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Arizona under curfew order following protests in Phoenix and Tucson
Today Is Your Last Chance To Vote in the First Round of Best of Tucson® 2020: The Lost Treasures!
The lost treasures of Tucson are spoken of in hushed whispers. Who knows what happened to these legendary talismans after they vanished more than a century ago? Did they really have magical powers? And where are they today? Tucson Weekly is on the hunt for these long-lost treasures—and we need your help to find them…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 PM Update for Wednesday, June 10: 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 29,000 as of Wednesday, June 10, with another jump of…
OPED: Imprisonment During the Pandemic is Unconstitutional Cruel and Unusual Punishment
The following is an opinion piece written by William Cooper, an attorney and columnist whose pieces have appeared in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, New York Daily News, Huffington Post, Washington Times, and USA Today, among others. The Eighth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. It states:…
City Council To Reexamine Ordinance Allowing Police To Limit Recording at Crime Scenes
The Tucson City Council unanimously voted to reopen discussions on the controversial ordinance prohibiting the public to enter and film a crime scene without having officer permission during Tuesday’s study session. Councilmember Lane Santa Cruz brought forth the motion, which was seconded by Councilmember Nikki Lee. Both council members asked for more clarity about the…
The Loft Cinema Allowing Private Screen Rentals
More than two months have passed since The Loft Cinema closed their theaters due to COVID-19. In that time, they’re adapted to social distancing by allowing virtual film rentals from their website, and even hosted some free online screenings. Now they have a new offer for you: Rent the theater to watch the movie of…
Eligibility for COVID-19 antibody testing expanded by UA, more capacity added
More Arizona residents who want a COVID-19 antibody test may do so after the University of Arizona and the state announced expanded testing eligibility. Hospital employees, healthcare professionals licensed by the boards of naturopathy, homeopathy, podiatry, chiropractic examiners, optometry and nine other health care categories are all eligible, as well as corrections officers and child…
Speed Up Your Internet for the Long, Slow Pandemic
I recently flagged down a technician from my local internet provider about why the service seems so darn slow all the time. He confirmed one problem I’d always suspected. Upgrading infrastructure is expensive so a company tends to put far too many customers onto the bandwidth than can ever hope to achieve the promised upload…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Wednesday, June 10: Confirmed Coronavirus Cases Surpass 29K; Death Toll Reaches 1,095; Hospitals Remain Under Pressure; Wildfires Burn North of Tucson
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona surpassed 29,000 as of Wednesday, June 10, with another jump of 1,556 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 3,350 of the state’s 29,852 confirmed cases. A total of 1,095 people have died after contracting the virus, including…
Claytoonz: The Pusher
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Your Southern AZ COVID-19 PM Update for Tuesday, June 9: What We’ve Covered Today
Here are the stories we covered for you today. Don’t forget to also vote in the 2020 Best of Tucson! The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona surpassed 28,000 as of Tuesday, June 9, with another 618 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. In his May 20…
Capital One and Other Debt Collectors Are Still Coming for Millions of Americans
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Since 2018, Capital One has been a looming presence in Julio Lugo’s life, ever since the company sued him, as it did 29,000 other New Yorkers that year, over an unpaid credit card.…
The CARES Act Sent You a $1,200 Check but Gave Millionaires and Billionaires Far More
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Do you want to see how legislation that was supposed to be a bailout for our economy ended up committing almost as much taxpayer money to help a relative handful of the non-needy…
Senate Investigation Criticizes the IRS for Failing to Oversee Free Filing Program
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their stories as soon as they’re published. A Senate investigation has found that the IRS has conducted little oversight of its partnership with the for-profit tax prep industry to offer free tax filing, and calls for the agency to increase funding…
Community groups step in to provide immigrants COVID testing, relief
PHOENIX – The $2.2 trillion coronavirus aid package that Congress passed in March has provided medical and financial relief to millions of Americans, including allocations for low-income, rural and uninsured populations. Many immigrants, however, have been excluded from benefits under the CARES Act – leaving local advocacy groups to step in to provide economic, medical…
Arizona Democrats among those backing sweeping police reform bill
Congressional Democrats unveiled a sweeping police reform bill Monday that would ban the use of chokeholds and make it easier to hold officers accountable, a bill that one Arizona police group blasted as “one-sided” and “disappointing.” At least three Arizona lawmakers are among more than 200 co-sponsors of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020,…
Bank of America promises $1 billion for economic and racial equality
