Monday, July 26, 2021
Sunday, July 25, 2021
Saturday, July 24, 2021
Friday, July 23, 2021
Several roads, trailheads, recreation areas and portions of the Chuck Huckelberry Loop are closed because of flooding, according to the Pima County Transportation Department. Recent storms have produced flash-flood warnings from the National Weather Service.
The Santa Catalina Mountain trailheads that will be closed are Finger Rock Trail, Pima Canyon Trail, Ventana Canyon Trail, Pontatoc Canyon Trail, and Bear Canyon Trail. All gates at these trailheads will be closed, and signs will be put up warning the public of the closure.
County officials suggest not using the Loop through the weekend because of water, silt and mud. Loop closures are:
- All underpasses on the Rillito, Pantano and Julian
- Cañada del Oro Magee Road underpass
- Santa Cruz east bank, south of Ina Road
- Santa Cruz west bank, between Sunset Road and Camino del Cerro Road
Roads closed as of about 1 p.m. Friday:
- Jamie Ave North of Bopp Road
- Aldon Road North of Bopp Road
- Snyder Hill Road from Sandario Road to Desert Sunrise Trail
- Wentworth Road I-10 to Sahuarita Road
- Wentworth Road North of Speedway Bl.
- Wentworth Road South of Cape Horn Dr.
- San Joaquin Road South of Bopp Road
- San Joaquin Road North of Old Ajo Highway
- Old Ajo Highway West of San Joaquin Road
- Tanque Verde Loop Road North of Speedway at the Tanque Verde Creek
- Tanque Verde Loop Road South of Linden at the Tanque Verde Creek
- Snyder Road East of Scenic Mountain Dr. at Ventana Wash
- Snyder Road West of Placita Ventana del Rio at the Ventana Wash
- Andrada Road West of Calle Rinconado
- Calle Rinconado South of Andrada to Calle Agassiz
- Avra Valley Road West of Brawley Wash
- Avra Valley Road East of Trico Road
- Soldier Trail at Agua Caliente Wash
- Limberlost Road West of Soldier Trail at Agua Caliente Wash
- Ft. Lowell at Agua Caliente Wash
- Sandario Road North of Snyder Hill Road
- Sandario Road at the Black Wash (about 1201 S. Sandario Road)
- Sandario Road South of Desert Oasis Tr.
- North Bald Eagle Between West Cheetah St to North Camino de Oeste
- Mission Road North of Valencia
- Old Spanish Trail E of Valencia Road to Pistol Hill Road
- Old Spanish Trail North of Valencia Road to Escalante Road
- Sahuarita Road Alvernon Way to Wilmot Road.
- Avra Valley Road East of Clayton Road
- Manville Road West of Avra Road
- Manville Road East of Reservation Road
- Trico Road South of Santa Cruz River Bridge
PHOENIX – Although the percentage of those unwilling to take a COVID-19 vaccine has remained unchanged since May, Arizonans are showing less concern about the risks, according to a new survey by OH Predictive Insights.
The online opt-in panel survey of 1,000 adults, conducted from July 6-11, found that 42% of Arizonans were “slightly or not at all concerned” about the deadly disease, whereas 35% of Arizonans were “extremely or moderately concerned.”
“The data showed no statistically meaningful change from May in the number of Arizonans unwilling to take the COVID-19 vaccine (21%), while those who reported already taking the vaccine rose by 8%,” according to the survey. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
The decrease in “pandemic panic” comes at a time when the Arizona Department of Health Services’ daily curve showed an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the past week. Earlier this month, the daily number of new cases exceeded 1,000 for the first time since February. Arizona has recorded more than 18,100 deaths since January 2020.
Health experts say immunization is the best way to fight the Delta variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, which quickly became the dominant strain in Arizona.
“By and large, it is a surge among the unvaccinated,” said Dr. Joshua LaBaer, executive director of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, in a media briefing Wednesday. “The important take-home message is that the vaccines do work against this Delta variant.”
According to the survey, vaccine willingness rates varied among Arizonans of different racial groups, education levels and ages.
“College-educated white respondents reported an 81% vaccination rate while 57% of non-college-educated white respondents said they had been vaccinated,” the survey said. “However, 58% of college-educated Hispanic/Latinos say they have vaccinated, and a statistically equivalent 56% of non-college-educated Hispanic/Latinos are vaccinated as well.”
Thursday, July 22, 2021
The public is being warned to use extreme caution when traveling through the region, as strong storms are expected throughout southern Arizona.
Forecasts from the National Weather Service show an increased chance of strong thunderstorm development and heavy rainfall beginning Thursday.
A significant low-pressure disturbance is expected to move slowly across the state from east to west, possibly bringing multiple days of heavy rain and flash flooding through Saturday night.
This storm system is a nearly identical weather pattern to the powerful storm system from the 2006 monsoon.
Additional flood safety information is available at www.pima.gov/BeFloodSafe. Sandbag station location information is available here.
PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in 28 years. They revealed the foundation of a championship team, but uncertainty looms as key players are headed to free agency, leaving more questions than answers for the near future.
The biggest question? Chris Paul, who has a player option for $44.2 million next season. If he declines it he will become an unrestricted free agent, allowing any team to make a pitch for the future Hall of Famer to join their team.
“ I mean, it will take a while to process this or whatnot, but it’s same mentality, get back to work. I ain’t retiring,” Paul said. “Right now we’re going to process this and figure this out. I think everything else will take care of itself.”
Given the uncertainty surrounding the Suns next season, they are at +1500 to win the NBA Finals. That is fifth-best behind the Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, who are the favorites at +230.
Most analysts agree the Suns are going to need Paul on their roster next season if they hope to return to the NBA Finals. Even at 36, he contributed greatly to the team. He helped guide them to the second-best record in the NBA at 51-21, helped young players including Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton grow, and most importantly, helped form a winning culture for a franchise that had not made the playoffs in over a decade. For much of the season, he was the glue that kept the team together.
