Daily Brief
August 3, 2026
Monday
⛈️ Weather — Tucson
⚠️ ALERTS: An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect now and runs through 8 p.m. Monday. A Flood Watch for south-central and southeast Pima County begins at 2 p.m. and lasts until 10 p.m. Monday, with flash flooding possible in normally dry washes, roadway dips and low-lying areas. A Blowing Dust Advisory also begins at 2 p.m. and runs to 8 p.m.; NWS Tucson says outflow winds of 40-50 mph could drop visibility to a half-mile or less, with a possible haboob near zero visibility.
Today: mostly sunny and dangerously hot, high near 108, with a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. West wind 1 to 20 mph, gusting to 29 mph. Tonight: mostly cloudy, low around 80, storms possible before 11 p.m. Tuesday: mostly sunny, high near 105, storm chances returning after 5 p.m.
Outlook: Daily thunderstorm chances of 30% to 40% continue through Thursday as monsoon moisture stays in place. Highs ease slightly to near 103 Wednesday and 104 Thursday, with overnight lows in the upper 70s. Motorists should expect abrupt visibility drops and rapid runoff during afternoon and evening storms.
NWS Tucson Forecast API
🚨 Public Safety
Body found near Ajo Way identified as missing woman. The Pima County Sheriff's Department responded Aug. 2 to reports of a body found near Ajo Way, which KOLD reports was identified as a woman who had been reported missing. Deputies had called off their search for the woman days earlier, according to the station.
Sheriff's department releases ransom notes in Guthrie case. The Pima County Sheriff's Department on Friday released two ransom notes received in the Nancy Guthrie case, saying it hopes someone will recognize the writer's "unique linguistic style" and help identify them, the Nogales International reported.
Downtown mass shooting suspect due in court Friday. The man arrested after last month's downtown Tucson mass shooting that injured nine people is scheduled to appear Friday for a probation revocation hearing, according to KVOA.
🏛️ Government
Stahl Hamilton loses LD21 primary. State Rep. Consuelo Hernandez will be joined by fellow Democrat Miranda Lopez on the general election ballot for the Legislative District 21 House seats, the Nogales International reported. Lopez defeated incumbent Stephanie Stahl Hamilton 8,677 to 8,395, with Maritza Higuera fourth at 6,976 votes.
City reviewing federal Colorado River decision document. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on July 31 released its Final Environmental Impact Statement for post-2026 operations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The city said in a news release that Tucson Water is reviewing the document and evaluating implications for the city's Colorado River supplies, and characterized Tucson's water supply as remaining resilient.
City completes $174 million in bond sales. Tucson sold $71.4 million in Water System Revenue Obligations on July 7 and $102.65 million in general obligation bonds on July 14, according to a city news release, which said the transactions drew strong investor demand and favorable borrowing costs for infrastructure projects.
🎓 Education
Southern Arizona schools head back to class. Several area districts return this week, with start dates falling on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, KVOA reported. The city has launched a bus safety program timed to the start of the school year, according to AZPM.
ASDB opens Oro Valley campus amid state law violation review. The Arizona State School for the Deaf and Blind is scheduled to open its new Oro Valley campus Monday while the school reviews student placements following a state law violation, according to KVOA.
🏗️ Development & Business
Old Tucson listed for sale at $1.5 million. Community leaders met to discuss the future of Old Tucson, which is now on the market, KVOA reported, including a proposal aimed at preserving the film-set attraction. Details of the plan were not confirmed beyond the station's report.
Grant Road underpass reopens after railroad project. Grant Road between the I-10 westbound frontage road and Flowing Wells Road reopened to traffic at 4 a.m. Saturday following major improvements tied to the Grant Road Underpass at the Union Pacific Railroad project, the city said in a release. Crews are expected to remain in the area through the end of August finishing work.
City of Tucson, Arizona Daily Star
Record heat pushes power demand to new highs. Two utilities that together serve roughly 2.7 million homes and businesses in Arizona reported record energy demand during last week's extreme heat, the Arizona Daily Star reported.
🎉 Community & Events
Free haircuts, backpacks offered as school costs climb. Local organizations and businesses are offering free haircuts and school supplies to families as back-to-school costs rise nearly 8% over last year, according to KGUN 9.
📢 What Your Officials Are Saying
Sen. Mark Kelly (U.S. senator, D-Ariz.). Kelly posted Aug. 2 about visiting the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, saying he saw the shuttle simulator in which he trained for thousands of hours.
Sen. Mark Kelly (U.S. senator, D-Ariz.). In a separate post, Kelly said Ohio voters "could change the direction of the entire country in November" and that he would work to help elect Democrats there, naming Senate and gubernatorial candidates in that state.
Campaign channels quiet in both competitive races. Neither Gov. Katie Hobbs' nor Andy Biggs' campaign posted in the past 48 hours, and neither JoAnna Mendoza's nor Juan Ciscomani's campaign posted in the Congressional District 6 race during that window.