Cover Stories
20 Low-Risk Ways to Have Fun This Summer
Festivals are off the list, but there are ways to have a good time despite the outbreak
Safety First
How to have fun this summer while minimizing the risk of COVID-19
Take a Hike!
But follow these safety tips to get home safely
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 PM Update for Wednesday, June 24: What We’ve Covered Today
It’s the middle of the week, and we have a lot to cover! ICYMI, here are the stories we shared with you. Vote Now in Best of Tucson® 2020: The Lost Treasures! The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped to just shy of 60,000 as of Wednesday, June 24, after the state reported…
City Council Members Show Support for Chief Magnus After TPD In-Custody Death
Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus offered his resignation to Mayor Regina Romero over how TDP officers handled the in-custody death of Carlos Ingram-Lopez last April during today’s press conference regarding the incident. Before announcing his offer of resignation, Magnus addressed and accepted responsibility for the department’s failure to notify the public of the in-custody death…
TPD Chief Reveals Details of Death of Man in Police Custody Two Months Ago, Offers Resignation to Mayor and Council
Carlos Adrian Ingram-Lopez died after Tucson police detained him on April 21, 2020. He was 27 years old. The in-custody death was just revealed yesterday, June 23, and has been met with outrage from the Tucson community. A medical examiner’s report determined Ingram-Lopez suffered cardiac arrest from a combination of physical restraint by the officers involved…
Reid Park announced the passing of African lion Shombay
Tucson’s Reid Park Zoo said “goodbye” to one of its animals Wednesday when the organization announced the passing of Shombay the African lion. Shombay lived to 12 and was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease in 2016. “Losing Shombay is particularly difficult for our team,” said Dr. Sue Tygielski, Director of Zoo Operations, in the zoo’s…
Tribal leaders say border wall, other projects continue to threaten sacred, historic sites
PHOENIX – As President Donald Trump was hailing the pace of border wall construction Tuesday, Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman Ned Norris Jr. was bemoaning it as a project that continues “to destroy … sacred sites.” “We have an obligation, we have a duty, we have a responsibility, to protect those sites of our ancestors, sacred…
Immigration advocates criticize Trump’s new visa restrictions
PHOENIX – President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday suspending H-1B, L-1, J and other temporary work visas until the end of the year, while also extending the hold on green cards for new immigrants. The suspension is in addition to an earlier order signed April 22, which put a 60-day restriction on the…
What the Trump Campaign Is Up To on YouTube (Hint: It Involves Aliens, Bin Laden and Ivanka)
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their biggest stories as soon as they’re published. This story was co-published with WNYC. Donald Trump is famous — and infamous — for his use of Twitter and Facebook. But particularly since the pandemic forced him to largely swear off his…
High Temps Mean ‘Critical’ Day for 75,000-acre Bighorn Fire
The 75,000-acre Bighorn Fire is now burning on several fronts throughout the Catalina Mountains after being fanned by gusty weather and has even stretched across the Pinal County line to the north. The June weather is reaching near 110 degrees during the day, and causing poor humidity recovery at night, resulting in “critical fire conditions,”…
How to Talk with Young Children about the George Floyd Protests
This article was peer-reviewed by a diverse group of early learning professionals including members of the Britannica Early Learning advisory council. We welcome reader feedback. Please contact us and share your thoughts and suggestions. The recent protests sparked by the death of George Floyd (as well as Breonna Taylor and many other people of color)…
Trump tours, touts border wall; critics blast his ‘little pep rally’ in midst of pandemic
PHOENIX – President Donald Trump toured a newly finished section of border wall Tuesday in Yuma, crediting it not only for a reduction in border crossings and drugs but claiming it has helped prevent “a coronavirus catastrophe” on the southern border. Trump, trailing a number of Republican elected officials, was in Arizona to mark the…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup: for Wednesday, June 24: Confirmed Cases Now Near 60K; Hospitals Reaching Capacity; Growing Number of Restaurants Shutting Down Dining Rooms, Returning to Takeout; “A” Mountain Fireworks Canceled
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped to just shy of 60,000 as of Wednesday, June 24, after the state reported 1,795 new cases this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 6,318 of the state’s 59,974 confirmed cases. A total of 1,463 people have died after contracting…
Claytoonz: White Jesus
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Your Southern AZ COVID-19 PM Update for Tuesday, June 23: What We’ve Covered Today
ICYMI, here are the stories we covered today. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped over 58,000 as of Tuesday, June 23, after the state reported 3,591 new cases this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. It has become a familiar pattern: President Donald Trump says something that doesn’t line…
