Daily Brief
September 30, 2026
Wednesday
🚨 Public Safety
Hurricane Polo remnants flood roads, strand drivers across Pima County. The Tucson Fire Department responded to four swift-water rescues on South Wilmot Road Tuesday afternoon. The calls came in between 2:29 and 3:41 p.m., and in each case a motorist drove into the flooded road and got stuck. No injuries were reported, and TFD Chief Antonio Canizales said swift-water rescue calls have been more frequent than usual this monsoon. In Marana, officials closed six roadways, including North Sandario Road between Avra Valley and Twin Peaks roads. Separately, Tucson Electric Power said a storm-downed wire near Broadway and Pantano cut power to more than 1,100 Eastside customers, with service fully restored just after 10 a.m. Pima County also temporarily closed its Catalina and Sahuarita transfer stations Tuesday because of extreme rainfall.
KOLD News 13, KOLD News 13, KGUN 9, KVOA News 4, KGUN 9, Pima County
Man charged with attempted murder in Marana In-N-Out shooting. As we reported Tuesday, one person was hospitalized after a shooting at a Marana In-N-Out. Marana police now say 55-year-old Charles Whipple faces charges of attempted second-degree murder and endangerment. According to KOLD, police said the incident happened around 3 p.m. Monday in the drive-through at North Cortaro Road and Arizona Pavilions Drive. As of Tuesday, Whipple was being held on a $150,000 bond.
Pima County confirms third measles case of 2026. The Pima County Health Department said the patient is an international visitor who was exposed in Colorado and developed symptoms while in Pima County. The patient is isolating at home. Officials urged anyone who was at Banner – University Medical Center's Emergency Department, 1625 N. Campbell Ave., between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24, to watch for symptoms and contact the department if any appear.
🏛️ Government
Pima County funds One Pima small business safety grants. At its Sept. 22 meeting, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an initial $250,000 for a Business Safety and Beautification Grant Program. The Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will oversee the program, according to a county release. It is part of the One Pima Initiative championed by District 5 Supervisor Andrés Cano. Qualifying small businesses can apply for grants of up to $10,000 for safety and visual-appeal improvements.
Tucson Daily Brief, Pima County
Oro Valley board to hear 'sanatorium' appeals Oct. 5. Earlier this month, the Oro Valley Town Council voted to appeal its own planner's ruling on the Rancho Vistoso parcel next to Safeway. Two appeals of that staff zoning interpretation are now scheduled before the town's Board of Adjustment at a 3 p.m. special session Monday, Oct. 5. Spectrum Retirement Communities proposes a 142-bed assisted living and memory care facility on the 7.7-acre parcel, known as 5-U. At issue is whether that use fits the "sanatorium" description in the 1987 Rancho Vistoso Planned Area Development.
Tucson Daily Brief, Tucson Local Media
League of Women Voters hosts ballot proposition series at Pima libraries. The League of Women Voters of Southern Arizona is holding a series of meetings on measures on the Nov. 3 ballot, which includes eight statewide propositions. Most local measures apply only to specific jurisdictions, such as the city of Tucson or the Vail Unified School District. Two are countywide: Pima County's Prop. 425 and Pima Community College's Prop. 430.
🎓 Schools
TUSD board candidates field questions on closures, budget and safety. Candidates for the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board answered voter questions at an east-side forum Tuesday. Questions covered school closures, artificial intelligence, the budget, test scores and school safety. The forum comes as the district says it may close up to 10 schools.
🏗️ Development & Business
Raytheon awarded $20.7 billion missile contract. The Department of War awarded Tucson-based Raytheon a $20.7 billion contract to produce Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), according to AZPM. The missiles are used by fighter jets and surface-to-air defense systems, and each costs about $1 million.
Marana breaks ground on wastewater plant expansion. On Sept. 22, Marana broke ground on an expansion that will double the capacity of its Water Reclamation Facility to 3 million gallons a day. The project is the second phase of a long-standing master plan, as the town works to keep up with rapid growth. Marana has operated the facility since acquiring it from Pima County in 2012.
