Daily Brief
October 24, 2026
Saturday
🚨 Public Safety
Trial date set for man accused of wounding 9 in downtown shooting. A judge set a May 3, 2027, trial date for David Leroy French, who is charged with nine counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and other offenses in a July shooting in downtown Tucson, KGUN reported. According to the interim complaint, multiple shots were fired after a verbal altercation, and Tucson police officers engaged French and took him into custody.
Man pleads guilty to manslaughter in fatal stabbing of cyclist on The Loop. Michael Francisco pleaded guilty Friday to an amended count of manslaughter, plus aggravated assault and resisting arrest, in a deal that resolves three separate cases. The charges stem from the September 2025 stabbing death of Enrique Mercado, 44, during a Tuesday Night Ride cycling club outing. KOLD reported that Francisco will serve seven to 10 years, with the term to be set at sentencing in December. KVOA reported that he faces up to 10.5 years and that Mercado's family is disappointed by the deal.
Court filings link teens to two Tucson gun store burglaries. As we reported Wednesday, juveniles were arrested in a southwest-side gun store burglary. Court documents obtained by the Arizona Daily Star now show investigators believe the same group of teens committed two crash-and-grab burglaries at Tucson gun shops this month. One was the Oct. 5 break-in at Elite Guns and Ammo, 150 S. Camino Seco, where a Hyundai Tucson rammed the front window. Authorities have not publicly linked the two cases, according to the Star.
🏛️ Government
Prop. 421 asks Tucson voters to renew TEP's franchise for 25 years. The measure would renew Tucson Electric Power's franchise agreement for another 25 years, Tucson Spotlight reported. It would also accept at least $2 million a year from the utility, about $64 million in total, for shade, tree planting and energy assistance for low-income households. The renewal would keep the current 2.5% franchise fee. The current agreement expires in April 2027, and the City Council voted unanimously April 7 to refer the measure to the ballot. Supporters say the measure ensures reliable power without raising rates, while opponents say it binds the city to a corporate utility for a generation.
Pima County seeks supervisors' direction on Old Tucson's future. County Administrator Jan Lesher sent the Board of Supervisors a memo outlining six strategic priorities for choosing a new leaseholder for the county-owned Old Tucson Studios, KGUN reported. The current leaseholder, American Heritage Railways, opted not to renew its lease, which expires in April. The priorities ask the board to weigh the property's future vision, its community, cultural and educational benefit, and its operating model.
STAR Village homeless encampment enters second year under new operator. Tucson's first sanctioned homeless encampment, Standing Together and Rebuilding Village, is now primarily operated by the nonprofit Old Pueblo Community Services after a yearlong pilot, the Tucson Sentinel reported. The site remains on city property on Grant Road and still receives some city funding. City officials expect few changes.
City survey on shelter zoning rules closes Sunday. The city said an online survey on where and how shelter care facilities can operate is open through Sunday, Oct. 25. Planning and Development Services is reviewing emergency shelter zoning rules with the University of Arizona's Drachman Institute in response to the housing and homelessness emergency the Mayor and Council declared in February. The city said no decisions have been made.
🎓 Schools
TUSD recommends closing Collier Elementary, its fifth proposed closure. Tucson Unified recommended closing Collier Elementary, 3900 N. Bear Canyon Road, and moving its students to Bloom Elementary, 8310 E. Pima St., about four miles away, starting in the 2027-28 school year if the governing board approves. Arizona Luminaria counts 10 schools so far named in closure-or-merger recommendations, counting both closing and receiving campuses. KOLD reported the district is expected to announce another recommendation each day through next week.
Arizona Daily Star, Arizona Luminaria, KOLD News 13, KGUN 9
🏗️ Development & Business
City to start five more RTA-funded pavement rebuilds in 2027. The City of Tucson plans to begin five more pavement rehabilitation projects in the first half of 2027, with Silverbell, Swan and Alvernon first, the Regional Transportation Authority said. Work on Irvington Road began in August and is due to finish in January 2027. The projects were approved by voters in the March 2026 RTA plan, and those funds may be used only to fully rebuild roadways.
Regional Transportation Authority
Pima County plans sidewalks, bike lanes and crossing signal on South Palo Verde Road. A stretch of South Palo Verde Road near Interstate 10 is scheduled for new sidewalks, bicycle lanes and a pedestrian crossing signal, KGUN reported. Pedestrians and bicyclists have been seriously injured in traffic collisions along the corridor.
5th Street goes eastbound-only Monday for paving. Starting Monday, Oct. 26, only eastbound traffic will be allowed on 5th Street between Country Club Road and Alvernon Way, KVOA reported. Crews will pave through Wednesday to complete this phase of the walkability project, and drivers should expect side-street closures.
🎉 Community & Events
Tucson Classic Car Show marks 20th year today. The 20th annual Tucson Classic Car Show takes place Saturday at The Gregory School off Craycroft Road. The show is the largest annual fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Tucson, and show chair Alan Rogers told KGUN it has raised more than $3 million for charities over 20 years.
📢 What Your Officials Are Saying
Gov. Katie Hobbs (governor). Hobbs' office said in a release that she is investing $16 million to address homelessness through expanded shelter and services.
Katie Hobbs (D, governor's race, campaign). Hobbs' campaign posted a roundup of a "Full Speed Ahead" campaign event in Phoenix. Andy Biggs' campaign did not post this week.
Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-CD6, officeholder). Ciscomani's congressional office issued a release honoring the life and legacy of former Sen. Jon Kyl. Neither Ciscomani's campaign nor that of Democratic challenger JoAnna Mendoza posted this week.
Kevin Dahl (Tucson City Council, Ward 3). Dahl's weekly newsletter urges constituents to prepare for El Niño winter storms, with sections on readying for rain and floods and preparing trees for high winds.
Paul Cunningham (Tucson City Council, Ward 2). Cunningham's newsletter addresses police activity on Camino Seco near 29th Street, which he says involved a World War II-era mortar shell a resident had purchased.
Miranda Schubert (Tucson City Council, Ward 6). Schubert's newsletter covers a Mayor and Council recap, the downtown street closure, Pima County 2027 bond updates and the CODE '26 review of parking standards.
📍 Around Town
Dutch Bros Coffee #AZ0906 — New Food Establishment Permit. Dutch Bros Coffee #AZ0906 holds a newly listed Pima County food-establishment permit at 170 S Houghton Rd, Tucson AZ 85748.
🌵 The Desert Today
Heat: Oct. 22 high 89° (normal 85°, record 96°), low 69°. 77 days at or above 100° so far this year. Water: Lake Mead 1,037.2 ft on Oct. 22, down 20.5 ft in a year. Sky: air quality 48 (good), highest reading fine particles. UV index 6. Power: TEP demand peaked at 2,095 MW on Oct. 21, solar peak 218 MW.
Life in the Desert: the season against prior years, and the long record
⛈️ Weather — Tucson
No active weather alerts.
Today: Sunny, with a high near 79 and temperatures falling to around 75 in the afternoon. Southwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. South-southwest wind 2 to 6 mph. Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 80. Northeast wind 1 to 7 mph. Outlook: Dry, sunny weather continues into next week, with a gradual warming trend. Highs climb to near 85 Monday and 87 Tuesday. Overnight lows run in the upper 50s to around 60.
NWS Tucson Forecast API
This brief was generated automatically by Claude Opus 5.5 from a review of 25 of 49 local sources fetched, at 6:03 AM MST on October 24, 2026, and published without human review. Every item links to its source. Read more about how this is made.
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