How UA, ASU, NAU are riding the waves of COVID-19
PHOENIX – As cases of COVID-19 continue to surge in Arizona and the rest of the nation, the state’s three public universities are wrangling their approaches to the pandemic in similar but separate ways. Arizona State University developed a saliva-based test and aims to monitor the spread through frequent mass testing. The University of Arizona,…
Trump Races to Weaken Environmental, Worker Protections Before Jan. 20
Six days after President Donald Trump lost his bid for reelection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture notified food safety groups that it was proposing a regulatory change to speed up chicken factory processing lines, a change that would allow companies to sell more birds. An earlier USDA effort had broken down on concerns that it…
Food banks receive government assistance to fill bellies during the holidays
PHOENIX – At one point Tuesday, cars came through at a rate of one every minute, six lanes across, to get boxes and bags of turkeys, potatoes and canned food from St. Mary’s Food Bank. Members of the National Guard and volunteers in neon-orange vests, all wearing masks or bandanas, loaded up one car trunk…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Wednesday, Nov. 25: Nearly 4K New Cases Today; Total Cases in AZ Nearing 311K; Pima County Enacts ‘Voluntary Curfew’; Area High Schools Suspend Remainder of Football Season; Free Test Centers Open
With nearly 4,000 new cases reported today, the number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases closed in on 310,000 as of Wednesday, Nov. 25, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 532 new cases today, has seen 37,518 of the state’s 310,850 confirmed cases. With nine new deaths reported yesterday,…
COVID-19 cases could push hospital beds, staff to limit, official says
WASHINGTON – The recent surge in COVID-19 cases could push hospital staff and hospital bed capacity to the limit in coming weeks, particularly if people are not careful over Thanksgiving, an Arizona hospital official said Tuesday. Marjorie Bessel, chief clinical officer for Banner Health, said its projections show the system will be using 125% of…
Pima County Districts Suspend Remainder of Football Season
The superintendent of Tucson Unified School District announced the remainder of the district’s football season has been suspended today after considering guidance from the Pima County Administrator’s Office and public health recommendations from the Pima County Health Department, according to an email announcement. Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo announced all winter sports practices and after-school performing arts…
NBA Draft has Arizona flavor
Three Arizona Wildcats and a former Arizona high school standout were among the players who heard their name called during the 2020 NBA Draft. The event was conducted remotely with teams making their selections from their headquarters while players got the news surrounded by friends and family in their homes. Wildcats Josh Green, a 6-foot-6…
Pima County Announces Voluntary Overnight Curfew
The Pima County Health Department issued a voluntary curfew Monday as the county remains in a state of substantial spread of coronavirus, according to a media release from the department. Individuals are asked to observe the curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. every day until Dec. 31 after Pima County reported its highest daily…
After weeks of fighting, ballot counting may be near finish in Arizona
WASHINGTON – All 15 Arizona counties had submitted official election results by Monday to the secretary of state, who will certify them in the next week or sooner – ending a contentious weeks-long battle over a normally routine process. That included GOP lawsuits challenging the election, angry rallies outside the Maricopa County Ballot Tabulation Center…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Tuesday, Nov. 24: More Than 4500 New Cases Today; Total Cases in AZ Nearing 307K; UA Basketball Home Opener Canceled; Free Test Centers Open
With more than 4,500 new cases reported today, the number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases closed in on 307,000 as of Tuesday, Nov. 24, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which r eported 327 new cases today, has seen 36,986 of the state’s 306,868 confirmed cases. With 51 new deaths…
Tucson Local Media Annual Giving Tree
Here’s how you can help local families this holiday season! https://miro.com/app/board/o9J_khdikjY=/
Holiday travel down this year, but millions still hit roads, airports
WASHINGTON – Thanksgiving travel is expected to be down sharply this year because of COVID-19, but as many as 50 million Americans are still expected to travel this week despite pleas from health experts to stay home. And those people who do travel could run into a bewildering array of restrictions when they reach their…
School Districts Take Different Paths on Handling COVID-19 Risks
As coronavirus cases increase state and countywide, school districts offering differing levels of in-person instruction are reporting positive cases among students and staff causing large numbers of potential contacts to quarantine. Some districts have chosen to revert to remote online learning after Thanksgiving break, while others have closed down classrooms and school sites as outbreaks…
With Pima County Cases Rising, UA Returning to Remote Classes After Fall Break
In its final week of in-person instruction for the fall semester, the University of Arizona is reporting slightly elevated COVID-19 case numbers as it finishes its pre-fall break testing blitz this week, UA President Robert C. Robbins shared in a news conference Monday, Nov. 23. From Nov. 12 through Nov. 21, UA found 126 positive…
Sci-fi Author and Wife Found Dead in Foothills Home
A science fiction author and his wife were found dead from gunshot wounds after Pima County Sheriff’s deputies discovered the couple in their Foothills home late Thursday, Nov. 19. Sheriff’s deputies discovered 78-year-old Hayford Peirce with a self-inflicted gunshot wound while conducting a welfare check at the couple’s home on the 6000 Block of Pontotoc…
