Recognizing The Year’s Worst In Government Transparency
Each year during Sunishine Week (March 13-19), The Foilies serve up tongue-in-cheek “awards” for government agencies and assorted institutions that stand in the way of access to information. The Electronic Frontier Foundation and MuckRock combine forces to collect horror stories about Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and state-level public records requests from journalists and transparency…
The Daily Agenda: Election Lie Bills Get Knocked Down
It’s primetime for moderate Republicans … It’s better to be rich than to be not rich … And it’s a big day for license plates. Editor’s note: The Arizona Agenda is a Substack newsletter about Arizona government and politics run by Rachel Leingang and Hank Stephenson. You can find their archives and subscribe at arizonaagenda.com.…
Receding Wave: After Two Years and More Than 27K Deaths in Arizona, COVID is in Retreat Again—For Now
As Pima County reaches the second anniversary of its first official COVID-19 case, the Omicron wave has mostly receded, hospitals are seeing relief from high caseloads, fewer people are wearing masks and many businesses have adjusted to a new normal. COVID fatigue is undoubtedly setting in even among those who have been following strict precautions.…
Class Struggle A ‘Punitive Model’ for Failing Schools: GOP Proposal Would Let Charters Take Over District Schools
In 2019, there were 180 Arizona schools that received a D or F rating and new legislation given preliminary approval by the House would hand over their operations or shut them down if they don’t improve. House Bill 2808 establishes the Arizona Achievement District. This district is made up of high-performing district and charter schools…
City Week: Weekly Pics
Editor’s Note: While we are delighted to see Tucsonans once again gathering for fun events, we are also aware that variants continue to spread. Please consider getting vaccinated against COVID if you haven’t yet. Music of Dreams: An Evening of Japanese Flute. Visit Yume Japanese Gardens this weekend for a night full of music and…
An Act Divided: Delayed by COVID, Hedwig and the Angry Inch Makes Triumphant Return
Arizona onstage productions will be presenting Hedwig and the Angry Inch from March 18 to March 27. This production comes almost exactly two years after it originally closed after opening night due to COVID-19. Kevin Johnson, the artistic director of Arizona Onstage, explained they were told right before the show opened in 2020 by the…
Shakespeare Remix Audience Members Enter the Action in This Multimedia, Dystopian Production of Hamlet: Fine Revolution
Kevin Black, a producer, writer and director who is also a professor of practice at the University of Arizona’s School of Theatre, Film and Television, has loved Hamlet for decades. In 2018, though, he started to get serious about doing a unique, multimedia production of the show, featuring film clips, projections, and an immersive audience…
Hibernian Happenings: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day With a Performance by Cassie and Maggie MacDonald
After two sorry years of shutdown—thanks, COVID—Tucson is once again bursting with craic, the Irish word for good fun. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival is back, and so are concerts of Celtic music, dishes of Irish stew and a wee dram of spirits. You’ll even find some Irish art. On the night before…
News Nuggets
Speaking of Southern Arizona NORML: The volunteer organization will host its monthly trash cleanup of Campbell Avenue between Grant and River Road on March 12 at 7 a.m. Meet at the Trader Joe’s parking lot on Campbell Avenue and the Rillito River at 7 a.m. Cleaning supplies will be provided. For more information, go to…
XOXO: Mark Your Calendars
Mark your calendars… THURSDAY, MARCH 10 Since their formation at the University of North Texas in 2000—where Mike Eli and James Young were dorm roommates their freshman year—the Eli Young Band has landed 14 singles on the Billboard charts, including four No. 1 hits. “Love Talking,” their brand-new single, finds the song’s protagonist professing his…
Two Years Gone
I can’t say I want to celebrate COVID’s second anniversary here in Pima County, but I am glad to see the number of cases once again in decline. It’s been a long two years and the damn bug has done a lot of damage to our community. As my cover story in this week’s issue…
Danehy: Too Many People Are Still In Denial About COVID Vaccines
Near the end of the World War II film The Big Red One, some American soldiers, having learned that the war had officially ended four hours earlier, frantically try to save the life of the wounded German, with Lee Marvin’s character saying that they’re not going to let that guy be the last person to…
