When word went out that President Obama would announce at a press conference today that—tired of the Republicans lack of backbone to address immigration reform—he was finally going to act using executive action—something immigration reform activists and DREAMERS had been begging, organizing and fasting for.

Today's press conference happened and it felt like maybe the Obama administration had been taken over by Arizona Democrats who use terms like border security like the best of Gov. Brewer's advisers. Yeah, mentioning the large number of Central American children crossing and now warehoused and then an increase in border enforcement, what are folks left to think except maybe we have a president who doesn't understand the difference between a humanitarian crisis and immigration reform. And continuing the trajectory of increasing the number of Border agents—it's, well, kind of depressing.

Congressman Raúl Grijalva issued a statement in response to Obama's "executive action," and it seems he's thinking the same thing, but being diplomatic enough with a dash of hopeful—let's wait and see:

Today, President Barack Obama announced that he will take administrative actions to address our nation’s broken immigration system in the face of continued Republican opposition in the House of Representatives. Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) released the following statement:

“After 18 months of political stonewalling and 12 months of ignoring the bipartisan Senate immigration reform bill, I am glad to see the president is prepared to act where Congressional Republicans refuse,” said Rep. Grijalva. “There are many options available to the president, from extending deferred action to all deserving family members to allowing for prosecutorial discretion on deportations.”

President Obama has directed the Secretary of Homeland Security and Attorney General to move available and appropriate enforcement resources to the border. He also directed his team to identify additional actions and send him recommendations by the end of the summer.

“While the president’s announcement today is a welcome first step, the success of this effort will depend largely on what comes next,” Grijalva continued. “Sending more enforcement to our borders will do nothing for the men, women and children who are caught up in our broken system. Nor will it provide a humanitarian solution to the crisis of child refugees arriving from Central America. I look forward to the president’s next steps, and urge him to focus his efforts on protecting vulnerable families going forward.”

She’s a living local icon who seems to get better with every year—36 to this day, to be exact. It’s Lupita Murillo, a KVOA nightly news mainstay since 1978, when she moved here from KRGV-TV in Weslaco, TX. She was South Texas’ first Hispanic female in broadcasting at the time, and continues to produce award-winning investigative reporting on border issues, frequently appearing on national NBC broadcasts.

Murillo, whose thick-accented segment sign-offs may be as well-known and loved in this town as the old Gordo’s or Szechuan Omei commercials, has come a long way from her beginnings as a buttoned-down, reserved cub reporter. Earlier this month she was featured prominently on “Mystery on Sunrise Drive,” Dateline’s two-hour special on the 1996 Gary Triano murder case, in which Triano’s ex-wife was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to life behind bars.

Next month, however, Murillo will be behind a different kind of bar (sorry, couldn’t resist), as she serves up cocktails at The Coronet to benefit the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation. Murillo and SAAF Executive Director Wendell Hicks will be your “Startenders” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, at Fourth Avenue’s coolest new patio destination. “Coolest,” not only for the Coronet’s Old World European-inspired ambiance, but for the oscillating misting fans that actually work.

So, this happened.

Meeting w/ Malcolm in the Middle TV star Frankie Muniz. He's a fan of mine. Now I'm a fan of his! May join my posse! pic.twitter.com/R0lrQggGwt
— Joe Arpaio (@RealSheriffJoe) June 30, 2014

It's amazing what they can do with wax figures these days. Wait, that's actually Sheriff Joe. Point retracted.

Cue a series of jokes about how Muniz's dad is a meth kingpin.

If you've been wondering what sometimes-Scottsdale resident Muniz has been up to, he was playing drums in a band, he's been playing in celebrity golf tournaments and FINALLY his long-delayed pizza-guy-turned-superhero flick Pizza Man will be available on-demand and on DVD (co-starring Shelley Long and the dad from Family Ties!)

Pizza Man will be available on July 8.

• Jackie Alpers

There won't likely be much rest in 2014 for Todd and Sherry Martin, the owners of Tucson Tamale Company. They opened their second location, on the eastside at Tanque Verde and Sabino Canyon, in January and are now following that expansion up with a third location scheduled to open this October on the northwest side.

Located just north of the Ina/Oracle intersection in the former Jax Kitchen spot at 7286 North Oracle Road, the 2400 square foot space will offer dine-in, take-out and catering. Like the other two locations, tamales will be made fresh on-site.

Congrats, northwest-siders (and me, because I'll have another option for lunch).

Bob Dylan's four page manuscript for "Like a Rolling Stone" just sold for $2.045 million at auction.

Rolling stone. A rock that rolls. Rock and roll. As a word guy (and a Dylan guy), I gotta love it.

The farthest back I can go with the phrase is the Muddy Waters song "Rollin' Stone," recorded in 1950, which is his version of an earlier song, "Catfish Blues," which goes back to the 20s. Jumping forward 12 years, in 1962 (if you're going to believe Keith Richards in his autobiography, "Life"), the very scruffy, very dirty, very poor group of aspiring blues musicians Keith, Mick and Brian, got a gig and were asked, "What do you call yourselves?"

We stared at one another. "It?" Then "Thing?" This call is costing. Muddy Waters to the rescue! The cover is on the floor. Desperate, Brian, Mick and I take the dive. "The Rolling Stones." Phew!! That saved sixpence.

Fact or legend, the Stones' Chicago blues roots are unquestionable.

The name of the magazine Rolling Stone, first published in 1967, either came from the Muddy Waters song or the Rolling Stones, maybe both, depending who you believe. But a better name for a rock and roll magazine is hard to imagine. After all, according to another Muddy Waters song, "The Blues Had A Baby, And They Named It Rock and Roll."

