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Gracias for making Arizona Luminaria part of your week. We are always grateful to hear from you.
In today’s newsletter:
🗳️ In Arizona Luminaria’s voter guide to the CD7 primary race in July, both candidates — along with 10 others — answered questions focused on border and immigration policies. This week, we have a new guide focused on two other urgent issues: homelessness and water. Get it here.
🎨 A grant was awarded to only 24 artists across the United States — four are in Tucson. Learn more about them here in English y en español.
💧 Public outrage about Project Blue’s revival spilled back into Pima County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, as more than 75 people showed up in person to express their opposition to the project. Read more.
Featured stories
Arizona District 7 voter guide: Grijalva and Butierez on water and homelessness ahead of special election
In Congressional District 7, voters are choosing more than a replacement for the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva. They’re deciding between two sharply different visions on issues shaping daily life in […]
Four Tucson artists earn national grants to carry on traditions and educate community
The himmeli — a Finnish holiday decoration — hangs from a mesquite tree branch in a desert community garden. No one notices the juxtaposition of the nordic ornament dangling from […]
Cuatro artistas de Tucson reciben becas nacionales para preservar tradiciones y educar a la comunidad
El himmeli —una decoración festiva finlandesa— cuelga de la rama de un mezquite en un huerto comunitario del desierto. Nadie nota la yuxtaposición del adorno nórdico que cuelga de la […]
Pima County votes to change two policies — about NDAs and environmental impact reviews — after “lessons learned” from Project Blue
With the secretive Project Blue data center seemingly moving ahead in unincorporated Pima County, all eyes turned again to the Pima County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 2 as the […]
Arizona judge halts deportation of 53 Guatemalan children in federal custody
A federal judge in Arizona has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from removing 53 Guatemalan children living in shelters across Phoenix and Tucson, as part of a broader legal battle […]
With wildfire-prevention work, Flagstaff seeks to avoid the next devastating flood
This story was produced by Circle of Blue, in partnership with The Water Desk, an editorially independent journalism initiative at the University of Colorado Boulder. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Five large […]
As flames scorch western forests, Flagstaff area offers roadmap for post-wildfire flood prevention
This story was produced by Circle of Blue, in partnership with The Water Desk, an editorially independent journalism initiative at the University of Colorado Boulder. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – In July […]
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The Tucson Meet Yourself folk festival is looking for volunteers to be part of the beloved and long-running folklife festival. The festival will take place Oct. 17-19 and volunteers will be asked to greet guests, support performers or hand out maps at welcome stations. Shifts will be about 4.5 hours, and volunteers will get a free t-shirt and $10 food voucher. Learn more here.
The next Tucson City Council meetings are planned for Tuesday, Sept. 9. See meeting details, agendas and livestream info.
The White House Office of Management and Budget said late last week, it will release the remaining $184 million in funding for AmeriCorps — a federal agency focused on public service and volunteerism. Arizona was one of 23 states and the District of Columbia that amended a lawsuit against the federal government after it attempted twice to defund the program. In 2024, just over 4,800 people served with AmeriCorps in Arizona, investing more than $28 million of federal funding in communities across the state. According to a 2024 annual report, “AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers served at more than 500 locations across Arizona, including schools, food banks, homeless shelters, youth centers, veterans’ facilities, and other nonprofit and faith-based organizations.”
Join 0s3 Movement, Sierra Club Borderlands and Borderlands Restoration Network to celebrate Latino Conservation Week with a hands-on restoration project at the Monte Carlo Trails in Nogales on Saturday, Sept. 13. Learn about invasive species management, erosion control and the role of native plants in restoration. Details and registration.
Presidio San AgustĂn del Tucson will host a Mexican Independence Day celebration on Saturday, Sept. 13. On Sept. 16, 1821, Mexico won independence from Spain, making Tucson part of the newly founded country. Celebrate Tucson’s Mexican history and heritage with Ballet Folklorico and mariachi performances, along with a representative from the Mexican Consulate delivering the traditional cry for independence, El Grito. Details.
After a summer hiatus, household hazardous waste collection returns Saturday, Sept.13 from 8 a.m. to noon at Pima Community College East campus, 8181 E. Irvington Road. Drop off hazardous chemicals, batteries, and paint to be safely diverted from landfills. Up to three boxes of paper documents can also be shredded on site. Find more information here.
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