Tribes welcome COVID-19 relief funds, say deep-rooted problems remain
WASHINGTON – Advocates said the billions in aid slated for Native Americans under the latest COVID-19 relief bill is welcome, but they told a House committee Tuesday that a one-shot infusion will not solve all the challenges facing tribes. “While the American Rescue Plan provides much-needed support to Indian Country’s ongoing requests, the pandemic is…
The Daily Saguaro, Thursday 3/25/21
Photos were shot in and around the Tucson Mountains, especially in Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park West.
Board of Supervisors Calls on Ducey To Reconsider His Decision To Block FEMA Vax Site in Pima County
The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a resolution requesting Gov. Doug Ducey reconsider denying permission to set up a federal vaccination POD in Pima County. The board also voted to seek help from the federal government if declined a second time at an emergency meeting on Wednesday. The county would request…
Pima County expands vaccine eligibility for everyone over 55, those at risk
Pima County will expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility on Thursday to anyone 55 and older and anyone older than 16 with at-risk circumstances. Starting Thursday, anyone living with a high-risk medical condition or disability, experiencing homelessness or living in a group setting, or receiving in-home or long-term care can get the vaccine. Some of the high-risk…
The Daily Saguaro, Wednesday 3/24/21
Photos were shot in and around the Tucson Mountains, especially in Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park West. All photos were shot with an iPhone 6, except for a few recent ones on an iPhone 12. There is no photo manipulation except the color filters in-camera. These are all straight shots.
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Wednesday, March 24: Local mayors ask Ducey not to block FEMA vax site in Pima County; Vaccinations open today to those 16 and older; Here’s how to set up vaccine appointments, COVID tests
With 605 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 837,000 as of Wednesday, March 24, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 48 new cases today, has seen 111,998 of the state’s 837,849 confirmed cases. With 53 new deaths reported this morning, a…
Arizona neighborhoods join Little Free Pantry movement to fight hunger
Standing side by side in the midday sun, two women sort through a box filled with peanut butter, bread, rice and all kinds of canned goods. “Here’s some cat food,” Elvia Schwenke says. “Oh, yay!” Laura Stiltner replies as she stacks the items into eight old school lockers that sit outside the Oracle Community Center.…
Steve Roach Hosting Virtual Music Festival this Weekend
Steve Roach, Tucson’s resident electronic music pioneer, is hosting a three-day gathering of “sonic innovators and ambient architects” this weekend. SoundQuest Fest runs from Friday, March 26 to Sunday, March 28, and will include a variety of local and international musicians, including Robert Rich, Serena Gabriel, Erik Wøllo, Michael Stearns, Madhavi Devi and more. SoundQuest…
Grijalva: Ducey Should Stop Playing Politics, Allow Pima County To Work with FEMA To Set Up More Vaccination Centers
After learning that Gov. Doug Ducey was refusing to allow Federal Emergency Management Agency to set up additional vaccination sites in Pima County, Congressman Raul Grijalva wrote to the Biden administration to ask FEMA to bypass Ducey and work directly with county officials on the sites. “As we’re rushing to vaccinate all Arizonans, it’s absurd…
Ducey to Pima County: Drop Dead
Few people will argue that Gov. Doug Ducey has done an outstanding job in battling the coronavirus in Arizona. Twice, the state has been a global hotspot for the outbreak; he refused to shut down nightclubs (including those owned by the family of his own healthcare advisor) until the disease got so out of control…
The Daily Saguaro: Tuesday 3/23/21
Photos were shot in and around the Tucson Mountains, especially in Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park West. All photos were shot with an iPhone 6, except for a few recent ones on an iPhone 12. There is no photo manipulation except the color filters in-camera. These are all straight shots.
Movie Roundup: Oscar Nominated Films Continue to Screen While the Bloated “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” Streams
Some Oscar-nominated films are still getting screen time here in Tucson: Nomadland, nominated for six Oscars including Best Picture, continues to screen at The Loft as part of the Open Air Cinema series and at Roadhouse Cinemas. Minari, nominated for 6 Oscars including Best Picture, is also screening at The Loft and Roadhouse Cinemas. Nomadland still screening…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Tuesday, March 23: State opens vaccinations to all residents 16 and older; 53 new deaths; Here’s how to set up vaccine appointments, COVID tests
With 507 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 837,000 as of Tuesday, March 23, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 38 new cases today, has seen 111,950 of the state’s 837,244 confirmed cases. With 53 new deaths reported this morning, a…
Dry to the bone: Can Booker, Murray break decades-long Arizona pro sports drought?
