This Sunday was a gambit of emotions and despite ending up on the losing side I think 50 bucks was worth the price of admission. Things couldn’t have been looking better to start Sunday off with our under never being threatened in the Saints/Rams game. Then late in the 4th quarter at the 15 yard line the Saints looked sure to lock up the win. At that point the canary in the coal mine no call happened and the Saints ended up losing. Things did not get much better from there.

Split the first game one and one but I was still feeling good about the Chiefs/Patriots game. That was until about five minutes in when the Patriots defense completely owned Mahomes and the Chiefs offense. Our -3 bet was looking bad but our under bet looked to be the right call and my feelings remained that way all the way into the 4th quarter. The under 55.5 was all but locked up. The game needed an additional 38 points in 15 minutes to go over, something that both teams had not been able to do the entirety of the other three quarters. And that was when all hell broke lose.

Scoring back and forth in the last 10 minutes and our number still seemed to look good. Then the impossible happened! Chiefs drive the field and go up by four with the total still going under. With only two minutes left to play we are on the right side of both bets. Any other quarterback beside Tom Brady would be in a tough spot. Unfortunately I bet against a cyborg of a man. Brady drives down scores the touchdown, points go over, Chiefs back in a losing spot, and we all know how the rest of the game panned out.

So two tough weekends has us at 48 dollars left in the bank and a record of 5-6-1 after a solid start. We’ve got over 500 prop bets predicted for this Super Bowl weekend and I’ll be doing a deep dive on my favorites next week. Still plenty of cash left to get us back on top before the season ends so stay tuned!

Occasionally the age of technology is forgotten for the woebegone era of paper letters. Recently we received this four page tirade that we thought worthy of sharing: 

Pima County and the City of Tucson have filed separate but identical lawsuits in Superior Court against more than 20 national companies that manufacture and/or distribute opioids in the region, according to a press release. The lawsuits are intended to address the opioid epidemic and its impacts on citizens.

Purdue Pharma Inc., The Purdue Frederick Company, Cephalon, Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Endo Health Solutions Inc., Allergan PLC, Watson Laboratories, Inc., Actavis Pharma, Mallinckrodt, LLC, Insys Therapeutics, Inc., Mckesson Corporation, Cardinal Health, Inc., Amerisourcebergen Drug Corporation, H.D. Smith, LLC, Anda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and related companies were listed as defendants in the lawsuits.

In a 94-page complaint filed on Thursday, Jan. 17, attorneys argued that the manufacturer defendants knowingly and aggressively promoted misleading advertisements about specific drugs they produced as well as opioids in general.

The document explains:

"Each Manufacturer Defendant used both direct marketing and unbranded advertising disseminated by seemingly independent third parties to spread false and deceptive statements about the risks and benefits of long-term opioid use—statements that benefited not only themselves and the third-parties who gained legitimacy, but all opioid manufacturers. Yet these statements were not only unsupported by and contrary to the scientific evidence, they were also contrary to pronouncements by and guidance from the FDA and CDC based on that evidence. They also targeted susceptible prescribers and vulnerable patient populations."

It claims the defendants spent more than $14 million on medical journal advertising in 2011, which is nearly triple their amount spent in 2001. The lawsuit also claims each manufacturer defendant "promoted the use of opioids for chronic pain through 'detailers'—sales representatives who visited individual doctors and medical staff in their offices—and small-group speaker programs."

The lawsuit claims the manufacturer defendants marketed through "third-party, unbranded advertising to avoid regulatory scrutiny because that advertising is not submitted to and typically is not reviewed by the FDA."

The lawsuit listed the most prominent of these groups as APF, which received more than $10 million in funding from opioid manufacturers from 2007 until it ceased operations in May 2012.

"APF issued education guides for patients, reporters, and policymakers that touted the benefits of opioids for chronic pain and trivialized their risks, particularly the risk of addiction. APF also launched a campaign to promote opioids for military veterans, which has contributed to high rates of addiction and other adverse outcomes – including death – among that target population. APF also engaged in a significant multimedia campaign – through radio, television and the Internet – to educate patients about their 'right' to pain treatment, namely opioids."