California high school athletes travel to Arizona to keep playing through COVID-19
SAN CLEMENTE, California – High school athletes can’t play competitively this fall semester due to California’s pandemic restrictions, so some elite players are traveling to Arizona and other states to maintain their skills and continue developing a scouting profile for colleges. With some high school sports indefinitely on hold, California athletes on club or travel…
Community health centers struggle to serve and survive during pandemic
Financial aid from last spring’s federal CARES Act allowed Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health and other community health centers to retain employees amid declining patient visits and other threats to funding streams. The financial hit is estimated to be at least $2.9 billion nationwide, according to a study from the Milken Institute School of Public Health…
University Blvd. becoming Holiday Blvd. through Jan. 3
University Boulevard and Main Gate Square are continuing their annual tradition of decorating for the holidays, with a few extra safety precautions this year. From Friday, Nov. 27 through Sunday, Jan. 3, University Boulevard between Euclid and Park avenues will have holiday events and decorations including a poinsettia tree, a Rose Bowl float and Santa.…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Monday, Nov. 23: Total Number of Confirmed Cases in AZ Tops 300K; State Officials Urge Mask Wearing, Vigilance; Free Test Centers Open
With more than 2,659 new cases reported today, the number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases soared past 300,000 as of Monday, Nov. 23, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 544 new cases today, has seen 36,659 of the state’s 302,324 confirmed cases. A total of 6,464 Arizonans had…
Coconino official backs bill to burn forest waste for renewable energy
WASHINGTON – Coconino County Supervisor Art Babbott urged senators last week to pass a bill that would let limbs and trees left over from forest maintenance be burned for renewable energy. Babbott, testifying before a Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee, said the lack of a market for forest waste has been a bottleneck choking…
Flagstaff’s Snowbowl Ski Resort ready to open with COVID-19 restrictions
Snow in the Valley? Unlikely, but Arizonans can make their way about two hours north from Phoenix to Flagstaff to get a taste of winter. Snowbowl Ski Resort, the Alpine slopes on Northern Arizona’s San Francisco Peaks, opens for the winter season on Friday, with some slight changes due to COVID-19 restrictions. “Obviously we want…
Tucson Mayor Calls for Statewide Mask Mandate
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero joined three other Arizona mayors on Friday to discuss the surge in cases across the state and call for stricter COVID-19 mitigation actions from Gov. Doug Ducey. Coronavirus cases are surging across the state and county, with 562 new cases reported in Pima County on Friday. “Here in Pima County, we…
Movie Roundup: The Very Definition of an Art Film Now Playing, and the Annual Loft Short Film Fest Goes Virtual
The biggest cinema news this week was regarding Wonder Woman 1984 and its new status as the latest blockbuster to go streaming. While the film will still open in theaters on Christmas Day this year, Warner Bros. has decided to release it the same day on HBO Max, free of charge to subscribers. Christmas is…
Area School Districts Lack Consistent Policies in reporting COVID cases
Currently, there is no policy for alerting the public about positive COVID-19 cases in local school districts and officials have chosen differing levels of transparency when revealing the prevalence of the virus throughout their schools. Districts report their coronavirus cases to the Pima County Health Department, which provides guidance to schools based on metrics in…
AIA Postpones High School Winter Sports Season until January
The Arizona Interscholastic Association’s executive board voted during a special meeting Thursday to postpone the start of the high school winter sports season until Jan. 5 in response to rising COVID-19 rates across the state. Competitive play for winter sports including basketball, soccer and wrestling was originally scheduled to start on Nov. 30. This move…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Friday, Nov. 20: State Cases Near 300K; Banner Reinstates No-Visitor Policy; Federal Prison a ‘Hot Spot’; Free Test Centers Open
Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases climbed to nearly 300,000 as of Friday, Nov. 20, with 4,471 new cases, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County reported 562 new cases today bringing its total to 34,985 of the state’s 291,696 confirmed cases. With 43 new deaths reported today, it increases to 6,427 the…
Mayor and Council Vote to Remove Glass from Curbside Recycling
Starting Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, glass will no longer be accepted in blue bins, and will instead be collected at drop-off sites across the city. According to Tucson’s Environmental and General Services Department, removing glass from curbside collection will reduce processing costs at the Materials Recovery Facility. The community drop-off sites are planned to keep glass reuse local…
Kelly Transition Team Discusses COVID-19 with Public Health Experts
Arizona’s U.S. Senator-elect Mark Kelly held a COVID-19 briefing Thursday with public health officials to discuss the critical situation of the virus across the state. Seven members of Kelly’s transition team joined the virtual briefing to share their specific expertise and experiences of the pandemic, covering topics such as public health, hospitals, local municipalities, the…
Arizona International Film Festival winner releases online
While the next Arizona International Film Festival is still a few months off, film fans can enjoy a select cut in the meantime. The film Wheels won the award for Best Indie Film at the 2019 Arizona International Film Festival, which is held annually in Tucson. Wheels, described as a coming of age story, follows…
