Gov. Hobbs proclaims 'Operation Desert Guardian' to fight drug smuggling in Arizona https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022825_hobbs_border_operation/gov-hobbs-proclaims-operation-desert-guardian-fight-drug-smuggling-arizona/
Arizona will have a new task force designed to combat drug smuggling in the state's four border counties, Gov. Katie Hobbs announced Tuesday. It remains unclear how "Operation Desert Guardian" will accomplish these objectives, and whether it duplicates existing efforts.
#Tucson #Arizona
Burke: Prop 414 a critical investment in Tucson’s future https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/022525_burke_414_op/burke-prop-414-critical-investment-tucsons-future/
Proposition 414 is an essential investment in Tucson’s future, and a necessary response to a decade of state-level budget cuts that have severely hampered our city’s ability to provide essential services.
#Tucson #Arizona
Prop 414: A critical investment in Tucson’s future https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/022525_burke_414_op/prop-414-critical-investment-tucsons-future/
Proposition 414 is an essential investment in Tucson’s future, and a necessary response to a decade of state-level budget cuts that have severely hampered our city’s ability to provide essential services.
#Tucson #Arizona
The White House said book bans aren’t happening. Now JD Vance’s memoir is a target. https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/022525_vance_censorship/the-white-house-said-book-bans-arent-happening-now-jd-vances-memoir-target/
Vice President JD Vance’s memoir became a political lightning rod that propelled him to office, but now “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis” has been caught up in a censorship controversy sparked by the White House.
#Tucson #Arizona
Arizona universities quietly delete DEI language while trying to navigate Trump rules https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022525_dei_universities/arizona-universities-quietly-delete-dei-language-while-trying-navigate-trump-rules/
Arizona universities are unsure of the future of inclusive initiatives as both the Trump administration and state Legislature threaten funding over diversity, equity and inclusion practices.
#Tucson #Arizona
Tucson voters face Weds deadline to request Prop. 414 ballot via mail https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022525_tucson_ballot_request/tucson-voters-face-weds-deadline-request-prop-414-ballot-via-mail/
Tucson voters who have misplaced or did not receive a ballot for the March 11 Prop. 414 election have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to request a ballot be mailed to them.
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Apple’s $500B pledge includes chips from massive TSMC Phoenix factory; Trump credits tariff threat https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022525_az_apple_chips/apples-500b-pledge-includes-chips-from-massive-tsmc-phoenix-factory-trump-credits-tariff-threat/
The White House credited tariff threats for bringing investment to Arizona after Apple pledged $500 billion to invest in the U.S. - though Trump expressed doubts about federal support for the TSMC project - where production of Apple chips began last month - under President Biden.
#Tucson #Arizona
A brief history of Black church’s diversity, and its vital role in American political history https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/022525_black_churches_op/a-brief-history-black-churchs-diversity-and-its-vital-role-american-political-history/
With religious affiliation on the decline, continuing racism and increasing income inequality, some scholars and activists are soul-searching about the Black church’s role in today’s United States.
#Tucson #Arizona
Arizona Two Spirit Powwow empowers community amid growing anti-trans legislation https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022525_two_spirit_powwow/arizona-two-spirit-powwow-empowers-community-amid-growing-anti-trans-legislation/
The Arizona Two Spirit Powwow returned to Phoenix to spotlight Indigenous LGBTQ+ and two-spirit people for a day of cultural celebration and community, as recent actions by President Donald Trump have left transgender and two-spirit communities uncertain about their rights.
#Tucson #Arizona
How a tribe won a legal battle against the federal Bureau of Indian Education — and still lost https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022525_bie_supai/how-tribe-won-legal-battle-against-federal-bureau-indian-education-and-still-lost/
Six Havasupai families sued the federal government, alleging that the Bureau of Indian Education deprived their children of their federal right to an education - and though they won, recent BIE changes threaten the government’s long-established trust responsibility to tribal nations.
