Wednesday, August 5, 2020
On Friday, July 31, armed border patrol agents entered a No More Deaths camp near Arivaca and detained an estimated 30 undocumented migrants in what the humanitarian aid organization is describing as a “military style raid.” The encounter occurred after a series of escalations between the two organizations, and the detained migrants’ whereabouts are currently unknown.
“They immediately detained all our volunteers and took their phones,” said Paige Corich-Kleim, a representative for No More Deaths. “It was a heavily armed presence, with agents in fatigues, masks and assault rifles drawn. It was as if they were entering to neutralize a threat.”
According to No More Deaths, one day prior, on July 30, Border Patrol agents entered the Byrd Camp without a warrant and detained one migrant. In the following hours, agents established 24-hour surveillance, surrounded the property, and a drone was spotted circling the camp.
This led up to the raid on July 31, when Border Patrol entered the camp with a warrant. Agents operated multiple vehicles including a helicopter, an armored vehicle, ATVs and dozens of trucks. Although no No More Deaths volunteers were taken from the camp, they were handcuffed and had their phones taken while agents arrested the migrants.
No More Deaths experienced a similar raid by Border Patrol in 2017. However, Corich-Kleim says a key difference is that in 2017 No More Deaths volunteers were allowed to film the agents, whereas their only photos of Friday had to be taken with a phone that wasn’t yet confiscated.
“It’s like they were entering a war zone, not a medical aid station,” Corich-Kleim said.
After the confrontation, No More Deaths volunteers found their aid station had been "ransacked," with tents torn apart, medical supplies destroyed and power to their well disconnected.
According to the warrant, items to be seized by Border Patrol agents included cell phones, computers, US and Mexican currency, photographs and "maps and other papers relating to the transportation, harboring, and smuggling of illegal aliens."
“On a daily basis those who migrate through the Arizona desert are targeted, terrorized, detained, and deported,” said No More Deaths volunteer Scott Warren, who was previously charged with and acquitted of felony charges for harboring migrants. “Last night we witnessed these tactics deployed against people who sought medical care and relief at our Byrd Camp aid station. As always when humanitarian aid in the borderlands is targeted, those who seek care are the ones that face the brunt of these violent escalations.”
Tucson Weekly is awaiting comment and further information from the Border Patrol.
Brian Hastings, a top Border Patrol official, stared grimly at the television cameras.
It was July 1, 2019, and Hastings was facing down a scandal: News reports had revealed that Border Patrol agents were posting wildly offensive comments and memes in a secret Facebook group.
Agents had shared crudely manipulated images of men sexually assaulting Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat and frequent antagonist of the Border Patrol; joked about migrants who died while trying to enter the United States; and made racist insults about Central Americans. The group called itself “I’m 10-15,” Border Patrol radio code for “aliens in custody,” and included some 9,500 current or former agents.
Critics of the agency — already concerned about the separation of migrant families and deplorable conditions in detention facilities — saw the vulgar Facebook posts as further evidence that a culture of casual racism and misogyny was festering within the Border Patrol.
Nearly half of all incarcerated people housed inside the Whetstone Unit of the Tucson state prison complex have tested positive for COVID-19, the Arizona Department of Corrections announced Tuesday evening.
The department indicated that 517 people out of the total 1,066 population have the virus. They are currently being housed together in a separate living area and are receiving “appropriate medical care.”
“They will not be allowed back into the general population until they have been medically cleared,” the department said in a press release. “In addition to measures that are already in place, all inmates at Whetstone will receive meals and all required medication and medical services in their housing units.”
Tags: COVID-19 , Coronavirus , Arizona Department of Corrections , Tucson , Whetstone Unit , Image
Pima County had seen 16,964 of the state’s 182,203 confirmed cases.
A total of 3,932 Arizonans had died after contracting COVID-19, according to the Aug. 5 report.
