Cover Story
Border Visions: Virtual art exhibit ‘Thirst for Humanity’ raises funds for humanitarian organizations No Más Muertes and Casa Alitas
In a solo march, former Tucsonan Cassandra Kehoe walked down the streets of her Oregon neighborhood dressed as a weeping Statue of Liberty, holding a sign with the number “545”—the number, at the time, of known missing children separated from their families at the border. This is not the first or the last time Kehoe—an…
Arizona kids’ health, schooling fare poorly – again – in annual report
WASHINGTON – Despite gains in some areas, Arizona continued to rank among the worst states in the nation for education, according to the latest version of a national report that measures children’s well-being across several areas. The 2021 Kids Count report said Arizona was 47th overall in education, down one spot from 46th a year…
Advocates: Affordable Care Act here to stay, as more Arizonans enroll
WASHINGTON – Arizona advocates are breathing “a sigh of relief” this week after the Supreme Court again refused to invalidate the Affordable Care Act, a decision that should preserve the health care program for at least several years. The ruling is the third time the court has upheld “Obamacare” and comes as the number of…
Arizona’s aerospace and defense industry has close financial ties to Israeli security
PHOENIX – Amid recent violence in the Middle East, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey tweeted “Arizona stands with Israel,” joining Republican leaders across the country in a show of political support. It also provoked outrage among those who support Palestinians, with one activist calling Ducey’s position a “violation of human rights.” Despite the polarized viewpoints, Arizona’s aerospace and…
Widespread appreciation grows for Devin Booker after regular season indifference
[image-1] Phoenix Suns fans have long argued that Devin Booker is the most disrespected player in the NBA. By the media. The officials. The opponents. Until these playoffs, many believed the 24-year-old received neither the same calls nor the national attention granted to other young NBA stars. Not anymore. “Devin Booker is the next Kobe…
Should we be concerned about new COVID-19 outbreaks around the globe?
PHOENIX – After months of relaxed COVID-19 precautions, including lifting restrictions on face masks and social distancing, India has suffered a second surge that set records for new infections and deaths. As the United States begins to ease into a new normal and relaxes its own pandemic restrictions, is there a chance of a similar…
From doughnuts to cash to … pot? Incentives rise as vaccination rates slide
MESA – On a recent weekday morning, Paul Petersen of Florence was one of the first to arrive at Mint Dispensary to get something not usually offered at the cannabis shop: a free COVID-19 vaccine. The 40-year-old had been holding off on getting vaccinated to see how others responded but was persuaded by an added…
Tucson Juneteenth Celebrations
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers marched into Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of the Civil War, two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation into law, marking the end of slavery. On Thursday, Juneteenth became a federal holiday. While symbolically meaningful, the nation continues to see police killings of Black people…
Border officials eye with hope Monday reopening to nonessential travel in Mexico
WASHINGTON – Border officials urged lawmakers to stick to a plan to reopen the border to nonessential travel Monday, even as they said more needs to be done to prepare for the expected surge in traffic. The travel restriction was first imposed in March 2020 because of COVID-19 and has been regularly extended since, with the…
Support the Troops collection drive continues
A collection drive for overseas troops enters its final week. The last day to drop off supplies is June 25. This drive is held by Arizona Transportation Builders in honor of Robert William Jones Jr., a 21-year-old soldier from Tucson who lost his life serving in Kosovo. Items for collection include: Personal Hygiene: socks, undergarments, soap, toothpaste/brush,…
Tucson Salvage: The Boxer
If ever existed a city beacon of sugary optimism and hope, it is one of those Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin-Robins combo things, all pink-orange chirpy and bright, and when the hot wind shifts just right, the smell of donuts sweetens the nauseating mix of car exhaust and melting parking-lot tar. Wreaks unholy chaos on an empty stomach.…
Chow: Save the Sear: Flora’s Market Crudo Bar elevates the raw food conversation
Only four dishes at the new Flora’s Market Run restaurant constitute the Crudo Bar section of its 25-dish menu, yet there are three full-time employees dedicated exclusively to its operations. Crudo means “raw” in Italian, and this kind of staffing ratio suggests that the raw fish element of the Flora’s story is as significant as…
City Week: Weekly Picks
Space Wars. It’s been over a year since the Gaslight Theatre did an indoor melodrama. They did some really incredible outdoor shows, which you could enjoy from your car. But there’s nothing like the atmosphere inside the Gaslight Theatre. For their first show back (with limited capacity seating), they’re doing this parody of Star Wars.…
Spinning Records: Local clinics help people clear past cannabis convictions
When Arizona voters went to the polls in November to legalize cannabis via Prop 207, they not only opened the door to recreational marijuana use, but also expungement of pot-related convictions for nearly 200,000 residents. As the July 12 start date for qualified individuals to submit petitions to clear their records nears, clinics designed to…
Quick bites
Pacific Northwest at Kingfisher. Kingfisher Bar & Grill is continuing its Summer road trip series with a taste of the Pacific Northwest. Although you can’t escape Tucson’s heat into those foggy trees, their serving of regional seafood may help distract you if only for a little while. Kingfisher will be serving up Alaskan halibut, steelhead…
Editor’s Note: Senior support
Over the last year, THE pandemic was especially cruel to seniors. Not only was COVID-19 more deadly to older Arizonans, but stay-at-home directives and other coronavirus restrictions meant many seniors were cut off from their social life and even visits with family. Home health services—the folks who help care for seniors so they can remain…
