Arizona News

Fraud and loathing in Pima County
Arizona News, IG, News, Pima News, Politics, Top Stories

Fraud and loathing in Pima County

The Pima County Courthouse in downtown Tucson. (Michael Barera/Wikimedia Commons License) By JOSHUA BAILEYPima Post Last year, Pima County suffered a loss of nearly $43,000 due to a fraudulent account that used county taxpayers' funds, as per a fiscal report by the state's Auditor General released in March. The report stated the account was created by an employee of a construction company contracted by the county, and the procurement department failed to obtain a tax form to change the account's log-in credentials for an online money transfer service, leading to the loss. The audit report also highlighted issues with the county's verification procedures and recommended measures such as staff training and creating a monitoring system for vendors. The report further revealed ...
Pima student named for All-U.S.A. Academic Team also gets a $25K Scholarship
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Pima student named for All-U.S.A. Academic Team also gets a $25K Scholarship

Kira Okuma is acknowldged for her success after being named to the All-US and All-Arizona academic teams. (Photos courtesy PCC Community Relations.)Kira Okuma (Photos courtesy PCC Community Relations.) By QUENTIN S. AGNELLOPima Post One Pima Community College student has proven her academic skill, compassion and determination.  Kira Okuma, 25, has not only been chosen to be a part of the All-U.S. Academic Team. She has also been named one of the seven students to be in the All-Arizona Academic Team. Through this, they have been each rewarded with a scholarship worth $25k. “After shaking off the shock, I felt gratitude for every moment of kindness,” Okuma said in a recent e-mail. Only seven students are chosen to receive this award, and only 20 students in the nation...
<strong>Pima Theatre Presents Cabaret this November, Nov. 10</strong>
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Pima Theatre Presents Cabaret this November, Nov. 10

Pima Theatre’s Cabaret, Nickole Custodio (Sally Bowles)Pima Theatre’s Cabaret, Kendall Hicks (Kit-Kat dancer)Pima Theatre’s Cabaret, (left to right) Nickole Custodio, Timi Post, Julia WatersPima Theatre’s Cabaret, Nickole Custodio (Sally Bowles)Pima Theatre’s Cabaret, (left to right) Nickole Custodio, Timi Post, Julia Waters Pima Arts Press Release Tucson, Arizona—Pima Theatre presents Cabaret, book by Joe Masteroff, based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood, music by John Kander, and lyrics by Fred Ebb. This production is directed and choreographed by Mickey Nugent, with music direction by Martha Reed. Set in Berlin during the Jazz Age as the Nazis are ascending to power, the musical focuses on the nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub, and Ame...
The souls go marching on
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The souls go marching on

All Souls ProcessionWhen: Sunday, Nov. 6The procession starts at 6 p.m.Where: On North Grande Street between West Speedway Boulevard and West Ontario StreetProcession Guidelines Community members walk in Tucson's All Souls Procession on Nov. 6, 2011. (StellarD under license) By QUENTIN S. AGNELLOPima Post As a resident of Tucson, I have participated in the All Souls Procession. It is a display of beauty and reverence that comes only once a year. The idea of the tradition is to honor the ones you loved and cared about who have died. Many people gather to walk with the images of their dearly departed. To people who know about Dia de Los Muertos, this is a familiar concept. The origin of this event falls on one person. According to the All Souls website, an independent arti...
Two weeks notice: midterm election looms, here are your AZ debates
2022 Midterm Election Cycle, Arizona News, IG, News, Politics, Top Stories, US News

Two weeks notice: midterm election looms, here are your AZ debates

This combination of photos shows Arizona Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters, left, and Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., before a televised debate in Phoenix, Oct. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)Members of the media watch Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, left, and his Republican challenger Blake Masters, right, during a debate in Phoenix, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)Republican Senate challenger Blake Masters smiles on stage prior to a televised debate with Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly and Libertarian candidate Marc Victor in Phoenix, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, left, smiles as he stands on stage with Republican challenger Blake Masters, right, prior to a televised debate in Phoenix, Thursday, Oc...
A ‘coward’ and a ‘conspiracy theorist’ walk into a bar and ask for your vote
2022 Midterm Election Cycle, Arizona News, News, Politics, Top Stories, US News