Trump in Yuma to mark 216 miles of border wall, still a work in progress
PHOENIX – President Donald Trump is set to visit Yuma Tuesday to celebrate the completion of 216 miles of border wall, well shy of the 450 miles he has pledged to have built by the end of this year. But experts note that the pace of construction has picked up in recent years and that,…
Districts, parents still unsure how to safely open Arizona schools
PHOENIX – Guidelines for how Arizona school districts can safely reopen for the fall have been released, but at least some parents – and teachers – are questioning how safe it will be. Administrators also wonder how to pay for implementing the changes. Ayanna Johnson, who teaches third grade at Monte Vista Elementary School in…
Tuesday’s City Council Meeting Postponed After TPD-Related Death
Mayor Regina Romero is postponing Tuesday’s Mayor and Council meeting after viewing a video on a Tucson Police Department in-custody death, saying it would be “inappropriate” considering the gravity of the situation. “After viewing a video yesterday of a Tucson Police Department in-custody death, I do not feel that it would be appropriate to carry…
City Postpones 4th of July Fireworks on “A” Mountain
In yet another move to let the good people of Tucson know Summer 2020 is officially canceled, the City of Tucson has decided to postpone this year’s 4th of July “A” Mountain Fireworks celebration. City officials cite growing concerns over large gatherings during the pandemic as well as the potential for wildfires as reasons for…
County supervisors put thousands toward supporting local tourism
During today’s budget meeting, the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted to allocate more than $380,000 to tourism-related agencies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic impacts. Nine nonprofit organizations will receive funds from the county to promote events and programs that could provide local economic development and improve tourism, according to a press release.…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Tuesday, June 23: 58K Total Confirmed Cases in AZ; 1,384 Now Dead; Hospitalizations Remain High; Trump’s Coming to Phoenix!
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped over 58,000 as of Tuesday, June 23, after the state reported 3,591 new cases this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 6,089 of the state’s 58,179 confirmed cases. A total of 1,384 people have died after contracting the virus, including…
Claytoonz: MAGA Funny
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An Illustrated History of Government Agencies Twisting the Truth to Align With White House Misinformation
[image-4] ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their biggest stories as soon as they’re published. It has become a familiar pattern: President Donald Trump says something that doesn’t line up with the facts held by scientists and other experts at government agencies. Then, instead of pushing back,…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 PM Update for Monday, June 22: What We’ve Covered Today
It’s the beginning of another work week and the unfolding of new stories that we began to cover today. Let’s take a look, ICYMI. Don’t forget to vote in the Best of Tucson® 2020! The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped over 54,000 as of Monday, June 22, after the state reported 2,196…
COVID-19 in Arizona: Phoenix mayor says mask requirements won’t be enforced at Trump rally
PHOENIX – President Donald Trump’s scheduled rally in Phoenix on Tuesday will go ahead as planned, and Mayor Kate Gallego has pledged not to enforce local face mask requirements. The announcements came as Arizona’s COVID-19 cases surpassed 50,000 over the weekend. On Friday, Phoenix City Council approved requirements of wearing face masks but Gallego told…
Class of COVID-19: UA Students Conflicted On Campus Return
As the school year draws near, many questions are still in the air about the University of Arizona’s campus re-entry plans. Logistics have already changed multiple times, but the UA remains firm in their intent to reopen the campus to in-person activity in just a few weeks. The Weekly’s intrepid team of summer interns have…
Prosecutor Seeking Top Spot in Pima County Attorney’s Office Has Several Letters of Reprimand in his Personnel File
As the top spot for the Pima County Attorney’s Office opens up this August for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century with the retirement of Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall, candidate Mark Diebolt believes his 23-year record as a deputy county attorney speaks for itself. Diebolt, who is facing fellow Pima…
Pima County and Downtown Tucson Partnership Distributing PPE
A new partnership between Pima County government and the Downtown Tucson Partnership will distribute personal protective equipment to downtown businesses in the coming weeks. In response to the sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in Arizona, the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted on June 19 to require that face masks be worn in public by…
Claytoonz: TikTok Agitators
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Athens on 4th Avenue Shuttered After Nearly Three Decades in Business