The complaint explained a long history of the distributor defendants coming under scrutiny from the DEA because of their practices. On September 27, 2006, the DEA sent a letter to each distributor defendant warning that they have a "legal duty to design and operate a system to flag suspicious orders, to report all such suspicious orders, and to exercise due diligence to avoid filling suspicious orders that might be diverted into other than legitimate medical, scientific, and industrial channels," according to the document. On December 27, 2007, the DEA sent a second letter reiterating their point.

The attorneys argue that the distributor defendants intentionally and repeatedly breached their legal duties to monitor and report suspicious orders of opioids in the interest of financial gain. Their histories with distribution negligence were described in the complaint:

"In 2008, McKesson paid a $13.25 million fine to the United States to settle claims it failed to report hundreds of suspicious orders from Internet pharmacies that sold drugs online to customers who didn't have legal prescriptions.

In 2008, Cardinal Health paid a $34 million fine to the United States to resolve allegations that it failed to monitor or report suspicious opioid orders.

In 2016, Cardinal Health agreed to pay a $44 million fine to the United States to resolve allegations that it failed to monitor or report suspicious opioid orders.

In 2017, Cardinal Health agreed to pay $20 million to the State of West Virginia to resolve allegations that it failed to monitor or report suspicious opioid orders."

Attorneys claim that many of the opioid shipments to Tucson should have been stopped or reported as potential suspicious orders.

The complaint explains there were 526 opioid deaths in Arizona in 2013, a number that increased by at least 100 deaths each year from 2014 to 2017. On June 5, 2017, Governor Doug Ducey declared a State of Emergency because of the opioid epidemic. From June 15, 2017 to September 13, 2018, there were 1,699 opioid overdoses reported in Pima County.

The complaints include the following counts against the manufacturer defendants: violation of the Arizona’s Consumer Protection Act, fraudulent misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation and strict liability. Counts against all defendants included public nuisance and unjust enrichment.

The City of Tucson and Pima County are represented by the law firms of former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods, former Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore, the law offices of Joseph C. Tann and the Tucson-based law firm Rusing Lopez & Lizardi, according to the press release.

It's been a rough week (and year) for fans of Arizona men's basketball, with last night's historic loss to the USC Trojans serving as the latest chapter of futility.

All Bets Are On host Christopher Boan discusses last night's follies, along with the state of Pac-12 men's basketball and whether the Los Angeles Rams can upset the mighty New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII on this week's episode.

Check back next Friday for the fourth installment of the show, when Boan and regular co-host Tyler Vondrak will break down the latest sports and gambling information. 

The Arizona Wildcats suffered their worst loss against the Southern California Trojans in 46 years on Thursday.

The Wildcats (14-6, 5-2) were routed by the Trojans from the get-go, trailing wire-to-wire before  falling, 80-57, to the home side.

The tide of the evening was set a few minutes after tip, with the Trojans hitting four of 10 from behind the arc, while the Wildcats hit 2-of-13 (15.4 percent) from deep.

The team's 23-point loss on Thursday was the largest suffered against the Trojans since Dec. 1, 1973, when Arizona lost to USC, 100-74.

An exasperated Sean Miller picked up a technical foul in the game's first half, arguing a personal foul call.

The longtime Arizona coach could barely speak above a whisper in his post-game comments, chalking up the team's loss to a variety of factors.

The key factor that Miller and sophomore forward Ira Lee mentioned was the loss of junior forward Chase Jeter.

Jeter, who is second on the team in scoring (12.6) and first in rebounding (7.2), missed Thursday's game with a back injury he suffered during last Saturday's 82-71 win over Oregon State.

Lee, who scored 12 points for the Wildcats on Thursday, said losing Jeter was a definite blow to the team's chances.

