Afters years of debate, the feds have finally approved a high-voltage electrical transmission lines project known as the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project that will go through the middle of the San Pedro River Valley, and this has environmental advocates very unhappy.

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell's approval of the project means miles of roads and 135-foot-tall towers will be built in the area (affecting parts of Pima, Pinal, Graham and Cochise counties), "creating one of the West's largest utility corridors directly in one of the most important bird migration pathways in the United States," a press release from the Center for Biological Diversity said.

“There’s no justification for sacrificing an area as biologically rich and critically important to wildlife as the San Pedro River Valley for such a dubious project,” said Randy Serraglio, conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, in a statement. “Millions of birds — hundreds of different species — use the San Pedro corridor for essential migration every year, and this unfragmented landscape provides important habitat and connectivity for terrestrial animals as well.”

The project, which is managed by Phoenix-based Southwestern Power Group, will run two parallel 500-kilovolt lines from central New Mexico to central Arizona, and proponents say it is "crucial" for spreading renewable energy through the Southwest region.

From the Center for Biological Diversity press release:

The “preferred” route approved by Jewell for SunZia runs from central New Mexico to central Arizona, ostensibly to promote development of wind energy by creating the transmission capacity to deliver it to neighboring states. But both California and Arizona officials have said repeatedly that they’re not interested in purchasing wind power from New Mexico, since they expect to meet all of their renewable energy needs in-state. Also, the only independent analysis done on the SunZia project concluded it was not economically feasible.

The center, as well as other groups like the Sierra Club, Friends of the Aravaipa Region, which focuses in protecting the habitat of the lower San Pedro watershed, say the project is flawed and that it is not likely to promote renewable energy production at all. 

From a statement by the Friends of the Aravaipa Region's Peter Else:

SunZia is a transmission project, not a renewable energy project. However, the SunZia team used the federal environmental review process to convince the public and the decision-makers that the energy development scenario offering the least marketability will be the most likely scenario to take place, contrary to specific findings in a third-party feasibility study. This decision points out the degree to which the process prescribed by the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) has been corrupted. NEPA was originally enacted to require an objective description of a proposed development action, using the best available science to describe the short- and long-term environmental effects and rigorously analyzing possible alternatives. With the SunZia process, NEPA has been subverted into a marketing tool for project proponents.

He says the decision highlights just how disjointed environmental policies have become at the federal level.

Secretary Jewell, who had characterized herself as the champion of landscape-scale conservation planning, has now personally announced that the very region repeatedly designated to offset environmental impacts elsewhere in Arizona (the lower San Pedro watershed) has officially become the preferred path for a major new infrastructure corridor, one of the largest transmission projects in American history. She has made this decision without seriously considering alternative project proposals and routes, despite an effort made by local conservationists and Arizona Representatives Kirkpatrick and Barber to have her staff independently review the validity of the project's analyses and its environmental benefit claims. At that time, Secretary Jewell simply forwarded this formal request to subordinates in the same agency that had previously dismissed relevant information submittals. No response was ever received by the Arizona petitioners, so it is apparent that an independent review did not take place within the Obama administration.

The group wants to fight the approval, but say that depends on how much legal and financial support they're able to get to take the issue to court. Meanwhile, the Center for Biological Diversity says it's sad to see the tens of millions of dollars that have invested in protecting the San Pedro River Valley thrown in the trash because of this project. 

"Compromising that investment for a scam like SunZia is unfair to the communities, agencies and organizations doing that work as well as the wildlife that benefit from it," Serraglio said in his statement. 

Here's the map of where the proposed project would go.

It's been a busy couple weeks for video premiers popping up in the Old Pueblo, but hey—I'm not complaining. That just means there's more great local stuff to watch. 

This time Gabriel Sullivan's solo work is up to the new video plate with a video for "Hollow Hunter" off of his most recent release "JVPITER." The sultry, smoky song is accompanied by some surreal Southwestern imagery that will keep you guessing.

According to Blurt magazine who premiered the video, the song "Hollow Hunter" was recorded part in Tucson and part in Denmark and "embodies the cold and somewhat alien feeling of the record while maintaining its earthy roots."

Here's Sullivan's new video:

If you fancy yourself a serious local food snob, take note. Savor Food & Wine Festival is hitting the Tucson Botanical Gardens on Saturday, Feb. 7 and some of this town's best food, beer, wine, cocktail, and coffee makers will be serving up samples of their delicious wares for crowds to try.

