Daily Brief
July 23, 2026
Thursday
⛈️ Weather — Tucson
⚠️ Extreme Heat Warning in effect through Saturday, 8 p.m. NWS Tucson has issued an Extreme Heat Warning covering the Tucson Metro Area and Western Pima County from 10 a.m. Friday through 8 p.m. Saturday. Dangerously hot conditions of 105–112°F are expected, with overnight lows of 82–88°F providing little relief. Heat-related illness risk increases significantly during this event.
Today (Thursday): Sunny, high near 107°F. Heat index up to 108°F. South wind 3–7 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, low around 83°F. Friday: Sunny, high near 109°F. Heat index up to 110°F. Saturday: High near 110°F with showers and thunderstorms likely after 5 p.m. (60% chance); storms continue into Saturday night. Outlook: A brief break in the extreme heat arrives Sunday with a high near 105°F and a 30% chance of afternoon storms as monsoon moisture increases. Residents are urged to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours, and check on vulnerable neighbors.
NWS Tucson Forecast API
🏛️ Government
Arizona primary results: Biggs wins GOP governor nod; multiple local races decided. U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs won the Republican nomination for Arizona governor Tuesday, easily defeating fellow Congressman David Schweikert in unofficial results; Biggs will face incumbent Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in November. State Treasurer Kimberly Yee led incumbent Superintendent Tom Horne by more than 32,000 votes in the GOP race for state schools chief, and Alexander Kolodin won the GOP nomination for secretary of state. In Southern Arizona legislative races, incumbent Consuelo Hernandez secured one LD21 House Democratic seat with a second still undecided; LD20 and LD21 results remain unofficial. In Oro Valley, Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett won the mayoral race by a large margin. In Sahuarita, two council incumbents won reelection joined by a newcomer, and Proposition 420 — the town's general plan update — passed by nearly a two-to-one margin. In Santa Cruz County, first-time candidate David Ruiz led early in the Nogales mayoral race, and Miguel Lopez won the Justice of the Peace seat over incumbent Adriana Olaiz; about three dozen Santa Cruz County voters have until 5 p.m. Sunday to cure their ballots in person.
Arizona Luminaria, Tucson Spotlight, KOLD News 13, Arizona Mirror, KVOA News 4, Green Valley News, Nogales International
State orders Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind to review student placements after federal law violation. The Arizona Department of Education found that the Arizona State School for the Deaf and Blind violated the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act during its planning process to relocate its Tucson campus to Oro Valley, requiring that student placements be based on individual need with input from each student's IEP team. The state has ordered a review of affected student placements.
Marana downtown entertainment district clears final hurdle. A plan to develop a walkable downtown entertainment district in Marana received approval after opponents failed to place a referendum on Tuesday's ballot, according to the Arizona Daily Star. The decision clears the way for the project to move forward.
Tucson plans new affordable housing complex near Stone and Speedway. According to KGUN 9, a community meeting was held this week outlining plans for a new affordable housing development, "Thrive in the 05," near Stone Avenue and Speedway Boulevard adjacent to Pima Community College in midtown Tucson. The project is intended to serve low-income residents.
Nogales port of entry proposed to expand from 5 to 25 acres. Federal officials have begun gathering public input as part of an environmental review process for a major modernization of the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, which would expand the facility from approximately 5 to 25 acres, according to KVOA News 4.
🚨 Public Safety
Downtown Tucson mass shooting: suspect faces 19 charges; businesses speak out; TPD holds safety training. The suspect in Sunday's downtown Tucson mass shooting, which injured nine people, remained unavailable for a court appearance as of earlier this week and faces 19 charges with the possibility of more, according to KOLD News 13. A victim who was shot in the leg wrote publicly that she was "grateful to still be here." Several downtown businesses were forced to close Sunday during the police investigation, and owners say they are watching for any lasting impact on foot traffic. Tucson Police held its first large-scale crisis response safety training Wednesday with more than a dozen current and prospective downtown businesses at the Westside Police Service Center, an event tied directly to the shooting.
KOLD News 13, Arizona Daily Star, Arizona Daily Star, KVOA News 4, KOLD News 13
Body-camera footage released in Pima County deputy-involved shooting. The Pima Regional Critical Incident Team released body-camera video showing a Pima County sheriff's deputy chasing a suspect before opening fire on Tucson's southwest side. The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Kafi, faces charges including weapons misconduct involving a prohibited weapon, disorderly conduct involving reckless display of a firearm, and resisting arrest.
Pima County authorities search for assault suspect. The Pima County Sheriff's Department is searching for a male suspect who allegedly entered a residence through an unlocked door and physically and sexually assaulted a female victim before attempting to burglarize the home, according to KOLD News 13.
Tucson Police recover fentanyl pills and firearms in drug investigation. Tucson Police arrested a suspect following a brief foot pursuit, recovering fentanyl pills and firearms as part of an ongoing drug investigation, according to KOLD News 13.
🎓 Education
U of A School of Music names new director. Arizona Arts has appointed Lia Uribe as director of the University of Arizona School of Music. Uribe, a bassoonist, arts administrator and scholar, comes from the University of Arkansas, where she served as associate dean for arts and humanities and professor of music at the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, according to the Tucson Weekly.
SARSEF's ACES Camp for Girls marks 20 years, eyes workforce pipeline expansion. The Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation's ACES Camp for Girls celebrated its 20th anniversary of bringing Tucson-area middle schoolers into STEM fields and is now shifting focus toward building a sustained regional workforce pipeline, according to Tucson Spotlight.
🏗️ Development & Business
Oro Valley Police Department moving into new 50,500-square-foot headquarters. The Oro Valley Police Department is converting a former medical office building on Oracle Road into a new 50,500-square-foot headquarters, addressing a need that Deputy Chief Curtiss Hicks says has existed for roughly two decades. Plans include potentially relocating dispatch operations to the new facility, freeing space at the current La Canada headquarters for other town departments.
Tucson Local Media / Explorer News
TMC Health Foundation receives $500,000 grant to expand virtual care. The TMC Health Foundation has received a $500,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation to expand virtual health care access at TMC Rincon, with the goal of extending care to underserved populations across Southern Arizona, according to the Tucson Weekly.
Catalina State Park receives $198,000 grant for buffelgrass removal. Two volunteer groups working on behalf of Catalina State Park have received a $198,000 grant from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management to remove invasive buffelgrass and protect saguaro populations within the park, according to Tucson Local Media.