Local Politics · Pima County
The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on Oct. 27 to appoint Carmine DeBonis Jr. as the next County Administrator, replacing Jan Lesher, who retires Jan. 7, 2027. DeBonis, 59, began working for the county in 1991 and most recently served as Deputy County Administrator overseeing 15 of 34 departments. The appointment followed a national search that drew more than 70 applications; three finalists were interviewed before the Board selected DeBonis. His first day as Administrator will be Jan. 8, 2027, and the Board is expected to vote on his employment contract at its Nov. 10 meeting.
Local Politics · Pima County
U.S. Customs and Border Protection plans to build 62 miles of border wall along the southern edge of the Tohono O'odham Nation in Arizona, replacing 53 miles of vehicle barriers with 30-foot walls plus surveillance infrastructure. The project, dubbed Tucson 5, was awarded to Texas-based SLSCO LTD with nearly $47 million in congressional funding after Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin waived dozens of federal laws including the National Environmental Policy Act and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. The Tohono O'odham Nation filed a lawsuit seeking to block construction; a federal judge denied their preliminary injunction, and oral arguments before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals are scheduled for Dec. 1. Public comments on the project are due Thursday, Oct. 29, via email at TucsonComments@cbp.dhs.gov with subject line "Tucson Sector Border Barrier System Construction," by phone at (833) 412-2056, or by mail to CBP headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Education · Tucson, AZ
Tucson Unified School District Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo has recommended closing Lillian Cavett Elementary and consolidating its K-5 students into a new K-8 school at Madge Utterback Middle School beginning August 2028, as part of a district-wide reconfiguration addressing declining enrollment and budget limitations. The TUSD Governing Board is set to approve the closure list at a Dec. 8 meeting, preceded by two study sessions and a public hearing on Nov. 17 announced by board member Sadie Shaw. Cavett Elementary is located at 2120 E. Naco Vista, approximately two blocks from Utterback Middle School at 3233 S. Pinal Vista. Parents raised concerns about class sizes, staff layoffs, and student transitions during district-hosted meetings in September and early October.
Community News · Tucson, AZ
Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers and a central figure in the Chicano workers' movement, died early Wednesday morning at age 96 after battling cancer. In Tucson, Mayor Regina Romero and U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva paid tribute to Huerta, whose work shaped local leaders and community organizations. Pima County officials announced Tuesday they will rename the former César Chávez Remembrance Day to Farmworkers Appreciation Day, following removal of Chávez's name from county property after abuse allegations surfaced earlier this year. Tucson had already opted to observe a Dolores Huerta Day in place of the traditional paid holiday that closed Tucson Unified School District schools.
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Local Politics
Latino support for Republicans has declined ahead of Arizona's Nov. 3 midterm elections, with Trump's approval among Latino voters dropping from 38% to 24%, according to polling data cited in the article. The shift could affect three competitive congressional races—CD1 (Feely vs. Shah), CD2 (Crane vs. Nez), and CD6 (Ciscomani vs. Mendoza)—as well as the governor's race between Katie Hobbs and Andy Biggs. Latinos comprise 23% of Arizona's eligible voters, with 41% identifying as independents, making them a pivotal bloc in these contests. The Cook Political Report adjusted ratings for multiple races on Oct. 23, moving CD6 from toss-up to lean Democratic and CD2 from likely Republican to lean Republican.
Community brief · Tucson, AZ
The Fox Tucson Theatre will screen a restored version of F.W. Murnau's 1922 silent film "Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at 17 W. Congress Street in Tucson. Organist Brett Valliant will accompany the film on the theater's restored Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ, performing Hans Erdmann's 1922 score. Valliant, one of two resident organists at Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa, previously accompanied "The Phantom of the…
Community brief · Tucson, AZ
Ballet Tucson opened its 40th-anniversary 2026-27 mainstage season Oct. 23-25 with "Spirit Garden and Other Works," featuring four pieces including the world premiere of "Ovation." Artistic Director Margaret Mullin said the company has grown from 10 to 32 professional dancers since the pandemic. The show included choreography by Mullin, Rehearsal Director Brik Middlekauff, and Resident Choreographer Chieko Imada, plus works by Seattle…
Community brief · Tucson, AZ
The historic Stillwell House in downtown Tucson will host three seasonal open houses and markets beginning Thursday, Oct. 29, continuing Nov. 21 and Dec. 12. Each event features 20 to 25 local vendors selling baked goods, arts and crafts, curated foods and gift items, alongside themed dishes from Si Charro! restaurants. The Victorian-inspired property, built in 1901 as a railroad boarding house, is owned by Candace Flores Carrillo's family and…
