still remain closed. Something…
GAO: Border officials spent migrant care funds on canines, ATVs, more
PHOENIX – Customs and Border Protection officials spent funds that were supposed to go to medical care and migrant processing facilities to pay for computer upgrades, canine units, ATVs and other items instead, a new government report shows. The Government Accountability Office said Thursday that CBP violated the law when it took money allocated specifically…
Tickets still available for bluegrass, funk and blues drive-in concerts at Gaslight Music Hall
Escape the summer heat (and quarantine) with the rocking sound of live music, happening every week at The Gaslight Music Hall in Oro Valley. Dance with your friends, enjoy some tunes, and snack on the region’s best pizza. Tickets are selling fast, but still available for this week’s shows: Bluegrass Night with The Sonoran Dogs,…
The Postal Service Is Steadily Getting Worse — Can It Handle a National Mail-In Election?
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Two weeks after the polls closed in this year’s Ohio primary, two U.S. Postal Service employees showed up in the office of Diane Noonan, the director of elections in Butler County. The workers…
How America’s Hospitals Survived the First Wave of the Coronavirus
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their biggest stories as soon as they’re published. The prediction from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was grim. In late March, as the number of COVID-19 cases was growing exponentially in the state, Cuomo said New York hospitals might need twice…
Emails Reveal Chaos as Meatpacking Companies Fought Health Agencies Over COVID-19 Outbreaks in Their Plants
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their biggest stories as soon as they’re published. For weeks, Rachel Willard, the county health director in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, had watched with alarm as COVID-19 cases rolled in from the Tyson Foods chicken plant in the center of town. Then…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Monday, June 15: Confirmed Cases Surpass 36K; Trends Moving in Wrong Direction; Ducey Says “Virus Is Something We Need To Learn How To Live With”
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped past 36,000 as of Monday, June 15, with a jump of 1,014 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 3,944 of the state’s 36,705 confirmed cases. A total of 1,194 people have died after contracting the virus,…
Bighorn Fire Update: Mount Lemmon Residents Warned of Potential Evacuation, County Closes Catalina Highway; Fire Now Tops 13,200 Acres, is 22% Contained
As hotshot crews and aircraft continue to battle the Bighorn Fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains, residents of Mount Lemmon, including the community of Summerhaven, have been warned to be prepared to evacuate. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department announced that Mount Lemmon residents should remain “set” to evacuate under the Ready, Set, Go system. Sheriff’s…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Sunday, June 14: Cases Jump by 1200; State Total Tops 35K; Record Number in Hospitals; Ducey Says: “Virus Is Not Going Away”
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped past 35,000 as of Sunday, June 14, with a jump of 1,233 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 3,910 of the state’s 35,691 confirmed cases. A total of 1,186 people have died after contracting the virus,…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19/Wildfire AM Roundup for Saturday, June 13: Cases Jump by 1500 Again Today; State Total Tops 34K; Record Number in Hospitals; Bighorn Fire Grows To 10K Acres, Evacuation Order in Catalina Area
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped past 34,000 as of Saturday, June 13, with a jump of 1,540 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which saw 261 new cases reported this morning, had 3,889 of the state’s 34,458 confirmed cases. A total of…
Bighorn Fire: Evacuation order lifted, though residents should remain alert
According to the Pima County Office of Emergency management and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, northside residents who evacuated yesterday may return to their homes, though orders to remain prepared to leave are still in effect. On Thursday, the Pima County Office of Emergency Management and Sheriff’s Department issued an evacuation order for certain Foothills…
Dept. of Corrections Announces COVID-19 Antibody Testing for Florence Prison Staff
Beginning Tuesday, June 16, through Thursday, June 18, COVID-19 antibody testing will be initiated for correctional staff of the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence through an onsite testing process. Sonora Quest Laboratories will conduct the tests, which take about 5 to 10 minutes. According to a department press release, these tests are intended to…
How Rich Investors, Not Doctors, Profit From Marking Up ER Bills
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published. In 2017, TeamHealth, the nation’s largest staffing firm for ER doctors, sued a small insurance company in Texas over a few million dollars of disputed bills. Over 2 1/2 years of litigation, the…
Hospitals adapt to keep beds available as surge in COVID-19 cases tests system
Surging numbers of COVID-19 cases in Arizona have pushed some hospital intensive-care units to their limits in recent weeks, but health experts around the state said hospitals still have room to adapt – for now. The Arizona Department of Health Services has recorded 8,360 new cases of the coronavirus so far this month, almost 30%…
Mayors: COVID-19 followed by second ‘pandemic’ of police relations
WASHINGTON – Cities were already grappling with the health and economic impact of COVID-19 when protests uncovered what one mayor Thursday called the “second pandemic” – a fractured police relationship with minority communities. The comments came in a virtual roundtable discussion with mayors from across the country, including Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, who were asked…
Employees, visitors now required to wear masks in Pima County-operated buildings
Employees and members of the public now have to wear masks when inside of Pima County facilities, including common areas, lobbies, elevators, and where physical distancing is not possible or there are no protective barriers. Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry announced the new health and safety procedures in a June 11 memo. The county will…
COVID-19 in Arizona: Ducey says state will keep reopening despite surge in cases
PHOENIX – Gov. Doug Ducey defended his plan to reopen the state Thursday, attributing concerns about the stark increase in the number of positive cases to misinformation and increased testing. “We put the stay-at-home order in place so that we can prepare for what we’re going through right now,” he told reporters at a news…
Evacuation, preparation orders surrounding Bighorn Fire still in place
