Meet Kacy Catanzaro. She is a 5-foot gymnast that only weighs 100-pounds. Catanzaro broke some records on the NBC  sports entertainment television, American Ninja Warrior. She became the first woman to complete the demanding "Warrior Wall" and qualify for the Mount Midoriyama challenge in Las Vegas.

The people protesting against immigrant children being housed in the Oracle area was 4 miles down the road. I spent 3 hours as part of the bienvenidos group welcoming the children to stay and be cared for until the next step of their journey. The buses didn't show, so the day ended as a standoff.

Paul Ingram of the Tucson Sentinel spent time with both groups. By his count, there were about 75 protesters and 50 welcomers. My estimate of our group was closer to 75, but I imagine Ingram's estimates are consistent for both groups, so let's use his numbers.

The protest group was fueled by anger and xenophobia. Its anti-immigrant fires were stoked by Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu's rhetoric, and they had since Thursday to rally their troops. The welcomers began organizing the afternoon before when people got wind of the planned protest. I didn't learn the details, when and where our demonstration would be held, until 9pm the night before. Even with their anger at the children and a three day head start, they could only come up with a few more bodies than the group brought together at the last minute hoping to counter the protesters' hate and welcome the children.

Our group had a mariachi band drive out to Oracle to play for us. Rumor has it the protesters had Porta Potties. I'll leave it to readers to decide the relative value of the perks for both groups.

Speaking-Of-Rumors Note: The only reason the anti-immigrant protest happened and the welcomers turned out as a counter demonstration was because Sheriff Babeu told people he heard the children were coming to the Sycamore Canyon Academy outside of Oracle. He hasn't revealed his source. The question is, did he have a genuine tip the children were coming, or did he create the event out of whole cloth to give himself a little earned media?

More photos below.

The Humane Society of Southern Arizona presents, Benjamin, a 2-year-old, male, Catahoula mix
Reference no.: 82802

Benjamin is simply the best! This happy, lovable sidekick makes every day wonderful. Benjamin adores people and other dogs. Plus, he has terrific manners and an endless eagerness to please. He’s got the perfect amount of energy for someone who enjoys romping around the yard for a few minutes and then crashing on the couch. Humane Society staff and volunteers can’t say enough good things about this amazing boy! Benjamin will no doubt make a perfect pal for the right lucky person. What he needs is a lifetime of veterinary care and a proper diet to help him manage his allergies. It’s a big commitment but one that’s totally worth the extra effort in exchange for this loyal lad’s love. If you could give Benjamin a life full of joy and health, please check out this remarkable sweetheart today at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona!

By Emilie Eaton
Cronkite News Service

ARRIAGA, Chiapas, Mexico – As night falls, Samuel Carcamo, in a gray button-up shirt and cuffed jeans, stands on the tracks with dozens of other migrants waiting to climb on top of the northbound freight known as “The Train of Death.”

A native of El Salvador, he is already more than 400 miles from home and has at least another 1,200 miles to get to Houston, his ultimate destination.

He looks younger than the 17 years old he claims to be. Either way, Carcamo is one of the thousands of unaccompanied minors from Central America making the dangerous journey north to the United States, where the flood of illegal immigrant children and families has overwhelmed government agencies trying to respond.

But in Arriaga on this night, local children and families come by the tracks to watch the migrants as they gather to jump aboard the train that comes once or twice a week. Vendors peddle candy and food. Across the street, men sitting on the sidewalk peer at the migrants. A gang, the locals say. Stay away.

The dangerous, long train ride that begins in Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost state, is a gateway to escaping poverty and gang violence in their countries. It also means risking life and limb to make the trip north, dodging police and criminals during a harrowing ride for hundreds of miles on top of a freight train.

But to Carcamo, the journey means trading a hopeless situation at home for potential security and prosperity in the United States. There are no jobs in El Salvador, he said, and gang influence continues to grow. If he can get to the U.S. and find a job, he can help his family get ahead.

“You might die on the way,” Carcamo said. “But it’s for a good cause – your family.”

No one knows how many children come through Chiapas, and how many make it to the United States, but the numbers caught in the U.S. has skyrocketed.


In fiscal 2008, there were 8,041 of what the U.S. government calls “unaccompanied alien children” caught by Customs and Border Protection after illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Four years later, that number more than tripled, to 24,481, and the Department of Homeland Security estimates that 90,000 such children could be apprehended in the U.S. this fiscal year.

The reasons for the flight of children from Central America include poverty, violence in their homelands and a belief by some that the U.S. legal system will grant them permanent refuge.

Good news for Brian Lopez fans. We have been keeping up with the local singer/songwriter's antics lately, and he has a lot to say. Lopez is not only a talented musician, but he's a prolific tweeter. I think he discovered the true meaning behind Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle" 90's hit that launched her career.