The second annual event is joining forces with an impressive line-up of over 40 local chefs, 15 breweries and wineries, artisan vendors and purveyors, coffee roasters, and more. Live demonstrations will keep attendees informed and entertained throughout the day, including seminars on how to make gnocchi and tarte tatin.

However, we all know it's really about eating in the end. Some planned bites include:

• Braised Spanish Pork Shoulder Stuffed Peppadew Peppers with Shaved Manchego Cheese and Romesco Aioli from Stephen Eldridge (Noble Hops)
  
• Roasted Street Corn with Queso Fresco and Chipotle Aoli from Jesse Ahumada (NOX Kitchen & Cocktails)
  
• Braised Pork Cheek Posole from Albert Hall (Acacia Real Food & Cocktails)
  
• Browned Butter Pecan, Prickly Pear, Coffee Ghost Gelato from Peter Miller (Tazzina di Gelato)
  

VIP attendees also get the opportunity to sample dishes from Ryan Clark (Agustin Kitchen), Kristine Jensen (Cafe Botanica / Gallery of Food), Kris Vrolijk (Proper), Chris Bianco (Pizzeria Bianco), and Daniel Scordato (Scordato's Pizzeria)

If you get thirsty, you can expect everything from Ninkasi, Dragoon, and Dogfish Head brews to coffee from Yellow Brick to a cocktail from The Still's Tiffany Eldredge that combines dark rum, fresh pineapple juice, chai syrup, and nutmeg.

Events like this are especially great if there are a handful of hotspots you desperately want to try, but don't necessarily have the cash flow to eat a full meal at all of them. Trust me, after a while all of those samples will certainly fill you up. Before Savor invades the botanical garden from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Feb. 7, an exclusive kick-off event at Westar Kitchen and Bath will serve as the big event's appetizer course on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 5 p.m.

You can get tickets for Savor and its kick-off event via the Southern Arizona Arts and Culture Alliance website. General admission is $65 in advance and $75 the day of (unless it sells out) or $100 for the full VIP treatment. The website also lists most of the samples chefs will be serving up, if you need to formulate a plan of attack—might not be a bad idea.

UPDATE: Cait Blanton of the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance says the event is very nearly sold out and they do not expect to have tickets to sell the day of—so get them now.

About 30 immigration and LGBT activists and allies from Tucson, Phoenix and even Oakland gathered at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Phoenix this morning with megaphones and signs in English and Spanish that read, "Free Nicoll," "Trans Lives Matter," and other support messages for Nicoll Hernández-Polanco, a transgender woman from Guatemala, who has been in an all-male immigration detention center in Florence for about four months now.

Tucson immigration and LGBT rights advocate Raúl Alcaraz Ochoa was there, with fellow members of BorderLinks, Mariposas Sin Fronteras, Arcoiris Liberation Team and Arizona Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project. Two young attorneys from Oakland's the Transgender Law Center also came.

The march headed to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Phoenix headquarters, where the group protested the abuse transgender detainees suffer in detention—in the short time Nicoll has been in ICE's Florence facility, she has already reported verbal, physical and sexual abuse. ICE responded they take these issues very seriously.

The gathering was peaceful. Police and other law enforcement didn't approach with any issues. However, when a group of activists, among them Alcaraz Ochoa, walked into the ICE courtyard to deliver a letter demanding for Nicoll's immediate release—they have this online petition, too: http://www.notonemoredeportation.com/portfolio/freenicoll/—ICE agents said they would not accept the letter because there were members of the media present. I counted less than 10 of us and only I from Tucson.

Anyway, one of the Phoenix transgender activists present, Viktoria Villalba, grabbed the megaphone and announced ICE did not want to accept the letter because, "They are scared of us."

"They are inhumane. They abuse us in detention," she screamed.


I spoke with a trans woman from Sinaloa, Mexico, Marichuy Leal, who was released from detention about one month ago. She, too, was put in an all-male detention center, and like Nicoll, was sexually assaulted by detainees. When she told guards in detention what was happening, Marichuy said they told her to “deal with it.” Is this what they would tell their daughters, too?

She was on the same boat as Nicoll. They’re both pleading for asylum in the U.S. afters years of violent abuse in their native countries for being trans, except Marichuy is now free while she waits for a decision, and Nicoll is still imprisoned.

Nicoll has an asylum hearing in April, and her lawyer, advocates and other supporters hope she can wait for that outside detention. 

Yesterday, I said there was a rumor going around that rapper and activist KRS-One planned on visiting Cholla High Magnet School today, since he was in town for a concert last night at the Rialto Theatre.

