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Alfresco In Tucson : Here are 20 of the best patios for outdoor dining this spring
Springtime in Tucson is the reason we endure triple-digit summers that seem to last longer and longer annually. Considering we live in a place that gets more than 350 days of sunshine each year, Tucsonans don’t desire but require patio space when they’re set on soaking up the solar rays. Over the past year, we’ve…
The Daily Saguaro, Sunday 4/4/21
On the Sendero Esperanza Trail
The Daily Saguaro, Saturday 4/3/21
The blue blue skies of Tucson…
The Daily Saguaro, Friday 4/2/21
This entire saguaro has been weathered down to this…
The Daily Saguaro, Thursday 4/1/21
From last year’s crop of blooms.
Advocates call on Biden to ‘tear down this wall,’ repair border damage
WASHINGTON – Advocates called on President Joe Biden to “tear down this wall” Tuesday and fulfill his campaign promise of stopping the border wall construction that he put on hold in January. The meeting of border-state lawmakers, advocates and tribal members came 70 days after Biden, in one of his first acts as president, halted…
Ward 3 Candidate Kevin Dahl Files Nominating Petitions, Application for City Matching Funds
Democrat Kevin Dahl filed his nominating petitions on Tuesday for the open seat in northside Tucson’s Ward 3. “We hit the ground running with strong support from friends, neighbors, and Tucson’s environmental leaders,” said Dahl, a resident of Ward’s Samos neighborhood near Campbell and Grant for more than three decades. “Our message of addressing climate change,…
UA Hosting Weekly ‘Science of Water’ Lectures through April
Every Thursday this April, the University of Arizona’s College of Science will present a new topic relating to the science of water, as part of their 16th annual lecture series. The free, online lectures will range from the water on Earth’s cosmic origins to the challenges of conservation to the Colorado River. The lectures will…
Special Olympics athletes build connections, form community through esports
WADDELL – Nicholas Watson, 17, has spent the past eight years fine-tuning his esports skills and playing his favorite sports-focused games, including Madden. Now, thanks to Special Olympics Arizona and the Arizona Interscholastic Association, Watson plays Rocket League on Phoenix Canyon View High School’s unified esports team, which started its spring season earlier in March.…
The Daily Saguaro, Wednesday 3/31/21
By the archery range
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Wednesday, March 31: State deaths nearly 17K; Pima County follows Tucson in keeping mask mandate in place; Here’s how to set up vaccine appointments, COVID tests
With 733 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases neared 842,000 as of Tuesday, March 31, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 115 new cases today, has seen 112,667 of the state’s 841,811 confirmed cases. With 26 new deaths reported this morning, a…
Arizona highway deaths rose during pandemic, as driving declined
WASHINGTON – Traffic deaths in Arizona surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, even as the number of miles driven in the state appeared to be decreasing, according to preliminary statistics from 2020. There were 1,072 deaths on the state’s highways in 2020, the most in at least the past 10 years and a sharp increase from…
Pima County To Enforce Mask Mandate, Not Worried About Legal Challenges; ‘Bring It On,’ Garcia Says
Pima County’s mask mandate remains in effect and health inspectors have the legal authority to enforce those mandates in food establishments, county officials argued on Tuesday morning. In a March 26 letter, the Pima County Attorney’s Office informed County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry that Gov. Doug Ducey does not have the legal authority to prevent the…
UA Women’s Basketball Team Is Headed for the Final Four on Friday
Aari McDonald will probably never have to pay for another meal in Tucson for as long as she lives. The Arizona Wildcat All-American point guard—an absolute Diminutive Badass—scored 33 points and made a dramatic late-game return to the court after suffering a cringe-inducing ankle sprain to lead Arizona into the Final Four for the first…
PPE trash, plastic – and feces – mar many beaches and scenic spots across the Southwest
LOS ANGELES – Face masks, plastic bottles and bags – and feces, both dog and human – are some of the unsightly waste you could encounter these days while hiking in the red rocks of Sedona. Discarded masks also litter the beaches of Southern California, which already were battling a growing scourge of plastic and…
The Daily Saguaro, Tuesday, 3/30/21
Shot in the Tucson Mountains.
