Tucson Politics
- Pima Sheriff's Dep't failed to notify family of dead inmate for 2.5 monthswww.tucsonsentinel.com Pima Sheriff's Dep't failed to notify family of dead inmate for 2.5 months | Exclusive
The family of a 22-year-old Minnesota man who died in the Pima County Jail in May spent months posting on social media searching for information about him, asked law enforcement about him and checked with Tucson-area hospitals and the jail, and yet they did not learn of his overdose death until Tues...
The family of a 22-year-old Minnesota man who died in the Pima County Jail in May spent months posting on social media searching for information about him, asked law enforcement about him and checked with Tucson-area hospitals and the jail, and yet they did not learn of his overdose death until Tuesday.
- Arizona judge detains two charged in fundamentalist sexual abuse casewww.tucsonsentinel.com Arizona judge detains two charged in fundamentalist sexual abuse case
A federal judge in Arizona denied pretrial release to two people indicted alongside Samuel Rappylee Bateman, a self-proclaimed prophet accused of sexually abusing nearly a dozen underage girls from 2019 to 2022.
A federal judge in Arizona denied pretrial release to two people indicted alongside Samuel Rappylee Bateman, a self-proclaimed prophet accused of sexually abusing nearly a dozen underage girls from 2019 to 2022.
- Tucson officials ditch 'waste to energy' proposal — againwww.tucsonsentinel.com /local/report/080923_tucson_waste_energy/tucson-officials-ditch-waste-energy-proposal-again/
Tucson officials again backed away from a proposal to turn plastic trash into fuel on Tuesday: the latest step along a controversial, on-again, off-again path for "waste to energy" at the city landfill.
- Study links testicular cancer among military personnel to PFAS ‘forever chemicals’www.tucsonsentinel.com Study links testicular cancer among military personnel to PFAS ‘forever chemicals’
A new study found strong evidence that airmen who were firefighters had elevated levels of PFAS in their bloodstreams, and for the first time shows a direct association between PFOS, a PFAS chemical, found in the blood of thousands of military personnel, and testicular cancer.
A new study found strong evidence that airmen who were firefighters had elevated levels of PFAS in their bloodstreams, and for the first time shows a direct association between PFOS, a PFAS chemical, found in the blood of thousands of military personnel, and testicular cancer.
- Ivermectin proponents ask 5th Circuit to revive lawsuit vs. FDAwww.tucsonsentinel.com Ivermectin proponents ask 5th Circuit to revive lawsuit vs. FDA
Counsel for three doctors - including one referred to regulatory boards in Washington state and Arizona for disciplinary proceedings - who prescribe ivermectin to treat COVID-19 told the Fifth Circuit the FDA overstepped its authority with an information campaign against the drug.
Counsel for three doctors - including one referred to regulatory boards in Washington state and Arizona for disciplinary proceedings - who prescribe ivermectin to treat COVID-19 told the Fifth Circuit the FDA overstepped its authority with an information campaign against the drug.
- Maricopa County sees record heat & record evictions in Julywww.tucsonsentinel.com Maricopa County sees record heat & record evictions in July
The month of July saw a record-breaking 31 days of continuous 110-degree heat in Phoenix — and as the heat rose, Maricopa County also saw the most eviction cases filed since 2008.
The month of July saw a record-breaking 31 days of continuous 110-degree heat in Phoenix — and as the heat rose, Maricopa County also saw the most eviction cases filed since 2008.
- Advocates launch initiative to secure abortion rights in Arizonawww.tucsonsentinel.com Advocates launch initiative to secure abortion rights in Arizona
A coalition of groups is seeking to ask voters to enshrine the right to an abortion in the Arizona Constitution. If approved by voters in the November 2024 election, the Arizona Abortion Access Act would allow women to terminate their pregnancy until the point at which a fetus could survive outside ...
A coalition of groups is seeking to ask voters to enshrine the right to an abortion in the Arizona Constitution. If approved by voters in the November 2024 election, the Arizona Abortion Access Act would allow women to terminate their pregnancy until the point at which a fetus could survive outside the womb.
- Tribes & Native organizations respond to extreme weatherwww.tucsonsentinel.com /local/report/080823_native_weather/tribes-native-organizations-respond-extreme-weather/
Tribes across the United States are working to inform and relieve their communities who are experiencing heat advisories and extreme weather this summer as the Navajo Nation declared an extreme heat state of emergency that will stay in effect until Aug. 31.
