Thursday, June 11, 2020

Posted By on Thu, Jun 11, 2020 at 3:45 PM

click to enlarge U-Haul Offering Free Storage To Bighorn Fire Victims
Google Maps
After the Pima County Sheriff's Department ordered several neighborhoods in the Catalina Foothills to evacuate due to the encroaching Bighorn Fire, U-Haul announced they are offering 30 days of free self-storage and container usage to impacted residents.

They are offering these free services at six locations throughout the greater Tucson area.

“As the Bighorn Fire continues to spread, people are now having to leave their homes and may need a secure facility to store their valued belongings,” said Billy Longenbaugh, U-Haul's Southern Arizona president. “We want our neighbors and the City of Tucson to know that we’re here to help. Any displaced families needing free self-storage for one month can make use of our disaster relief program.”

The participating locations are:

U-Haul Moving & Storage of Marana

7701 N. I-10 EB Frontage Road

Marana, AZ 85743

(520) 293-1627

U-Haul Moving & Storage at Automall

4655 N. Oracle Road

Tucson, AZ 85705

(520) 575-5373

U-Haul Moving & Storage at East Speedway

5533 E. Speedway Blvd.

Tucson, AZ 85712

(520) 575-5376

U-Haul at Grant Road

3555 E. Grant Road

Tucson, AZ 85716

(520) 575-5364

U-Haul Moving & Storage at Ina Road

4040 W. Ina Road

Tucson, AZ 85741

(520) 575-5380

U-Haul Moving & Storage of Downtown Tucson

450 N. Freeway

Tucson, AZ 85745

(520) 777-9159

Posted By on Thu, Jun 11, 2020 at 12:30 PM

Keep the party rolling at The Gaslight Music Hall, where the show has moved into the parking lot over the last few weeks after founder Tony Terry launched his newest production: The drive-in concert series.

Next up is Bluegrass Night with The Sonoran Dogs, Funky Grooves with OnesAll Band and Blues Night with The Porch Rockers, which takes place next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, respectively.

The Sonoran Dogs, which play Tuesday, June 16, formed in 2011. Since then, they’ve toured across the Southwestern United States, and even as far as Melbourne, Australia. According to the group’s bio, The "Dogs" are made up of seasoned veterans “who have come together to enjoy bluegrass music and friendship, oftentimes adding one or more ‘strays’ on fiddle, dobro, and even accordion.”

The group’s expertise is on display no matter what they play, which includes improvising and original songs spanning traditional and contemporary music as well as an eclectic mix of Bluegrass, Folk, Americana, Celtic, and Newgrass.

Posted By on Thu, Jun 11, 2020 at 12:01 PM

Residents evacuating their homes on Tucson’s north side due to the Bighorn Fire can find refuge for their pets at the Pima Animal Care Center, the shelter announced Thursday morning.

“When you are in the middle of an emergency it can be overwhelming to figure out the best way to take care of your family and pets,” said Director of Animal Services Kristen Hassen, in a press release. “We want to put folks at ease by helping them with their pets so that they can focus on other things like taking care of the humans in their family.”

Anyone who needs to make arrangements for their furry friends can call PACC at (520) 724-5961. Room will be made in the facility’s kennels, which has space available due to a high number of fosters.

“Pets are family,” Hassen said. “The shelter is already working hard to make sure these evacuated pets get plenty of enrichment while in our care.”

Residents can bring their dogs, cats, birds, gerbils, hamsters and more. PACC is also working with the Pima County Fairgrounds for additional space. Those with livestock may contact Martina Gonzales at the Rillito Racetrack at (520) 419-2369.

For information about the Bighorn Fire, click here.

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Posted By on Wed, Jun 10, 2020 at 5:30 PM

The Best of Tucson 2020® is ready to go and waiting for your nominations! After you're done, you can take a look at the other stories we covered today, just in case you missed them earlier.

  • The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona surpassed 29,000 as of Wednesday, June 10, with another jump of 1,556 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
  • So, the first uncomfortable reality of your slow home internet is that it’s likely there’s an infrastructure problem that will not be addressed until the customer complaints reach the intolerable level.
  • More Arizona residents who want a COVID-19 antibody test may do so after the University of Arizona and the state announced expanded testing eligibility.
  • More than two months have passed since The Loft Cinema closed their theaters due to COVID-19.
  • The Tucson City Council unanimously voted to reopen discussions on the controversial ordinance prohibiting the public to enter and film a crime scene without having officer permission during Tuesday’s study session.
  • The Eighth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. It states: “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”

Posted By on Wed, Jun 10, 2020 at 12:00 PM

More Arizona residents who want a COVID-19 antibody test may do so after the University of Arizona and the state announced expanded testing eligibility.

Hospital employees, healthcare professionals licensed by the boards of naturopathy, homeopathy, podiatry, chiropractic examiners, optometry and nine other health care categories are all eligible, as well as corrections officers and child safety workers employed by the state.

The university also announced a new testing site in Nogales, Arizona.

According to UA, the roughly 6,000 blood samples analyzed during the first phase of testing in Pima County resulted in no false positives. The tests measure the amount of antibodies in a person’s blood.

Registration for the test is available at this website, where participants also can find a list of all the groups eligible for testing.

