Tucson NewsNet Daily Digest - A Service of the City of Tucson
STATE SUPREME COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF THE CITY OF TUCSON IN ELECTION DISPUTE - The Arizona Supreme Court ruled yesterday, April 14, that the City of Tucson can continue to hold its elections in odd-numbered years. The high court's 5-1 ruling settles a legal battle between the City and the Arizona Legislature, which tried to force Tucson to hold its elections in even-numbered years. State Attorney General Mark Brnovich said Tucson’s election plans may violate a 2018 law requiring cities to hold their elections in even-numbered years if their off-year elections show a significantly lower turnout. However, the court ruled that the law conflicts with a state constitutional provision giving charter cities autonomy over matters of purely local concern, saying city elections are a local issue, not a statewide concern. The City of Tucson will hold its 2021 primary election on Aug. 3 and its general election on Nov. 2. Read Mayor Regina Romero's comments on Twitter Read more in the Arizona Daily Star
CITY OF TUCSON TO OPEN MORE POOLS AND SPLASH PADS MONDAY - Tucson Parks and Recreation will open three extended-season pools and splash pads beginning Monday, April 19, in addition to four pools already open. Pools will continue to be limited capacity for adult lap swimming only, with one lap swimmer per lane. Masks are required at the facility when not in the water. For more information on locations and times, visit the website linked below. Edith Ball Adaptive Recreation Center will need to close on April 26 to replace 10 pool filters requiring a four-to-six-week closure. Fort Lowell Pool will also open once the parking lot paving is complete in early May. In addition, City of Tucson splash pads will also open on Monday, April 19. They will be open daily from 8 a.m.-sunset. Read the news release Parks and Recreation Pools and Splash Pads
COVID-19 THURSDAY UPDATE AND VACCINE SCHEDULING - As of today, April 15, Arizona now has 851,725 positive coronavirus cases, with 460 new cases reported today (up from 419 yesterday). The total number of cases includes people who have recovered. Of that number, 114,029 cases are in Pima County (up 126 from yesterday). There have been 17,123 COVID-19 deaths in Arizona (14 reported today), and 2,376 of those occurred in Pima County (4 reported today). Meanwhile, if you want a COVID-19 vaccine at a Pima County site, you can register online at the link below. Help is also available in English and Spanish by calling (520) 222-0119 for those who are unable to make an online appointment. To register at the state-run University of Arizona site, follow the state/UA link below, or call (844) 542-8201. So far, more than 2.63 million people in Arizona, or 36.6% of the population, have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while more than 1.77 million people are fully vaccinated with both doses. Pima County vaccine registration State/UA vaccine registration COVID-19 testing locations and hours Data Dashboard from the Arizona Department of Health Services City of Tucson COVID-19 website
CITY OF TUCSON TO VIRTUALLY HOST SECOND SHETECH EXPLORER DAY IN ARIZONA - The City of Tucson Office of Economic Initiatives announces open registration for Arizona’s second SheTech Explorer Day, to be held in a virtual format on April 22, from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The one-day event provides high school girls the opportunity to engage with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through hands-on activities alongside industry mentors and encourages them to consider STEM careers. SheTech Explorer Day is expected to draw approximately 100 girls from high schools throughout the region and will connect them with STEM professionals and higher education partners, including Pima JTED, UArizona, FreeFall Aerospace, Microsoft TEALS, Edmund Optics, NP Photonics, Darling Geomatics, IBM, and others. The girls will attend workshops hosted by industry professionals from these organizations and others, who will help students to gain the skills and confidence needed to eventually pursue STEM careers. Students, parents, or schools interested in getting involved with SheTech Explorer Day Arizona should follow the SheTech AZ link below. SheTech AZ Read the news release Office of Economic Initiatives (ConnectTucson)
CLEAN AIR CHALLENGE SEEKS PHOTOS AND POETRY - Pima County residents are being asked to "picture" clean air and submit family-friendly photographs and/or poetry (in celebration of April’s Poetry Month) of designated air themes by Earth Day, April 22. Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) Clean Air Program staff will choose the finalists, which will be up for a public vote during the last week in April. Participants with the most votes will win prizes, and all entries have a chance at being posted on social media during the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Awareness Week, May 3-7. For more information and a list of prizes, follow the #ThisIsCleanAir link below. #ThisIsCleanAir PDEQ
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