Survey says: Mesquites make dandy dwellings for desert mice
In the chill of the desert morning, a tiny mouse scuttled across the branch of a mesquite tree.
It might seem unusual to see a mouse on a tree, but it was business as usual for the aptly named mesquite mouse. The small mammal, also known as Merriam’s mouse, is equally at home foraging on the ground or nesting in a hollow mesquite.
In February, a small expedition led by staff from Pima County Flood Control and Pima County Conservation Lands & Resources trekked out to Brawley Wash in Avra Valley to survey the mouse, joined by two University of Arizona students. The survey marked the first effort in two decades to identify the prevalence of the mouse — one of 44 species covered by the County's Multi-Species Conservation Plan — on County lands.
The World Baseball Classic recently played out on a global stage, delivering compelling storylines, memorable moments, and record television ratings.
Pima County’s Kino Sports Complex is proud to have played a part.
Following the successful hosting of a World Baseball Classic (WBC) Qualifier in March 2025, Kino Sports Complex Director Sarah Hanna took a business trip to the WBC semifinals in Miami on March 15-16. While there, she toured behind-the-scenes operations at loanDepot park, strengthened relationships with baseball executives, and experienced firsthand the energy of this international event.
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For three generations of Burklows, Pima County was — and is — home
The year was 1975, and Bill Burklow was looking for a new job.
He had been laid off months before and applied to numerous positions — including as a parks maintenance worker at Pima County. He remembered telling his wife, Norma, that he was determined to settle down and stay at whichever job hired him.
“I was tired of being laid off,” he said. “Well, the County called me first. I stayed there for 45 years, so I guess I kept my word!”
For Bill Burklow and his family, Pima County is a way of life. Since he joined the County decades ago, he and five members of his family — his wife, two sons, and two grandchildren — have worked for six departments. That’s 113 years of service to County constituents.
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Get active, save lives at April 18 Heart Walk
Pima County employees are invited to lace up their walking shoes and join the 2026 Southern Arizona Heart Walk on Saturday, April 18, at Reid Park in midtown Tucson.
Hosted by the American Heart Association, Heart Walks take place across the nation to bring communities together to get active, raise lifesaving funds and learn skills that can make the difference in a cardiac emergency. The Pima County Health Department team participates in the Heart Walk each year.
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Shape the future of transportation
Help Pima County Transportation develop a Master Plan that will guide improvements for walking, biking, driving and transit across the County for the next 30 years. The Transportation Master Plan will address all 9,189 square miles of Pima County and include 2,200 miles of roadway, along with pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and paratransit infrastructure.
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Watch out for stinknet
Stinknet blooms have already started maturing in Pima County and will soon be spreading seeds. It's not too late to take action.
The notorious weed, officially known as Oncosiphon pilulifer, can be identified by its small, pea-sized flowerheads with no petals, its dark green carrot-like leaves, and the pungent, turpentine-like odor it emits when crushed. Early detection and removal is key to managing the spread.
Residents can help by identifying stinknet in their yards and neighborhoods, by reporting it on stinknet.org (which features a handy map of nearby spots where stinknet plants have been reported), and by sealing in a plastic bag and trashing it if they are able to.
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BOS Special Meeting scheduled for April 21
The Pima County Board of Supervisors will hold a Special Meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, to consider whether to refer a permanent adjustment of the County's mandated revenue spending limit to the voters in November.
The meeting will take place immediately following the Board's regularly scheduled meeting on April 21. If the Board votes to refer the adjustment to voters, it would appear on the ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
As always, the meeting can be watched live on the official Pima County YouTube channel.
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