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UA removes Faculty Senate role in honorary degrees, raising governance concerns

The University of Arizona has stripped the Faculty Senate of its role in approving honorary degrees, a shift faculty leaders say undercuts shared governance and signals growing friction with university […]

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Tucson sees sharp rise in drug arrests as officials get first update on Safe City Initiative

Tucson police made more than 800 drug-related arrests in the first quarter of this year — a 67% increase compared to the same period over the past three years — […]

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Palo Verde pitches four-day school week to attract students and keep staff

If Palo Verde Magnet High School junior Analeah Witt had a free Friday, she would ease into the day. Maybe she would get up a bit later and drive 20 […]

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Judge Brenden J. Griffin granted Pima County’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit opposing Project Blue during a court hearing April 10, which alleged the county misled the public when presenting a rezoning item tied to the proposed large-scale data center. “While the public was told it was a rezoning meeting, they were led to believe it could apply to a range of potential development projects,” said Jared Keenan, executive director and chief litigation counsel for the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest, after the hearing. “In reality, it was for one specific purpose: to build a data center.” The Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest filed the lawsuit in January on behalf of the No Desert Data Center Coalition, arguing that the county’s alleged misrepresentation violated open meeting laws and that any action taken should be deemed “null and void.” Judge Griffin dismissed the case, finding that Arizona’s open meeting laws do not require government bodies to disclose their motives when placing items on a zoning agenda. He added that there is limited case law on the issue. “I think there’s some confusion about the level of detail required in an agenda to comply with open meeting laws,” Keenan said. “But at the end of the day, they didn’t dispute that what the county told the public was misleading.” Keenan said the group plans to appeal. “We’re disappointed,” he said. “We’re going to regroup and plan to appeal.” Vivek Bharathan with No Desert Data Center observed the hearing and was shocked by the outcome. “It’s just amazing to me that a representative of the county, who’s paid with our tax dollars could go up and say that it doesn’t matter — not saying they lied — but it doesn’t matter essentially whether or not they misled the public,” Bharathan said afterward. ”If it’s the argument of the county attorney that that doesn’t matter, then yeah, I am extremely mistrustful of everything from now on.”

Iskashitaa Refugee Network is hosting a Spring Fair on Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 3736 E 2nd St in Tucson. The event features a plant sale, craft vendors showcasing refugee artisans, an international food court, live music from Curt Beall, The Acoustinists, and more, and a Refugee Garden Art exhibit. Learn more.

Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy will hold an event for experts to discuss an upcoming report on how the state can meet its current and future housing needs. The “Housing Arizona” report briefing will take place on Thursday, April 23, at 9:30 a.m. at Rio Salado College in Tempe. Register for free. 

Get ready to vote in Oro Valley. The Oro Valley Chamber will host a candidate forum at 4:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene. A live stream will also be available on YouTube.