Tucson Spotlight, Tucson Local Media
Valencia Road widening fully opens; Marana finishes Twin Peaks Road. The nearly 4-mile Valencia Road project between Kolb and Houghton roads fully opens today, according to the Regional Transportation Authority. The road is now six lanes, with drainage, bicycle, pedestrian and signal upgrades. In Marana, town leaders held a ribbon cutting Tuesday for the roughly two-year Twin Peaks Road Widening Project. The project rebuilt about 2 miles through Rattlesnake Pass into a four-lane divided road between Silverbell Road and the Saguaro Bloom development. Funding came from transportation funds and impact fees, with contributions from D.R. Horton and Pima County.
Aviation Parkway to close this weekend for 22nd Street bridge work. Aviation Parkway is scheduled to close in both directions between Broadway Boulevard and Golf Links Road from 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, to 6 a.m. Monday, Oct. 5. Crews will remove a section of bridge deck overhang as part of the 22nd Street Bridge Revitalization Project. The city said the schedule could change due to weather.
🎉 Community & Events
Rhythm and Roots concert series wraps up after 30 years. Jonathan Holden launched the Americana series in 1996, and Susan Holden has run it since his death in 2012. Three final shows will close it out. The Paul Thorn Band plays La Rosa on Oct. 23, followed by Riders in the Sky on Nov. 8. Steep Canyon Rangers close the series Nov. 22 at the Fox Tucson Theatre.
📢 What Your Officials Are Saying
Kevin Dahl (Tucson City Council, Ward 3). Dahl's office told constituents in its newsletter that it was correcting several election dates published in its Sept. 25 edition. The newsletter directed readers to the Pima County Recorder's Office for accurate information.
Selina Barajas (Tucson City Council, Ward 5). Barajas used her newsletter to invite residents to a two-evening grand reopening celebration of Santa Rita Park. She said the event would feature food trucks, music, games and family activities.
Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-CD7). Grijalva issued a release responding to the closure of public lands along the border for wall construction.
Gov. Katie Hobbs (governor, official channel). Hobbs announced an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation that her office said will preserve funding for Arizona's public universities.
Sen. Mark Kelly (U.S. senator). Kelly said in a release that he and Pappas have expanded their legislation to suspend the gas tax.
Sen. Ruben Gallego (U.S. senator). Gallego said in a release that the Senate passed his bipartisan bill to extend terrorism risk insurance, a program created after 9/11.
Campaigns. In the governor's race, neither the Katie Hobbs (D) campaign nor the Andy Biggs (R) campaign posted in the past 48 hours. In the CD6 race, neither the JoAnna Mendoza (D) campaign nor the Juan Ciscomani (R) campaign posted.
📍 Around Town
Dad Bod Pizza Rollz — New Food Establishment Permit. Dad Bod Pizza Rollz holds a newly listed Pima County food-establishment permit at 4501 W Van Buren, Phoenix AZ 85043.
Pakka Local — New Food Establishment Permit. Pakka Local holds a newly listed Pima County food-establishment permit at 3607 E Bell Rd, Phoenix AZ 85032.
🌵 The Desert Today
Heat: Sept. 28 high 80° (normal 92°, record 108°), low 71°. 77 days at or above 100° so far this year. Water: Lake Mead 1,037.9 ft on Sept. 28, down 19.4 ft in a year. Sky: air quality 32 (good), highest reading fine particles. UV index 3. Power: TEP demand peaked at 2,261 MW on Sept. 27, solar peak 553 MW.
Life in the Desert: the season against prior years, and the long record
⛈️ Weather — Tucson
Today: A slight (20%) chance of showers before 8 a.m., then sunny, with a high near 78. West-southwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. South wind 2 to 6 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 83. West-southwest wind 2 to 7 mph. Thursday night will be clear, with a low around 65.
Outlook: Dry, sunny weather settles in after the monsoon's final soaking. Highs warm to near 87 on Friday and Saturday, with overnight lows in the mid-60s.
NWS Tucson Forecast API
This brief was generated automatically by Claude Opus 5.5 from a review of 20 of 32 local sources fetched, at 6:03 AM MST on September 30, 2026, and published without human review. Every item links to its source. Read more about how this is made.
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