"It was definitely tough. He's our captain. He's our only true center," Lee said. "So, it was a tough deal but I feel like we battled tonight, but we made a lot of mistakes."

Miller said his squad doesn't have the depth or size to contend with teams like USC, which was led offensively by junior forward Nick Rakocevic, who scored a team-high 27 points in the Trojans's victory.

“The team we have right now without him, we have to make shots, a lot of 3s, jump shots, and we weren’t able to do that. We had one of those miserable nights shooting. Seven turnovers was great, but we weren’t able to finish at the rim, 2-on-1s, drives.”

The Wildcats' lack of size resulted in the team being out-rebounded, 51-38 by the Trojans, resulting in a one-sided affair.

The Wildcats will look to rebound on Saturday night, when they'll journey up the PCH to face the UCLA Bruins.

Saturday's game will tip off at 7 p.m. in California, 8 p.m. Tucson time, with the Bruins coming off an 84-73 loss to ASU on Thursday night.

Miller is ready to put Thursday's trouncing in the proverbial rear-view mirror, saying he's going to move on from the loss as soon as possible, with little to gain from dissecting their defeat.

“I don’t think we can take anything” away from it, Miller said. “I mean, we got killed.”

Find more Claytoonz here.

Richard Avedon: Relationships. It can get a little overwhelming to think about how many relationships you’re a part of and surrounded by—there’s the way you relate to your family, your friends, your lovers, the checkout clerk at the grocery store, your landlord, your coworkers, your neighbors, the other parents in your daughter’s dance class, and the way all of those people relate to each other. In this collection of 80 portrait and fashion photographs taken between the 1950s and the early 2000s, Richard Avedon explores three kinds of relationships: those between the figures in his photographs, those between himself and his subjects, and the relationship between Avedon and the UA’s Center for Creative Photography, where this exhibit is on display. Come watch, reflect and enjoy! Exhibit runs through Saturday, May 11. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Center for Creative Photography Gallery, 1030 N. Olive Road. Free. Details here.

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Courtesy of Antigone Books

Kristen E. Nelson and Elizabeth Frankie Rollins. Head on over to Antigone to watch these two show off their literary chops! Nelson, a queer writer, performer, literary activist and author of the length of this gap and two chapbooks, will share her poetry. Rollins, who has published in Feminist Wire, Fairy Tale Review, Sonora Review and Conjunctions, is the author of The Sin Eater & Other Stories and a collection of short fiction, a PCC professor and the resident of a pink house. She’ll be sharing some of her work as well. Don’t miss a chance to treat yourself to some of the loveliest literature in town, and support some of our local lit superstars. 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25. Antigone Books, 411 N. Fourth Ave. Free. Details here.

Super Gay Party Machine. It’s the moment at least some of you have been waiting for: Tucson’s premiere LGBTQA dance party and show is here! Tempest DuJour hosts, DJ Shorty keeps the tunes going and you’ll get special performances by Häus of K and special guest Z. Throw in some go-go dancers, lots of drink specials and even more dancing on your part and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a Friday night—just add water (’cause, you know, it’s always good to stay hydrated during a night out). 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, Jan. 25. Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. $5, 21+. Details here.

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Courtesy of Hotel Congress

Desert Hawking Classic. If you’re like us, you haven’t been to very many falconry meets. So you’ll just have to take our word for it that it’s one of the finest in the U.S. And just in case you are at all unclear on the definition of falconry, it’s the art and sport of taking wild quarry with trained birds of prey. The sport first came to North America in the early 1900s, though it’s been around for about 4,000 years. Nearly 100 falconers from several states are expected to bring various species of hawks, falcons and even Golden Eagles that have been trained to hunt everything from quail and ducks to eight-pound antelope jack rabbits. Check out the birds and ask falconers questions at two events. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25 at Udall Park, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road, Ramadas 8 and 9, and 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26 at the north side of the Radisson Hotel, 6555 E. Speedway Blvd. Details here.