On June 2 Bank of America announced their commitment to spend $1 billion helping local communities address economic and racial inequality accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their four-year programs will focus on communities of color who have experienced a greater negative impact from the COVID-19 outbreak than others. “Underlying economic and social disparities that exist…
Ducey’s Duplicity on COVID-19 Leads to a New Emerging Crisis
I, like many Arizonans, have been following Gov. Doug Ducey’s regular COVID-19 press conferences. I really appreciate him doing these pressers—it allows the media to make inquiries about his policy choices in the face of the current crisis. And I’ve been able to closely examine the case that he has been making to justify his…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Tuesday, June 9: Confirmed Cases Top 28K; Hospital Numbers Remain High; Ducey Lifts Curfew; Two Fires in Tucson Area
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona surpassed 28,000 as of Tuesday, June 9, with another 618 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 3,161 of the state’s 28,296 confirmed cases. A total of 1,070 people have died after contracting the virus, including 212 in…
Bighorn Fire at 2300 acres, Tortolita Fire at 3500
Fire crews are currently battling two thousand-plus-acre fires north of Tucson: the Bighorn Fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains, and the Tortolita Fire in the Tortolita Mountains. Lightning storms caused both fires, which are being worsened by gusty weather and high temperatures. The Bighorn Fire ignited on the evening of June 5, burning across the…
Petition To Defund Tucson Police Garners Thousands of Signatures
An online petition demanding the Tucson Police Department be disbanded and its funds reallocated toward housing, mental health services and other community resources has gained over 9,000 supporters during its first day. The petition is planned to be submitted to city officials in advance of the City Council budget hearing today at 4:30 p.m., and…
Ben’s Bells’ Tips to Stand Up for Kindness
Anyone who is in Tucson for any amount of time is bound to hear about Ben’s Bells. The organization has embraced “Be Kind” as its motto, greatly benefiting many in our city as it has spread its message to young and old alike. In light of recent events that have taken our nation and the…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Monday, June 8: Confirmed Cases Top 27K; 1,047 Now Dead from Virus; AHDS Admits To Screwing Up Coronavirus Hospital Numbers
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona surpassed 27,000 as of Monday, June 8, with another 789 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 3,154 of the state’s 27,678 confirmed cases. A total of 1,047 people have died after contracting the virus, including 205 in…
Claytoonz: Full Of Crap For Kap
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Your Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Sunday, June 7: Confirmed Cases Jump By Nearly 1500 Again, Bringing State’s Total to Nearly 27K; 1,044 Now Dead from COVID-19; Banner May Need to Move to Reserve ICU Beds
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona closed in on 27,000 as of Sunday, June 7, with another 1,438 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 3,098 of the state’s 26,889 confirmed cases. A total of 1,044 people have died after contracting the virus, including…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 Roundup for Saturday, June 6: Total Confirmed Cases Top 25K After Today’s Jump of 1119; 1,042 Now Dead After Contracting Virus; Hospital Numbers Reaching New Highs; Banner Warns Bed Crisis on the Horizon
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona surpassed 25,000 as of Saturday, June 6, with another 1,119 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County had 2,950 of the state’s 25,451 confirmed cases. A total of 1,042 people have died after contracting the virus, including 205 in…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 PM Update for Friday, June 5: What We’ve Covered Today
Here are the stories we covered for you today, and a few stories you may have missed from this past week. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona surpassed 24,000 as of Friday, June 5, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. That’s a single-day jump of more than 1,500 cases. While international conventions…
Pima County to Protesters: Remember, there’s still a pandemic
In her June 5 video address to the community, Pima County Health Department Director Theresa Cullen had a simple message for anyone planning to attend this Saturday’s rally at the University of Arizona: Don’t forget about COVID-19. “We want to remind you that there is a pandemic, and there are things you can do to…
New Trump Appointee to Foreign Aid Agency Has Denounced Liberal Democracy and “Our Homo-Empire”
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their biggest stories as soon as they’re published. A new Trump appointee to the United States’ foreign aid agency has a history of online posts denouncing liberal democracy and has said that the country is in the clutches of a “homo-empire”…
Banner Shares Safety Tips Against Riot Control Sprays
While international conventions outlaw the US from using chemical agents in warfare, we still use them on our own citizens. In response to a wave of national riots and police tear-gassing, Banner Health’s Poison and Drug Information Center recently shared a list of safety tips if the public is exposed to these riot control agents.…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Friday, June 5: Total Confirmed Cases Jump by 1500 To Top 24K; Deaths Top 1K; Hospitalizations Increase by 155 To Reach 1,234; Ducey Says He Anticipated Increase in Cases When He Lifted Stay-at-Home Order