- As water regulations shift – again – advocates, officials work to copewww.tucsonsentinel.com As water regulations shift – again – advocates, officials work to cope
As regulators and advocates develop new regulations to comply with the fallout of a Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the Clean Water Act, the court’s water limits rule could have an outsized impact in Arizona, where many of the waterways are ephemeral and intermittent.
As regulators and advocates develop new regulations to comply with the fallout of a Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the Clean Water Act, the court’s water limits rule could have an outsized impact in Arizona, where many of the waterways are ephemeral and intermittent.
- Full text: Arizona Abortion Access Act initiativewww.tucsonsentinel.com /local/report/080823_abortion_amendment/full-text-arizona-abortion-access-act-initiative/
The Arizona Abortion Access Act, an initiative that would amend Arizona's Constitution to establish a fundamental right to abortion, was filed Tuesday.
- Az dispensaries recalling marijuana gummies over salmonellawww.tucsonsentinel.com Az dispensaries recalling marijuana gummies over salmonella
Arizona dispensaries are voluntarily recalling marijuana gummies due to possible contamination of salmonella, a bacterium that, in the event of infection, can cause diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
Arizona dispensaries are voluntarily recalling marijuana gummies due to possible contamination of salmonella, a bacterium that, in the event of infection, can cause diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
- Final results: Tucson Democratic incumbents rack up Council primary winswww.tucsonsentinel.com Final results: Tucson Democratic incumbents rack up Council primary wins
In final vote counts released Monday in Tucson's city primary election, the Democratic incumbents showed their hold on voters, while the GOP candidates didn't yet ignite significant voter interest.
In final vote counts released Monday in Tucson's city primary election, the Democratic incumbents showed their hold on voters, while the GOP candidates didn't yet ignite significant voter interest.
- City Council preps biz water rate hike; sewer troubles plague Tanque Verdewww.tucsonsentinel.com /opinion/report/080723_agenda_water_op/city-council-preps-biz-water-rate-hike-sewer-troubles-plague-tanque-verde/
The Tucson City Council will vote on a "notice of intent" to raise water rates to encourage conservation among commercial and industrial users. Plus more in local government meetings around Tucson this week.
- Big mining takes dead aim: The real threats to public health & safety in Southern Azwww.tucsonsentinel.com search news | TucsonSentinel.com
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South32 CEO Pat Risner touts his company's dedication to trust and transparency when referring to its mining plans for the Patagonia Mountains and Santa Cruz County in general. Now come the vast proposals of the current owner and its record in other parts of the globe.
- Mining companies, Forest Service respond to enviro's filing against Patagonia drillingwww.tucsonsentinel.com Mining companies, Forest Service respond to enviros' filing against Patagonia drilling
Two mining companies and the U.S. Forest Service have filed their responses to claims by environmentalists that exploratory drilling would cause “irreparable” damage to the Patagonia Mountains.
Two mining companies and the U.S. Forest Service have filed their responses to claims by environmentalists that exploratory drilling would cause “irreparable” damage to the Patagonia Mountains.
- Initiative seeks more 'sanctuary cities for the unborn' in Arizona & across U.S.www.tucsonsentinel.com /local/report/080723_anti_abortion_ordinances/initiative-seeks-more-sanctuary-cities-unborn-arizona-across-us/
A pastor from Longview, Texas, who has, by his count, succeeded in helping 67 cities and three counties pass ordinances banning abortion, made his first stop in Arizona in early June, exhorting churchgoers in Prescott Valley to make it the first sanctuary city for the unborn in Arizona.
- House dads: Az Rep. Gallego’s paternity leave shows slowly growing acceptancewww.tucsonsentinel.com /local/report/080723_house_dads/house-dads-az-rep-gallegos-paternity-leave-shows-slowly-growing-acceptance/
Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego was not the first member of Congress to take paternity leave, and though it’s rare in Congress, paternity leave is becoming increasingly common in workplaces around the country.
- Trial over Backpage prostitution accusations delayed to late Augustwww.tucsonsentinel.com Trial over Backpage prostitution accusations delayed to late August
A federal judge delayed a trial against Michael Lacey and former employees of backpage.com by three weeks following the death of co-defendant and backpage.com co-founder James Larkin.
A federal judge delayed a trial against Michael Lacey and former employees of backpage.com by three weeks following the death of co-defendant and backpage.com co-founder James Larkin.
- From hot issues to hot dogs, politicians turn to Threads to reach voterswww.tucsonsentinel.com /local/report/080523_political_threads/from-hot-issues-hot-dogs-politicians-turn-threads-reach-voters/
Among the 100 million users who reportedly signed up last month for Threads, Meta’s new social media platform, were Arizona politicians from both state and federal office and from both sides of the aisle.