A ‘coward’ and a ‘conspiracy theorist’ walk into a bar and ask for your vote

Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake arrives to a former President Donald Trump rally, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs speaks at a roundtable event in Phoenix, Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. Hobbs announced Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, that her office's review of signatures turned in a week ago to refer the expansion of the state's private school voucher law to the ballot came up short of the nearly 119,000 that were needed. Hobbs is a Democrat running for governor who opposed the plan. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Pima Post The Citizens Clean Elections Commission sponsors statewide and legislative debates. This Arizona election cycle has not lacked drama. Much of the dramatics were stirred up over the gubernatorial...
BRIEF: former Tucson insurance agent sentenced for ‘elder fraud’
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BRIEF: former Tucson insurance agent sentenced for ‘elder fraud’

The DOJ announced Wednesday that Tucsonan Koreasa Maria Williams, 47, was sentenced on Sept. 30 after defrauding an 80-year-old client of over $1 million. Williams then used those funds in an effort to avoid criminal charges stemming from a previous annuity fraud scheme she was running. Williams' sentence includes 136 months in prison and requires restitution to be paid to her victims. This sentence will run concurrently with a 51-month sentence for her earlier annuity fraud scheme. More details are available in the full press release from the DOJ.
Meredith Scott and Angelina Amparano sweep ACCAC Player/Goalkeeper of the Week honors
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Meredith Scott and Angelina Amparano sweep ACCAC Player/Goalkeeper of the Week honors

Freshman midfielder/forward Meredith Scott (Walden Grove HS) and sophomore goalkeeper Angelina Amparano (Salpointe Catholic HS). (Photos by Stephanie van Latum) Freshman midfielder/forward Meredith Scott (Walden Grove HS) and sophomore goalkeeper Angelina Amparano (Salpointe Catholic HS) swept the ACCAC Player/Goalkeeper of the Week honors for the week of Oct. 3-9. Scott had a goal and two assists while Amparano had seven saves in 152 minutes logged at the net. The Aztecs play at Cochise College on Tuesday. Pima Community College women's soccer players Meredith Scott (Walden Grove HS) and Angelina Amparano (Salpointe Catholic HS) earned recognition for their efforts during the week of Oct. 3-9. Scott, a freshman midfielder/forward, was named ACCAC Division II Player of the Wee...
After a beloved Tucson sunset, the dark night rises
Arizona News, Pima News, Science, Top Stories

After a beloved Tucson sunset, the dark night rises

A time-lapse of the skies above Kitt Peak on October 13, 2021. (Courtesy Pandreve under license) By QUENTIN S. AGNELLO Something that most Tucsonans notice is that we have a starry night sky.  However, you may be surprised to know that the darker skies are a direct ordinance by the City of Tucson.  The International Dark-Sky Association, a group working to preserve starry night skies, writes that a 2012 lighting ordinance is responsible for our clear skies.  The ordinance, or Lighting Code as titled by the City of Tucson, states its intentions clearly in Section 101: “The purpose of this code is to preserve the relationship of the residents of the City of Tucson, Arizona, and Pima County, Arizona, to their unique desert environment through protection of access to ...
Pima College adding travel rider to cover out-of-network services, namely abortion
Arizona News, Health, News, Pima News, Politics, Top Stories

Pima College adding travel rider to cover out-of-network services, namely abortion

Pima College announced Monday that it is in the final stages of adding a travel rider to the college's plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona that will cover $5,000 of expenses tied to travel and lodging to receive covered services that they are unable to receive locally. Terminating a pregnancy is not the only service covered by the new insurance coverage, although it was the focal point of the announcement from Chancellor Lee Lambert. Phil Burdick, Vice Chancellor of External Relations, was able to give us additional details that weren't included in the email announcement sent college-wide Monday. The services are expected to be available beginning October 1. Pima college had 2,368 employees at the end of the pay period ending on September 9. Slightly fewer than half of al...