Roadrunners vs. Condors. The Tucson Roadrunners face off against the Bakersfield Condors twice this week. And who would root for a big, ugly condor to win against a sweet lil’ roadrunner? Friday night is college night, which means one ticket, two drinks and a hat for just $25, as well as Ladies Night, which features a pregame Chalk Talk and free drinks and snacks sponsored by Genesis OBGYN. Saturday is Superhero Night, where Cox Communications will be giving away Super Dusty Bobbleheads. So take your pick of what night you want to go, but don’t be on the wrong side of history: Root for the Roadrunners all the way. 7:05 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25 and 3:05 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26. Tucson Arena, 260 S. Church Ave. $10 to $61. Details here.

Architecture Film Festival. The UA College of Architecture presents the Architecture Film Festival Tucson 2019, a two-day festival highlighting the work of architects and filmmakers. The films range from documentary to experimental, and come from 11 different countries. Some films even include post-screening Q&A with professors of architecture and fine arts. For a full listing, visit archfilmfestusa.org Jan. 25-26. Center for Creative Photography. 1030 N. Olive Road.  Details here.

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Courtesy of Where Freedom Begins: World Premiere Facebook page

Where Freedom Begins. Take a break from the constant, dreadful news from our Southern border by viewing the world premiere of this mockumentary. In it, a group of reporters hit the streets of Nogales and Tucson to discuss the freedom of speech and border. Lets just say the production didn’t go as planned. Hosted by Studio ONE: A Space for Art and Activism. Screenings at 7:30 and 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25. 197 E. Toole Ave. Free. Details here.

Animated Arizona. Billed as the “First Purely Animated Short Film Fest in Arizona,” the Animated Arizona Film Festival is taking over the Screening Room. The event includes over a dozen short animated works, all 15 minutes or less! Films include The Good, the Bad and the Cactus, The Hole Family, Good Night, Quantum and more. 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25. 127 E. Congress St. $6. Details here.

Four Shillings Short

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Courtesy of Tucson Weekly

. Four Shillings Short is a pair of full-time troubadours/folk musicians/artists who have been touring the U.S. and Ireland for more than two decades. Aodh Og O’Tuama plays tinwhistles, Medieval and Renaissance woodwinds, recorders, the Doumbek, the bowed Psaltery and spoons. Plus, he sings in English, Gaelic and French. Christy Martin started studying the North Indian Sitar when she was 15, then added instruments like the hammered dulcimer, the mandolin, the mandola, the bouzouki, the banjo, the guitar, the bodhran, the charango, the bowed psaltery and the ukulele. And she sings in English, Irish and Sanskrit. With a range like that, they’re bound to make at least one sound you’ll enjoy. 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26. Solar Culture Gallery’s Galactic Room, 31 E. Toole Ave. $10 to $15 donation. Details here.

Morning at the Museum. It’s the Desert Museum’s first annual Coffee and Tea Event.What do birds and coffee have in common? Find out at the tasty and educational “Morning at the Museum” event. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is hosting a bash filled with food, drinks, music and animals. You’ll get to try out their mimosas, Irish coffees, sweet snacks and more. Participating coffee and tea houses include Purple Tree Organic Açai Blends, Yellow Brick Coffee, Exo Roast Co., Batch Cafe & Bar, and more. Featuring music from desert songman Jacob Acosta. Morning at the Museum tickets include samplings from various coffee, tea, and a sweet snacks vendors, a 12-ounce cup of coffee and pastry, commemorative coffee mug and admission to the museum. 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 26. 2021 N. Kinney Road. $32 presale, $37 day-of. All ages. Details here.

