Relationship Issues
If there’s one thing that gets the attention of Gov. Janet Napolitano, it’s bad press. The story of Amy Gile, a CPS caseworker who ended up dating the abusive dad she met while watching out for his kids, got enough bad ink to lead CPS to send out a press release saying that the agency…
Schrödinger’s Budget
House Speaker Jim Weiers is a regular Dr. Frankenstein. Earlier today, he managed to restore the spark of life to the House budget that died yesterday by leaning on Rep. Trish Groe to vote for reconsideration, which is now scheduled for next Tuesday. In the meantime, the House budget is in a political superposition–like Schrödinger’s…
Some Late-Breaking Events
Here are a few events that were received too late for inclusion in our print issue. Saturday, May 19 from 4 to 7 p.m. Santa Rita Park Third Avenue and 20th Street Block Party. Enjoy a free block party with food, games and giveaways. Visit www.santaritapark.blogspot.com for info. Saturday, May 19 from 7 to 10…
Watch Your Step
For all you basketball fans out there—and more importantly, for all you Suns fans out there—tonight may not end in a victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Boris Diaw and Amare Stoudemire have been suspended from game 5 for stepping onto the court from the bench in reaction to Robert Horry blatantly and purposely shafting Steve…
More Police Officers Missing in Mexico
Former Star reporter and current Weekly contributor Michael Marizco has some more bad news about police officers in Mexico on his blog: Twelve police officers of the local police and Federal Preventive Police were kidnapped last night from the northern Sonora town of Cananea, federal sources say. A Mexican Army depot in that city was…
Budget Crunched
This week’s Skinny–available online shortly!–mentions that House Speaker Jim Weiers had given up negotiating with Senate President Tim Bee and was going to try to get his House budget passed. We said that he might have trouble doing that–and sho nuff, he did. Yesterday, the House budget went down to defeat, with 27 yea votes…
Immigration Breakthrough?
It appears Congress may be close to resolving a major sticking point regarding immigration reform: What to do about the 12 million–or more–illegal immigrants now in the country. Although one wing of the GOP will call anything that allows them to have even temporary legal status “amnesty” (we’re looking your way, Russell Pearce), it appears…
Welcome to Tent City, Paris!
Sheriff Joe wants Paris Hilton to serve time in Tent City. OMG, that would be so sick!
Beats Wankin’
It’s well-known that Beltway media elites and the Bush administration are extraordinarily chummy (see the sickening display that was MC Rove, for instance), but who knew they rocked together as well? Tonight, in an historic first, the pampered dandies of the networks, represented by CBS’ Bob Schieffer, and his Honkytonk Confidential outfit, will take on…
Rodney Glassman, Go-Getter
Democrat Rodney Glassman, who is seeking to replace retiring Ward 2 Councilwoman Carol West, turned in his nominating petitions today–which is the first day the city is accepting the paperwork. As you’d expect of such a go-getter, Rodney turned in the maximum 767 signatures. Team Glassman also notes that fundraising efforts continue. Rodney is striving…
Mob Scene
I gotta say: I’ve been pretty disappointed in The Sopranos in recent years. Some folks love David Chase’s deliberate storytelling; I’m finding it slow-paced. Too many storylines are abandoned before they’re fleshed out, and too many new characters have been crowding the show at the expense of those we’ve come to know and loathe. I…
God Have Mercy
The Lord is much with us these days, with skirmishes betweens believers and heathens getting a lot of attention in the media. The most idiotic moment this week? We’d vote for Nightline’s “no-holds barred battle over the existence of God” between former child star Kirk Cameron and a pair of sarcastic athiests. Slate has a…
Break Out Your Full-Body Condoms
The New England Journal of Medicine recently published a report that may make people want to hold off on casual oral sex, especially if they’re the type of person who can’t help but think about throat cancer when they’re sexually aroused. Michelle Fay Cortez explains why on Bloomberg.com: A study in 300 adults found that…
Predatory Lending Is Bad
A bunch o’ good organizations—you can get the whole list at StoptheSharks.com—are banding together for a community forum from 1:30 to 5 p.m. next Wednesday, May 16, at Temple Emanu-El, 225 N. Country Club Road. The goal of the community forum, according to the Web site? Come to our Tucson workshop to learn about our community’s…
Men Really Do Suck Sometimes
It’s official: In case some of you haven’t noticed, chivalry is seriously dead. I was hoping that it was just a cliché, and that there was hope out there for men to be the gentlemen they are, but alas, I was wrong. And that pisses me off. Exhibit A: Today, I was helping my sister move out…
Pumped
This just in from AAA Arizona: The price of gas in Arizona continues to climb, nearing record levels. The good news: Down here in Baja Arizona, our average prices are the lowest in the state. Currently in Arizona, the price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.079 per gallon, a four cent increase…
Mailbag
Howls of outrage and squeals of delight from our astonished fans.
