Buckmaster: Economic gap growing in Tucson

Federal officials said they will consider a plan by Arizona and five other Colorado River basin states on how to further cut water consumption, even though the biggest user in the basin – California – has not signed off on it. Read more»   

The city of Tucson will reimburse $4 million in tax revenue to American Battery Factory and $300,000 to Sion Power if both companies create dozens of manufacturing jobs with the new factories they'll building during the next five years. Read more»   

Arizona Senate Republicans passed a “skinny budget” Wednesday afternoon that merely extends much of the $18 billion budget passed last year for another 12 months, despite Gov. Katie Hobbs saying that she intends to veto it if it reaches her desk. Read more»   

Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels told a sharply divided House committee Wednesday that drug trafficking and illegal immigration is getting worse and that it’s affecting the safety of residents in his border county. Read more»   

Dozens of PE, arts and music and other teachers across 16 Tucson Unified School District elementary and middle school campuses may be out of jobs at the end of the year, as officials shift spending plans for remaining federal pandemic relief funds. Read more»   

As mobile homes continue to be displaced by development across Arizona, a bipartisan bill would increase allotments dispersed by the Mobile Home Relocation Fund, and increase the amount the landlord must pay to the fund for each tenant filing for relocation assistance. Read more»   

The Arizona Corporation Commission approved a natural gas rate hike on Jan. 10, in part because of misrepresentations of the intent of consumer advocates involved in the process that public records show Southwest Gas helped organize. Read more»   

Journalism is best when pursued with purpose. As an independent mission-driven nonprofit, the Tucson Sentinel.com tackles our community's biggest issues. We shine a light on this town because we love it. Read more»   

With less than a month to go before schools are forced to cut $1.4 billion from their budgets, Arizona lawmakers took the first step towards addressing the problem on Tuesday — although some made sure to say they had reservations about doing so. Read more»