Courtesy of Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Black Tulip Gala at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Alright you big-spenders, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a cozier, more photogenic place to eat at this week. You’ll get to enjoy music and drinks while dining under the gardens’ mesquite trees or along their shaded pathways. Plus, there will be tulip displays! Who doesn’t love a good tulip? If you’re looking for a fancy evening out and a chance to support the local botanical gardens and a group of artists, look no further than the Tucson Botanical Gardens’ Black Tulip Gala. It celebrates the opening of three nature-inspired exhibits: Living Bronze Sculptures, by Robert J. Wick; The Photographic Art of Kate Breakey, featuring hand-colored photos of black tulips and their growers; and Out of the Woods: Celebrating Trees in Public Gardens, a New York Botanic Gardens Triennial Exhibit featuring 42 works to celebrate trees. Living Vine Entertainment is performing and Gallery of Foods is catering. 5 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26. 2150 N. Alvernon Way. $225. Details here.

Reading with Natalia Treviño and Leticia Del Toro
Kore Press hosts this appearance by two visiting fiction writers that will leave writers, aspiring writers, lovers of literature and most humans feeling inspired. Treviño, in from Texas, is the author of Lavando La Dirty Laundry and the new chapbook VirginX. She’s also a professor at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio. Del Toro, in from California, is a writer, arts activist and teacher who has received honors including the Kore Press Short Fiction Award and a VONA Voices fellowship. She’s completed a short story collection and is at work on a novel. 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26. Kore Press, 325 W. Second St., room 201. Suggested donation of $5, no one turned away for lack of funds. Details here.

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Courtesy of Tucson Museum of Art

Carlos Estévez: Entelechy–Works from 1992 to 2018. Carlos Estévez uses his art to explore the way human spirituality intersects with the human experience throughout all of time and history. So we’re talking cosmological, metaphysical, transformational themes. In fact, “entelechy” is a philosophical concept about the transformation of an idea into reality. With everyday objects like encyclopedias, clocks and vials, combined with bold geometric patterns, delicate line art and lots and lots of symbolism, Estévez explores the process of becoming. You’ve enjoyed plenty of art on a visual level, but this work aims to transcend the visual and enter the realm of the mind. Saturday, Jan. 26 through Sunday, May 5. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month. Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, 140 N. Main Ave. $12 adults, $10 seniors 65+, $7 college students and youth ages 13 to 17, free for kids 12 and under, veterans and museum members. Details here.

Robert J. Wick: Earth, Life, Man. The Tucson Botanical Gardens knew that Robert J. Wick’s sculptures, all of which carry living plants or trees, needed an exhibition at the gardens as soon as they heard him say, “Until you can grow a tree from your own heart, you’ll never understand the oneness of all things.” I mean, seriously, who just spews beautiful poetry like that? Or how about this? “The flora are not decorations, but are an integral part of the art defining its character by quality, shape and nature of the plants used… My works are a union of art, man and nature.” These beauties will be on display throughout the gardens starting this Saturday, Jan. 26 and through the end of June. Garden hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day, and 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. $15 adults, $13 students/seniors/military and $8 for kids 4 to 17. Free for members & kids 3 and under. Details here.

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Courtesy of Tucson Botanical Gardens

Border Cowboys and Border Cowgirls. Jackson Boelts, an art professor at the UA, and Joseph Labate, who chaired the School of Art’s Photography department for 19 years, collaborated on this project to tell the stories of the men and women working on the ranches of Southern Arizona. And they’re doing it (thanks to a grant from the Confluencenter for Creative Inquiry) with some truly beautiful art. Boelts created a series of large, abstract watercolor paintings, and Labate captured the subjects in photographic portraits. The result is a series of images that are full of life and color, and worth far more than a thousand words. 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26. Amerind Museum, 2100 N. Amerind Road, Dragoon, AZ. Admission is $10 adults, $9 seniors 62 and up, $8 college students, $7 youth 10 to 17 and free for kids

under 10. Details here.

American Indian Arts Exposition. 15 days. 10,000 years of culture. 80 tribal nations. An official event of the Tucson Gem Show, this collection of American Indian arts and crafts will feature demonstrations on basket weaving, Hopi crafts, beadwork, traditional Navajo jewelry and custom jewelry making and repair. They’ll also have weekend tribal dancers at the poolside. Whether you’re looking for jewelry, a buffalo skull, a handmade Navajo rug, a dream catcher, artisan pottery, a handmade flute or pretty much anything you can even dream of, you’ll find it here. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26 through Saturday, Feb. 9. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10. Quality Flamingo Ballroom, N. Stone Ave. Open to the public. Details here.