Listening to Christina Aguilera 'Genie in a Bottle' objectively for first time...pretty sure this song is all about getting jacked off.

— Brian Lopez (@b_lopez_music) July 13, 2014

In retrospect, I think that's exactly what she was talking about.

Speaking of genies, Lopez has finally announced the release date for his upcoming album, Static Noise. Lopez and his full band will play at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26, with Dylan Pratt at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. Get a babysitter because the show is intended for music lovers 21 and older.

Lopez and will perform a special, all ages intimate acoustic set at Hotel Congress' Copper Hall at 7 p.m., on Saturday, Sept. 27.


Both shows are $10 advance, $12 at the door. Click here and here to buy your tickets.

Although the Arizona Department of Health Services does not offer free, state-funded hepatitis screenings, there's a local free alternative—the Liver Institute at the University of Arizona Medical Center currently offers free hepatitis C screenings.

According to a report from the UA Department of Medicine, people with Hep C often have no symptoms. Thomas D. Boyer, director of the institute and head of the UA Department of Medicine, said those infected can live decades without feeling sick "and more importantly, successfully can be treated and cured with medications.”

Each year more than two million people are infected with Hep C, which over time can cause serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver transplantation and even death. Because of the risk of being a hepatitis C carrier, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommends that Baby Boomers, those born between 1945-1962 and five times more likely to have Hep C, be screened for the virus.

The clinic, which also offers treatment and lifetime care, is located at UAMC, 1501 N. Campbell Ave. Info on walk-in screening appointments is available at 621-HEPC (4372). The clinic formally opens July 18; but a hotline information number is now taking calls calls. Clinic hours are Friday mornings from 8 to 11 a.m. and is located on the sixth-floor of the multi-specialty outpatient clinic. Minimal registration is involved.

A couple dozen Tucsonans met at 5:30 am this morning at Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson to caravan up to Oracle, AZ, as part of a nonviolent counter-protest of sorts, showing support to the refugee children who are rumored to be arriving at Oracle's Sycamore Canyon Boys Ranch.

By 6:45am, Oracle's Deputy Sheriff Henry addressed the crowd gathering at the entrance to the campground, handing out a flyer from Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu citing Arizona's guidelines for unlawful assembly under the First Amendment.

All of Tucson's news crews are here in Oracle as the story made national headlines over the last two days.

Later, Sheriff Babeu himself showed up to speak with local Oracle community activist Mary Ellen Kazda, aka Kaz.

Babeu informed the media that there were several vehicles blocking the camp entrance earlier in the morning but they were asked to disperse and complied. More protesters of the refugee camp have been making their way closer to the entrance, but as of 8:30am, it has been for the most part a peaceful event dominated by supporters. Check back later on The Range for another update.

Local filmmakers Charles Lynch and Nathan Lee are in the local craft beer business, and business is booming. The latest episode of Hopped Up highlights Tap & Bottle, 403 N 6th Ave #135. Lynch interviews the downtown bottle shop owners Rebecca and Scott, and talks to Vickee and Sarah of Girls' Pint Out.


Click here to check out previous episodes of 'Hopped Up' and here for more information on Tap & Bottle.

The BBC released the first Doctor Who trailer on Sunday. Unfortunately, the series won't debut until Saturday, Aug. 23. So why wait if you can just watch a rough cut of the first episode right now? Apparently, someone at the BBC Latin America headquarters in Miami leaked a rough black and white copy that was in the process of being translated. 


The good folks at the BBC have apologized for the leak, and request that you don't spoil it for the true Doctor Who fans.


(H/T to Verge and The Mary Sue)

A Maricopa County judge ruled that the legislature has to add over $300 million to Arizona's education funding immediately and as much as $2.9 billion over the next 5 years. No surprise, Republicans are balking. "We don't have the money!" "We don't owe that much!" And their old favorite from awhile back: "We're not paying! If you don't like it, kick us out of office."

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Fred DuVal has challenged Republican candidates for governor to join him in supporting the immediate implementation of the court order.

For nearly five years, Jan Brewer, Doug Ducey, and the Legislature have deliberately and illegally underfunded our kids’ schools. On Friday, the courts gave us clear direction for how to fix this moving forward.

I ask the Republican candidates for governor - Doug Ducey, Christine Jones, Scott Smith, Ken Bennett, Frank Riggs, and Andy Thomas - to join me in supporting immediate implementation of this court order so our children can begin benefitting from these resources as quickly as possible.

When I’m governor, there’ll be no more cuts to our children’s schools - not another dime, not another nickel, not another penny! I will work with teachers and parents to make Arizona’s education system the fastest improving in the country.

Together, we’ll give our children the education they deserve and move Arizona forward.