Hola,
Gracias for making Arizona Luminaria part of your week. We would love for you to join us on April 2 at a free screening and discussion of our documentary about mobile home residents fighting for improvements in Pima County. 🎬 RSVP here.
In today’s newsletter:
🔎 A proposed immigration detention center in Marana raises a key question: who would hold it accountable? Local leaders say oversight would largely fall outside their control. We break it down here.
📣 Abuse allegations involving César Chávez have sparked a national reckoning and led to canceled or reworked events, including Tucson’s annual march. Read more.
📣 Las denuncias de abuso que involucran a César Chávez han provocado un cuestionamiento a nivel nacional y han llevado a la cancelación o modificación de eventos, incluida la marcha anual de Tucson. Lee más.
🚍 Pueblo High students asked for support at a TUSD Governing Board meeting, saying ICE has been spotted near their bus stops. A new task force is now working on training and response plans. Read more.
Featured stories
If an ICE detention center opens in Marana, who would hold it accountable?
The childhood memories of visiting her father while he was detained at Florence Correctional Center are seared into Brinley Carrillo’s mind. “Every month we packed tortas in a cooler and […]
Si abren un centro de detención de ICE en Marana, ¿quién lo supervisará?
Los recuerdos de la infancia al visitar a su padre mientras estaba detenido en el Centro Correccional de Florence están profundamente grabados en la mente de Brinley Carrillo. “Cada mes […]
Abuse allegations prompt cancellations of César Chávez events, including Tucson march
A nationwide reckoning is underway over the legacy of Latino civil rights leader César Chávez, as allegations that he may have abused women and minors surfaced earlier this week, prompting […]
Denuncias de abuso provocan cancelaciones de eventos de César Chávez, incluida una marcha en Tucson
Acusaciones de abuso en contra de mujeres y menores de edad amenazan el legado de Cesar Chávez, el difunto lĂder del movimiento campesino y una de las figuras Latinas más […]
TUSD task force shapes plans for responding to potential ICE presence near schools
A Tucson Unified School District task force created to support staff, students and their families is moving toward expanded training on how to respond if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement […]
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Pima County Flood Control, the University of Arizona and other partners are seeking public input as they explore creating a Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge in Tucson. A newly launched survey asks residents to share which areas of the Santa Cruz River corridor are most meaningful to them, what wildlife they hope to see and how future spaces along the river should be designed. The feedback will help guide a two-year community planning effort to shape restoration, recreation and cultural uses along the river. Take the survey.
Pima County has sent a letter supporting Save the Scenic Santa Ritas’ formal protest of a planned April 29 auction of 160 acres of State Trust Land in the Santa Rita Mountain foothills that could be used as a mining waste dump for the proposed Copper World mine. County Administrator Jan Lesher asked the Arizona State Land Department to withdraw the parcel from auction, citing concerns that the land appraisal undervalued the property and failed to account for industrial use. The nonprofit group also argues the state has not adequately evaluated potential groundwater impacts tied to the project.
Pima County seeks input on the Chuck Huckelberry Loop with a short survey. Shape the future of this award-winning trail whether you use it daily or occasionally and no matter whether you run, walk, skate, bike or ride horseback.
The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality has opened a public comment period through April 13 on a proposed air quality permit for the Arizona Electric Power Cooperative Three Points Substation west of Tucson. The Class II Synthetic Minor permit would regulate emissions from natural gas engines used for electricity generation, including particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and other pollutants. Draft documents and information on submitting comments or requesting a public hearing are available on the county’s website.
The Chiricahua National Park Act passed the House in a voice vote on March 16 and next goes to the Senate. The bill proposes to redesignate Chiricahua National Monument as a national park. In comments on the House floor, Rep. Juan Ciscomani said the beautiful area is a source of pride for Southern Arizona and a national treasure. He said the park status would attract more visitors and strengthen the tourism industry.
Arizona State University and the Arizona Department of Transportation have launched a research partnership to evaluate and improve water efficiency across landscaped urban freeways in metro Phoenix. Led by ASU’s Arizona Water Innovation Initiative, researchers are collecting field data on irrigation systems, plant performance and water use to identify opportunities to reduce water consumption while maintaining healthy roadside landscapes. Project leaders say the findings could help ADOT and other agencies make data-driven decisions about irrigation design, plant selection and maintenance as Arizona faces increasing water supply pressures. Read more.
Our recent rains give way to much beauty, but the weed called stinknet is invasive, highly-flamable and foul smelling. Pima County asks for your help to report stinknet locations and remove it and bag it if you can.
KXCI’s 2nd Annual Baila el Pueblo – A Desert Music Festival will return on Saturday, March 21 to Cathedral Square in the heart of downtown Tucson, celebrating the region’s cultural diversity with a full day of live music. After drawing more than 1,000 attendees in 2025, the festival comes back with a vibrant mix of Southwestern musical traditions, along with a marketplace featuring local food vendors and artisans. The 2026 edition will feature headliner Mexican Institute of Sound, the project of musician and producer Camilo Lara, known for blending funk, cumbia and electronic music with traditional Mexican sounds in high-energy performances that have captivated audiences worldwide. More info.
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