Top Ten in Movies
Casa Video’s top rentals for the week
Manufacturing Your Meal
A guide to making the most of the Filipino cuisine at Pinoy Fast Food
The Intelligent Experiment
Could a Tucson co-op for disabled people become the greatest community since “The Golden Girls”?
What the Bones Are
Kelly Joe Phelps likes to keep his performances simple
Noshing Around
Stamp Out Hunger On Saturday, May 12, the U.S. Post Office teams up with Community Food Bank. Letter carriers will pick up cans of food to help tide over young working families through the long summer months. Last year, 266,000 pounds of food were collected. Mother’s Day Dining According to Zagat, more people eat out…
Limited Movement
Medicare policy changes could leave wheelchair users stuck at home
Decrowdification
Local up-and-comers The Crowd become an Empire
Weasel Words
A seemingly clear city ordinance regarding “A” Mountain sparks tortured explanations
Pay Per Play
A new royalty requirements scheme for webcasters may shut most of them down
Figure Skating
The Arizona Legislature crunches budget numbers
Soundbites
READY FOR TRIPLE-A, BUT NOT THE MAJORS Fresh off a tour opening for Brandi Carlile, Brooklyn singer/songwriter Ari Hest heads our way this week, co-headlining a tour with fellow New Yorkers The Damnwells. Hest is out supporting his second album, The Break-In, released last week on Red Ink/Columbia. Some of the album’s credits make it…
The Skinny
MO’ MONEY One week after County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry released his proposed budget, City Manager Mike Hein showed us his spending plan. Hein wants to spend $1.25 billion, which is about $152.6 million more than the city is spending this year. Most of the increase–about $104.3 million–is in money from grants, bonds and other so-called…
Nine Questions
Robert Gallo
Never Sold Out
Eriks Rudans, artist: 1933-2007
Live
Tucson Thunder, Downtown Tucson, Saturday, May 5
The Range
A recap of last week’s news
Rhythm & Views
Pairing the late avant-bluesman Chris Whitley (who died in late 2005) with the even more obscure Aussie roots guitarist Jeff Lang doesn’t sound so necessary on paper. But on Dislocation Blues, the results make for what will surely be one of the best blues-music releases of 2007. Whitley injects enough weirdness into the material to…
Media Watch
KMSB Puts Hopes on Sports to Boost Ratings
Rhythm & Views
While lugging an amplifier during a tour backing Neko Case, Jon Rauhouse was struck with the chest pains that would eventually lead him to dedicate this, his fourth solo release, to his cardiac teams and physicians. An offbeat gesture, it’s unquestionably, um, heartfelt. His gratitude is shared by the many artists from coast to coast…
Police Dispatch
The E-Mail Terminator Unincorporated Pima County, April 10, 1:33 p.m. A woman said she received a threatening e-mail at work, a Pima County Sheriff’s Department report stated. According to the report, the e-mail, sent from an address the woman didn’t recognize, claimed that “someone had been assigned to ‘terminate her.'” The sender stated that he…
Top Ten in Music
Toxic Ranch Records top sales for the week
T Q&A
Tucson Q&A with Vanessa Barchfield
Rhythm & Views
Someday, Conor Oberst will give us a straightforward album of songs. Until then, we have to put up with his pointless opening numbers–often more spoken word than music. This time, we get “Clairaudients (Kill or Be Killed)” with its telephone-psychic intro and coda (Oberst has consciously promoted the mysticism shrouding the album) that tragically hampers…
Danehy
Tom wants to know: What would a jerk do?
Pick of the Week
Dixieland Gospel
Desert Metamorphosis
Joanna Frueh’s performance piece kicks off the second annual ‘Her Shorts’ festival
Tuttle
What if newspapers asked kids to write why their mothers are the worst?
City Week
Our top picks of what to do and where to do it for the week.
High Standards
Beowulf Alley Theatre turns in an impeccable ‘Of Mice and Men’ production
Guest Commentary
On May 22, Robert Comer is scheduled for execution; do we Arizonans really want to kill him?
Don’t Kiss the Undead
No matter how you count it, ’28 Weeks Later’ is a great zombie flick
That Old Witch
LTW dusts off ‘Bell, Book and Candle,’ but the play’s gone a bit stale
¡Ask a Mexican!
Why Mexicans eat huitlacoche.
Bad Luck!
This poker movie will have you wanting to abandon the game early
Daily Affirmations
Tucsonan Eve A. Wood writes that you can be good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, people like you!
The Blog’s Birthday
A note from the editor.
Now Showing at Home
“Fletch: The ‘Jane Doe’ Edition,” “Clint Eastwood: Western Icon Collection,” and “Night at the Museum”
Top Ten in Books
Mostly Books best-sellers for the week
