Imagine if Pima County (or the whole country) were vaccinated at 97.6 percent — the final vaccination rate of 2,100 county workers covered by a vaccine mandate. We are stuck imagining it, no matter the clear evidence that mandates work. Read more»

Pima County will soon terminate 51 employees who have refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19 — hundreds fewer than an earlier count of those who were not complying with a mandate. During a contentious meeting, Supervisors Christy and Heinz butted heads over COVID data, with Heinz, a doctor, declaring that "unvaccinated members of this community are actually killing people." Read more»

The Pima County Supervisors will hold their last meeting before unvaccinated employees are set to be fired. A citizen-inspired agenda item in Oro Valley hits the sweet spot of fewer regulations and more environmental protections. Read more» 1

Up to 200 Pima County employees could be terminated because they have refused to get their vaccinations against COVID-19, flouting a policy for those who work with vulnerable people. But 87% have complied, and more could turn in evidence they've gotten their shots. Read more»

With COVID-19 cases again spiking, Pima County Attorney Laura Conover announced Tuesday that she'll no longer be prosecuting many drug cases, to avoid potential exposures in the county jail. Cases that involve other felonies will still be brought, she said. Read more»

A Pima County sheriff's deputy, found shot in the head earlier this week, has died from his wounds, authorities said. Sheriff Chris Nanos announced the deputy's death in a short statement released Saturday, adding there is "no active threat" to the community. Read more»

A Pima County sheriff's deputy remains in critical condition after being found with a wound to the head Thursday near a church on Tucson's South Side. Sheriff Chris Nanos said there was no "threat to the community" and there were no suspects in the incident. Read more»

Pima County Sheriff's Deputies will be equipped with body-worn cameras after the county Board of Supervisors approved a 10-year contract worth $26.5 million for the devices, along with a program to buy new Tasers. Read more»

Mark Napier, the former sheriff of Pima County who lost a re-election bid last year, is returning to government work here with a top post overseeing emergency communications, elections and other departments. Read more» 1

If Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus, President Joe Biden’s pick to lead U.S. Customs and Border Protection, makes it to nomination hearings in the Senate, the law enforcement reformer will likely face an angry gauntlet of questioning from Republican senators. Read more»

After weeks of calling for National Guard units along Arizona's border with Mexico, Gov. Ducey announced he is deploying around 250 guardsmen in support roles, relegating them to runningcameras and helping at detention centers. The announcement took federal immigration authorities in Arizona by surprise. Read more»

Now that the lava is cooling we are left to consider weed, cash for schools, Pima County's deep Blue wave, what the country gets wrong about Arizona, and what the establishment struggles to understand about Latinos because apparently they haven't met any. Read more»

The Republican plan to wait until Election Day to cast ballots could cut the Achilles hell from the party's turnout operation. Trump is screwing all the Mark Napiers and Beth Fords from coast to coast with a crap-shoot move to create a confusing, chaotic election to save his own political skin. Read more» 2

"As your sheriff, my priorities will be more than just campaign promises. My priorities will help shape us as an agency and provide for a safer and better-served community." — Chris Nanos, Democratic candidate for Pima County sheriff Read more»

"As your sheriff, I have worked hard to bring to the department much-needed cultural and organizational change. We now have a strategic plan, a racial profiling policy, a specific plan for meaning law enforcement reform and are more engaged with the community." — Mark Napier, running for re-election as Pima County sheriff Read more»