Daily Brief
April 25, 2026
Saturday
🏛️ Government
Arizona AG Kris Mayes sues Trump administration over planned ICE detention facility in Surprise. Attorney General Kris Mayes filed suit against the Department of Homeland Security over a proposed ICE detention warehouse in Surprise, a West Valley suburb. The facility has drawn opposition from residents, council members, and local high school students who cited concerns about its proximity to schools and a chemical hazard zone. Mayes said the state is "choosing to fight" the federal project.
Sen. Mark Kelly introduces bills to repeal federal school voucher program and suspend gas tax. Kelly filed legislation to repeal the federal universal school voucher program, calling it a drain on public school funding and saying Arizona is "living it right now." He also introduced bills to suspend the federal gas tax and cut taxes for working families, citing a "cost-of-living emergency."
Sen. Mark Kelly (Bluesky, @captmarkkelly.bsky.social, April 24)
🏗️ Development & Business
Gas prices near $4 a gallon are squeezing Tucson small businesses. Tucson eastside bakery La Baguette Parisienne — which has supplied handmade pastries to local restaurants for over 40 years — is absorbing higher fuel costs for delivery runs as well as rising prices for flour, eggs, and other ingredients. Owner Kimberly Ireland said she has resisted adding gas surcharges to protect struggling restaurant clients but may need to reevaluate. Analysts with GasBuddy say businesses should brace for further increases in produce and grocery costs.
Dropping Lake Mead levels threaten affordable Hoover Dam electricity for Arizona. For generations, Hoover Dam's power plant has provided low-cost electricity to Arizona cities, farmers, irrigation districts, and utilities. Continued drops in Lake Mead water levels now raise the prospect that this historically cheap power may no longer be affordable or reliably available, with potentially wide-ranging consequences for residential and agricultural users across the state.
🎓 Education
Federal cannabis reclassification to Schedule III opens new doors for University of Arizona researchers. The U.S. Department of Justice has officially moved cannabis from Schedule I — the same category as heroin — to Schedule III, placing it alongside less-restricted drugs with recognized medical value. U of A pain management research director Dr. Mohab Ibrahim said the change will allow him to discuss medical cannabis openly with patients and encourage more physicians to recommend it. The reclassification is expected to remove significant regulatory barriers to UA-led research into cannabis-derived treatments for pain, psychological conditions, and chemotherapy-related nausea.
UA's Treydan Stukes drafted in second round by Las Vegas Raiders. The University of Arizona defensive back was selected 38th overall on Friday, becoming the latest Wildcat to make the jump to the NFL. Stukes — a former walk-on who became a three-time team captain — ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash and earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors in his final season. He recorded 206 tackles and seven interceptions over six seasons in Tucson, returning from a torn ACL in 2025.
Organization pairing service dogs with disabled veterans to open Tucson location. Soldier's Best Friend, a Phoenix-based nonprofit that rescues and trains service dogs for veterans with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries at no cost, is expanding to Tucson. A new facility is expected to open in May.
🎉 Community & Events
Tucson's indie bookshops celebrate Independent Bookstore Day today. Local independent bookstores are hosting giveaways, pop-ups, family-friendly activities, and special merchandise throughout Saturday, April 25, inviting residents to shop small and support local literary spaces.
Tucson International Mariachi Conference runs April 29–May 3. The annual conference — which draws more than 1,300 students from local and international bands to learn from master mariachi musicians — begins Wednesday evening, with events running through a Mariachi Mass at noon on Sunday. Several events are free to attend.
New Tucson Transportation Museum Trail connects six museums with a stamped passport. Six local transportation museums have collaborated on a new trail that invites visitors to explore each site and collect stamps along the way, creating a self-guided multi-stop experience across the city.
⛈️ Weather — Tucson
No active watches, warnings, or advisories.
Today (Saturday, April 25): Mostly sunny. High near 86°F. South-southwest wind 5–15 mph with gusts up to 26 mph. Precipitation chance: 4%.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Low around 60°F. South-southwest wind 6–14 mph with gusts up to 24 mph.
Sunday: Sunny. High near 79°F. West wind 7–14 mph with gusts up to 31 mph. Low Sunday night around 50°F.
Outlook: Temperatures return to the mid-80s Monday and climb toward 88–89°F by Tuesday and Wednesday. A slight chance of rain showers arrives Wednesday afternoon (20%), with a chance of showers and thunderstorms Thursday (30%). The week ends dry with highs near 89°F Friday.