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Courtesy of Tucson Presidio

Family Adventure Hour at the Tucson Presidio. Folks at the Tucson Presidio Museum are big believers in hands-on learning. After all, what better way to help you get a grasp on the fact that historical figures were living, breathing people than by living out a little bit of history yourself? The Family Adventure Hour is geared for children ages 4 to 8, and features a tour of the archaic-era pit house, the Presidio barracks and original foundation wall, the millstone, and the mural. Then, an interactive activity will teach a lesson about Tucson’s history and culture. And THEN, everyone gets to color. The kids will enjoy it so much, they won’t even mind that it’s educational. 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26. Tucson Presidio Museum, 196 N. Court Ave. Cost included with admission, which is $5 for adults, $1 for kids 6 to 14 and free for kids 5 and under. Details here.

Tombstone: Outdoor Screening at Old Tucson. This special screening of the 1993 classic Tombstone takes place at the same location the film was shot at: Old Tucson! This is your chance to get fully Western, as the screening also includes a pre-show costume contest. The Loft Cinema’s giant inflatable Solar Cinema screen will be placed next to the “Reno locomotive,” which was used in the film. 6 to 8:20 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26. 201 S. Kinney Road. $5. Details here.

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Courtesy of Tombstone-Outdoor Screening At Old Tucson Facebook event page

St. Philip’s Market. Did you know this market is one of the largest in the state? If you’re looking to spend a Saturday morning and early afternoon browsing through and buying handcrafted local jewelry, pottery and art, this might be an event for you. And if items like handmade pasta, delicious baked goods and other food items from local vendors are on your grocery list, you can even get some of your grocery shopping done. And what better place to do it than on top of cobblestones and beneath the shade of Eucalyptus and Sycamore trees? 9 am. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26. St. Philip’s Plaza Farmers Market, 4280 N. Campbell Ave. Free. Details here.

Tattoo Pop-Up Party. Want the look and feel of a permanent hand-poke tattoo without the risk of having your drunk friend do it? Try the clean, safe and calm environment of The Ninth House. This Saturday, you can get a tattoo from the custom flash sheet drawn for The Ninth House for just $40, or discuss a small custom design for just five extra bucks. The event is first-come, first-serve, so consider getting there early. And while you wait, you can get an astrology reading! Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26. The Ninth House, 236 S. Scott Ave. Details here.

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Courtesy of Eventbrite

Fine Wines for Felines "Winter Times." You get to drink wine and support cats? What more could you want? Here, you’ll get to sample multiple Arizona wines, and at the same time enjoy hors d’oeuvres. Plus, $10 from every ticket go to the local animal rescue group, Pawsitively Cats. Hosted by the Pawsitively Cats No-Kill Shelter and the Arizona Wine Collective. 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27. 4280 N. Campbell Ave., Suite 155. $25 for wine tastings, raffle tickets extra. Please purchase your ticket online prior to the event. Details here.

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Courtesy of Heirloom Farmers Markets

Citrus Jubilee at Rillito Park Farmers Market. Celebrate the citrus season at the Rillito Park Farmers Market. The Heirloom Farmers Markets will be selling a sea of citric acid, in the form of local oranges, grapefruits, lemons, tangelos and kumquats. Featuring citrus tastings and education. Plus, when you purchase citrus from the market, you can have it juiced for free. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27. 4502 N First Ave. Details here.

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

Friday:

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Courtesy of Ticketfly

From Flint, Michigan, country outlaw Whitey Morgan sings it straight, with no chaser. His working class psalms serve to help the downtrodden drink their sorrows away, leaving the world a tiny bit better place. With country neo-traditionalist Alex Williams. At The Rialto Theater. Details here.