Arizona hospitals remain under pressure although the number of patients has declined from a peak last month. ADHS reported that as of Aug. 4, 1,945 COVID patients were hospitalized in the state, down from a peak of 3,517 on July 13.
A total of 1,171 people visited ERs on Aug. 4 with COVID symptoms. That number peaked at 2,008 on July 7.
A total of 618 COVID-19 patients were in ICU beds on Aug. 4. The number in ICUs peaked at 970 on July 13.
July: Downward trend but a rough month
Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry noted on Friday, July 30, there’s evidence that Pima County’s ordinance requiring masks or face coverings is lowering COVID-19’s spread in the region.
Huckleberry pointed to data showing that two key coronavirus trends measured by week began moving in a positive direction after the county passed the ordinance: The number of positive tests peaked at 2,351 the week after the mask ordinance was passed and dropped to 1,393 two weeks later, and the percentage of people visiting hospitals with symptoms of COVID or pneumonia had dropped from nearly 12 percent to less than 4 percent.
Despite those positive trends, Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik warned that the virus remains widespread. In his weekly newsletter, Kozachik pointed out that Pima County saw 7,747 confirmed cases of COVID in July. That’s nearly as many cases as the 7,780 cases the county saw in total over the previous four months of March, April, May, and June.
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Conover had 57 percent of the vote when the batch of ballots was released today.
Jonathan Mosher, a prosecutor in the office who had LaWall’s endorsement, won 37 percent of the vote.
He conceded the race via email just before 10 p.m.
“Tonight, the voters of Pima County have spoken," Mother said. "I congratulate Laura Conover and her supporters, and give my sincere thanks to everyone who worked so hard to bring our campaign of meaningful reform to the people. It has been an honor to serve the families of Pima County.”
Coming in third place was Mark Diebolt, who has had a long career as a prosecutor in LaWall’s office.
Pima County Sheriff
In the Democratic primary for Pima County Sheriff, Chris Nanos, who was appointed the seat in 2015 but lost it after a procurement scandal erupted on his watch, had captured 65 percent of the vote against Deputy Kevin Kubitskey, a union leader whose campaign erupted in scandal in July after his daughter accused him of abusing her. Kubitsky had 35 percent of the vote.
The winner of the race will face Republican Mark Napier, who managed to win heavily Democratic Pima County four years ago against Nanos.
Pima County Recorder
In the race between two Democrats who are seeking to replace the retiring F. Ann Rodriguez as Pima County's chief keeper of records, Gabriella Cázares-Kelly, an organizer with Indivisible Tohono, had won 62 percent of the vote. Kim Challender, who has worked as Rodriguez’s chief deputy, has 38 percent of the vote.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Benny White, a longtime GOP activist who has served on the county's Election Integrity Committee.
Pima County Assessor
In the race to replace the retiring Assessor Bill Staples, Suzanne Drobie had 58 percent of the vote, compared to 23 percent for Brian Johnson and 19 percent for Dustin Walters.
These early returns represent the early ballots that were tabulated as of today. Throughout the evening, we’ll update as today’s ballots are tabulated. More results are expected in the coming days as the Pima County Recorder’s Office validates more early ballots.
A handful of Pima County constable positions are up for grabs this year, and the primary election’s early results are revealing who will be the elected officials delivering court papers and handling evictions throughout Pima County.
As of 10 p.m. on election night, incumbent Constable Bennett Bernal of Precinct 6 is ahead of his Democratic opponent Roberto Ponti with 57 percent of the vote.
Constable Joe Ferguson of Precinct 9 has lost to his opponent, George Camacho, who has won 65 percent of the vote.
Ferguson, a Democrat, was appointed to the position by a 3-2 vote from the Board of Supervisors after Colette Philip retired in February. Camacho was the other option at that time, and decided to run for constable after the supervisors denied him the position.
Camacho was a long-time employee of the Constable’s Office until he was fired in April based on a harassment complaint that accused him of threatening and degrading behavior towards women in the office.