PHOENIX – Arizona is in a drought. That’s not exactly breaking news, but all the water in the world won’t quench the thirst of pro sports fans around the Valley. With no disrespect toward the Mercury or Rattlers, who have been like water bottles found in a sea of sand that is the Arizona sports…
UA women’s basketball team prevails in NCAA first round
OK, it’s 11 a.m. on a weekday morning. Most decent people are working. Spring Break is over and some politicians have declared that the pandemic is no longer a thing, so kids can be back at school. But a few of us lucky ones get to be at home, watching the University of Arizona women’s…
State-Run Vaccine Sites Available to All Adults Starting Wednesday, March 24
Gov. Doug Ducey announced today that Arizona’s state-run vaccine sites in Maricopa, Pima and Yuma counties will be open to all Arizonans 16 and older beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday. “Our goal has been and remains to get vaccine into the community as quickly, widely and equitably as possible,” said Gov. Ducey. “Given a thorough review…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Monday, March 22: Conditions continue to improve; Schools reopening for in-person learning; Here’s how to set up vaccine appointments, COVID tests
With 484 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 836,000 as of Monday, March 22, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 87 new cases today, has seen 111,912 of the state’s 836,737 confirmed cases. With no new deaths reported this morning, a…
The Daily Saguaro: Monday 3/22/2021
Photos were shot in and around the Tucson Mountains, especially in Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park West. All photos were shot with an iPhone 6, except for a few recent ones on an iPhone 12. There is no photo manipulation except the color filters in-camera. These are all straight shots.
Thrift shops and sustainable fashion outlets thrive during the pandemic
PHOENIX – Being an environmentally friendly consumer means more than recycling paper and avoiding plastic. For those who avoid fast fashion – cheap, trendy items that often come from sweatshops – thrift and resale/trade shops have offered a smart way to shop. Although the COVID-19 pandemic changed how such stores could operate, Goodwill locations and smaller…
The Daily Saguaro: Sunday, 3/21
Photos were shot in and around the Tucson Mountains, especially in Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park West. All photos were shot with an iPhone 6, except for a few recent ones on an iPhone 12. There is no photo manipulation except the color filters in-camera. These are all straight shots.
The Daily Saguaro: Saturday, 3/20/21
Photos were shot in and around the Tucson Mountains, especially in Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park West. All photos were shot with an iPhone 6, except for a few recent ones on an iPhone 12. There is no photo manipulation except the color filters in-camera. These are all straight shots.
Tucson Councilman Steve Kozachik Files To Run for Reelection in Ward 6, Says He Won’t Accept Campaign Contributions
Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik said today that he would not accept campaign funds in his bid for reelection this year. He said it would be better to give money to a local nonprofit or business. “People are working hard to get back on their feet as we hopefully see an off-ramp to COVID-19,” Kozachik…
Mayor Romero Staying In Tucson, Not Interested in HUD Job
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said today she planned to stay in Tucson and would not be accepting a rumored job in the Biden administration as a deputy director in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. “Although it would be an honor to even be considered for such an important post, my heart is here…
Guest Opinion: How I Got My First Vaccine: The Heroes of El Rio Health
As millions of Americans nationwide sat on their computers and telephones for days unable to score one precious .5 ml dose of COVID-19 vaccine, in Pima County, frustration grew and soared. Then, near the end of February, Tucson’s local El Rio Health organization worked out a community plan with the Arizona Department of Health Services,…
In-person trail racing in high demand as COVID-19 restriction fatigue sets in
PHOENIX – A beautiful sunrise on an early Saturday morning greeted the trail runners as they meandered through Mesquite Canyon. The scenic view from the White Tank Mountain Recreational Park in Waddell was just one of the perks for the athletes who competed in the race. Whether they were casual runners participating in the 8K…
Arizona Third in Nation for Vaccination Coverage of Vulnerable Communities; Pima County To Continue Testing Centers
Arizona ranks No. 3 in vaccination coverage for high-vulnerability counties as determined by the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) in a report released earlier this week by The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The index is a nationally accepted framework, using 15 indicators, including metrics for socioeconomic status, age and disability status, and minority…
DHS chief defends Biden border policy at time of ‘historic’ challenges
WASHINGTON – Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defended the Biden administration’s immigration policies Wednesday, but conceded the department faces “historic and unprecedented challenges” coping with a surge in migrants, particularly unaccompanied minors, in recent months. Mayorkas’ comments came in his first appearance as secretary before a congressional committee, where Republican lawmakers continued to blame the…
House OKs bills easing path to citizenship for undocumented residents
WASHINGTON – The House passed a pair of bills Thursday that would provide a path to citizenship for Dreamers and legal status to undocumented farmworkers, potentially affecting millions in the U.S. and tens of thousands in Arizona. Republican critics derided the measures as little more than amnesty for people who came to this country illegally,…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Friday, March 19: UA POD opening 12K vaccine appointments at 11 a.m. today; 46 new deaths; Here’s how to set up vaccine appointments, COVID tests
With 423 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 835,000 as of Friday, March 19, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 75 new cases today, has seen 111,582 of the state’s 834,607 confirmed cases. With 46 new deaths reported this morning, a…
The Daily Saguaro
Photos were shot in and around the Tucson Mountains, especially in Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park West. All photos were shot with an iPhone 6, except for a few recent ones on an iPhone 12. There is no photo manipulation except the color filters in-camera. These are all straight shots.