Acerekó performs Afro-Cuban/jazz at Crooked Tooth Brewing Company. Details here.


“Drinking Class” hero Lee Brice spreads “Rumors” at The Diamond Center. Details here.

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Courtesy of Fox Tucson Theater

Bye, Bye Miss American Pie”: Singer-songwriter Don McLean drives “the Chevy to the levy.” With special guest Al Stewart. At The Fox Theater. Details here.

The Living Deads, Pigmy Death-Ray and Taco Sauce place “a whole lot of hell in your handbasket” at Sky Bar. Details here.

Folding vocal harmonies into their folk/country/rock/funk, Amber Norgaard & Sabra Faulk entertain in the tasting room at Sand-Reckoner. Details here.

Super Gay Party Machine: Tucson’s premier LGBTQ (and allies) dance extravaganza features Tempest DuJour, DJ Shorty and Häus of K. At Hotel Congress. Details here.

Tucson Symphony Orchestra presents Fresh Music, Copland and More. Featuring trumpeter Pacho Flores. The evening’s program includes Mozart’s Overture to The Abduction from the Seraglio, Neruda’s Concerto for Corno da Caccia, and more. José Luis Gomez at the podium. At the Tucson Convention Center. Details here.

Saturday:

This American folkie has been described as “a Midwestern existentialist hobo.” Greg Brown with the founding member of transcendental folk band The Pines, David Huckfelt, at 191 Toole. Details here.

Seeing “Rebel Red,” alt/indie rockers Hunny arrive “Kicking Cans” at Club Congress. Backed by the fast-paced, jangly guitar-driven pop punk/rock of Hockey Dad. Details here.

Singer-songwriter Leila Lopez backed by bassist Brian Green are in the tasting room at Sand-Reckoner. Details here.

DJ Stubbie keeps the myth alive during The Fineline Revisited at the Surly Wench Pub. Details here.

With note-for-note renditions handpicked from the Beatles extensive catalog, The Fab Four tip the hat at The Fox Theatre. Details here.

Bluegrass fans should plan on taking a day trip to Casa Grande for the Agri-Country Bluegrass Festival. This gathering showcases some of the top bluegrass acts in the nation: Edgar Loudermilk featuring guitarist Jeff Autry, Cedar Hill, The Titan Valley Warheads, Jam Pak, Dusty River and James Reams & The Barnstormers. At the Pinal Fairgrounds & Events Center. Details here.
The Galactic Center says goodbye. It’s been a helluva ride. Galaxian: The Final Departure. H.R. Guerin, Elliot Tierney, Jacob Ladder and Lance Fairchild spin. Details here.

Sunday:

Celebrating three decades of “liquor, women, drugs and killing,” Supersuckers perform a mini-country set of songs from their latest release "Suck It", as well as classic albums unabridged. Lead singer Eddie Spaghetti adds, “Wear clean underwear because we’re gonna rock your pants off.” At Club Congress. Details here. Presented by a live band and theater ensemble, A Hamilton Music Revue is a gritty hip-hop throwdown showcasing the original mixtape music launched by the 2015 musical. “History has its eyes on you,” at The Rialto Theater. Details here.

BreakingGlasss debut their first original set on the Che’s Lounge patio, along with their intrepid acoustic post-punk noir. Details here.

“Mr. Heavy Metal,” nimble-fingered guitarist Marty Friedman, unleashes the full force of his latest release, One Bad M.F. Live at 191 Toole. Flanked by Immortal Guardian and Hands & Feet. Details here.
The legendary Herb Alpert and his wife, Grammy award-winning vocalist Lani Hall, are at The Fox Theatre performing an eclectic mix of American standards, Brazilian jazz, some Beatles y mucho, mucho mas. Details here.

The Arizona Wildcats are headed to the City of Angels for a two-game road trip that'll see them play USC and UCLA.

