Haven't been to a TUSD School Board meeting all year? Redeem yourself by going to the State of the District meeting tonight (Feb. 15), 6 p.m. at Catalina Magnet High School Auditorium, 3645 E. Pima St. Superintendent Elizabeth Celania-Fagen and Chief Financial Officer Bonnie Betz will present 2010-2011 budget information. It's a meeting for TUSD parents, teachers and others interested in getting current information on how school funding looks for the next year.

In the debate over the use of torture methods such as waterboarding during the Bush administration, a key defense was that the "enhanced interrogation techniques" were used in rare instances.

But today, Republican J.D. Hayworth embraced torture methods against captured terrorist such as the underwear bomber in a broadside against Sen. John McCain as the former congressman launched his campaign against Arizona's senior senator. Check out this detail from Howie's story:

At an event outside his Phoenix headquarters Monday, Hayworth hurled broadsides at the senator, saying McCain is on the wrong side of all the issues important to GOP conservatives. That includes the incumbent's call to close the prison for enemy combatants at Guantanamo, his support for some sort of cap-and-trade system of cutting pollution, his vote for the Troubled Asset Relief Program to help bail out financial institutions and his efforts to limit campaign spending.

That's not all.

"Just like the liberals, John opposes waterboarding captured terrorists like the Christmas bomber,'' he said.

"Torero Rosa," by Juan Carlos Breceda, is among the works on display through Monday, Feb. 22 at the Tansey Gallery, 3001 E. Skyline Drive, Suite 109. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hotel Congress, Salvador Duran and our pals in Calexico get some love from the L.A. Times:

I ventured downstairs, and there he was, standing on a wooden crate in the lobby, forcefully strumming his guitar and belting out lyrics in a booming, operatic baritone that resonated through the bustling room.

When I asked the desk clerk about the charismatic singer, she told me that his name was Salvador Duran and that he played on Thursday nights. I began to plan my visits to the Congress accordingly, always checking in on a Thursday.

The Congress, built in 1919 and restored in circa 1930s fashion, is a multipurpose destination in and of itself, equally popular with tourists and Tucsonans.

The club rumbles beneath half the hotel rooms, as do the nearby trains throughout the evening. It all makes for a cacophony of sounds — there is little opportunity to nod off to sleep early — but peace and quiet are not really what they're selling at the Hotel Congress. (Some quiet rooms are available upon request.) It's more of a complete entertainment — and even culinary — experience.

A perfect night at the Congress might unfold thusly: happy hour in the lobby, with Duran providing an early evening serenade, followed by dinner in the hotel's Cup Café or Maynards Market & Kitchen across the street (I've had some of my best meals in town at both places), then a long night of live music in the Club and finally a late breakfast or brunch the next morning. It's possible to spend 24 hours without leaving the hotel.

Besides the Club Congress and lobby bar, the hotel's Tap Room is a local institution with a nationwide cult following ( ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons calls it his favorite bar) that has remained open since 1919. The inconspicuous bar, accessible from both the hotel's lobby and patio, is adorned with sketches and paintings donated by renowned cowboy artist Pete Martinez.

Rhonda did her usual great job in summarizing last Thursday's debate among the four Republicans seeking to unseat Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

At the end of the debate, many Republicans in the crowd were buzzing about Brian Miller's closing statement, in which he hammered state Sen. Jonathan Paton for representing the "brand of big-government Republicans that brought us into the mess we're in today" and Jesse Kelly for "being wrong on extremely important and showing an unwillingness to examine issues very closely" and for having a campaign that's "enabled by millions in stimulus money."

"On the one hand, you can accept the hollow echo of Jesse W. Bush," Miller said. "On the other hand, you can accept the hollow echo of Jonathan McPaton."

Several Republicans I spoke with afterwards said they thought Miller had crossed the line and done serious damage to his own political future. Watch it yourself in the above clip posted by JeremyINTucson1 and make up your own mind.

In the interest of peace, harmony and making Arizona a better state, I offer you a sampling of some fresh Craigslist personal ads. It's Arizona Statehood Day after all, and maybe, just maybe a little love connection is what some single Arizonans need right now. If not, then perhaps what our state lawmakers need to do is take a look at Casual Encounters. Plenty of those, and I guarantee we'll have a happier, friendlier group of lawmakers. This could lead to a new state slogan - Arizona the (Casual) Love State... rather than Arizona, the State Who Sold the Grand Canyon.