Local Greek eatery Athens on 4th Avenue decided to call it quits last Saturday evening after serving the Old Pueblo for 27 years. The closure has left numerous Tucsonans perplexed as to where they’re going to get their flaming saganaki from? The restaurant announced its closure and thanked their customers for all the “amazing memories”…
Native American groups address mental and behavioral health as COVID-19 wears on
PHOENIX – With COVID-19 taking an especially heavy toll on Native Americans, tribal leaders and mental health experts have stepped up efforts to address the emotional suffering brought on by ongoing lockdowns and so much loss. “Please stay connected with relatives and neighbors by phone or video chat and remind them that they have support,”…
58,000-acre Bighorn Fire Down to 16% Containment
The Bighorn Fire continued its spread northeast across the Catalina Mountains over the weekend, reducing its containment levels by more than half. The wildfire, which started from a lightning storm on June 5, had burned more than 58,000 acres as of Monday, June 22. This weekend also saw the fire spread down the southern Catalinas…
Inside the Trump Administration’s Decision to Leave the World Health Organization
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Right before President Donald Trump unveiled punitive measures against China on May 29, he inserted a surprise into his prepared text. “We will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization,”…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Update for Monday, June 22: Hospital Numbers Climb; COVID-19 Confirmed Cases Top 54K; You Need To Wear a Mask in Pima County
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped over 54,000 as of Monday, June 22, after the state reported 2,196 new cases this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 5,587 of the state’s 54,586 confirmed cases. That’s up almost 18,000 from last Monday’s total of 36,705 cases. A total of 1,342…
Wear a Face Mask in Pima County
The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 Friday to mandate that face coverings be worn in public under certain circumstances, effective immediately. The new ordinance comes as COVID-19 infection numbers have skyrocketed in Arizona over the past two weeks. It states that every person not exempted by the ordinance must wear a face covering…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 PM Update for Friday, June 19: What We’ve Covered Today
Just ICYMI, here are the stories that we covered for you today. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped over 46,000 as of Friday, June 19, after the state reported 3,246 new cases this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Fire crews enjoyed calmer winds yesterday, which allowed for more…
The Best of CCR, Rockin’ Divas, ‘Salute to America’ and more coming to Gaslight Music Hall’s drive-in concert series
The musical magic in Oro Valley isn’t calling it quits anytime soon, so pack your camping chairs and head on over to The Gaslight Music Hall for a night of live tunes, laughter and delicious pizza. The music hall’s drive-in concert series continues through the summer, and the venue recently announced two weeks of shows.…
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero Hangs Black Lives Matter Banner from City Hall
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero celebrated Juneteenth today by hanging a massive Black Lives Matter banner from the top of City Hall. “Tucson stands in solidarity with our Black brothers and sisters across the country in fighting the systemic racism that pervades our society at all levels,” Romero said in a prepared statement. “We are here…
Democratic Senators Call for USAID to Investigate Anti-LGBT, Anti-Muslim Comments by Appointees
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Democratic senators have called for the Trump administration to investigate anti-LGBT and anti-Muslim statements made by recent appointees to the U.S. Agency for International Development, urging the organization to do more as its…
Census field workers back on Navajo Nation, with work cut out for them
Experts can cite any number of historical and logistical reasons why Native Americans have relatively low response rates to the Census, but Arbin Mitchell points to a very new, and very specific challenge this year – COVID-19. “People need to understand we were just out in the field for three days, from March 15 to…
The Trump Administration Paid Millions for Test Tubes — and Got Unusable Mini Soda Bottles
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Since May, the Trump administration has paid a fledgling Texas company $7.3 million for test tubes needed in tracking the spread of the coronavirus nationwide. But, instead of the standard vials, Fillakit LLC…
Bighorn Fire at 37,000 Acres, Spreading Northeast
Fire crews enjoyed calmer winds yesterday, which allowed for more air support and time to bolster fire lines around threatened communities. Despite this, the Bighorn Fire grew a few more thousand acres, mainly to the north and east of Mt. Lemmon. “The big story for yesterday was the stark difference weather-wise from the day before,…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Friday, June 19: Mask Up in Tucson! Pima Romero Orders Tucsonans To Wear Masks Starting Tomorrow or Else; County Set To Vote on Mandate Today; Record-Breaking 3200 New Cases Today Top Week of Skyrocketing Numbers
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped over 46,000 as of Friday, June 19, after the state reported 3,246 new cases this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 5,019 of the state’s 46,689 confirmed cases. That’s up almost 10,000 from Monday’s total of 36,705 cases. A total of 1,312…
