⛈️ Weather — Tucson
⚠️ **Extreme Heat Warning in effect Thursday 11:00 AM – Sunday 8:00 PM MST.** Dangerously hot conditions expected across the region, with afternoon highs of 100–108°F. Heat-related illnesses increase significantly during these events; residents are urged to limit outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours. The Arizona Daily Star reported the warning covers the Tucson area through the weekend.
Today: Sunny. High near 102°F. East-southeast wind ~5 mph. Precipitation: 0%. Tonight: Clear. Low around 62°F. East wind ~5 mph. Friday: Sunny. High near 104°F. South-southeast wind 1–8 mph. Outlook: Extreme heat persists through the weekend, with highs in the 100–104°F range Friday through Saturday before any moderation. No precipitation is expected through at least Sunday. This is record-level heat for mid-March in southern Arizona; residents should check on elderly neighbors and ensure access to cooling.
NWS Tucson Forecast API
🏛️ Government
Pima County voters approve RTA Next, the $2.67 billion regional transportation plan. By margins close to 3-to-2, voters passed both propositions in RTA Next, extending the half-cent sales tax for 20 years to fund a comprehensive regional transportation package. The measure funds road improvements, transit, and safety projects across Tucson and Pima County.
Tucson Local Media / Explorer News
Recall effort launched against Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, as Supervisors also apply pressure. Sheriff Nanos is facing a recall campaign while simultaneously confronting challenges from within the Pima County Board of Supervisors, according to the Star's Political Notebook. The column by Tim Steller and Charlie Borla outlines the mounting political opposition to his tenure.
Arizona Republicans move to revive vetoed bills by inserting them into a must-pass DES continuation measure. GOP lawmakers amended House Bill 2728 — a procedural bill to continue the Arizona Department of Economic Security for eight years — to add language from several bills Gov. Katie Hobbs previously vetoed. Those provisions would restrict SNAP benefits (including banning candy and soda purchases), require hospitals to collect patients' immigration status, and impose financial penalties if the state's SNAP payment error rate exceeds 3%. The amendment passed on a party-line vote; Democrats called it "poor policy" that would push vulnerable Arizonans off food assistance during an affordability crisis.
Oro Valley conservation dispute: Town told reclaimed water plan for nature preserve violates easement. A claim filed March 2 alleges that Oro Valley's plan to fill a 2.5-acre former irrigation pond within the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve with reclaimed water would violate the conservation easement governing the 202-acre parcel. The dispute adds a new legal wrinkle to the town's water management and open-space plans.
Tucson Local Media / Explorer News
🚨 Public Safety
Two people shot inside Park Place Mall Wednesday evening; no suspects in custody. Tucson Police responded around 7 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside Park Place Mall, where two individuals sustained gunshot wounds and were transported for medical treatment. Officers evacuated and shut down the mall while investigators interviewed witnesses. Preliminary information suggests the shooting was an isolated incident; no suspects have been identified.
City of Tucson hosts national conference on reducing youth violence, citing 14% homicide drop in targeted areas. Mayor Regina Romero convened a conference bringing together violence-prevention leaders from cities across the country to share strategies. City officials reported a 14% reduction in homicides and an 85% reduction in gun violence in certain targeted areas, crediting coordinated work by the City, federal partners, and nonprofits including Goodwill. The conference follows two recent shootings near Golf Links and Kolb, including one that killed a 13-year-old.
🏗️ Development & Business
Historic Tucson House gets new life: Renovations underway at 1501 N. Oracle Road. Work began March 10 on the Tucson House, a longtime landmark on North Oracle Road, in a ceremony attended by Gov. Katie Hobbs and Mayor Regina Romero. The project marks a significant redevelopment effort for the high-rise building, which has long been a fixture of Tucson's skyline.
Tucson Local Media / Explorer News
Tucson startup developing technology to store solar energy and dispatch it to the grid at night. A new company emerging from local research labs is working on grid-scale solar storage technology — storing power generated during daylight hours and releasing it after sundown. The venture is part of a broader trend of University of Arizona-linked startups commercializing clean-energy innovation.
Tucson Local Media / Explorer News
🎉 Community & Events
Marana Founders' Day Parade and Festivities set for Saturday, March 21. The annual celebration of Marana's birthday runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ed Honea Marana Municipal Complex, 11555 W. Civic Center Drive. The event features a country jamboree-style parade and community activities.
Tucson Local Media / Explorer News
Reid Park Zoo asks Tucsonans to name new baby giraffe. The zoo is inviting community members to vote on a name for the recently born giraffe calf. The public naming initiative is part of Reid Park Zoo's ongoing community engagement efforts.