The Wildcats (14-5, 5-1) start their SoCal trek with a 7 p.m. local time tip against the Trojans (10-8, 3-2) tonight, who they've beaten five-straight times.

Arizona enters Thursday's game after a split home stretch against the Oregon schools, losing to the University of Oregon, 59-54 last Thursday, before beating Oregon State, 82-71 on Saturday.

Perhaps the greatest question entering Thursday's clash is the health of junior forward Chase Jeter, who suffered what coach Sean Miller called back spasms after a brutal fall against Oregon State.

Jeter is listed as 'questionable' to play against the Trojans, after X-rays came back negative on the 6'10 Duke transfer.

“I would categorize Chase as he’s making progress,” Miller said at this week's press availability. “When you have a lower back injury, there’s stiffness that’s just overwhelming. It affects your movement and it strips you of your confidence to some degree. Because every time that you turn and land, or get ready to jump, you really think about it."

Jeter's health is of pivotal concern to Miller and his team, as the junior ranks second on the team in scoring (12.6), with a team-best 7.2 rebounds per game this season.

The Wildcats beat USC by 14 points in each of their two contests last season, last falling to the Trojans in 2016.

How to Watch: Fox Sports 1 is airing tonight's Arizona-USC game. The telecast will begin at 7 p.m. local time, or 6 p.m. in Los Angeles.

How to Bet: Vegas has USC as a one-point favorite. The over/under is listed at 145.

Who to Watch: Keep an eye on Bennie Boatwright of USC. Boatwright leads the Trojans in scoring (17.3 PPG). Junior Nick Rakocevic is another one to keep an eye on, with the 6'11 junior averaging 15.2 points and 9.7 rebounds per game this season.

Is Bill Walton Calling the Game?: No, sadly, 'The Most Interesting Man in College Basketball' is calling the Washington-Oregon game tonight.

My pick: I see Arizona holding off a desperate Trojans squad in a low-scoring, back-and-forth affair.

I'll go with Arizona winning this one, 68-62.

U.S. Rep. Tom O’Halleran released a statement regarding the current government shutdown:

As we begin the new year and a new Congress, I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass bipartisan legislation that invests in rural communities and holds elected leaders accountable to the American people. For too long, partisanship and political games have been the norm in Congress, and I want to see that end. This isn’t about political party; it is about doing what is right for our constituents.

Unfortunately, we are kicking off the new year with an ongoing government shutdown that has left hundreds of thousands of hardworking Americans—many living in Arizona—without a paycheck. Ending this shutdown must be a priority. We must find a way to pass a bipartisan budget that fully funds the government and ends the cycle of continuing resolutions that gets us from one deadline to the next. These short-term funding bills are fiscally irresponsible and do nothing to address our growing federal debt.

The first bill I introduced in the new Congress is legislation that requires the government to prepare a daily report on the cost of any future government shutdown and the impact it has on our national economy. The American people deserve to know how reckless, partisan gridlock affects our country.

For federal employees living in Arizona who are furloughed or have questions regarding the shutdown, my staff is working around the clock to ensure they have the answers and information they need. Caseworkers are in communities across the district, and they continue to provide services to any constituent who is having issues with federal programs or agencies. If you have questions or potential casework, I encourage you to reach out to one of my three offices, or visit my website to find a mobile office location in a community near you.

My priorities in this new Congress remain the same. I want to see greater transparency in Washington at every level of government, end the outsized influence mega-donors have on our institutions through dark money campaign contributions, and find meaningful, bipartisan solutions to the challenges our communities are facing every day. Neither political party has all the answers, so it is my hope that this Congress will be one of consensus-building that benefits the American people.

As I did over the last two years, I will be holding regular town halls and public meetings in communities across the First Congressional District. There are a number of ways you can stay updated on these meetings, including following me on Facebook and Twitter and subscribing to my email newsletter. You can find all of those links on my website ohalleran.house.gov.

Tom O’Halleran is a Democrat who represents Arizona’s Congressional District 1.