Reusable grocery bags can be a breeding ground for dangerous food-borne bacteria and pose a serious risk to public health, according to a joint food-safety research report issued today by the University of Arizona and Loma Linda University in California.

The research study — which randomly tested reusable grocery bags carried by shoppers in Tucson, Los Angeles and San Francisco — also found consumers were almost completely unaware of the need to regularly wash their bags.

"Our findings suggest a serious threat to public health, especially from coliform bacteria including E. coli, which were detected in half of the bags sampled," said Charles Gerba, a UA professor of soil, water and environmental science and co-author of the study. "Furthermore, consumers are alarmingly unaware of these risks and the critical need to sanitize their bags on a weekly basis."

Bacteria levels found in reusable bags were significant enough to cause a wide range of serious health problems and even death. They are a particular danger for young children, who are especially vulnerable to

Investigative reporter John Dougherty discusses his bid for the Democratic nomination for the seat now held by Republican John McCain in an appearance on KUAT-TV's Arizona Illustrated.

Longtime Tucson political strategist Jan Lesher, who headed up Gov. Janet Napolitano's Southern Arizona office and recently returned to Arizona after working under Napolitano at Homeland Security, is taking over Terry Goddard's gubernatorial campaign.

Goddard has been facing criticism over his mixed messages on SB 1070 and concern over what appears to be a lackluster and directionless campaign. Last week, Goddard campaign honcho Rodd McLeod, who helped Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords win her seat in 2006, announced he was leaving the campaign at the end of the month.

The release from Goddard's campaign:

Goddard for Governor announced today that Arizona native Jan Lesher will join the campaign as campaign manager beginning in July. Ms. Lesher has previously served as Director of Arizona's Department of Commerce. She has extensive ties in Arizona's business community and has served as Vice President of Communications and Marketing for the Tucson Economic Development Corporation.

"Jan Lesher is an old friend and trusted ally with a mind like a steel trap," said Attorney General Terry Goddard. "Our campaign reached out to her

The Arizona Republic's Rob Robb questions whether the type of jungle primary approved by California voters would be a good idea for Arizona Democrats:

Assuming parties continue to matter, the top-two primary system would tilt the playing field strongly toward Republicans in Arizona. That's because the voter turnout advantage for Republicans is even greater in primaries than in general elections.

In Maricopa County in 2006, the last year there were primaries for statewide offices such as governor, Republicans were just 43 percent of registered voters, but were 58 percent of primary voters.

Under the top-two system, there is a real chance that Democrats will find themselves without a general election candidate for some statewide offices. In 2002, if Dick Mahoney had run in the primary rather than skipping to the general as an independent, there's a good chance the general election for governor would have been between Republicans Matt Salmon and Betsy Bayless. Eventual winner Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, might not have made it out of the primary.

In this year's attorney general race, the Democrats have three qualified candidates while the Republicans feature a donnybrook between Andy Thomas and Tom Horne. Under the top-two system, if Thomas and Horne were to spilt evenly the Republican vote and the Democrats evenly split the smaller Democratic vote, the Republicans might very well simply roll their catfight into the general.

McCain wastes no time in hammering Hayworth on the infomercial.

Stuart Rothenberg of the Rothenberg Political Report delivers a scathing assessment of former Tucson City Councilman Rodney Glassman, who is running in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican John McCain:

Just a busy, successful young man? Maybe, but this looks more like somebody trying to put together the perfect resume to run for Congress. I'd be shocked if Glassman didn't already have his 2020 presidential campaign sketched out somewhere.

Glassman, whose only full-time job has been working for a Congressman for less than a year, has loaned his campaign $250,000. He earned that money, he told me, during his time consulting with KB Home and when he managed his family's ice skating rink in Tucson. He started earning $24,000 a year at the ice rink and eventually earned six figures a year. (This fact should spur job applications to ice skating rinks around the country and particularly in the Southwest.)

And then:

Glassman's criticisms of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) don't even deserve serious mention, but the Democrat may have a road to victory if former Rep. J.D. Hayworth happens to upset McCain in the Republican primary in late August.

I wouldn't be surprised if Glassman eventually has a long career in politics even if McCain beats him like a drum in November. It's pretty obvious that the young political wannabe will do whatever he needs to do to make his mark.

Read the whole thing here.

One new restaurant has opened at the Tucson Mall, and another is slated to open in August, although the owner may have to rename it before it does.

Shane’s Rib Shack—a national chain—opened its first Tucson store at the mall late last month, said Tucson Mall general manager Jeff Berger. The eatery serves ribs, chicken, sandwiches, salads, sides and desserts. Call 887-0790 to contact the Tucson store, or visit the website here.

Berger said the same person who opened Shane’s Rib Shack is also opening a place called Yogurt on Tap. It will specialize in self-serve yogurt and is expected to open in August.

While researching Yogurt on Tap, we found another store with the same name in Palm Springs, Calif., and the owner was quick to point out that she had nothing to do with the Tucson store. She was also quick to point out that the name is trademarked, and that she was quite interested in speaking with the owner of the Tucson store.

We let Berger know of her concerns, and he said he'd follow up on it.

Last night's debate between Republican Attorney General candidates Andrew Thomas and Tom Horne is up at the Clean Elections Web site. Watch it here.

Both candidates came out swinging. As the Arizona Republic reports:

Horne called Thomas an out-of-control prosecutor who abused his powers. Thomas called Horne a confessed con artist with paltry law-enforcement experience.

In 30 minutes of insults and interruptions, the candidates spent almost no time describing how each would run the Attorney General's Office.

Pollster charts the surveys in the U.S. Senate race. McCain is certainly showing vulnerability, but there's still a big gap for J.D. to close.

Officials at Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort announced yesterday that they’re teaming up with one of the biggest names in natural health and well-being to start a new garden at the resort.

The resort’s restaurant, the Grill at Hacienda del Sol, is already known for using fresh ingredients grown in gardens at the resort. Teaming up with Dr. Andrew Weil to plant a 2,000-square-foot garden, however, is one hell of a way to add celebrity status to the produce grown there.

From the press release:

The Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort and world-renowned doctor of integrative medicine, Dr. Andrew Weil, have two things growing this fall: a new garden and a blossoming relationship centered around the pleasure of gardening, inspiring healthy lifestyles and healthy environments.

“Dr. Weil is a fan of The Grill at the resort,” said Hacienda del Sol Owner Jeff Timan. “And he loves gardening, but won’t have room to garden at his new home. We invited him to build a garden with us and he agreed. It’s planned to be a shared garden, splitting the costs and whatever we grow.”

The 2,000 square foot garden, which has been filled with rich soil imported from Dr. Weil’s property at X9 Ranch, will be planted in September. It’s planned to include