Tucson Gem and Mineral Show Attracts Vendors from Around the World

Thousands of gem and mineral enthusiasts from around the world flocked to Tucson this week for the 2012 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. Lasting from January 26 – February 12, and held at over 40 different locations throughout Tucson, vendors showcased and sold everything from minerals, gems, fossils, beads and even diamonds.

By Emily Kjesbo 01 February 2012 Read Article

Tucson Reacts to TUSD Mexican-American Studies Elimination

In a city with a Hispanic population of 41 percent, many believe Mexican-American studies are an integral part of education.

That’s why when the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board eliminated MAS courses from their district high schools’ curriculum for legal issues, criticism sparked like wildfire.

By Lauren Inouye 25 January 2012 Read Article

Bombing Range Offers Pristine Wilderness

Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range offers some of the most scenic views in Southwest Arizona.

By Keith Perfetti 25 January 2012 Read Article

Arizona celebrates 100 years

This February Arizona celebrates turning 100 and people all over the state are gearing up to pay tribute.

By Hope Jamieson 25 January 2012 Read Article

Alla Frefer: A Libyan-American Experience

To Alla Frefer, "Arab Spring" means more than a social movement by foreign people in a foreign land.  It is a revolution against a dictator that has ruled harshly over her people for far too long.

By Zohra Yaqub 22 November 2011 Read Article

The Gangs of Tucson

Being so close to the Mexican border provides Tucson police with a unique set of problems when it comes to gang activity. Drugs coming across the border are a huge draw for gangs all around the country.

"We're like a Wal-Mart for drugs," said Officer Delia Marquez, who works in the Tucson Police Department's Gang Outreach Unit. "We have members from Phoenix, California and even Chicago coming to Tucson because the drugs are so cheap here."

By Matt Lechuga 16 November 2011 Read Article

Local Group Asks Residents for City Planning Advice

Got an idea of how to fix Tucson? One group wants to hear it.

By Madelaine Archie 14 November 2011 Read Article

2011 Democratic Election Night Party Live Coverage

Tonight I will be attending the Tucson Democratic Election Night Party. I will be covering the results live of the Democratic mayoral candiate Jonathan Rothschild at the Lodge On the Desert beginning at 7 p.m. Stay tuned!

By Kelsey Merkel 08 November 2011

Tucson Elections

Today Tucson will annouce the winner of the 2011 election for Mayor. The candidates running are Jonathan Rothschild for the democrat party, Rick Grinnell for the republican party and Mary DeCamp for the green party. The announcement will be made by 8 p.m. tonight! I am live blogging from the democrat campaign party that is held at Lodge on the Desert. All of the democrat party will be there including city council members who are running. Tonight is going to be exciting, and I hope you stay tuned in to see what happens. Just for reference the republican campaign party will be held at Manning House located downtown Tucson. Both of the parties start tonight at 7 p.m.

By Taylor Medeiros 08 November 2011

Immigration live blog

By Madelaine Archie 03 November 2011

Occupiers are racking up multiple citations

Last week the Tucson City Council voted to continue issuing citations to Occupy Tucson protesters who remained in Armory Park and Veinte de Agosto Park.  As a result, the Tucson Police Department has issued more than 430 tickets to those people who remain in the park past the 10:30 p.m. closing time.

By Zohra Yaqub 02 November 2011 Read Article

Pan Left Productions

For the past four years, Mary Charlotte Thurtle has been at the head of a non-profit organization determined to provide a voice to the wider community and promote equality in the media.

By Matt Lechuga 26 October 2011 Read Article

City Council continues to enforce citations on Occupy Tucson protesters

The Tucson City Council decided Tuesday night to continue issuing criminal citations to Occupy Tucson protesters camped out in Armory Park and Veinte de Agosto Park.

By Zohra Yaqub 26 October 2011 Read Article

Local Group Assists Refugees, Educates Public

A local Tucson group is helping United Nations refugees earn their first paycheck.

Iskashitaa Refugee Harvesting Network has been working since 2003 to assist refugees from Somalia, Sudan, Congo, Iran and other countries after they have been re-located to the United States.

By Madelaine Archie 19 October 2011 Read Article

Mexican Drug War Focus at UA Talk

Taylor and I are covering the Mexican drug war focus talk at UA in Saguaro Hall. The talk will be with two investigative journalists who have covered the drug war that is going on in Mexico. 

By Taylor Medeiros 19 October 2011

Border Homelessness

Pima County in Southern Arizona has developed a ten-year plan to end homelessness.  With nearly 8,000 people accessing homeless resources in 2010 and more than a quarter of those having severe mental health and a third having chronic substance abuse problems, the county may find the task too big to complete.

By Tim W. Glass 12 October 2011 Read Article

Desert Hygiene

Along the border, it's hard to find an actual immigrant walking the trail.

What can be found is the trail of trash left behind by these men, women and children crossing into the United States from Mexico. Apart from from the social issues of immigration, there is also its effect on the surrounding environment.

By Matt Lechuga 05 October 2011 Read Article

Tucson offers welcoming LGBTQ environment

Tucson is known for being a progressive city in a red state. There are various spiritual, student and entertainment resources for LGBTQ communtiy members throughout Tucson that make it a welcoming and accepting environment. 

By Madelaine Archie and Katrina Arrington 04 October 2011 Read Article

"Anatomy of a Tipping Point."

Are you interested in the events currently taking place in Libya and Syria, as well as how they got to that point?

SISMEC,  the Southwest Initiative for the Study of Middle East Conflicts, is hosting a panel discussion right now at the University of Arizona on just this subject. The discussion is called "Anatomy of a Tipping Point: Opposition Movements, Intervention and the Military in the Arab Fall."

I am live-blogging this event as the discussion develops, so stay tuned!.

By Kelsey Jensen 23 September 2011

Ajo Peace Festival 2011 Live Blog

The International Day of Peace takes place every year, and every year in Ajo, Ariz. The town puts on a peace festival.  This year we are live blogging the event. The Ajo Peace Festival's main focus besides celebrating international day of peace is to bring together Hispanic, Tohono O'odham, and Anglo cultures. The festival consists of a parade, fire dancers (Flam Chen), Tohono O'odham dancers and more. Taylor will be live blogging the different food vendors that will be at the festival. The main event takes place today starting at 4:30 p.m. Hope you enjoy!!

By Farren Halcovich, Kelsey Merkel and Taylor Medeiros 21 September 2011

Group hopes life-giving water will decrease desert deaths

Activist groups and U.S Border Patrol are working to ensure these new trails don't result in the deaths of more travelers.

By Matt Lechuga 14 September 2011 Read Article

Surrounded by Saguaros

The saguaros stand tall, silhouetted against the cloudy sky. They dot the sides of small hills and the larger mountains, taking residence on their sloping and crumbling banks, which Ranger Donna Gill calls bajadas.

By Katrina Arrington 14 September 2011 Read Article

Professor studies ecosystem for future wildfires

By Zohra Yaqub 14 September 2011 Read Article

Rain washes away border fence, raises environmental concerns

A 40-foot segment of the border fence that runs along the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument at Lukeville, Ariz. was damaged when heavy rains caused flooding on Aug. 7.  Photos by Kelsey Jensen.

By Zohra Yaqub 08 September 2011 Read Article

Not a Drop to Drink

 The truck jolts along the rocky tracks that lead to the next water station early one May morning. “We're trying to take death out of the immigration equation,” says John Smith, a volunteer with Humane Borders. “We're not law enforcement, we're putting water out in the desert to keep people alive.”

By Kelsey Jensen 07 September 2011 Read Article