#Tucson #Arizona
Rising prices make it harder to become a homeowner — and widen racial wealth gap https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/022525_house_prices_op/rising-prices-make-it-harder-become-homeowner-and-widen-racial-wealth-gap/
Housing market appreciation widened the median wealth gap between white and Black households by nearly $50,000 between 1984 and 2021. Given that home prices have continued to rise since 2021, it’s fair to assume that this gap has widened further over the past few years.
#Tucson #Arizona
Judge blocks Elon Musk and DOGE from accessing Dept of Education, personnel office systems https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/022525_education_block/judge-blocks-elon-musk-and-doge-from-accessing-dept-education-personnel-office-systems/
A federal judge in Maryland temporarily blocked the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Personnel Management from providing “personally identifiable information” to Elon Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service.
#Tucson #Arizona
In Tucson, a push to support immigrant veterans in face of Trump deportations https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022225_deported_vets_rally/in-tucson-push-support-immigrant-veterans-face-trump-deportations/
Holding roses as a symbol of support, several dozen people showed up to show support for immigrants, especially veterans who face deportation under the Trump administration, during a rally at a Downtown Tucson park this weekend.
#Tucson #Arizona
Az GOP lawmakers scheduled to speak at ‘Galactic Federation’ conspiracy event https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022425_galactic_speakers/az-gop-lawmakers-scheduled-speak-galactic-federation-conspiracy-event/
Arizona Sen. Mark Finchem and Rep. Leo Biasiucci are set to speak at a convention for a fringe conspiracy theory that claims extraterrestrials are helping shape national and global policy.
#Tucson #Arizona
Judge limits ICE raids in places of worship involved in suit against Trump administration https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/022425_ice_worship_limits/judge-limits-ice-raids-places-worship-involved-suit-against-trump-administration/
A federal judge in Maryland on Monday partly granted a request from Quakers and other religious groups to limit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s authority to conduct immigration enforcement in houses of worship.
#Tucson #Arizona
Saguaro National Park visitor center will be closed Mondays as Trump cuts NPS staff https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022325_saguaro_visitor_center/saguaro-national-park-visitor-center-will-closed-mondays-as-trump-cuts-nps-staff/
The visitor centers of both the Tucson and Rincon districts of Saguaro National Park will now be closed on Mondays, starting this week.
#Tucson #Arizona
Ex-Pima Sheriff's Dep't Sgt. Garcia gets one year in jail for attempted sexual assault of fellow deputy https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022425_garcia_sentencing/ex-pima-sheriffs-dept-sgt-garcia-gets-one-year-jail-attempted-sexual-assault-fellow-deputy/
Updated: Former Pima County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Ricardo “Ricky” Garcia was sentenced Monday to one year in the Pima County Jail and three years' probation for the attempted sexual assault of a coworker in 2022.
#Tucson #Arizona
New plane is part of Tucson police's high hopes for Prop. 414 https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022425_prop_414_plane/new-plane-part-tucson-polices-high-hopes-prop-414/
The Tucson Police Department’s request for an airplane as part of Proposition 414 has been a target of some opponents of the measure, which Tucson voters will decide in a March 11 election.
#Tucson #Arizona
Ex-Pima Sheriff's Dep't Sgt. Garcia gets one year in jail for attempted sexual assault of fellow deputy https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022425_garcia_sentencing/ex-pima-sheriffs-dept-sgt-garcia-gets-one-year-jail-attempted-sexual-assault-fellow-deputy/
Former Pima County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Ricardo “Ricky” Garcia was sentenced Monday to one year in the Pima County Jail and three years' probation for the attempted sexual assault of a coworker in 2022.
#Tucson #Arizona
Democrat Barajas throws launch party for Tucson City Council campaign https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022425_bararjas_campaign_launch/democrat-barajas-throws-launch-party-tucson-city-council-campaign/
Democrat Selina Barajas said Saturday that she is running for Tucson City Council “to bring fresh energy to re-engage our youth and to ensure that every family has a city that works for them.” She spoke at the launch party for her campaign for the Ward 5 seat.
#Tucson #Arizona
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