- Cleaning Tohono O’odham water polluted by copper mine will take 30 years, $126 millionwww.tucsonsentinel.com Cleaning Tohono O’odham water polluted by copper mine will take 30 years, $126 million
The EPA has finalized a 30-year plan to clean drinking water in a Tohono O'odham village polluted by decades of copper mining. Meanwhile, a different EPA department is negotiating to reopen the mine with the same company first responsible for the waste.
The EPA has finalized a 30-year plan to clean drinking water in a Tohono O'odham village polluted by decades of copper mining. Meanwhile, a different EPA department is negotiating to reopen the mine with the same company first responsible for the waste.
- Tucson’s A-10s headed to final destination as Davis-Monthan lands new special ops missionwww.tucsonsentinel.com /local/report/080423_a10_dmafb/tucsons-a-10s-headed-final-destination-as-davis-monthan-lands-new-special-ops-mission/
The Air Force is finally moving forward with plans to decommission the A-10, including squadrons based in Tucson, but a new special ops mission will be moving to at Davis-Monthan AFB — bringing the first "tail-dragger" combat propeller plane in 50 years.
- Road to ruin: RTA board, Tucson City Council must iron out differenceswww.tucsonsentinel.com /opinion/report/080423_rta_next_hell_op/road-ruin-rta-board-tucson-city-council-must-iron-out-differences/
At some point in the near future the whole RTA Board should have a confab with the City Council and figure out what it's gonna take to keep Tucson in the loop, before both sides are too far apart to build an off-ramp from their disputes.
- 'Conscience' bills let medical providers opt out of providing a wide range of carewww.tucsonsentinel.com /nationworld/report/080423_conscience_care/conscience-bills-let-medical-providers-opt-out-providing-wide-range-care/
This year, 21 bills instituting or expanding so-called medical conscience objection laws have been introduced in statehouses, including Arizona, and some go to the point of undermining patient care and threatening the right of people to receive lifesaving and essential care.
- FactCheck: Indictment details Trump’s attempt to overturn swing state election outcomeswww.tucsonsentinel.com /nationworld/report/080423_factcheck_trump_indictment/factcheck-indictment-details-trumps-attempt-overturn-swing-state-election-outcomes/
The federal indictment against former President Donald Trump details actions Trump and his co-conspirators allegedly took to get state officials to change legitimate electoral votes, and says the pressure campaign involved knowingly making false claims of voter fraud.
- Getting Colorado River water from California farms will take more than just moneywww.tucsonsentinel.com /nationworld/report/080423_imperial_water/getting-colorado-river-water-from-california-farms-will-take-more-than-just-money/
Imperial Valley farmers are reluctant to further cut back on the amount of water they use to keep their fields green, despite pressure from policymakers looking to reduce strain on the Colorado River.
- 'August surprise': That college scholarship you earned might not countwww.tucsonsentinel.com 'August surprise': That college scholarship you earned might not count
August is typically the month when universities substitute outside scholarships for already-promised institutional financial aid, resulting in a zero net gain for recipients and leaving them scrambling to cover balances they didn’t think they’d have to pay.
August is typically the month when universities substitute outside scholarships for already-promised institutional financial aid, resulting in a zero net gain for recipients and leaving them scrambling to cover balances they didn’t think they’d have to pay.
- No fruit left behind': Picking pecans with Tucson's Iskashitaa Refugee Network
Last Friday, members of the Iskashitaa Refugee Network met under the shade of a pecan tree on East Glenn Street to shell and collect nuts. One harvest at the time, the Tucson charity is tackling food waste and integrating refugees hand in hand.
- Political fighting & fireworks dominated the Az Capitol in a record-breaking 2023
The Arizona Legislature recently ended a record-breaking 204-day-long session filled with partisan fighting, resignations, expulsions and more - but not necessarily much to show for it.
- How fake electors in 7 states are central to Trump Jan. 6 indictmentwww.tucsonsentinel.com /nationworld/report/080323_fake_electors/how-fake-electors-7-states-are-central-trump-jan-6-indictment/
The federal indictment accusing Donald Trump of trying to stay in power after losing the 2020 presidential election includes detailed accusations of pressure on individual state officials, and the attempt to present dueling slates of electors to create a false controversy.
