Housing & Development · Pima County
Hudbay Minerals and Mitsubishi Corp. have finalized their partnership to develop Copper World, one of the largest open-pit copper mines in the U.S., in the Santa Rita Mountains about 31 miles southeast of Tucson. Construction is expected to begin before year's end, with mining operations starting in the second half of 2029. The project promises over 1,000 construction jobs, 500 permanent positions, and $1.1 billion in tax revenues over roughly 15 years. Pima County Administrator Jan Lesher has warned investors about unresolved risks including groundwater depletion affecting Sahuarita and Green Valley, tailings storage upstream of residential areas, and ongoing environmental litigation.
Education · Tucson, AZ
Tucson Unified School District Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo has recommended closing Magee Middle School effective next school year, merging its students into Sabino High School’s campus. This marks the first middle school closure in the district's current consolidation plan, targeting east-side schools with declining populations. The governing board is scheduled to vote on the recommendations on Dec. 8, following a public hearing and press conference on Oct. 27.
Education · Tucson, AZ
Tucson Unified School District Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo announced Friday that Marguerite L. Collier Elementary at 3900 N. Bear Canyon Rd. could close next year, with students reassigned to Clara Ferrin Bloom Elementary about four miles away. This is the fifth school added to a consolidation list driven by dropping enrollments and budget limitations, alongside Hudlow, Dunham, Cragin elementary schools and Magee Middle School. The TUSD Governing Board is expected to vote on the list Dec. 8 after at least two public study sessions. District officials said up to 10 schools could be shuttered.
Housing & Development · Tucson, AZ
Tucson's STAR Village, the city's first sanctioned homeless encampment at 244 E. Grant Rd., is transitioning from a yearlong pilot to its second year with Old Pueblo Community Services as primary operator, replacing Primavera Foundation. The site has housed up to 25 women or nonbinary residents per night since opening in October 2025, welcoming 138 residents total and helping 19 percent secure permanent housing. City officials reported a nearly 10 percent drop in Part 1 crimes within a one-mile radius during the pilot year. The city allocated $285,371 for STAR Village in its FY2027 budget, with additional funding from mayoral and council office budgets totaling approximately $450,000 during the pilot. Second-year priorities include improved heat protection, stronger power infrastructure, accessible showers, and expanded mental health resources.
Community News · Tucson, AZ
Downtown Tucson's Congress Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from Toole Avenue to Scott Avenue from 5 p.m. Saturday, October 31 through 3 a.m. Sunday, November 1 for a Halloween celebration. The Sun Link streetcar will service all stops along its route from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., while several Sun Tran bus routes will be placed on detour due to the closure. The Ronstadt Transit Center remains open, served by Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16, 19, 21, 23, and 25.