The other constable primary races consist of candidates running unopposed: Republican John Dorer in Precinct 1, Democrat Oscar Vasquez in Precinct 4, Republican Thomas Schenek in Precinct 7, Democrat Kristen Randall in Precinct 8 and Republican Michael Stevenson in Precinct 10.
Tags: Arizona Primary Election , Constable , 2020 , Image
These early returns represent the early ballots that were tabulated as of today. Throughout the evening, we’ll update as today’s ballots are tabulated. More results are expected in the coming days as the Pima County Recorder’s Office validates more early ballots.
Arizona Senate
In the Democratic primary for the Senate seat in Legislative District 11, retired Marine Joanna Mendoza has captured 57 percent of the vote, while former high school teacher and school administrator Linda Patterson has 43 percent.
The winner of the race will face Sen. Vince Leach, the Republican incumbent who did not face a primary race.
The district includes Oro Valley, parts of Marana as well as areas of Pinal County and the town of Maricopa.
Arizona House of Representatives
Legislative District 2
In the Democratic primary for the two House seats in Legislative District 2, state Rep. Daniel Hernandez is leading the ticket with 32 percent of the vote.
Meanwhile, Andrea Dalessandro is in second place with 30 percent of the vote as she attempts to move to the lower chamber after she reached her term limit in the state Senate.
Army veteran and attorney Luis Parra was coming in third with 19 percent of the vote. Former ACLU attorney Billy Peard is in fourth with 17 percent.
The district includes Downtown Tucson, Green Valley, Sahuarita, and Nogales.
Legislative District 3
The incumbents were leading with the release of the first batch of early votes in Legislative District 3, which covers Tucson’s west side. Rep. Alma Herndandez had 46 percent of the vote and Rep. Andrés Cano had 37 percent of the vote, while challenger Javier Soto had 17 percent.
Legislative District 10
In the three-way race for two House seats in midtown Tucson’s Legislative District 10, Rep. Domingo DeGrazia was leading in early returns with 41 percent of the vote as he seeks reelection. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton had captured 36 percent of the vote for second place, while union leader Paul Stapleton-Smith was in third with 21 percent.
There are three seats up for grabs on the Oro Valley Town Council, early returns show all five candidates are neck-and-neck.
Harry “Mo” Greene has the highest percentage of votes, with 20.38 percent and 5,746 votes, council member Steve Solomon is second with 20.28 percent and 5,717 votes, Tim Bohen is third with 20.11 percent and 5,670 votes, and council member Bill Rodman and Bill Garner are trailing behind with 19.81 and 19.41 percent, respectively (5,584 and 5,472 votes).
These early returns represent the early ballots that were tabulated as of today. Throughout the evening, we’ll update as today’s ballots are tabulated. More results are expected in the coming days as the Pima County Recorder’s Office validates more early ballots.
Council members Rodman and Solomon are running for re-election on a campaign that promises experienced leadership during the COVID-19 crisis. Newcomer Harry “Mo” Greene is running alongside Rodman and Solomon to fill the seat left vacant by exiting councilmember Rhonda Piña (who is running for Pima County Supervisor).
Challenging Greene, Rodman and Solomon are former council member Garner and political newcomer Bohen. Garner was voted out of council in 2016 and made an unsuccessful bid for an appointed spot on the Marana Town Council in 2018.
Bohen believes the town council culture was greatly improved after the 2018 election. He and Garner favor conservative economic development with an interest in extensive resident involvement as opposed to a more streamlined review process.
A historically contentious subject within the Oro Valley community is the 2014 acquisition and operations of the Oro Valley community center and its associated amenities. In 2019, Rodman and Solomon voted in favor of retaining ownership of the property and investing in capital improvements. Garner voted against the original decision to acquire the facilities when he was a council member.
Bohen told Tucson Local Media earlier this year he would have also voted against the acquisition.
