Daily Brief
July 29, 2026
Wednesday
⛈️ Weather — Tucson
⚠️ Extreme Heat Warning takes effect 10 AM Thursday, July 30, running through Sunday, August 2 at 8:00 PM MST. NWS Tucson warns of dangerously hot conditions across the Tucson metro area, Western Pima County, Tohono O'odham Nation, and surrounding regions. Temperatures of 107–112°F are expected; heat-related illness risk is rated Major to Extreme.
Today will be mostly sunny with a high near 106°F; heat index values could reach 107°F. Tonight stays warm — mostly cloudy with a low around 79°F. Thursday brings sunny skies and a high near 109°F, with Friday and Saturday climbing to 111° and 112°F respectively. No monsoon relief is in the near-term forecast; residents are urged to limit outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours and check on vulnerable neighbors.
NWS Tucson Forecast API
🏛️ Government
Pima County Board of Supervisors appoints new treasurer amid legal claim from predecessor. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday appointed Jorge Soto as Pima County Treasurer on a 4-0 vote, with Supervisor Steve Christy abstaining, effective immediately, filling the seat vacated when Brian Johnson resigned June 15 amid a sexual harassment investigation. Separately, Johnson has filed a Notice of Claim against the county, alleging that administrators "exceeded their authority and used unlawful, coercive means" to force him from office — a potential precursor to a lawsuit.
Tucson Daily Brief, KGUN 9, KOLD News 13, Green Valley News
Pima County removes its entire Industrial Development Authority board. At the same meeting, supervisors voted 5-0 to remove all five members of the county's Industrial Development Authority — the public corporation that issues bonds for nonprofits funding low-interest mortgages and small business loans — and seated three replacements on 4-1 votes. The board declined to reinstate two sitting directors the county administrator had recommended keeping, giving the IDA 60 days to name replacements. No other outlet has reported the restructuring.
Tucson Mayor and Council approve $200M fiber-optic internet agreement. The council approved a landmark deal to bring 100% fiber-optic broadband to Tucson neighborhoods, backed by more than $200 million in private investment over the next five years, according to KVOA.
Arizona judge strikes anti-teacher-union ballot measure as unconstitutional. A Maricopa County judge ruled Tuesday that a Republican-backed ballot referral targeting the Arizona Education Association is unconstitutional because it would also effectively outlaw police and fire unions — violating the state constitution's Separate Amendment Rule, which bars measures that address multiple distinct subjects. The measure is off the November ballot.
Sun Tran drivers ratify three-year contract, averting strike. Tucson Sun Tran bus drivers voted to approve a new three-year collective bargaining agreement that includes significant safety improvements, ending months of negotiations and eliminating the threat of a work stoppage, according to Tucson Spotlight.
Marana Town Council gets new member after contested July 21 election. Jackie McGuire won a Marana Town Council seat on July 21, defeating write-in candidate Jackie Craig. Mayor Jon Post and council members Herb Kai, Teri Murphy and John Officer all held their seats. Under Marana's rules a candidate winning a majority in the primary is elected outright, so no November runoff is needed, according to Tucson Local Media.
🚨 Public Safety
Downtown Tucson mass shooting raises concerns about youth violence. A mass shooting in downtown Tucson has prompted community concern about a rise in violent incidents involving teens and young adults, according to KOLD News 13. Further details on casualties or arrests were not immediately available in the report.
Tucson mother arrested by immigration agents outside Pima County courthouse. Federal immigration agents arrested a long-time Tucson resident and mother of three U.S.-citizen children outside a Pima County courthouse Tuesday, according to her daughter. A separate Arizona Daily Star report notes that a pregnant Colombian ICE detainee was released after three weeks in custody following allegations that she was violently assaulted by a Border Patrol agent during her arrest near Douglas.
Arizona Daily Star, Arizona Daily Star
Green Valley garage-sale shooting suspect arrested in Florida. A man wanted in connection with a May 15 shooting at a Green Valley garage sale that injured two people has been arrested in Florida, the Pima County Sheriff's Department confirmed. Two men have also been separately arrested in connection with the July 13 carjacking of a 14-year-old ATV rider east of Sahuarita.
Green Valley News, Green Valley News
🎓 Education
TUSD board appoints interim principal at Pueblo High School amid investigation. The Tucson Unified School District board unanimously appointed Alma Mejia-Garcia as interim principal of Pueblo High School while an investigation into the former principal is ongoing, according to KGUN 9.
TUSD launches community liaison pilot to combat chronic absenteeism. The Tucson Unified School District is rolling out a pilot program that deploys community liaisons to identify and address the root causes of chronic absenteeism among students, KOLD News 13 reports.
New special-education school opens in Oro Valley. A new school focused exclusively on students with special needs has opened in Oro Valley, with administrators emphasizing an inclusive model for all students regardless of disability, according to KGUN 9.
🏗️ Development & Business
Two projects reshaping Marshall Gulch and lower Sabino Canyon Road. One project has been completed and a second is underway to improve parking, driving, and pedestrian access at Marshall Gulch and along lower Sabino Canyon Park Road below Summerhaven, according to Tucson Local Media / Explorer News.
Southern Arizona heat strains power grid; TEP has expanded storage capacity. Extreme temperatures are driving up demand on the regional power grid. Tucson Electric Power has expanded its battery storage capacity tenfold since setting a peak demand record last summer, KOLD News 13 reports.
Cushing Street Skate Park on track for December opening. Tucson's new Cushing Street Skate Park, which will feature shaded areas, is heading toward a December opening. Longtime local skaters say they hope the facility can revitalize a skate scene that has declined in recent years, according to Tucson Spotlight.