Women Seeking Women:

cresting desires crave release - 28
Me: Sexy, high femme, slender, fit, curvaceous, uninhibited, pretty, clever, witty, smart, sometimes switch with a serious driving need to bottom. I am into submission which sometimes includes pain and/or degradation, sometimes not. I can be perfectly well behaved or put up a helluva bratty fight. My favorite way to play is however you like it best.
You: sexy and confident in good shape, prefer butchish, soft butch, genderfucker, topping preference. You can like it rough or refined. I have a versatile skill set and I love to play.
I'm eager to please and I can be as good or as naughty as you like.
Dykes, butches, queers and genderfuckers yes please. Men NO

Women Seeking Men:

Looking for my Mr. Right - 25
"The best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what-have-you. The right person is still going to think the sun shines out of your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with."
Hey. Yes, as you can see I am a bigger girl, but I am working on it. I'm sweet, kind, caring, honest, easy going, funny and basically just a great girl. I enjoy all kinds of things from music and movies to hiking and fishing. I'm very down to Earth and easy going. I don't have kids but I do love them. I actually work at a daycare and will be going back school in the near future. I don't smoke and prefer that you don't either. I'm not looking for a hook up or one night stand. No games or drama please. I'm just looking for a nice guy that is atrracted to bigger girls and wants to have a relationship.
I’m gonna keep this short so if you're at all interested.. my advice is reply! Tell me anything about yourself. You have nothing to lose.. good luck ; )

Men Seeking Women:

Happy Valentines Day, or Happy Singles Awareness - 26
Hello there,
First of all let me tell you what I am looking for. I am looking for a lady to be my friend, not only a friend though, someone I can go out with and get to know. I want to have something that can grow into something real. I am not looking for a one night stand, been there and done that.
A little about me, physically I am 6'1, I have dirty blond hair, and blue eyes (they change colors to gray and green) and I weigh around 190. I am not fat or skinny and I do work out. I am a white guy.
I like to cook, go camping, horseback riding, shooting, day trips. I love to travel, and want to see the world. (would be nice to travel with someone though). I am learning how to ballroom dance (Waltz, rumba, etc) so if you are interested in learning or helping me practice that would be great. I do enjoy good beer with friends, and I like smaller social settings versus loud clubs. (sometimes they are fun though). I am also a bit of a geek in that I like science fiction, video games, and other "geek" type things. I try to eat healthy as much as I can, but enjoy letting loose too.
Oh yeah, I have my own car, job and apartment. I don't have any kids, just a dog. (I'm an animal person)
About you. Age doesn't matter too much, just not too much older then me. If you are younger, please know what you want, I don't want to play games. You should have no kids either ( I am not ready to be a father) and you should be able to stand on your own two feet. Also you should be height and weight proportionate. I am not too picky though, tell me about you.
Send me a message, in the subject put a Tucson street so I know you are real.

Men Seeking Men:

Valentines date??? - 21
Ey what's up 21 yo vgl guy here
Browsing the site to see what
It has to offer... I've never had a date during valentines so I never got to expericene what its all about. I'm looking for someone around my age not to old but cute inshape to talk to and maybe do something tonight for the sake of not being lonely
As for me I'm five nine - one sixty- inshape vgl- black hair- brown eyes- cute smile- mixed race here won't be disapointed std free- hiv- clean honest -fun-
If interested email me with a pic and ur stats and I will do the same only after I get a pic with stats... Hope to hear from you

Lead singer of The Knack dead at 57 after a battle with cancer.

• Combo Plate For Two: Ribs, pulled pork, chopped brisket and sausage

While running some errands on the east side yesterday, I finally made it over the Hog Pit for lunch and have to say that I did indeed end up with some messy fingers. I ordered a smoker combo that included baby back ribs, pulled pork, chopped brisket and sausage and I loved every bite. (Quite a bit came home, in case you're worried about my diet, and it was great for dinner later in the day.) The meat was tender, the ribs were meaty and the sauce is rich and sweet.

My bartender, Lily, was as friendly as they come, even though she had to deliver the bad news that they were out of the sweet potato fries. But the side dishes I did get to sample, including hog beans (which include traces of pulled pork), were all fabulous. And the corn bread, advertised as the "Best Corn Bread Ever," didn't fall short of that mark.

With all the big-screen TVs and cold beer on tap, it looks like a great place to watch a game, too. I'll be back!

• NATHAN MITCHELL/EL INDEPENDIENTE
• Ashley Bruno plays a signing bowl as Bill Duran watches at Riverpark Inn

Another one of the University of Arizona's School of Journalism Student Media classes produces South Tucson's bilingual monthly newspaper El Independiente. The first issue just came out, and you may pick up a copy from news stands around the city. You can find a stand nearest you here.

Story by Nathan Mitchell/El Independiente

Shoppers and spectators are welcomed into hotels and tent cities to see the natural wonders of the world. Objects for sale can be extravagant: a crystal chunk of purple and clear Kunzite for $34,000; a nest of 25 red and gray fossilized eggs set in a lit case with a note that reads “DO NOT TOUCH DINOSAUR NEST, $37,500.” But for the more frugal shoppers, there are beads, singing bowls, moon rocks and even a $25 stone tissue box.

Walking the halls of the hotels-turned-strip-malls is something like spinning a globe. At Hotel Tucson signs posted on the doors read: Austria, Russia, Tucson, Morocco, Peru, Tunisia, France, China and Czech Republic. The doors are open, and the beds are removed. Vendors invite shoppers in using sparse English to take a look at the products set up in cases and on folding tables they cart around the world. Visitors in the ballroom can walk among the towering skeletons of an Albertosaurus and Giant Ground Sloth casted from the bones of the ancient creatures. Raw materials used to make beads and jewelry sit beside stone jewelry set in gold, silver and wire. Price tags mark the material, $25 for a kilo of quartz and $2 for stromatolite.

Read more on El Independiente's Web site.