Tags: Oro Valley , Election , Primary , 2020 , Image
Long-time Marana Mayor Ed Honea is unopposed as he seeks another term but a political newcomer has jumped out to a lead in the race for two council seats.
Rookie candidate Jackie Craig is outpolling Marana Town Council members Roxanne Ziegler and Dave Bowen.
According to early returns, Craig is leading the race with nearly 39 percent of the vote (5,021 votes). Ziegler and Bowen are trailing close behind with 33 percent and 27 percent of the vote, respectively (4,277 and 3,580 votes).
These early returns represent the early ballots that were tabulated as of today. Throughout the evening, we’ll update as today’s ballots are tabulated. More results are expected in the coming days as the Pima County Recorder’s Office validates more early ballots.
Ziegler, who has been on the council since 1997, was involved with the early foundational planning of Marana’s growth. She believes her experience in town affairs will be useful during these uncertain times.
Bowen has been a member of the council since 2011. He promises to keep roads well maintained, the police department adequately funded, parks and recreational amenities abundant and valuable desert open space protected.
Craig is a former U.S. Foreign Service Officer and has been a Dove Mountain resident since 2013. She is running on a platform to bring more representation from the Dove Mountain area to the council. Her priorities are supporting the growth of commercial business, protecting the town’s valuable desert open space from incoming housing developments, and finding a sustainable water plan.
The Marana Town Council has been considering the adoption of an increase in local sales tax in order to pay for several large capital improvement projects. Ziegler, Bowen, and Honea have said at council meetings that a sales tax increase may be necessary, but they do not want to pass one at this time due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Craig is publicly opposed to passing a sales tax increase.
The winner of the Democratic primary is set to face Republican Anthony Sizer, who has previously run unsuccessfully for the Arizona Legislature.
District 1
In the race to replace the retiring Supervisor Ally Miller In District 1, political newcomer and Miller-approved candidate Steve Spain is out front with 32 percent of the vote (6,018) in early returns. Trailing behind him with 26 percent of the vote (4,924) is Oro Valley Town Council member Rhonda Piña. Former state lawmaker Vic Williams has roughly 23 percent of the vote (4,277) and Bill Beard, a former Pima County Republican Party chair, is in fourth place with roughly 19 percent of the vote (3,675).
In the Democratic primary, retired school administrator Rex Scott, who has campaign experience on both sides of the aisle, was out to an early lead with 67.08 percent of the vote against political newcomer Brian Radford who received 32.92 percent of the vote.
District 3
Supervisor Sharon Bronson was out ahead of her primary challenger as she seeks a seventh term in westside District 3. Bronson had captured 59 percent of the vote against political newcomer Juan Padres, who had 41 percent.
The winner of that primary will face Republican Gabby Mercer, a GOP activist who has previously run unsuccessfully for Congress against Democrat Raul Grijalva.
District 4
In District 4, Supervisor Steve Christy had won 65 percent of the vote in his race for a second term in this largely rural district that includes eastern Pima County and Green Valley, while Republican challenger John Backer had 35 percent.
The winner of the GOP primary will face Democrat Steve Diamond, who is hoping for an upset in the heavily Republican district.
District 5
In heavily Democratic District 5, where Supervisor Richard Elías had planned to run for reelection before he unexpectedly died of a heart attack on Saturday, March 28, TUSD School Board member Adelita Grijalva (daughter of Congressman Raul Grijalva) has captured 67 percent of the vote in early returns, while Sunnyside School District member Consuelo Hernandez trails with 33 percent.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face Fernando Gonzales, the owner of Jan-Co janitorial services, who ran for the Board of Supervisors previously in 2012 in this central-southside district.
These early returns represent the early ballots that were tabulated as of today. Throughout the evening, we’ll update as today’s ballots are tabulated. More results are expected in the coming days as the Pima County Recorder’s Office validates more early ballots.