Monday, June 8, 2020

Posted By on Mon, Jun 8, 2020 at 11:34 AM

click to enlarge Ben's Bells' Tips to Stand Up for Kindness
Mari Herreras
The Ben's Bells mosaic mural at Tucson High Magnet School.
Anyone who is in Tucson for any amount of time is bound to hear about Ben's Bells. The organization has embraced "Be Kind" as its motto, greatly benefiting many in our city as it has spread its message to young and old alike.

In light of recent events that have taken our nation and the world over, Ben's Bells would like to reiterate the message to be kind to one another by asking each and every one of us to Stand Up for Kindness:

At Ben’s Bells we stand for kindness. Kindness for everyone. We believe that Black lives matter and that each of us must actively oppose racism. Kindness is doing for the benefit of others. It is not the same as being nice. It is not condescending. It is about doing the hard work of ensuring an inclusive community for all, and that means opposing injustice and oppression. If you stand for kindness you must be anti-racist.

Below is a list of things that Ben's Bells believes you can do to help Stand Up for Kindness in our community.

Posted By on Mon, Jun 8, 2020 at 9:08 AM

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona surpassed 27,000 as of Monday, June 8, with another 789 new cases reported this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Pima County had 3,154 of the state's 27,678 confirmed cases.

A total of 1,047 people have died after contracting the virus, including 205 in Pima County, according to the report.

In Maricopa County, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases hit 14,003.

Because symptoms can take as long as two weeks to appear after exposure to the virus (while some people can remain entirely asymptomatic), health officials continue to urge the public to avoid unnecessary trips and gatherings of more than 10 people, especially if you have underlying health conditions, and have advised people to cover their faces with masks in public.


Friday, June 5, 2020

Posted By on Fri, Jun 5, 2020 at 5:30 PM

Here are the stories we covered for you today, and a few stories you may have missed from this past week.

  • The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona surpassed 24,000 as of Friday, June 5, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. That's a single-day jump of more than 1,500 cases.
  • While international conventions outlaw the US from using chemical agents in warfare, we still use them on our own citizens. In response to a wave of national riots and police tear-gassing, Banner Health’s Poison and Drug Information Center recently shared a list of safety tips if the public is exposed to these riot control agents.
  • A new Trump appointee to the United States’ foreign aid agency In her June 5 video address to the community, has a history of online posts denouncing liberal democracy and has said that the country is in the clutches of a “homo-empire” that pushes a “tyrannical LGBT agenda.”
  • In her June 5 video address to the community, Pima County Health Department Director Theresa Cullen had a simple message for anyone planning to attend this Saturday’s rally at the University of Arizona: Don’t forget about COVID-19.
And just in case you missed it this past week:
  • If you're looking for something to do tomorrow with the kids, Marana's Splash Pads will be opening at 10 a.m.
  • If there’s a hole in your heart yearning for live music, look no further than The Gaslight Music Hall’s upcoming drive-in concerts—tickets for which are still available now.
  • This week's Skinny delves into appointed U.S. Sen. Martha McSally's campaign tailspin, but if you need more evidence, here's a new Fox News poll that hit yesterday after our deadline.
  • A candlelight vigil was held in memory of George Floyd here in Tucson.
  • SAACA canceled its summer events and is cautiously moving forward with some of its fall and winter happenings.

Posted By on Fri, Jun 5, 2020 at 1:00 PM

In her June 5 video address to the community, Pima County Health Department Director Theresa  Cullen had a simple message for anyone planning to attend this Saturday’s rally at the University of Arizona: Don’t forget about COVID-19.

“We want to remind you that there is a pandemic, and there are things you can do to keep safe,” Cullen said.

In her address, Cullen provided several common-sense tips: Stay safe if you decide to participate by practicing social distancing, wear a mask, and use hand sanitizer. If you’re sick, don’t attend any demonstrations. If you’re nervous while at an event, hang out on the peripheries.

None of the information Cullen shared was new, though she did also provide some clothing tips.

“Because we live in Arizona and it will be warm this weekend, please consider wearing long clothes; long loose clothes,” she said. “This will protect you from the sun as well as any other elements that you may encounter.”

Posted By on Fri, Jun 5, 2020 at 10:30 AM

Banner Shares Safety Tips Against Riot Control Sprays
Courtesy Fibonacci Blue on Flickr

While international conventions outlaw the US from using chemical agents in warfare, we still use them on our own citizens. In response to a wave of national riots and police tear-gassing, Banner Health’s Poison and Drug Information Center recently shared a list of safety tips if the public is exposed to these riot control agents.

According to Banner, these agents refer to a category of chemicals, including tear gas and pepper spray, which can cause acute eye pain, tearing skin irritation, and respiratory tract irritation. People can be exposed to these agents by skin or eye contact as well as inhalation. Recommended safety tips if exposed include:

• Immediately remove any exposed clothing
• Rinse your face immediately; if it is in your eyes, rinse for at least 10 minutes 
• Wash the agent off your skin with large amounts of soap and water 
• Patients with pre-existing lung problems (e.g. asthma, COPD) are at increased risk for breathing problems 

The Poison Center also advises people to continue to hydrate well throughout the day and bring water with them when protesting. With excessive heat warnings in Arizona, it puts everyone at higher risk for heat-related illness and injury.

In addition, COVID-19 is still present. Banner encourages all protesters to continue to follow CDC recommendations to protect themselves and others from this virus. Those recommendations include:

• Do not attend protests if you are ill. 
• Wear a mask when you’re in public near others. 
• Stay six feet away from others. 
• Bring sanitizer with you so that you can wash your hands frequently.