Well, that came true. KRS-One was at Cholla today and spoke at an assembly.

Here's what TUSD said about it in an article on their website:

Several dozen students walked into Cholla Magnet High School's Little Theatre Wednesday afternoon eager to meet a legend of Hip Hop music. What they didn't know is that they'd get a lesson not just about music but life-changing lessons in self esteem, knowing themselves and advice on how to live a successful life.

How the internationally known star ended up lecturing to them in Tucson starts with a teacher in one of Tucson Unified School District's Culturally Relevant Curriculum courses. Mr. Andrew Walanski used KRS-One's "Introduction to Hip Hop" in his classroom at Cholla. Former State Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal singled the lesson out as one his department felt violated a state law.

Media coverage of the letter sent by Huppenthal on his last day in office reached across the country to KRS-One and his team.

KRS-One just happened to be coming to Tucson a few weeks later. He invited the students and teachers to be his guests at his concert at the Rialto, and conversations there led to an impromptu lecture at the school the following day.

If you Google KRS-One and his background you'll find he gives lectures on college campuses across the country including Harvard and Yale. He's often referred to as the conscience of Hip Hop and a master teacher.

At Cholla, while KRS-One gave a lecture on the origins of Hip Hop and how it connected to his life and his success, it was more about philosophy of self worth. KRS-One encouraged the students to know themselves and "chisel out who you are."
The 50-year-old also told the students to build each other up along with everyone else they know. "When you feel great, you see others as great and you add value. Lift them up and show other cultures how great your culture is," he said.

The students were on the edges of their seats, paying attention to every word for the nearly three-hour session. Lorenzo Lopez Jr., TUSD's Coordinator for Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and Instruction, says that's what ethnic studies courses bring to the classroom.

"His presence sums up what CRC [Culturally Relevant Courses] are all about. The educational experience adjusts itself to the needs of the students," he said. "The relevancy of having this internationally known artist in their school brings the educational experience to life. These students are life long learners engaged in the process of learning through thought and analysis."

KRS-One told the audience, "You should be proud of your school for doing this."

Tucson Unified School District Superintendent, Dr. H.T. Sánchez has expressed his support for using music in the classroom since the letter from Mr. Huppenthal was issued in December. "Music bridges generational gaps and is able to show students that certain struggles aren't new to this generation but transcend generations. Any media that does that is appropriate as long as it is suitable for the age of our students."

At the end of the lecture and Q&A session, the artist posed for pictures and selfies with the students and teachers. He also shook every hand, telling the students he was honored to meet them and be there.

An impromptu Hip Hop session and break dancing party also broke out while the students pulled out their cell phones to record the personal concert in the Little Theatre in their little part of the world.

A young man named Dyre said he is an aspiring rapper. He said hearing from KRS-One and how he became who he is was inspiring. "It was great to learn to be confident in myself," Dyre said.

Another student, Haley, says the experience will stick with her. "This school has given me so many amazing opportunities."

What does Mr. Walanski want his students to take away from the visit? "I hope they all heard the message. Hopefully it means be confident in who you are. You choose how you move in the world. You can choose it."

Cholla Magnet High School Principal Frank Armenta says, "This is what teaching is all about. Now their job is to take it from here and move it on. It's a global community, and it can start here and go worldwide."

And it will. KRS-One was set to play for a sold out crowd in Barcelona, Spain, on Thursday.

I'm always hearing people say (well, I'm always hearing myself say) they work best under pressure. You know—if you start your taxes in January, your kitchen table is going to be covered in paperwork for two weeks, but if you start them April 10, you're done in an afternoon? Well, now you've got the chance to test just how good you are under threat of murder.

Step back in time to 1952. The Hollywood Golden Age. Elvis Presley played on the radio, Dragnet on the television. You have entered into a glamorous Hollywood starlet's dressing room but she is nowhere to be found. Upon investigation you discover she's been murdered! Can you follow the clues to solve the murder before the killer returns? Do you have what it takes to get out in time??? WILL YOU ESCAPE?

Oh man, that's a lot of question marks. I find myself intrigued and terrified. 

A rather mysterious website has popped up, inviting Tucsonans to sign up for the "Hollywood Room." Tickets can be booked from Feb. 1 to the end of July. You can book private parties if your office or D&D group or babysitter's club want to give it a go.

I've heard some really wonderful things about How to Host a Murder parties, and $20 per person sounds pretty reasonable for not having to be the person who sets the whole thing up.

