With Election Day near, some of the Tucsonans who filled the streets this year are trading protest signs for canvassing clipboards. Here's where all that #NoKings energy went. Full story in bio 🔗
Tucson Agenda
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Your daily guide to Tucson’s politics, policies and power players. tucsonagenda.com
U.S.–Mexico relations are fraying under Trump's mass deportations and retreat from international commitments. But in one arena, the two countries still find common ground: water.
A border runs through it
With friends like these … Crosby gets creative … And gambling through the apocalypse.
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We watched the debate. Then we Slacked each other about it in real time. Here's the unfiltered commentary from the cheap seats.
Live-Slacking the debate
Our commentary from the cheap seats … The Chamber <3s Prop 421 … And Doom enters the chat.
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TEP wants Tucson voters to sign off on a 25-year deal — amid fights over rate hikes, data centers and power lines. Here's what Prop. 421 does — and doesn't do.
TEP tests its political power
The electric company makes its case (again) … Hobbs v. Mayes, data center edition … And the guy behind Evil Torta.
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We polished our newsroom-issued knives, then put them away. Here are the serious questions we’d like Juan Ciscomani and JoAnna Mendoza to answer Thursday night.
The questions we’d ask in CD6
Tomorrow's debate has our attention ... The LD18 debate was spicy ... And did Elon forget to add a zero?
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Pima County’s CEO is about to hand the reins to her successor. She’s got a notebook full of advice — and a list of headaches — for whoever ends up getting the job.
Jan Lesher’s secret notebook
She’s writing it for her successor … It’s just paper cuts … And the name’s Hoffmann, David Hoffmann.
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Another data center is in the works near Sahuarita — hidden for over a year behind a Pima County NDA. Now supervisors are looking at how to close the loophole.
Another secret data center
Can you un-sign an NDA? … Sending someone else’s kid to Salpointe … And wait, Trump is campaigning in Tucson?
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Arizona has plenty of sun and proposed data centers — but not enough water. AG Kris Mayes wants a statewide pause on new data center projects until the governor and lawmakers set the rules.
A golden goose and a gold rush
Data centers are bad (for you) ... Questions for voters, but not by voters ... And a bonkers cautionary tale.
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Tucson-area lawmaker Stephanie Stahl Hamilton lost her primary in July, which came as a surprise to some. Now, she’s charting her post-Legislature path.
Stahl Hamilton speaks up
She lost her primary, but not her ambition … What’s a “good” industry? … And a match made in heaven (or hell).
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A new plan for the Colorado River has arrived, and a new dawn in river management awaits — one of collaboration, conservation, innovation and mutual responsibility.
A new Colorado River paradigm?
The next era of an old conflict on the American Nile.
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You ever wonder where news stories about public meetings come from? No, there isn’t any magic tree reporters can shake. They have to make choices about how to cover those meetings, and today we’re going to walk you through some of them.
Choose your own (reporting) adventure
Lots of ways to skin a public meeting … Border Patrol SWATs a sovereign nation … And we’ve all been there.
shorturl.at
We’ve got some good news for Agenda readers today. Our little team is expanding, which means you’re about to become the most interesting (or annoying) person at your next cocktail party.
Some good news for Arizona water
Say hello to our new water guy … A macabre job … And that quail doesn’t look old enough to drive.
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We went through every item on the agenda of today’s Pima County Supervisors meeting, warts and all. It got a little weird, in a nerdy kind of way.
Crafting an artful agenda
The Supes meeting, done right … Kelly’s stock is rising … And Sinema’s is falling.
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The post-primary honeymoon is over, and a wild general election is underway. But not for everyone — for some Southern Arizona candidates like Miranda Lopez, the general looks like a breeze (though she's still campaigning to the end).
Miranda Lopez looks ahead
You won a primary! Now what? … Rocque vs. Alma, Round 2 … And neat signs, Dougster.
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Big Brother is watching. Well, not yet. Tucson City Council told him to come back in 60 days. It put a controversial license plate reader agreement with a state task force on hold for 60 days.
