Good afternoon. Friday should be almost as mild as Thursday, with a high near 74°. Temperatures will creep up a little more this weekend. Expect a high of 77° on Saturday and 80° on Sunday.
🌵 The votes from Tuesday’s elections are almost counted.
Still up in the air is a proposition to raise salaries for the mayor and city council members, which was passing by 601 votes as of Thursday afternoon. Earlier results saw Regina Romero reelected as mayor, while voters chose Democrats to fill three city council seats. All school-related propositions appeared to pass. Vail residents handily voted down a proposal to incorporate and form the town of Vail.
- Pima County Recorder’s Office: 2023 Consolidated Election
- Arizona Daily Star: Raises for Tucson mayor, council inch forward in latest vote count
🌵 Environmental groups are opposing a new Border Patrol access road that cuts through endangered habitats.
The federal government plans to repair and build out 13 miles of dirt roads southeast of Arivaca. The road cuts through the habitat of at least 10 threatened and endangered species, including jaguars. A “mystery jaguar” was spotted in the nearby Huachuca Mountains earlier this year.
- AZPM: Environmental groups raise concerns over proposed border road impact on endangered jaguars and critical habitat
- AZ Lumaria: First photos of mystery jaguar spotted in Southern Arizona Huachuca Mountains
🌵Reid Park Zoo officials outlined their response to three cases of bird flu.
Three birds at the zoo tested positive for avian influenza, including a king vulture that died. The zoo’s two aviaries are temporarily closed and zoo staff are continuing to test for more cases. Bird flu does not normally transmit to humans, according to the CDC.
🌵 Digital QR codes may soon make it easier to recycle plastic.
New QR codes are coming to plastic packaging that can be scanned with a smartphone to reveal whether something can be locally recycled. Tucson is among the municipalities supported by the software. The city recently started accepting additional plastics for recycling that can be turned into construction-grade building blocks. Materials for these “ByBlocks” must be dropped off in special dumpsters located throughout the city.
- KOLD: Recycling plastic is about to get easier
- AZPM: Plastic waste into construction blocks: Tucson strives for zero-waste model
- ByFusion: Tucson is blocking plastic waste for good!
🌵 Lastly, the Dusk music festival is happening this weekend.
If you’re not planning to check out any acts, it may be best to avoid downtown if you can. Streets will be closed around the main library and Jacome Plaza through Sunday at 6:00 p.m.