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This time of year reminds us how grateful we are to have readers who care about nonprofit local news. Whether you have already supported our end-of-year fundraiser or are thinking about making a gift, you play an important role in keeping community-centered reporting strong.
NewsMatch is underway, and your support goes even further from now until Dec. 31. One-time gifts are doubled, and new monthly donations are matched 12 times.
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Gracias for making Arizona Luminaria part of your week. We are always grateful to hear from you. 🕯️ Please join us next week for an in-person happy hour event! RSVP here.
In today’s newsletter:
📣 “You don’t want your meds?”
In Pima County jail, a man refusing court-ordered medication was tased, punched and injected anyway. His case is part of a growing reliance on jails to “restore” people with mental illness so they can stand trial.
Our new investigation examines what happens when jail becomes the mental health treatment plan in Arizona. Read it.
🛡️ The Pentagon is investigating Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly over his role in a video urging troops to refuse illegal orders, citing a law that allows retired service members to be recalled for possible discipline. Read here.
📹 Our documentary with AZPM is sparking big conversation — 83K views and hundreds of comments in its first week. It takes you inside Southern Arizona mobile home parks where heat, infrastructure failures and evictions collide. Watch and join the conversation.
Featured stories
When jail becomes the mental health treatment plan
Stacey Brooks, a former aircraft mechanic, is alone in Cell 46 of the Pima County jail. He is on court-ordered medical treatment, which requires jail medical staff to inject him […]
Pentagon says it’s investigating Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly over video urging troops to defy ‘illegal orders’
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon announced Monday it is investigating Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona over possible breaches of military law after the former Navy pilot joined a handful […]
Watch now: New documentary reveals hidden struggles in Tucson’s mobile home parks
A new documentary collaboration between Arizona Luminaria and Arizona Public Media reveals the quiet crises unfolding inside Tucson’s mobile home parks and how neighbors are standing together to face them. […]
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Donate to a holiday food drive organized by the Phoenix Indian Center to support Indigenous families in need across the Valley. Through Dec. 18, people can drop off turkeys and unopened non-perishable items to the center’s office at 4041 N. Central Avenue during regular business hours.
Celebrate rain and help support Watershed Management Group’s education, conservation, and advocacy work at the 10th annual Rainwater on Tap Happy Hour with rainwater cocktails and mocktails on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 5:30-8:30 pm. Details and registration.
Mission Garden has expanded its hours. As outdoor temperatures decrease, opportunities at the garden increase. The garden is now open Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 946 W. Mission Lane.
💸 Need help with IRS or tax disputes? Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona is offering free legal consultation through its Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic. The program serves six Arizona counties, helping families navigate IRS proceedings, tax court, and more. Appointments are available now at 520-416-4759.
Honor those affected by TCE water contamination on Tucson’s south side by attending the unveiling and healing ceremony of the new memorial in Mission Manor Park on Dec. 13 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Attend “Triumph in Tragedy” a statewide exhibition series honoring Holocaust survivors at the Tucson Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center from late November 2025 through August 2026. The exhibit, featuring the stories of Andrew Schot and Margot Frank, invites visitors to explore portraits, artifacts, and testimonies that illuminate courage, connection, and resilience.
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