Looks like Tucson got a visit from Adam Sandler last night. The Silver Saddle Steakhouse, a super delicious option for when you find yourself hungry on the Southside, posted the above picture to their Facebook wall last night. No word on whether Sandler is sticking around, or if he was eating off Benson Highway on his way out of town. Someone did comment on the photo that he was also seen at a Wendy's, so I guess your best option for a chance encounter is hanging out at restaurants. 

OK, so Louis C.K. is a comedian, not an educator. But his mother was a math teacher (Fun facts: his parents met at Harvard. His mother has a background in software engineering, his father is an economist, and he grew up in Mexico City from age one to seven. His first language was Spanish). And he's a very perceptive social commentator. He's also got two young daughters. So, sprinkle a few grains of salt on his comments if you wish, but his statements on testing are worth a listen (especially if, like me, you tend to agree with them).

His concern about high stakes testing went public when he wrote a string of tweets, including:

My kids used to love math. Now it makes them cry. Thanks standardized testing and common core!
— Louis C.K. (@louisck) April 28, 2014

Sorry. I sit with my kids as they so their HW they devour knowledge. When it’s hard they step up. Their teachers are great
— Louis C.K. (@louisck) April 28, 2014

But it’s changed in recent years. It’s all about these tests. It feels like a dark time. And nothing is going in anymore.
— Louis C.K. (@louisck) April 28, 2014

It’s this massive stressball that hangs over the whole school. The kids teachers trying to adapt to these badly written notions.
— Louis C.K. (@louisck) April 28, 2014

He's gotten a fair amount of media coverage for this statements. On Letterman, he said, tongue slightly in cheek:

Well, the way I understand it, if a school’s kids don’t test well, they burn the school down. It’s pretty high-pressure.

Educator Diane Ravitch chimed in about Louis C.K.'s comments, at length, ending with a neutral statement about Common Core itself but a damning indictment of our current obsession with high stakes testing.

The Common Core has some good ideas in it; I doubt that it will do harm, although I believe that subjecting little children to 6-8 hours of testing to see if they can read and do math is harmful, physically and mentally, to them. Long ago, educators were able to find out in tests lasting 50 minutes how well a student could read or do math. Why is it now an ordeal that lasts as long as some professional examinations? For heaven’s sake, we are talking about little children, not candidates for college or a profession!

Louis C.K. isn't the first and won't be the last to chime in on the testing issue, and he's certainly not the most knowledgable commentator on the subject, but he's among the highest profile. After all, how many people get to bring up the subject to an audience of the size or the diversity of Letterman's?

Natural Grocers made its Tucson debut on Tuesday, Jan. 20, offering up fresh, healthy produce to the Old Pueblo. After last weekend's block party and local food tasting fair, the new grocery store, located at 7220 East Broadway Boulevard, is offering up more events to teach you about eating right.

Here's what's coming up at Natural Grocers' new Tucson location:

Saturday, Jan. 31: Taste the Difference that Food Standards Make
Saturday, Feb. 7: Gluten-Free Health Fair
Sunday, Feb. 15: Primal Eating for Optimal Health

For more information on upcoming events and times, visit the Natural Grocers website. All events in the opening series are free to the public.

There is, perhaps, nothing more adorable in this world than an entire museum of meticulously designed and arranged miniatures, and, of course, Tucson has that market totally covered. Obviously, I'm talking about the maddeningly cute Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures.

Well, the museum just premiered a brand new exhibit that features famous historical figures and the bling that they loved. The "Diamonds are Forever" exhibit opened Jan. 27 and will run until April 19. The exhibit seeks to showcase the "incredible journeys of world-famous diamonds and the people who owned them," including the brand new Evalyn Walsh McLean figure.

In case you aren't familiar with McLean, she's the American mining heiress who last privately owned the Hope Diamond—an enormous 45.52 carat rock. According to the museum, McLean's fancy, gaudy gem came with a unique warning, though:

Mrs. McLean purchased the 45.52 carat Hope Diamond from Cartier in Paris in 1911. Her purchase may have been influenced by intrigue over the alleged curse the stone carried. McLean's flamboyant ownership of the stone (it is rumored she let her pet poodle wear it at parties), continued until her death in 1947. Harry Winston Inc. acquired the stone when they purchased McLean's entire jewelry collection, and eventually donated it to the Smithsonian Institution. The stone's previous history, dating back to the 1600s, is told through other Historical Figures in the exhibit- including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

You can check it out at the Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, located at 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive. Admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and military, $6 for youths under 18, and free for small children three and under. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. For more information, visit the museum's website.