- $10 a day for 10,636 days: Backers raise funds for Arizona man freed from death rowwww.tucsonsentinel.com /local/report/080323_jones_freedom/10-day-10636-days-backers-raise-funds-arizona-man-freed-from-death-row/
A campaign set up by Andrew Sowards, a retired criminal investigator who was part of Barry Jones’ defense team had raised $44,635 as of Wednesday with a goal of $106,360 – or $10 for each of the 10,636 days Jones spent “wrongfully incarcerated” in Arizona state prisons.
- More than 100 advocacy groups urge Congress to denounce anti-immigrant rhetoricwww.tucsonsentinel.com More than 100 advocacy groups urge Congress to denounce anti-immigrant rhetoric
On the eve of the fourth anniversary of the mass shooting in El Paso, more than 160 religious, civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups called on congressional leaders to denounce lawmakers who use white supremacist, anti-immigrant rhetoric, arguing that it can lead to violence.
On the eve of the fourth anniversary of the mass shooting in El Paso, more than 160 religious, civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups called on congressional leaders to denounce lawmakers who use white supremacist, anti-immigrant rhetoric, arguing that it can lead to violence.
- UA professor & Chicano activist Roberto 'Cintli' Rodriguez dead at 69www.tucsonsentinel.com UA professor & Chicano activist Roberto 'Cintli' Rodriguez dead at 69 | Obituary
Roberto Rodriguez, award-winning Chicano activist, writer, and professor of Mexican American Studies at the University of Arizona, died Monday of heart failure in Teotihuacan, Mexico. He was 69.
Roberto Rodriguez, award-winning Chicano activist, writer, and professor of Mexican American Studies at the University of Arizona, died Monday of heart failure in Teotihuacan, Mexico. He was 69.
- Free speech warrior Jim Larkin has diedwww.tucsonsentinel.com /opinion/report/080223_larkin_obit_op/free-speech-warrior-jim-larkin-has-died/
Larkin, 74, took his own life on Monday, just a little over a week before he was slated to stand trial for his role in running the web-classifieds platform Backpage.
- Jim Larkin, pioneering co-founder of Phoenix New Times, dead at 74www.tucsonsentinel.com /local/report/080223_larkin_obit/jim-larkin-pioneering-co-founder-phoenix-new-times-dead-74/
Phoenix New Times co-founder and legendary Arizona publisher Jim Larkin died on Monday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 74. Larkin's death came a week before the scheduled start of his criminal trial in federal court.
- Tucson council incumbents Santa Cruz, Cunningham advance to general electiontucson.com Tucson council incumbents Santa Cruz, Cunningham advance to general election
The matchups for Tucson's general election in November are set after Tuesday's primary votes: Democratic incumbents vs. challengers.
The matchups for Tucson's general election in November are set after Tuesday's primary votes: Democratic incumbents vs. challengers.
- Massive HUD grant promises big investments in corridor north of Downtown Tucsonwww.tucsonsentinel.com /local/report/080223_hud_tucson_house/massive-hud-grant-promises-big-investments-corridor-north-downtown-tucson/
The city of Tucson’s efforts to revitalize a poverty-stricken area north of Downtown got a big boost with the announcement of a $50 million HUD grant for rehabbing Tucson House, funding other low-income housing projects and supporting social service programs.
- Hobbs signs Arizona GOP priority rental tax ban, after deal for Prop. 400 backingwww.tucsonsentinel.com /local/report/080223_tax_ban_prop_400/hobbs-signs-arizona-gop-priority-rental-tax-ban-after-deal-prop-400-backing/
Landlords can can now look forward to relief from rental taxes, after Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bill that bars cities from collecting them starting in 2025 - though Arizona renters, and cities and towns, may be on the losing end of the deal.
- Challenger concedes to Tucson City Council member Lane Santa Cruz in primarytucson.com Challenger concedes to Tucson City Council member Lane Santa Cruz in primary
Santa Cruz, the incumbent, has 63% of the vote in the Democratic primary election for the Ward 1 City Council seat.
Santa Cruz, the incumbent, has 63% of the vote in the Democratic primary election for the Ward 1 City Council seat.
- Tucson City Councilman Paul Cunningham wins primary election
Cunningham has 76% of the votes counted so far in the Democratic primary in Ward 2, to challenger Lisa Nutt's 23%.
- Challenger concedes to Tucson City Council member Lane Santa Cruz in primarytucson.com Challenger concedes to Tucson City Council member Lane Santa Cruz in primary
Santa Cruz, the incumbent, has 63% of the vote in the Democratic primary election for the Ward 1 City Council seat.
Santa Cruz is ahead with 63% of the vote in the Democratic primary election for the Ward 1 City Council seat.