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In today’s newsletter:
🕯️ Faith leaders from across Southern Arizona denounced ICE actions Thursday, standing in solidarity with a national protest — while the Pima County Attorney’s Office called on community members to share photos of videos of potential misconduct by federal agents. Read more.
⚖️ A legal filing by the governing board of City High and Paulo Freire raises questions about whether — and how — Arizona charter school teachers and staff can unionize. Read more.
🐐 The chickens at Tucson Village Farm are getting new neighbors and ASDB is moving from the west side spot it has occupied for more than 100 years. Read education notes.
📚 With new mega data centers reshaping local debates over energy and water, check out this short reading list that helps unpack the forces behind them. Get book recs here.
Featured stories
“We can’t ignore what’s happening. We have to keep standing up”: Faith leaders rally to protest ICE, protect migrants
Retired Mennonite pastor Tina Schlabach wore a stole embroidered with Bible verses and illustrations created by people in México seeking asylum as she spoke to the crowd of faith and […]
City High, Paulo Freire union challenge could affect charter school workers statewide
Teachers and staff of City High and Paulo Freire charter schools sought voluntary recognition of their union at a governing board meeting Thursday, a move that comes after the board […]
Tucson Village Farm adds goats and sheep with new Animal Education Center
Goldie, Kale, Chard, Curly, Tasha and Teetee have company coming. As the 20 chickens roam the urban agriculture project at Tucson Village Farm, they will soon be joined by goats, […]
Want to understand AI and data centers in Southern Arizona? Start with these 3 books
For years now, humans have binge-watched Netflix, doomscrolled Instagram and uploaded cat videos without considering much about where the internet actually lives. In Southern Arizona, that invisible infrastructure has suddenly […]
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The University of Arizona’s Humanities Seminars Program will offer a six-week course titled “The Colorado River: Science, History, Literature, Policy” beginning Jan. 27. Taught by Professor Emeritus Karl Flessa, the hybrid-format course explores the river’s environmental, historical, and political significance, with expanded content on Arizona groundwater, Lake Powell, and water reuse technologies. Cost: $195. Details and registration.
Explore the Yavapai Nation on a guided tour with River of Time and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. More information and dates here.
The League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson will host a virtual event at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29 to discuss the new Medicare WISeR Model, a six-year pilot program launching in Arizona and five other states. The program will introduce prior authorization requirements for certain Medicare procedures. Speakers include Tucson physicians Dr. Eve Shapiro and Dr. Marlene Bluestein. Register.
Garden Discovery Day will next happen on Jan. 29 from 1-2 p.m. at the Sahuarita Food Bank. Learn from veteran Ramon Hernandez as he teaches children under age 5 and their families how to grow vegetables at the foodbank’s new raised garden. Find more info for this free event here.
A new exhibit at Reid Park Zoo, Nature POP! Made with LEGO Bricks, features more than 40 life-sized animal sculptures crafted from over 800,000 LEGO pieces. Created by artist Sean Kenney, the exhibit runs from Jan. 30 to May 12, 2026, and is included with regular zoo admission.
Mark your calendar for festivals in January.
• Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase, dates vary with many shows starting in January
• Tucson Jazz Festival, Jan. 16-24
• SAVOR Heritage Food Festival, Jan. 24
• Yuma AGFest, Jan. 24
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