According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, evacuation and preparation orders throughout the Catalina Foothills remain in place Friday, June 12. On Thursday, The Pima County Office of Emergency Management and Sheriff’s Department issued an evacuation order for certain Foothills neighborhoods currently threatened by the ongoing Bighorn Fire: Homes between Alvernon Way and 1st Avenue,…
Amid COVID-related harassment of Asian Americans, experts stress need for mental health care
PHOENIX – It happened in March, in the middle of the night. Jeff Zhou, a teaching assistant at Arizona State University, was asleep when he heard a kick on his apartment door and then a shouted slur: “Chinese virus!” The 30-year-old international student from China reported the incident, but it has stuck with him even…
Bighorn Fire Grows to 7000 Acres
After battling the Bighorn Fire on the slopes of the Catalina Mountains, fire crews will experience the highest temperatures yet today, at 107 degrees. This gusty and hot weather is one of the main reasons the Bighorn Fire is so difficult to manage; it has remained at 10 percent contained for multiple days and has…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 Roundup for Friday, June 12: Confirmed Cases Nearly 33K; Number of People Hospitalized Hits New High; Ducey Pushes Back Against Idea that State’s Hospitals Are Stressed; Parts of Catalina Foothills Evacuated as Wildfire Burns
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona closed in 33,000 as of Friday, June 12, with a jump of 1,654 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 3,628 of the state’s 32.918 confirmed cases. A total of 1,144 people have died after contracting the virus,…
Claytoonz: For The Birds
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Your Southern AZ COVID-19 PM Update for Thursday, June 11: What We’ve Covered Today
The Best of Tucson 2020® is ready to go and waiting for your nominations! After you’re done, you can take a look at the other stories we covered today, just in case you missed them earlier. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona surpassed 31,000 as of Thursday, June 11, with another jump of…
Tucson Residents Join National Movement To Defund the Police
As protesters across the world demand justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner and other Black people who were murdered by police, calls for disbanding law enforcement have gained unprecedented support. Widespread conversations about whether law enforcement actually keeps communities safe are ongoing, with a focus on the institutional racism that is tied to…
U-Haul Offering Free Storage To Bighorn Fire Victims
After the Pima County Sheriff’s Department ordered several neighborhoods in the Catalina Foothills to evacuate due to the encroaching Bighorn Fire, U-Haul announced they are offering 30 days of free self-storage and container usage to impacted residents. They are offering these free services at six locations throughout the greater Tucson area. “As the Bighorn Fire…
Floyd’s brother testifies to House, as lawmakers debate best way forward
WASHINGTON – The brother of George Floyd, whose death at the hands of Minneapolis police sparked nationwide protests, told a somber House committee Wednesday that he hopes his testimony can bring changes so that Floyd’s “death will not be in vain.” “People have come together to make change,” said Philonise Floyd, the lead witness in…
District 1 Board of Supervisor Candidates Discuss County’s COVID-19 Reaction and Restaurant Regulations
The Pima County Board of Supervisors has taken several steps in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Pima County, including voting on March 19 to close down all nonessential businesses, and later when the state reopened the economy, voting to implement and then revise new health regulations for restaurants and bars offering…
Funky grooves, bluegrass and blues headlining Gaslight Music Hall’s upcoming drive-in concerts
Keep the party rolling at The Gaslight Music Hall, where the show has moved into the parking lot over the last few weeks after founder Tony Terry launched his newest production: The drive-in concert series. Next up is Bluegrass Night with The Sonoran Dogs, Funky Grooves with OnesAll Band and Blues Night with The Porch…
PACC offering shelter space for pets evacuated due to Bighorn Fire
Residents evacuating their homes on Tucson’s north side due to the Bighorn Fire can find refuge for their pets at the Pima Animal Care Center, the shelter announced Thursday morning. “When you are in the middle of an emergency it can be overwhelming to figure out the best way to take care of your family…
Gov. Doug Ducey, Could You Please Start Telling People To Mask Up?
We all play a role in protecting public health and safety. Wash your hands✔️ Stay home when you are sick✔️ Disinfect frequently touched surfaces✔️ pic.twitter.com/wsdKZfE5D0 — Doug Ducey (@dougducey) June 9, 2020 There’s an important safety tip missing from this safety tip from Gov. Doug Ducey: He’s still not encouraging people to wear masks when…
Evacuations Ordered: Bighorn Fire in Catalina Foothills
UPDATE The Pima County Office of Emergency Management and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department have expanded their order: Residents of the Catalina Foothills between Alvernon Way and Sabino Canyon Road, north of Skyline Drive, should “be alert” for potential evacuation notices. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has issued an evacuation order for certain Foothills neighborhoods…
Bighorn Fire Threatens Catalina Foothills Homes
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has announced the ongoing Bighorn Fire poses “significant danger” to the Catalina Foothills area. The state’s Ready, Set, Go evacuation alert system has been activated, and the area of the Catalina Foothills between Alvernon Way and 1st Avenue, North of Ina Road is now in the “be alert” stage. PCSD…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 Roundup for Thursday, June 11: Confirmed Cases Top 31K; Hospitals Nearing Capacity; Wildfires Still Burning North of Tucson
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona surpassed 31,000 as of Thursday, June 11, with another jump of 1,412 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 3,479 of the state’s 31,264 confirmed cases. A total of 1,127 people have died after contracting the virus, including…
Market Forces
Fans of Rincon Market may soon have their gourmet bodega back.
Communication Breakdown
Tucson’s deaf and hard-of-hearing community speaks out about the increased difficulty they face communicating with the public due to COVID-19 masks and other precautions taken during the pandemic.
Quick Bites
As businesses slowly get back to (the new) normal, we’ll be highlighting local restaurants.
MMJ: End Prohibition
Legalizing cannabis in November can help equalize racial disparity
Danehy
Masks, protests and even a kind word for George Will: What a time to be alive
Editor’s Note
Southern AZ Weekly COVID-19 Roundup
