The Humane Society of Southern Arizona presents Bell, a 5-year-old, female, Shepherd mix
Reference no.: 767568

Bell always has a smile and a twinkle in her eyes. This sweet people-centered pooch was found roaming the streets and scooped up by a good samaritan. Although her past remains a mystery, Bell must have been someone’s beloved companion at one time, because she’s all about impressing people. Bell also gets along great with other dogs. If you could give this happy, bright and beautiful girl the forever home she’s been dreaming of, please visit Bell soon at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona! Visit HSSA at 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd.

The budget plan cooked up by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) made it through the House of Representatives last night on an 332-94 vote.

The proposal provides some relief from the sequester spending limits and provides a budgetary framework for the next two years. That will prevent some cuts to military and social programs while raising some fees, such as the federal surcharge on airline tickets. (If you're interested in digging into the details, Wonkblog rounds up a whole bunch of coverage here.)

U.S. Reps. Ron Barber (D-CD2) and Ann Kirkpatrick (D-CD1), who are both in competitive congressional districts in next year's midterm elections, voted in favor of the budget proposal.

Barber sent out the following statement:

I came to Congress to solve problems for Southern Arizonans and to work with people, even when we disagree. Today I joined Republicans and Democrats to pass a budget and curb the mandatory and irresponsible cuts known as sequestration that have been hurting Southern Arizona families, businesses and our military.

While I don't agree with everything in this bill, this is a critical step to end gridlock in Washington and create certainty for Arizona's economy, Border Patrol agents and their families, educators who teach our children and our national defense and readiness.

When Arnold Granillo sat on the bench outside of courtroom 478 on Thursday afternoon, the passersby — save for the jurors in his trial — probably didn’t realize he was being tried for the murder of his girlfriend.

Granillo, who was out on $10,000 bail, was clean-cut, and wore a suit: a gray jacket and slacks, with an emerald green shirt and matching tie. He was calm as he sat on the bench, his shined shoes a shoulder width apart, his hands in his lap, touching at the finger tips. His eyes wandered, but remained mostly trained on the floor.

Thursday was the third day of a five-day trial for Granillo, who faces a second-degree murder charge in the death of girlfriend Kimberly Tsonetokoy in the early morning hours of Sept. 27, 2012. Tsonetokoy, who had been smoking on the back patio of the couple’s Adams Street home, had been hit in the mouth with a crowbar, removing several teeth and knocking her jaw loose.

Why Marriage Matters Arizona (WMMAz) will host an open community meeting to discuss the campaign's progress in Arizona. WMMAz is a grassroots public education campaign to build support for the freedom to marry in Arizona. This campaign is about sharing stories and fostering conversation — showing that every LGBT person is part of someone’s family and should be treated with compassion and respect.

Think Arizona isn't ready? Think again. On Dec. 3, the Arizona Technology Council announced it added LGBT equality to its lobbying agenda.

Mid-World revelers, it’s time to rejoice! On December 12, gather your brethren, hop in your ride, pop in some Led Zep and head on over to either Century Park Place, 5870 E. Broadway Blvd, or Century El Con, 3601 E. Broadway Blvd, for The Hobbit 3D double feature! Starting at 9 p.m., you can check out 2012’s The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey and the premiere of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Don’t forget to take home your collectible 3D glasses and the exclusive posters they’ll be giving away! Ticket prices and more information can be found at cinemark.com.

Today marks the official opening of Casino del Sol's golf complex, known as the Sewailo Golf Club, a long-in-the-works project that's slowly converted several acres of open desert south of the casino into a 7,400-yard course.

It's now also the home of the University of Arizona's golf teams, the school announced this morning.

The Wildcats' men's and women's teams will use Sewailo for its practices (including a private driving range, according to a press release) as any hosted competitions between now and June 30, 2015. Sewailo replaces Arizona National — formerly The Raven — on Tucson's northeast side, which had served as the UA home course for more than a decade.

According to the Arizona athletic department Web site, the UA men's team hosts two regular-season tournaments in 2014, starting with a two-day event Jan. 27-28.

It won't be long until 50,000 Tucsonans head down to the 4th Avenue Winter Street Fair this weekend. Food vendors have already started setting up the on North Fourth Avenue and East Seventh Street. The infamous PIGGLY'S BBQ and Grill didn't waste anytime setting up shop, and the only thing missing is the auroma from the turkey legs on the grill and the deep fried piggly fries.

If you build it, they will come ... #Tucson #streetfair pic.twitter.com/WqmnfwEY65
— Tucson Weekly (@tucsonweekly) December 12, 2013

It's been too long since we have enjoyed a 4th Ave Street Fair funnel cake. #Tucson #food #cake pic.twitter.com/r6elrzY7rp
— Tucson Weekly (@tucsonweekly) December 12, 2013

When you have a deal, sometimes you have to move fast. And so the House of Representatives will be voting later today on the small-ball budget deal hammered out by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA).

Here is a breakdown on the deal, which would essentially set a spending plan for the next two years and break the sequester. New York magazine's Jonathan Chait explains why he believes this isn't the beginning of negotiations between Democrats and Republicans, but the only deal they could strike—and not a very big one.

Congressman Raul Grijalva blasted the proposed deal when details emerged earlier this week:

Federal employees work every day to inspect our food, deliver Social Security checks and ensure our loved ones arrive safely at airports around the country. Our thanks to them over the past few years has been a series of pay freezes, furloughs and reckless government shutdowns. Federal workers’ pay and pensions should not be on the table and neither should unemployment insurance, which temporarily fills the gap for families during hard times.

I strongly oppose a budget deal that asks federal employees to endure another pay cut, ends an important economic lifeline for out-of-work Americans, and preserves unfair corporate tax giveaways. Congress should pass a budget deal that invests in jobs and the economy. American families should not be hurt in the process.

Southern Arizona's other congressional members, Reps. Ron Barber and Ann Kirkpatrick, have not yet commented on the legislation.