Big Brother waits at city hall
Council wary of surveillance agreement … Lee rules out a third term … And a very Tucson political sign.
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Tucson's new rules make it nearly impossible to build a data center next to Raytheon. Missiles? Different story. We dug into the 31-year-old deal that left the City Council wondering if it could even say no.
Tucson’s three-decade-old Raytheon promise
The Council inherited a deal that they may not love, but don’t dare break.
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Tucson's new plan for justice system frequent fliers swaps jail for treatment. Sounds great — but some people don't fit neatly into a system where treatment works or jail deters.
A plan for repeat offenders
Tucson wants treatment, but it won’t be simple. … Kash weighs in on Guthrie case … And Reddit weighs in on Empire Pizza.
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Marana voters split the difference, Oro Valley embraced change and South Tucson stuck with its incumbents. Here’s what Tuesday’s results mean for local governments across Pima County.
Calling the local races
Who won across Pima County … Even more local races … And see you soon, Rodney.
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Southern Arizona voters backed the status quo Tuesday — except in Marana, where challengers against a data center and ICE facility surged. The day's biggest disruption? A swarm of bees.
Tucson voters resist calls for change
Hernandez wins as Southern Arizona voters (mostly) favor incumbents
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Six months of campaign signs, misleading ads, Twitter feuds, vicious attack videos and one candidate text we can never unsee. Before Southern Arizona’s primaries end, we’re looking back at all of it.
Our primary election highlight reel
The best and worst of primary season … Contributions to end the prosecutions … And endorsements at the buzzer.
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Tomorrow’s the big day! After all the ballots are counted, we’ll be able to see what the next few months of Southern Arizona politics will look like. Warts and all.
Showing up matters
No such thing as a small election ... More fun than the World Cup ... And free Fitz!
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Yes, congressional candidates can pay themselves from campaign funds — it's been legal for 20+ years. But that hasn't stopped Republicans from hammering Democrat JoAnna Mendoza for taking a $35,000 salary from hers.
Following the CD6 money
Mendoza's campaign paycheck ... Bus drivers still driving buses ... And Juan helps one lucky family.
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The message from local election officials was refreshingly simple: Vote. If someone tries to make that difficult, they've got lawyers, police and a game plan.
Pima County's election message: Relax
Officials brace for election day … Keep an open mind … And a savory and savvy strategy.
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Local politicos weighed in on the post-scandal appointment of a Pima County treasurer. One candidate is clearly the favorite, but we won’t know anything for sure until Tuesday.
Whose endorsements matter?
The next treasurer is about to find out ... Did Tucson get a new mountain range? ... And long live one-liners.
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You’ve heard of data centers. But what about the people pushing them from afar? Say hello to the Titans of the AI Industry.
Looking beyond data centers
Meet the movers and shakers … Ciscomani’s burning that campaign cash … And that probably won’t help his chances.
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It's one of the nastiest races in Southern Arizona this year. Doxxing. Anti-Semitism. Vandalized signs. Political violence.
LD20 rivals, in their own words
Dispatches from inside a toxic race … Welcome to the party … And the power of tiny signs.
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Nobody asked us who should be Pima County's next treasurer. We're answering a different question: What qualities should the Board of Supervisors demand after everything that's happened in the office?
Choosing the next treasurer
Don't rush this appointment, supervisors … man paralyzed after swatting incident … And introducing the 61st member of the Arizona House?
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Marana's town council race isn't just about who gets four-year terms. It's become a referendum—of sorts—on whether the town should embrace sprawling data centers.
Marana's proxy referendum
The data center ballot ... Vouchers on your ballot ... And we apologize in advance for the simile.
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They say time flies when you’re having fun. Well, the Agenda is hitting its three-year mark this weekend and all we can say is “here’s to three more!”
Three years, and counting
Choose your own adventure … That’s one skeezy official … And he’s a one-man “kingmaker.”
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Think the election ends on July 21? Not even close. Here are the races, ballot measures and political storylines that will shape Southern Arizona through November and beyond.
Cue the attack ads
The primary is a warm-up … No special session = more ballot questions … And they said no in the nicest way possible.
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