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Tuesday, March 30: Cases top 841K; Health officials urge caution over variant strains; UA moving to larger classes; Here’s how to set up vaccine appointments, COVID tests
With 586 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 841,000 as of Tuesday, March 30, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 85 new cases today, has seen 112,562 of the state’s 841,078 confirmed cases. With 23 new deaths reported this morning, a…
‘Navajo Code Talkers Day’ to become official state holiday
Aug. 14 is now National Navajo Code Talkers Day in Arizona after Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation on Monday creating the holiday. The holiday honors the courage and critical role Native American Code Talkers played during WWII. “The Navajo Code Talkers are American heroes,” Ducey said. “They assisted on every major operation involving the U.S.…
UA Transitions To Larger In-Person Classes, But Urges Compliance With COVID-19 Mitigation Restrictions
The University of Arizona will offer larger in-person classes on Monday, but with “COVID exhaustion” and multiple variants of COVID-19 on campus, President Robert C. Robbins urged continued compliance to mitigation strategies. University coronavirus policies will not change despite Gov. Doug Ducey’s lifting of COVID-19 related restrictions last week. “We are in the fourth quarter…
MOVIE REVIEW: Bob Odenkirk Punches His Way Through ‘Nobody’ in Convincing Fashion
FILM REVIEW: NOBODY Now Playing at Roadhouse Cinemas and Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18 Bob Odenkirk has been one of my comic idols for the past 30 years. His impersonation of Charles Manson on The Ben Stiller Show had me hooked, and his run on Mr. Show with partner-in-crime David Cross solidified him as one of…
Neighbors hope for relief from crematorium smoke as COVID-19 deaths decrease
PHOENIX – Rows of cardboard boxes containing corpses line the walls of refrigerated storage containers, waiting for charred human remains to be cleared from the incineration chamber to make room for the next body. The cremations continue through the night in a scene that has unfolded across America as COVID-19 deaths have risen to more…
The Daily Saguaro, Monday 3/29/21
Photos were shot in and around the Tucson Mountains.
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Monday, March 28: AZ cases top 840K; Ducey OKs Pima County FEMA vax center; Cases continue to decline but health officials urge caution; Here’s how to set up vaccine appointments, COVID tests
With 604 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 840,000 as of Monday, March 29, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 135 new cases today, has seen 112,477 of the state’s 840,492 confirmed cases. With no new deaths reported this morning, a…
The Daily Saguaro, Sunday 3/28/21
Photos were shot in and around the Tucson Mountains.
The Daily Saguaro, Saturday, 3/27/21
Photos were shot in and around the Tucson Mountains.
Arizona To Allow Pima County Federal Vax Site, As Long As It’s Independent of the State
The Arizona Department of Health Services will allow Pima County to independently work with FEMA to run a federal vaccination POD, as long as it does not impact state allocation, said ADHS Director Dr. Cara Christ on Friday afternoon. Christ said a letter was sent before Friday’s media briefing that allows Pima County to work…
Fox Theatre’s New Poster Project Reminds Us To Mask Up
While the governor may have kicked the state mask mandate to the curb, our friends at the Fox Theatre are reminding us to mask up with their new “hacked” movie poster series hanging outside the venue. Created by Sante Fé artist Mattew Chase Daniel, the Masking Movie Posters project features several doctored iconic movie posters—from…
The Daily Saguaro, Friday 3/26/21
Photos were shot in and around the Tucson Mountains, especially in Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park West.