New Mexico State basketball relocates to Phoenix for 5 weeks because of COVID-19
PHOENIX – The New Mexico State men’s basketball team has temporarily relocated to Phoenix due to stricter COVID-19 regulations in its state. The Aggies will stay at the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa for five weeks, but could potentially stay longer depending on state updates regarding the pandemic. The resort has accommodated the team’s needs,…
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Thursday, Nov. 19: More than 4,100 New Cases; State Cases Show ‘concerning increase’; Banner Reinstates No-Visitor Policy; Federal Prison a ‘Hot Spot’
New cases jumped to 4,123, which brought the number of Arizona’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases to more than 287,000 as of Thursday, Nov. 19, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Pima County, which reported 601 new cases today, has seen 34,423 of the state’s 287,225 confirmed cases. With 19 new deaths reported today,…
In emotional Senate farewell, McSally thanks voters, wishes Kelly well
WASHINGTON – A sometimes emotional Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, gave her farewell address on the Senate floor Wednesday, saying that “serving and fighting for Arizona as a U.S. senator has been the opportunity of a lifetime.” McSally also wished “all the best” to Sen.-elect Mark Kelly, the Democrat who unseated her in this month’s elections…
Editor’s Note: Shop Local
with covid cases rising across the state—and the country—the holidays are certainly going to look different this year. Health officials are urging us to avoid big gatherings so that our celebratory parties don’t become super-spreader events. Many of our favorite Christmas events—moments such as strolling through Winterhaven—have been cancelled. And with so many of our…
Scalpel’s Edge: As Supreme Court Weighs Obamacare, Healthcare Law Debated
As the nation’s highest court heard oral arguments last week in the Trump administration-led lawsuit to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA), proponents of the Obama-era health care reform law were spreading awareness about what repealing the act could mean for a country overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic. Protect Our Care Arizona, a healthcare advocacy…
Blast from the Past: ‘Historic Tales of Territorial Tucson’ offers glimpse into the past
Diversity, the role of women in businesses, false claims about tuberculosis cures, an early Confederate territory supporting women’s suffrage—these are all key points of Tucson’s history that local author David Devine covers in his newest book, Historic Tales of Territorial Tucson: 1854-1912. Devine came to Tucson in 1973 to attend graduate school at the University…
Winter Surge: Covid Cases Race Through County, State
As coronavirus cases and hospitalizations increase across the state, public health officials are warning of a wintertime surge that could limit hospitals’ resources as it did this summer. Within the first 17 days of November, Arizona is averaging 1,997 new COVID-19 cases a day. Nov. 14 saw a case count of 3,476—the highest reported in…
Go the Distance: With Fall Break coming, UA COVID numbers hold steady
As the University of Arizona conducts a pre-fall break testing blitz, its coronavirus numbers are remaining relatively steady, UA President Robert C. Robbins shared in a news conference Monday, Nov. 16. From Nov. 6 through Nov. 15, UA found 76 positive coronavirus cases after administering 8,651 tests for a positivity rate of 0.9%, the same…
Tucson Salvage: A Tree Grows in Tucson
“What can you say to a girl who asks, ‘Where is my mom?'” Well, one thing you don’t say is she tried to kill you. Other than the victims, who can begin to understand the internal traumas of abused children, born addicted, or into bone-breaking beatdowns, rapes and tortures, as intimately as the mother who…
Chow: Grateful for the Grub
If there’s one thing we Tucsonans should definitely be thankful for this Thanksgiving, it’s the unique assortment of local restaurants representing our food scene. Approaching Nov. 26, many eateries are gearing up to provide local families with Thanksgiving meals. Here’s your chance to support local restaurants that have been struggling with COVID losses, and enjoy…
City Week: Weekly Picks
Biosphere 2. Biosphere 2 has reopened! Maybe that means someday we’ll get to reopen more stuff here in the Biosphere 1 sometime soon. But until then, this sure is a cool way to pass the time. Download their app to explore the facility at your own pace while also keeping distance between you and other…
Medical Marijuana: Expunge Bath
Once the 2020 election is certified and pot officially becomes legal in Arizona for adult users, Pima County will join two other counties that have announced early dismissal of low-level possession and paraphernalia cases. After the passage of Proposition 207, Smart and Safe Arizona, Maricopa and Yavapai counties announced their intentions to get ahead of…
Holidaze 2020: Better to give
With rising numbers of COVID cases, public health experts are urging us to avoid large gatherings of extended family this holiday season. But that doesn’t mean we can’t take the time to find tokens of appreciation for the loved ones in our life. Here we present a gift guide of local shops where you’re sure…
Holidaze 2020: Food and Christmas spirits
While we’re not encouraged to attend big Christmas parties this year, you may find yourself in need of some Christmas spirits (or Christmas wine or Christmas beer). Find fresh seasonal releases or traditional favorites at Tap & Bottle’s two locations (403 N. Sixth Ave. and 7254 N. Oracle Road). Store hours are limited but they…
Holidaze 2020: Holiday Giving
Although social distancing has defined this year, holiday generosity needn’t be cast away. For the upcoming season, Tucson Local Media has partnered with the Arizona Department of Child Safety for their Giving Tree Program. This program allows you to purchase holiday gifts for children in Arizona’s foster care system. For this annual program, children tell…