Judge: Tape shows Chansley’s ‘detachment from reality’ in riot defense
WASHINGTON – An attorney for Arizona native Jacob Chansley, the face-painted “Q-Anon Shaman” charged in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, dismissed new government video showing his client as part of the mob that broke into the building and confronted police. The attorney, Albert Watkins, said two videos released this week are “one-dimensional snippets” that lack…
New vaccination appointments will be announced on Fridays
The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) will release new COVID-19 vaccination appointments every Friday. Appointments will be available at 11 a.m. every Friday for the next week. Each Wednesday, ADHS will announce on Twitter, @AZDHS and Facebook the approximate number of first-dose appointments available. Next week, the University of Arizona POD will have about…
Independent Tucson film ‘All We Have’ screening at Harkins
An independent romance film created here in Tucson with a local cast and crew is continuing its run at Harkins’ Tucson Spectrum 18 this week. The film, which debuted in late February, was written and directed by local filmmaker Edgar Ybarra, who works as a photojournalist at KVOA News 4 Tucson. “Tucsonans have and continue…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Thursday, March 18: AZ hits 1 million vaccinations; 59 new deaths; Here’s how to set up vaccine appointments, COVID tests
With 284 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 834,000 as of Thursday, March 18, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 80 new cases today, has seen 111,507 of the state’s 834,607 confirmed cases. With 59 new deaths reported this morning, a…
The Skinny: Kirkpatrick Calls It Quits, Won’t Seek Another Term in 2022
Fresh on the heels of the signing of the $1.9 trillion COVID relief package, Arizona Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick announced last week she will not seek a sixth term in 2022. The congresswoman represents Southern Arizona’s District 2, which includes midtown Tucson, eastern Pima County and Cochise County. Kirkpatrick, 70, was first elected in CD2 in…
Moon Shot: UA Researchers Propose ‘Lunar Ark’ for Global Survival
On the remote arctic archipelago Svalbard lies a vault containing nearly one million seeds that can be used to repopulate threatened plant species and ensure biodiversity in the face of a potential global crisis. But this seed bank has a potential major weakness: It is on the planet Earth. On Saturday, March 6, University of…
Rocco’s Piccata: American Take On Standard Italian Recipe Gets A Little Better Thanks To Tucson’s Favorite Chicagoan Chef And A Batch of Meyer Lemons
You know Anthony ‘Rocco’ DiGrazia from his lionized restaurant dedicated to all things Windy City related, Rocco’s Little Chicago. But did you know the Chicago native also spends his free time perfecting recipes from the old county? DiGrazia shares with us one of his staple comfort food recipes that is sure to please all carnivores—…
Healthy Support: Local Gallery Owners Win TMA’s 2021 Ambassador Circle Lifetime Achievement Award
Mark and Kathleen Sublette will receive the 2021 Ambassador Circle Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tucson Museum of Art for their commitment to the preservation of the art of the American West and the role they’ve played in expanding access to art in our community. The Ambassador Circle Lifetime Achievement Award was created in 2017…
Editor’s Note: Walking On Sunshine
Public records aren’t much good if the public can’t see them, which happens way too often in government agencies large and small. Every year, the media celebrates Sunshine Week by reminding readers about the importance of government doing its work in the open. As we have done before in recent years, we bring you The…
The Foilies: Recognizing the Year’s Worst in Government Transparency
Compiled by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and MuckRock News Illustrations by Caitlyn Crites
MAMMA’s Medicine: Advocacy Group Seeks To Add Autism to List of Qualifying Conditions for Medical Marijuana Card
Political activism can create strange bedfellows. In this case, a conservative Christian organization is teaming up with the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws to advocate for medical marijuana access for kids—and adults—with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Both Arizona NORML and Mothers Advocating Medical Marijuana for Autism are supporting state legislation to allow autism…
Crowded House: Casa Alitas Faces Increased Pressure As More Migrants Seek Refugee Status
Casa Alitas, the temporary shelter run by Catholic Community Services at the Pima County juvenile detention center, faces an increase in people without the capacity and the funds to shelter them. In a memo to the Pima County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 16, County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP),…
Suppressing The Vote and Opposing Covid Relief: Just Another Week For The Republican Party
Don’t you just love all levels of government in action? Or is it government inaction? • In Phoenix, Republicans are still churning out racist legislation at a furious pace. What’s really funny is how they get theatrically offended when (appropriate) charges of racism are leveled at them. Every single piece of legislation that deals with…
Former Mayor Bob Walkup Dies at 84: ‘Always Strived To Create the Best Tucson Possible’
Former Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup has died after battling lung disease. He was 84. The retired Hughes/Raytheon executive beat the odds to win three terms as a Republican in Democrat-dominated Tucson. A technocrat, Walkup worked to structurally stabilize the city’s budget but set the stage for downtown revitalization, although much of the development happened after…
