Daily Brief
June 18, 2026
Thursday
🚨 Public Safety
Distemper Outbreak Forces Pima Animal Care Center to Halt Adoptions. Pima Animal Care Center has suspended all adoptions and sharply limited which animals it will accept after a distemper outbreak struck the shelter's dog population. Eight dogs have tested positive and one has died; the shelter's count is approaching 500 and staff are testing every animal to isolate infected cases. The intake restrictions are expected to last at least through July 2 — and could worsen around the Fourth of July — with county officials urging residents to hold onto found strays rather than bringing them to the shelter. Distemper kills roughly half of infected adult dogs and 80% of puppies; anyone who adopted or fostered a PACC dog in the last three weeks should watch for symptoms and contact a vet.
Inmate Dies at Pima County Detention Complex After Medical Emergency. A 35-year-old inmate, John Russell Thrasher IV, died Tuesday night at the Pima County Adult Detention Complex after corrections officers found him unresponsive in a holding unit just before 10 p.m. Tucson Fire Department personnel continued lifesaving efforts, but Thrasher was pronounced dead at the scene. The Pima County Sheriff's Department says investigators determined the death resulted from a medical emergency and is not considered suspicious.
GoFundMe Launched for Family of Worker Killed in Marana Propeller Accident. A fundraising campaign has been started for the family of Eduardo Hernandez, 40, a SkyDive Marana employee who died Saturday after accidentally walking into a running aircraft propeller at Marana Regional Airport. Emergency crews attempted lifesaving measures but Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene. Federal aviation authorities are investigating the incident.
🏛️ Government
GOP Governor Candidates Clash Over Electability Ahead of July 21 Primary. Republican U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs and David Schweikert squared off Wednesday in the Citizens Clean Elections gubernatorial debate, sparring over who has the best chance of defeating Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in November. Biggs — backed by Turning Point Action and endorsed by President Trump — kept his focus on the general election; Schweikert painted Biggs as too extreme and argued his own record in competitive districts makes him a stronger statewide candidate. The debate also touched on water management, school vouchers, Medicaid (AHCCCS), and income tax policy.
Primary Ballots to Be Mailed Starting June 24; Voter Registration Closes Monday. The Pima County Recorder's Office will begin mailing early ballots for the July 21 primary election on Wednesday, June 24, to voters on the active early voting list. The deadline to register to vote — or update a registration — is Monday, June 22.
Oro Valley Warned to Prepare for 20% Cut in Colorado River Water Allocation. Oro Valley's water utility director has been told to prepare for a 20% reduction in its Central Arizona Project allocation beginning Jan. 1, Director Peter Abraham informed the Town Council on June 3. The potential cut underscores the pressure on Colorado River supplies during what is shaping up as the 25th year of a regional drought — a point echoed by both GOP gubernatorial candidates during Wednesday's debate.
🏗️ Development & Business
Casino Del Sol Sets Opening Date for First In-City-Limits Tucson Location. The Tohono O'odham Nation's Casino Del Sol has announced an opening date for a new facility within Tucson's city limits — the first casino to operate inside city boundaries. The venue will feature 924 slot machines and is projected to create approximately 500 jobs, according to casino officials.
Ripple Fiber to Invest $80M in Fiber-Optic Broadband Across Pima County. Ripple Fiber plans to invest more than $80 million to bring 100% fiber-optic internet service to more than 50,000 homes and businesses across Pima County, marking the company's first entry into Arizona. The buildout would represent one of the largest private broadband infrastructure investments in the region's recent history.
Oro Valley Water Rates Rising 3.6% on July 4. Base water rates for most Oro Valley customers will increase 3.6% beginning July 4, the town announced. The rate hike arrives as the same utility prepares for a possible 20% reduction in its CAP supply allocation starting in January.
🎉 Community & Events
Juneteenth Celebrations Planned Across Tucson on Friday. Multiple events in Tucson will mark Juneteenth — the federal holiday commemorating the end of chattel slavery in the United States — on Friday, June 19. The holiday arrives amid a busy week of community gatherings across the city.
⛈️ Weather — Tucson
No active watches, warnings, or advisories in effect for the Tucson area.
Today: Sunny, high near 101°F. West southwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Precipitation chance: 3%. Tonight: Mostly clear, low around 73°F. East southeast wind 2 to 9 mph. Precipitation chance: 3%. Tomorrow (Juneteenth/Friday): Sunny, high near 102°F. Southwest wind 1 to 9 mph. Precipitation chance: 0%. Outlook: Tucson remains locked in classic pre-monsoon conditions, with highs climbing toward 103°F on Saturday under clear skies. No significant monsoon moisture is indicated in the near-term; the sustained dry heat is typical for mid-June. Monsoon season typically begins in early July.
NWS Tucson Forecast API