🚨 Public Safety
Two people shot near Golf Links and Kolb Saturday night. Tucson Police Department officers responded to the area of Golf Links and Kolb late Saturday evening following reports of gunfire. At least two people sustained apparent gunshot wounds; detectives were dispatched to the scene and the public was asked to avoid the area. No suspect information had been released as of early Sunday morning.
Woman, 24, killed after being ejected in Tucson crash. A 24-year-old woman died Thursday afternoon after being thrown from the passenger seat of a Ford Bronco during a crash, Tucson police said. The incident is under investigation.
Cochise County brushfire contained; Highway 92 reopened. Forward progress on a brushfire near Palominas in Cochise County was stopped Saturday, and Highway 92 — closed during emergency evacuation orders for residents west of Paloma Trail and south of the highway — has been reopened. No structures were reported destroyed.
🏛️ Government
U of A president refuses to sign shared governance agreement with faculty. University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella has declined to formalize the university's shared governance obligations despite a legal requirement that Arizona public universities include faculty and staff in institutional decision-making. Faculty leaders say Garimella has refused to commit to the specifics of how he will share decision-making authority, a move they characterize as a significant breach of both law and process.
Arizona GOP advances 'preborn child' legislation despite 2024 voter mandate. Republican state lawmakers continue to push bills using terms like "preborn child" and "unborn child" — a strategy reproductive rights advocates say is designed to incrementally establish fetal personhood and erode Arizona's constitutionally protected abortion access. In 2024, 61% of Arizona voters approved Proposition 139, enshrining abortion as a fundamental right in the state constitution. Legal experts warn the language, even in bills not directly restricting abortion, builds a record that could be used to justify future restrictions in court.
Marana Town Council weighing fee schedule changes. The Marana Town Council is evaluating modifications to the town's comprehensive fee schedule following a presentation by the town's purchasing director at the March 3 council meeting. Changes could affect a range of municipal services; no final vote has been scheduled.
🏗️ Development & Business
Oro Valley to install traffic signal at Naranja Park north entrance. The town of Oro Valley is moving forward with installation of a traffic control light at the north entrance to Naranja Park, addressing traffic safety and access concerns at one of the area's most-visited recreational facilities.
Avra Valley wildlife corridor officially named for UA professor who identified it. A major wildlife passage through Avra Valley has been formally named for University of Arizona professor William Shaw, who first identified the corridor four decades ago. The corridor links the Tucson Mountains with the Ironwood Forest National Monument, providing a critical path for wildlife movement across the northwest Tucson metropolitan area.
🎉 Community & Events
Tucson Festival of Books concludes Sunday after high-profile journalism programming. The Tucson Festival of Books — ranked among the world's top literary events by Condé Nast Traveler — wraps its 17th annual run today on the University of Arizona campus. Saturday's panels featured ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl on the state of American journalism, and a separate session with investigative reporters discussing how they challenge government secrecy. This year marked the first use of a clear-bag policy for ticketed panel sessions.
Arizona Daily Star, Arizona Daily Star
No. 2 Arizona wins Big 12 Tournament, enters NCAA Tournament as projected No. 1 seed. The Arizona Wildcats captured the Big 12 Tournament championship Saturday night in Kansas City, defeating No. 5 Houston 79-74 in a rematch of last year's title game. Brayden Burries and Koa Peat each scored 21 points for the Wildcats (32-2), who enter March Madness having won nine consecutive games — six against ranked opponents. Arizona is projected as the No. 1 overall seed and is expected to open NCAA Tournament play in San Diego this week.
⛈️ Weather — Tucson
No active weather alerts for the Tucson/Pima County area.
⚠️ **Regional note:** An Extreme Heat Watch is in effect for portions of south central and southwest Arizona — primarily the Phoenix metro area and western Arizona — from Thursday, March 19 through Sunday, March 22. NWS Phoenix forecasts afternoon highs of 103–109°F in affected areas. Tucson is not within the current watch zone, but temperatures are trending upward locally through the week.
Today (Sunday, March 15): Sunny. High near 87°F. Southwest wind 2–13 mph. No precipitation expected.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Low around 53°F. South-southwest wind 2–12 mph. No precipitation expected.
Monday: Sunny. High near 88°F. East wind 1–10 mph. No precipitation.
Outlook: Temperatures are on a steady warming trend through mid-week, with Tucson highs reaching the low-to-mid 90s by Tuesday and likely climbing further. A broad high-pressure system is driving well-above-normal heat across the Southwest. No precipitation is in the forecast through at least mid-week.
NWS Tucson Forecast API