Good afternoon. Tomorrow it will be sunny with a high of 73°, and a chance of showers overnight. On Thursday it’s expected to clear up in the afternoon, with a high of 64°.
🌵 The Border Patrol is struggling to keep up with the surge of migrants fleeing to escape cartel violence.
Agents are being reassigned from other postings to deal with what is being called an “all hands on deck” situation. The town of Sásabe, Sonora is becoming a “ghost town” as residents flee cartel violence. Many migrants are forced to cross the border in remote areas through gaps cut in the Trump administration’s border wall. Once in the U.S., they must either wait to be picked up by the Border Patrol, or hike long distances to turn themselves in.
- Tucson Sentinel: Border Patrol moves agents from checkpoints & training to manage ‘surge’ of migrants in S. Az
- Arizona Daily Star: Cartel violence empties border town, sends residents fleeing to Arizona
🌵 Whiplash over a potential Prop 413 recount continues, as the Tucson city council seeks advice from the state.
The proposal to increase salaries for the mayor and city council members passed by less than 0.5%, which would ordinarily trigger a recount under state law. City attorney Mike Rankin said he believes that law does not apply to this specific type of local ballot measure. Nevertheless, he is sending a letter to the Arizona secretary of state and attorney general asking for advice.
🌵 Magic mushrooms are taking one step closer to legalization in Arizona.
The Arizona Department of Health Services will begin accepting applications for clinical trials that study the use of mushrooms to treat everything from mental illness to long COVID symptoms. A state law authorizing the trials requires the FDA to approve them as a prescription drug before they would be allowed for widespread use.
🌵 The city of Tucson may use new technologies to go after illegal street racers.
The city council is expected to again take up the topic of illegal street racing at a meeting today. Up for discussion is an arsenal of tech solutions, including cameras, license plate readers, gunshot detectors, a mobile speed enforcement van, and encrypted police radios. Officials still need to figure out a way to pay for the plan, which could cost $1 million.
🌵 Lastly, a baby zebra is on the way at Reid Park Zoo.
Anna, the zoo’s female Grevy’s zebra, is pregnant and expected to deliver her foal in early 2024. The zoo also welcomed a mature female zebra named Zuri, who is expected to help Anna once the baby is born. This will be Anna’s third foal with Ben, the zoo’s male zebra.