⛈️ Weather — Tucson
⚠️ **Extreme Heat Warning in effect until 8:00 PM MST Sunday, March 22** — NWS Tucson (zones AZZ501–AZZ509). Forecasters are calling this an "historic March heat wave," with daily and monthly temperature records expected to fall across southern Arizona. Visitors, seasonal residents, and anyone not acclimated to extreme heat are urged to limit outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours and seek cooling resources.
Today (Fri, March 20 — Spring Equinox): Sunny. High near 103°F. South-southeast wind 1 to 8 mph. 0% precipitation. Tonight: Clear. Low around 62°F. South-southeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Saturday: Sunny. High near 102°F. West-southwest wind 1 to 9 mph. Outlook: The heat dome persists through Sunday (high near 100°F, gusts to 21 mph) before beginning to weaken early next week. Temperatures remain 18 to 22 degrees above normal through at least Monday (high near 97°F). An emerging El Niño is forecast to bring above-normal precipitation to southern Arizona through winter 2027. Minimum relative humidity this weekend: 5–15%.
🚨 Public Safety
Tucson police are searching for a suspect in a Wednesday morning shooting that killed one man and wounded two others. The triple shooting prompted an active investigation; police have released limited details about the circumstances or the victims. As of Friday morning, no arrest has been made.
🏛️ Government
Pima County voters have approved RTA Next — a 20-year, $2.67 billion regional transportation plan — by nearly 3-to-2 margins. Both propositions in Tuesday's special election passed, authorizing a half-cent sales tax extension to fund road, transit, and bicycle infrastructure improvements across the region over the next two decades.
Tucson Local Media / Explorer News
The city of Tucson has launched a new rental assistance program backed by a $175,000 fund managed through the Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness. The program is designed to help residents at risk of losing housing; officials announced its availability Thursday but did not disclose full application details in initial reporting.
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to halt the Resolution Copper mining project at Oak Flat, extinguishing the final legal chance to protect the Apache sacred site. Justice Elena Kagan refused to issue an emergency stay, clearing the way for a massive copper mine that would transform the southeastern Arizona religious site into a 2-mile-wide crater. The ruling is a significant loss for San Carlos Apache Tribe members and other Indigenous advocates.
Arizona Republicans remain deadlocked over how to replace Proposition 123, the expired school funding plan that delivered $300 million annually to K-12 public schools. The only proposal advancing in the legislature — which would restore a 6.9% land trust distribution rate through 2036 but limit spending to eligible teacher raises tied to performance reviews — faces a legislative hearing deadline at the end of March. Teacher unions and Gov. Katie Hobbs oppose it; multiple competing Republican factions can't agree on terms. Without a new deal, the state is covering the missing revenue from the general fund on a year-to-year basis.
Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego have joined 38 Senate Democrats in pressing the Department of Homeland Security to speed up DACA renewal applications and work permits. Backlogs in the federal renewal process have left some Arizona Dreamers without valid work authorization. Separately, Sen. Gallego pressed President Trump's DHS nominee over Arizona's 2020 election results at a confirmation hearing Thursday.
Tucson Sentinel, Tucson Sentinel
🏗️ Development & Business
Renovations have begun at the Tucson House, 1501 N. Oracle Road, with a formal groundbreaking on March 10 attended by Gov. Katie Hobbs and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero. The long-vacant midtown landmark is being revived; the publication did not specify the developer or planned end use.
Tucson Local Media / Explorer News
A Tucson startup is developing technology to store solar power generated during the day and discharge it to the electric grid at night, part of a broader push to commercialize University of Arizona research into local jobs. The venture is featured in a new Inside Tucson Business series on the Southern Arizona education-to-startup pipeline.
Foothills restaurant owners say the Cologuard Classic golf tournament — underway this week — is delivering a 10 to 15% sales boost ahead of what is typically a slow summer season. Snowbirds are also still in town but departing earlier than usual, reportedly due to the early heat wave.
🎉 Community & Events
The Wild Wild West Steampunk Convention is marking its 14th and final year at the Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa through Sunday, March 22. Co-owner Deena Drotman said the Oro Valley event, which draws 300–400 attendees and raises money for Bikers Against Child Abuse, will not continue in its current form — though she hinted at smaller future events in Tucson and Phoenix.
Marana's annual Founders' Day Parade and Festivities are tomorrow, Saturday, March 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ed Honea Marana Municipal Complex, 11555 W. Civic Center Drive. The event celebrates Marana's birthday with a country jamboree-style celebration including a parade.
Tucson Local Media / Explorer News