Dylan's songs are such a crazy mix of musical references, literary references and the alphabet soup in his head, there's no way of knowing where the Rolling Stone reference came from. But as for the lyrics themselves, he claims he didn't originally write them as a song.

It was ten pages long. It wasn't called anything, just a rhythm thing on paper all about my steady hatred directed at some point that was honest. In the end it wasn't hatred, it was telling someone something they didn't know, telling them they were lucky. Revenge, that's a better word. I had never thought of it as a song, until one day I was at the piano, and on the paper it was singing, "How does it feel?" in a slow motion pace, in the utmost of slow motion.

In support of ASU Professor Ersula Ore, who was walking home from campus on May 21, 2014 and stopped and questioned by an ASU police officer, the Arizona Ethnic Studies Network released a statement recently in support of the professor and to call attention to her case.

You can read the entire statement here. Snippet:

On the evening of May 21, 2014, Dr. Ersula Ore, a professor in the English department at ASU, was walking home from campus after teaching a summer course. Dr. Ore, who is African American, was stopped and questioned by a male ASU police officer patrolling the area in his vehicle. After a short exchange with the officer, a brief physical altercation ensued in which Dr. Ore, who was wearing a dress, was forced up against the officer’s car and then onto the ground, fully exposing portions of her lower body to the public. Eyewitness accounts of the incident, including video evidence, support Dr. Ore’s assertion that the officer did not clearly inform her regarding why she was being stopped or inform her of her rights, and engaged in excessive force during her detention. Despite these questionable circumstances, however, Dr. Ore has subsequently been charged with felony aggravated assault on the officer, among other charges.

We are troubled by the responses of the media, University, and ASU Police Department about this incident. Media versions have presented a sensationalized, one-sided story that differs substantially from Dr. Ore’s and eyewitness accounts. Officials at ASU, in response to questions about the incident and possible racial profiling, have sought to distance the University, stating that 1) because the incident occurred on a public street between parts of campus, it was technically “off campus,” so Dr. Ore was a private citizen; and 2) although they will comply with any investigation, there is no evidence of racial profiling. We find these responses insufficient. First, the officer involved was an ASU police officer and the University is responsible for the conduct of its employees, including its police force. Second, whether as a private citizen or as a member of the ASU community, Dr. Ore has the right to expect dignified and humane treatment by ASU’s police officers. ASU, as a public institution, has a responsibility to ensure this occurs. Third, ASU has not undertaken a thorough investigation into the matter, so how can officials claim that there is an absence of racial profiling? In a state and metropolitan region in which racial profiling has been proven to be widespread, the ASU administration’s lack of concern for the well-being of an ASU community member of color is unacceptable.

In further response to what many supporters of Ore feel—that ASU are working to discredit the cultural studies professor—a website is up regarding her case and to engage support and further information. The website is erslegaldefense.com/.

A petition is also gaining speed—on Moveon.org—with 1,224 signature and a goal of 2,000. The signatures will be delivered to ASU police and ASU President Michael Crow.

To be delivered to Tempe Arizona Police, Michael Crow, University President, and Michael Crow, University President. The petition is here.

The Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network is a wonderful group that provides support services to those living with HIV, but in order to to the work they do, they need volunteers.

If you're looking for some fun and great people to spend some time with, check this out:

We’re seeking people who like to stay active and involved to make a difference in your community. Are you someone who likes to be behind the scenes and making everything possible? Or someone who wants to be out front and face-to-face with clients, providing the information, resources, and support to help them live well?
Are you interested in being one of our happy greeters (in person and by phone), sitting in a cool air-conditioned office and entering data to support our programs, helping prepare and serve meals to people living with HIV, or working on fundraising events and programs to raise friends and funds for the cause?

The Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN), the largest volunteer-based providers of support services for people living with HIV, has a volunteer opportunity that will fit your desires. TIHAN is offering potential volunteers the opportunity to learn more about our programs and volunteer opportunities at a Volunteer Orientation on Saturday, July 12, 2014 from 8:30am-12:30pm

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than1.1 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in the United States. Because of advances in treatment and medications, many people with HIV are able to focus on living and living well with this disease. For 19 years, the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN) has been educating and activating people to be part of the solution and help support people.

TIHAN has provided support services to more than 500 people living with HIV/AIDS, offering an array of additional support programs, including a “Living Well with HIV” curriculum, food literacy, social and emotional support, advocacy, nutritional support, CareTeams, and more. TIHAN’s Poz Cafe lunch program is the largest regular gathering place for people living with HIV/AIDS in Southern Arizona, and has served over 19,000 meals.

“We are seeking friendly, enthusiastic volunteers who are interested in making a difference in our community,” said Alicia Talerico, TIHAN’s Office and Volunteer Coordinator. “There are many ways to get involved, and we’re here to help people make a difference.”

TIHAN has a multitude of volunteer opportunities, from receptionist and data entry positions, to outreach and education, to active support for people living with HIV/AIDS in Tucson. All TIHAN services are offered free of charge and without prejudice or proselytism.

TIHAN’s Volunteer Orientation will address questions about HIV/AIDS and give volunteers new ideas about what they can do to help. Interactive and informative, the orientation is available to all who want to learn more about HIV/AIDS and gain an understanding of and sensitivity to those living with HIV/AIDS. Pre-registration is required, and there is a $17 fee to cover the costs of food and materials. Full and partial scholarships are available. The orientation will take place at Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (centrally located 2331 E. Adams Street — near Speedway and Tucson Blvd).

Since 1994, the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN) has been organizing faith communities and volunteers in Tucson to respond to the HIV/AIDS health crisis with compassion and education.

Volunteer Application packets are available online at www.tihan.org. For more information or to sign up for the Volunteer Orientation, contact Alicia Talerico, Office and Volunteer Coordinator, at (520) 299-6647 or [email protected]