Sun Tran avoids strike as Tucson rolls out safety plan
Sun Tran avoided a strike after its contract expired June 30 without a deal, as Tucson moves forward with a $2.15 million transit safety plan funded by the voter-approved RTA Next measure.
Region
News about Pima County, Tucson, South Tucson, Oro Valley and Marana.
Marana, Oro Valley adopt divergent 2026-27 budgets
Marana adopted a $560.2 million budget driven by capital projects, while Oro Valley passed a leaner $128 million budget and narrowly approved a new 2.5% use tax on local businesses.
Pima County SNAP households cut in half by federal bill
Pima County SNAP households have been cut nearly in half since July 2025, as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act strips food and health care eligibility from veterans, children and thousands of other residents.
Pima County's proposed budget adds $58 million in spending
Pima County's proposed 2026-27 budget would increase spending by $58 million, directing most of the boost toward public safety and infrastructure, as supervisors debate employee raises and rural road funding.
South Tucson directs Pascua Yaqui gift to public safety
South Tucson's City Council voted to direct a $1 million Pascua Yaqui Tribe donation toward police operations and crime prevention programs, as community members pushed the city to invest in prevention alongside enforcement.
Tucson violent crime spikes as temperatures rise, data shows
Tucson violent crime rose nearly 18% during the hottest months of 2025, according to Tucson Police Department data, as researchers and local death records point to a consistent link between rising temperatures and increased aggression.
Arizona lawmakers keep Rio Nuevo funding, add oversight
Arizona lawmakers dropped a plan to redirect $19 million from Tucson's Rio Nuevo district, instead adding accountability language requiring 80% of district spending to go toward sales-tax-generating projects.
Tucson residents push for stricter data center rules
Tucson residents who spoke at a June 3 Planning Commission hearing on proposed data center regulations said the rules don't go far enough, as the city works to get ahead of large-scale data center development.
Oro Valley approves water rate hike, $128M budget
The Oro Valley Town Council approved a 3.6% water rate increase and a tentative $128 million budget for fiscal year 2027 at its June 3 meeting, while also receiving an unofficial warning of a potential 20% cut to the town's Colorado River water supply.