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona surpassed 24,000 as of Friday, June 5, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. That’s a single-day jump of more than 1,500 cases. Pima County had 2,883 of the state’s 24,332 confirmed cases. The death toll topped 1,000 today, with 1,012 dead across the state, including…
Claytoonz: It’s Trippy
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Gov. Ducey Says He Anticipated Current Rise in Cases When He Lifted Stay-at-Home Order
NOW Arizona Gov @dougducey says there’s no trend on this bar graph showing rising CV cases. AZ No.3 in US for case spike over last week. #12News pic.twitter.com/gVB02KMVz3 — BrahmResnik (@brahmresnik) June 4, 2020 Gov. Doug Ducey said the current rise in COVID-19 cases and emergency room visits was expected when he lifted the states’s…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 PM Update for Thursday, June 4: What We’ve Covered Today
Starting in on the downswing of the week, let’s take a look at the stories we covered for you today. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona reached 22,753 as of Wednesday, June 3, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. That’s a jump of 530 from yesterday and a total of 2,600…
Tickets still available for Gaslight Music Hall drive-in concerts
If there’s a hole in your heart yearning for live music, look no further than The Gaslight Music Hall’s upcoming drive-in concerts—tickets for which are still available now. Even better, the Oro Valley venue has three shows booked next week. Performing Tuesday, June 9 is the George Howard Motown Band. Backroads Country Band takes the…
GOP eyeing new convention sites, raising hopes of Arizona officials
With the Republican National Committee actively seeking new homes for its August convention, some in Arizona are angling for the state to get in line with the long list of other potential suitors. The RNC may still hold part of the convention in Charlotte – or it may not – as officials there say lingering…
Puzzle of the Day: Can You Spot the Pattern?
NOW Arizona Gov @dougducey says there’s no trend on this bar graph showing rising CV cases. AZ No.3 in US for case spike over last week. #12News pic.twitter.com/gVB02KMVz3 — BrahmResnik (@brahmresnik) June 4, 2020
Marana planning to reopen splash pads this Saturday
As the summer heat rolls in, people start looking for ways to cool off. Marana residents can add the town’s splash pads to their list of activities starting this Saturday—as long as everything goes to plan. “It will be a little bit of wait and see as to how things work out,” Town Manager Jamsheed…
Tear Gas Is Way More Dangerous Than Police Let On — Especially During the Coronavirus Pandemic
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Click here to read their biggest stories as soon as they’re published. When Amira Chowdhury joined a protest in Philadelphia against police violence on Monday, she wore a mask to protect herself and others against the coronavirus. But when officers launched tear gas into the…
District 4 Candidates for Board of Supervisors Talk about COVID-19, County 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…
March For Justice Tucson June 3 Rally
More than 1,000 Tucsonans attended a rally held by March For Justice Tucson, a group founded and run by young Black women, on the University of Arizona mall, in front of Old Main, on Wednesday, June 3. The peaceful event was an opportunity for Black members of the community to share their personal experiences with…
Your Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Thursday, June 4: Confirmed Cases Reach 22,753 in AZ; 996 Now Dead; Curfew in Place But You Can Still Go Out To Dinner
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona reached 22,753 as of Thursday, June 4, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. That’s a jump of 530 from yesterday and a total of 2,600 new cases in the last three days. Pima County had 2,669 confirmed cases. The coronavirus had killed 996 people statewide,…
Claytoonz: Who Dat Say What?
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Fox News Poll: Kelly “Trouncing” McSally by 13 Points in AZ Senate Race, Trump Trails Biden in State
This week’s Skinny delves into appointed U.S. Sen. Martha McSally’s campaign tailspin, but if you need more evidence, here’s a new Fox News poll that hit yesterday after our deadline. McSally is trailing former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly by 13 percentage points in Arizona, according the survey. Half of the voters surveyed say they plan…
Lesson Plans
Public schools and the UA look to reopen in the fall
Cabin Fever
As confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue to climb, voters are split on whether AZ is reopening too soon but want to visit family and friends again
Damage Control
Downtown restaurateurs recover from last weekend’s downtown riot
Quick Bites
AS BUSINESSES SLOWLY GET back to (the new) normal, we’ll be highlighting local restaurants that are re-opening, as well as talking about what new foods and regulations they have. If you have news about restaurants reopening, email jeff@tucsonlocalmedia.com
MMJ: Just What the Doctor Ordered
Acclaimed MMJ Doc Heather Moroso is creating new wellness center
Southern Arizona COVID-19 Weekly Roundup
The COVID-19 Centric Stories We Covered
The Skinny
Republican Martha McSally’s Senate campaign is in a tailspin
