On Arizona Public Media's Political Roundtable tonight: Pima County Democratic Party chairman Jeff Rogers, Tucson Tea Party founder Trent Humphries, Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik and political strategist Sam Stone talk about the Congressional District 2 race, Pima County's slow vote count, Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick's win over Republican Jonathan Paton in the Congressional District 1 race, the city's road-bond measure and John McCain's demands for a special investigation in the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi.

After Pima County tabulated a batch of more than 10,000 provisional ballots today, Congressman Ron Barber strengthened his lead over GOP challenger Martha McSally. As of Friday evening, Barber was up by 1,402 votes.

We've got more background on the CD2 vote count here.

Meanwhile, Prop 409, which would allow the city to sell bonds to resurface roads and fix potholes, is passing by just 583 votes.

Pima County has finished got through more than 10,000 ballots today. An estimated 14,000 provisional ballots remain to be counted.

Here's the press release from Pima County:

While a final tally is still days away, Pima County is finished counting all of the early ballots verified by the Pima County Recorder’s Office and is making progress on counting the provisional ballots remaining from Election 2012.

All of the 261,453 early ballots verified by the Pima County Recorder’s Office have been counted.
And by late this evening, the Recorder’s Office anticipates turning over all of the remaining valid provisional ballots.

Holiday music is already playing at the stores, so you know what that means ... time to give to someone less fortunate.

The local Home Instead Senior Care office is partnering with retailers and community organizations to help seniors through the holiday season. Gifts will be collected and distributed to seniors who might otherwise be alone.

On Monday Nov. 19, Christmas trees go up at the following locations: K-Mart at 7055 E. Broadway Blvd., Deco-Art for Living at 2612 E. Broadway Blvd, Rocco's Little Chicago Pizzeria at 2707 E. Broadway Blvd., and Home Instead Senior Care, at 3208 N. Tucson Blvd.

To play Santa, pick an ornament off a tree, buy the items on the list and return them unwrapped to the store with the ornament attached.

From Monday, Dec. 3, through Tuesday, Dec. 18, gift wrapping will be done between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, at Home Instead Senior Care, 3208 N. Tucson Blvd. Volunteer gift wrappers are welcome.

From Tuesday, Dec. 18, through Friday, Dec. 21, gifts will be delivered.

For more information, call 770-9943, or visit www.beasantatoasenior.com.

The Indigenous Alliance Without Borders' Youth Gathering will commemorate Native American Heritage Month, bringing together youth and elders for a day of history, culture, music, and poetry tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the John Valenzuela Youth Center, 1550 S. 6th Ave. South Tucson. For more info, call Jose Matus at 979-2125 or email [email protected].

Tohono O’Odham Nation, Pascua Yaqui, Akilmel O’Odham and Chicano youth, along with elders will participate in a teach-in on indigenous ways, beliefs and traditions. This purpose is to empower and motivate youth to stand up for Indigenous rights and human rights.

Other activities include poetry Slam, storytelling, music, live graffiti and performances by Shinning Soul, DJ ALias with Progreso, The MEZ, TOP NAX and immigrant rights activist and poet Raul Alcaraz.

We're back on the Daily show radar this week. Al Madrigal returned. Oh, Daily Show, thank you for loving Arizona:

• David Wood, Riverhead

Former Tucsonan Barbara Kingsolver will be in town on Sunday, Nov. 18, to read from her new novel Flight Behavior. The event begins at 7 p.m., at the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. Kingsolver will autograph books after the reading.

As of this writing, tickets are available, but they are going fast. Only balcony tickets remain. They are $15, available online at www.inconcerttucson.com. You may also purchase tickets at Antigone Books, 411 N. Fourth Ave., or by calling them at 792-3715.

Kingsolver’s new book, Flight Behavior, follows in the Kingsolver tradition of fiction that addresses issues of social justice and demonstrates the impact of culture and politics on human relationships. Set in a small town in Tennessee, the novel tells the story of a young woman mired in an unsatisfying life who happens upon a strange phenomenon: a forested valley filled with silent red fire. Her attempts to share the sight and find an explanation throw her into a spiraling confrontation with her family, her church, her town, her continent, and finally the world at large.

Barbara Kingsolver spent two decades in Tucson before moving to southwestern Virginia where she currently resides. She was named one the most important writers of the 20th Century by Writers Digest. She has received numerous prizes and awards, the most recent of which was the Dayton Literary Peace Prize for the entire body of her work, awarded in 2011.

In 2000, Kingsolver established the Pen/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, the nation's largest prize for an unpublished first novel. This prize has helped to establish the careers of many new literary voices. The latest recipient is a Tucson author, Naomi Benaron, who won the Pen/Bellwether Prize for her new novel Running the Rift.

It would be better if Viggo Mortensen made an appearance, but the four-minute Air New Zealand safety video that's all Hobbit is still beautiful. If only Arizona was Hobbit 24/7, well, except Smaug. Oh, yeah, we have Jan Brewer and Tom Horne. Same thing.

Enjoy:

The Arizona Department of Health Services yesterday issued the state's first authorization to open a medical marijuana dispensary, but it went to a come-from-behind Glendale applicant and not a Tucson dispensary, as many had expected.

Although the Green Halo was the first in the state to ask for an inspection (in September) of its dispensary near Interstate 10 and South Wilmot Road, there were problems with the design and paperwork. So Arizona Organix beat them to the punch, getting authorization the same day of their inspection on Thursday. The "rigorous" application process has finally ended for the dispensary, but they won't be open for at least a couple weeks, said their lawyer Ryan Hurley of Scottsdale. Boo.

So far six dispensaries have said they are ready for inspection. One in Tucson is scheduled for Tuesday, so we'll see how soon they can open. Some dispensary operators are having trouble finding enough meds for initial inventory. Let's hope they have stocked shelves by the time the state gets around to inspections.

I have so many emotions, people. What on earth are mothers going to put in their childrens' lunches? What else will we compare to the longevity of Dick Clark and Cher? How will we be able to explain Woody Harrelson's spectacular turn as a Twinkie addict in Zombieland?

I'm astounded and terrified of this world that we will soon live in—therefore, the San Francisco Chronicle, has more for you here:

Hostess Brands Inc., the maker of iconic childhood treats including Ding Dongs, Wonder Bread and Drakes, is winding down its operations after struggling to keep up with rising labor costs and the ever-changing tastes of Americans, who have grown accustomed to a dizzying array of new snacks flooding supermarket aisles every year.

The company, whose roster of brands date as far back as 1888, filed a motion to liquidate Friday with U.S. Bankruptcy Court after striking workers across the country crippled its ability to maintain production.

Hostess CEO Greg Rayburn said in an interview that there was no buyer waiting in the wings to rescue the company. But without giving details, he said that there has been interest in some of its 30 brands, which include Dolly Madison and Nature's Pride snacks. Experts agreed that it was likely the biggest brands would survive.

...

The shuttering of Hostess means the loss of about 18,500 jobs. Hostess said employees at its 33 factories were sent home and operations suspended Friday. Its roughly 500 bakery outlet stores will stay open for several days to sell remaining products.

But lo! There is still hope: So says the New York Times' DealBook Blog.

Fatdogs, a local hot dog cart known for serving seriously delicious Sonoran dogs, is opening a location at the food court inside the Tucson Mall at 4500 N. Oracle Road.

Fatdogs is also known for serving massive oversized hot dogs that should be a hit with mall shoppers looking for a filling meal on the cheap. The most recent word was that the new location would be open in mid-November, which is now, so it should be any day now.