Claytoonz: Classified Lies
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After Losing Yesterday at Supreme Court, Trump Vows To Go After Dreamers Again
…ruling & request of yesterday. I have wanted to take care of DACA recipients better than the Do Nothing Democrats, but for two years they refused to negotiate – They have abandoned DACA. Based on the decision the Dems can’t make DACA citizens. They gained nothing! @DHSgov — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 19, 2020…
PACC Foster Volunteer Liz Johnson Recognized as One of 22 National Foster Heroes
People are passionate about their fur-babies. Big or small, furry or slimy, silent or loud, people love animals and see them as part of their families. Unfortunately, not all creatures get to share in the love and get left behind, forgotten about, or worse. If they’re lucky, they make it to centers like Pima Animal…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 PM Update for Thursday, June 18: What We’ve Covered Today
Lots to cover today, so ICYMI, here are the stories we worked with: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped over 43,000 as of Thursday, June 18, after the state reported a record number of 2,519 new cases this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Three months ago, Gov. Doug…
Tucson Mayor Romero Requires COVID-19 Masks in City Limits Starting Saturday
Mayor Regina Romero issued a proclamation Thursday requiring COVID-19 facemasks to be worn in public settings by all Tucsonans age 2 and older when physical distancing is difficult. Violators could potentially face a civil infraction. “We saw numbers spiking related to the reopening of businesses in the state of Arizona,” Romero said today. “Just Tuesday…
Supreme Court Rules Against Trump on DACA
Today the United States Supreme Court handed down a 5-4 decision that blocked the Trump administration from ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program. DACA allows undocumented young adults who came to the United States as children to apply for protection from deportation on a renewable two-year basis. It also gives them the ability…
SBA Announces Revised PPP Forgiveness Application and EZ Application
The Small Business Administration and the Department of the Treasury are making it easier for business owners to apply for Paycheck Protection Program’s loan forgiveness by culling down the application process. The SBA has revised its original 11-page PPP full forgiveness application down to five pages in an attempt to provide clarity and streamline the…
Huckelberry Recommends County Attorney Examine Uneven Handling of Eviction Cases
Three months ago, Gov. Doug Ducey signed Executive Order 2020-14 which intended to halt residential evictions due to hardships related to COVID-19. Tenants are protected from eviction if they are in quarantine due to a positive diagnosis or related symptoms; if someone in their home has a diagnosis or related symptoms; or if they have…
Watch This Terrifying Timelapse Video of the Bighorn Fire Passing By the Mount Lemmon Fire Department
If you want to get a sense of what it was to be near the Bighorn Fire yesterday, watch this terrifying video from the Mount Lemmon Fire Department.
Bighorn Fire Evacuation Ordered for Lower Mount Lemmon, Oracle Areas
As the Bighorn Fire continues to burn across the Santa Catalina Mountains, residents in two new areas have been warned to evacuate. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has told residents in the lower Catalina Highway and lower Mount Lemmon communities from Organization Ridge Road to South Willow Canyon to leave their homes, while the Pinal…
Summerhaven Still Spared but Bighorn Fire at Now at 30,000 Acres
The Bighorn Fire made a large run Wednesday night, burning more than 10,000 additional acres throughout the western flanks of Mount Lemmon and the Catalina Mountains. The fire had burned an estimated 31,000 acres and is 40 percent contained, according to a morning press briefing. The fire burned an estimated 13,616 acres yesterday, which was…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 Roundup for Thursday, June 18: A Record 2500 New Confirmed Cases Brings Total to More Than 43K; Ducey Reverses Course, Allows Local Communities To Require Masks; City of Tucson, Pima County Prep for Mask Mandate
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped over 43,000 as of Thursday, June 18, after the state reported a record number of 2,519 new cases this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 4,682 of the state’s 43,443 confirmed cases. That’s more than double the 20,123 confirmed cases the…
Claytoonz: Sweet Sticky Racism
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The US Supreme Court Rules Against Trump Admin on DACA
#SCOTUS rules against Trump administration in challenge to decision to end #DACA program, which allowed noncitizens brought to this country illegally as children to apply for protection from deportation, holding decision was arbitrary and capricious — SCOTUSblog (@SCOTUSblog) June 18, 2020 Congressman Raul Grijalva reacts: Today is a victory for the young immigrants who dared…
Southern Arizona Weekly COVID-19 Roundup
The news and events that made the week
Renewed Focus
The Tucson City Council plans to review a controversial ordinance
MMJ: No Rush
There’s plenty of medicine on the shelves at local dispensaries
