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In today’s newsletter:
đź’° Early debate shows key priorities may be hard to trim for Tucson officials working to close a $27 million deficit. Read more about the discussion.
đź“š Más que un espacio cultural, Nuestras RaĂces es un punto de encuentro donde la comunidad latina se ve reflejada en el Festival del Libro de Tucson. Lee más. A longtime library program is helping shape a Tucson Festival of Books space where culture, language and local voices take center stage. Read more about Nuestras RaĂces.
🔌⚡️ Even as Arizona’s energy rates have stayed relatively flat, residents pay nearly double what New Mexico households do — and utilities are seeking increases next year. Read the explainer from Grist.
Featured stories
Facing $27 million deficit, Tucson leaders push back on cuts to housing and public drug ordinance
As city officials struggle to rectify the budget, Tucson’s mayor and council reaffirmed their commitment to nonprofit organizations and the city’s public drug use prevention initiatives during Wednesday’s study council […]
“No nos vamos a dejar borrar”: Nuestras RaĂces lleva voces latinas al corazĂłn del Festival del Libro de Tucson
Hace años, un grupo de bibliotecarios del Condado de Pima vio la necesidad de ofrecer servicios de traducción para las personas que hablan español. Pronto reconocieron el potencial de crear […]
“We will not be erased”: Nuestras RaĂces brings Latino voices to the heart of Tucson Festival of Books
Years ago a group of Pima County librarians saw the need for translation services for people who speak Spanish. Soon they saw the potential for entire book collections, community events, […]
U.S. electricity costs are up. Arizona rate hikes could come this year
This story was originally published by Grist. It’s no secret that U.S. electricity prices have been rising over the last few years: The average residential energy bill in 2025 was […]
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A new report from Duke University’s Heat Policy Innovation Hub found the current federal assistance formula leaves states like Arizona underfunded in what they receive under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). That means, nationally, less than 20% of eligible households get this support. In March 2025, Arizona Senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly introduced the LIHEAP Parity Act to tie allocations more directly to a resident’s energy burden. “Arizona families are living through longer, hotter summers, and their energy bills reflect that reality,” said Kelly in a statement. “But federal energy assistance is still being distributed using a formula written decades ago that doesn’t reflect today’s climate or costs.
Return your mail-in ballot by Tuesday, March 3. See Arizona Luminaria’s voter guide to this election.
The League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson will host its 13th Annual Issues & Eggs Breakfast Forum on Friday, March 6. This year’s event, titled Truth and Trust in Media, features a guest panel of journalists, including Arizona Luminaria’s Chelsea Curtis, discussing the role of news in today’s information landscape. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m., with the program running from 8-10:30 a.m. Register.
A free Dementia Caregiver Summit is planned for March 7 in Fountain Hills. This seminar is designed to equip family caregivers, friends, and professionals with the knowledge, tools, and emotional support needed to navigate the complexities of a dementia diagnosis and care. Register.
Attend the free community premiere of Zen and the Art of Matcha at the Fox Tucson Theatre on Wednesday, March 11, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Presented by Matcha Kari and community partners, the evening features a taiko drum performance, traditional Japanese dance, a screening of the film, and a live Q&A with Dr. Andrew Weil and filmmaker Scott Garen. Register and find more information here.
Sign up to volunteer at the Tucson Festival of Books, March 14-15 at the University of Arizona.
Catch the University of Arizona’s Student Success Scholarship Series dance performances Feb. 19-22 at the Stevie Eller Dance Theatre, featuring student and faculty works plus Broadway performer D. Jerome. Tickets and details here.
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