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Friday, March 26: Romero continues mask mandate despite Ducey’s order; Medically compromised county residents now eligible for vax
With 571 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases passed 838,000 as of Friday, March 26, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 89 new cases today, has seen 112,134 of the state’s 838,558 confirmed cases. With 24 new deaths reported this morning, a…
As Ducey Lifts Restrictions, Romero Says Tucson Mask Mandate To Remain in Place
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said Thursday she has no intention of removing the local mask mandate for the health and safety of Tucsonans. Romero’s comments at an afternoon press conference came after Gov. Doug Ducey’s earlier announcement that lifted statewide COVID restrictions on businesses and gatherings and included a “phase out” of mask mandates. (Read more…
Arizona State Fair Board to Relocate 2021 State Fair After 116 Years
On Thursday, March 25, the Arizona Exposition and State Fair Board unanimously decided to relocate the Arizona State Fair to a larger location for 2021 after 116 years. The state fair, set for last fall, was cancelled due to the pandemic. The Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) offered to host the 2021 fair on the…
Ducey Ends Mask Mandate and Other Restrictions as Arizona Distributes More Than 3 Million Vaccinations
With more than 3 million Arizonans now vaccinated, Gov. Doug Ducey has announced updates to the state COVID-19 measures for local ordinances, businesses, and events. The new changes include: Mask mandates by local governments will be phased out. The governor still encourages those who have not been vaccinated to wear a mask. Events with more…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Thursday, March 25: Ducey explains why he blocked FEMA from vaccinating 210K more people in Pima County; Medically compromised county residents now eligible for vax; Set up vaccine appointments, COVID tests
With 138 new cases reported today, the total number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases nears 838,000 as of Thursday, March 25, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 47 new cases today, has seen 112,045 of the state’s 837,987 confirmed cases. With 32 new deaths reported this morning, a…
Guest Opinion: McCain Would Be Ashamed Of Efforts To Restrict Voting In Arizona
“There have been irregularities in our elections, sometimes even fraud, but never to an extent that it affected the outcome. We should all be proud of that, and respect the decision of the majority even when we disagree with it. Especially when we disagree with it.” – Sen. John McCain John McCain would be ashamed…
Recreational marijuana sales race ahead, but industry equity falls behind
TEMPE – Sales of recreational marijuana are surging at Arizona retailers that, after selling medical marijuana for nearly a decade, now accommodate a crop of new customers the state estimates could push revenue to $1 billion in two years. Dispensaries in the state started recreational sales Jan. 22, after Arizona became one of four states…
The Skinny: 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…
Support System: Arizona Gives Day Is More Important Than Ever
This time last year, few could have imagined the devastation the COVID pandemic would unleash on the world. Twelve months later, with millions of people receiving the vaccine and daily stats showing mostly positive signs, you can almost hear a collective sigh of relief as we try to reclaim some sense of ordinariness. We’re not…
Current Affair: Local Stewards Facilitate Ongoing Rehabilitation Of The Santa Cruz River
Since November 2020, a group of local volunteers has worked to remove the garbage and invasive species surrounding the downtown reach of the Santa Cruz River in Tucson. Through their efforts, the group hopes to encourage the return of more native species to the urban ecosystem and foster stronger community connections to the river. The…
Gimme Shelter: Bread & Roses Opens As Temporary Home For LGBTQ+ Youth
davis de dios productions Hotel Congress’ plaza is back in action and hosting live music and events six nights a week.
Migrant Caravans: Photos From The New Deal Era Document Desperate Times
On a hot Arizona day in 1940, a little girl climbed out of a filthy trailer on the old 87 road south of Chandler, when Chandler was nothing but cotton fields. The child’s dress was dirty, and her feet were bare. She looked weary and woeful, and no wonder. She was the child of desperate…
Fluttering Away: Butterfly Populations In Western United States Declining Every Year
A new report examining more than 400 species of butterflies throughout the western United States has found that butterfly populations are declining at an estimated rate of 1.6% per year, and these declines are particularly associated with warmer autumns. The report was published this month in the journal Science, and utilized the power of citizen scientists…
Arts Bloom Again: SAACA’s Spring Art Sale Returns With Reduced Capacity
Throughout the pandemic, the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance has worked to provide opportunities for local artists—one of the hardest hit industries. Now, with Arizona’s COVID cases nearing their third straight month of decline, SAACA is hosting their largest event since quarantine began more than a year ago. What was previously known as the…
Editor’s Note: Fresh Air, Fresh Food
With more of us getting vaccinated and COVID cases in decline, we here at Tucson Weekly World Headquarters are getting out, enjoying the spring weather and returning to some of our favorite restaurant patios. Some of us haven’t done anything outside of takeout for the last year, so sitting down and enjoying a meal and…
