The plan for Tucson schools is to use "local norms" to place students in GATE programs. It's grading on a district-wide curve to expand diversity in advanced classes. Plus, Flowing Wells voters may have another school override election in their future, and more in local gov't meetings this week. Read more»

Tucson looks like it's coming out OK in a draft RTA Next plan, with 24 of 37 projects slated for the region's urban core. Plus, Pima County dives into initial appearances and Buffalo Soldiers, and more in local government meetings this week. Read more»

Water, trash, space and a big old "I told you so" headline this week's agendas of the Tucson City Council and Pima County Board of Supervisors. Plus more in local government meetings this week. Read more»

The IDEA beat in 2022 reported on Southern Arizona, Pima County and Tucson during a time of shocking violence in the community, the end to COVID-19 measures and funding and an important midterm election. Read more»

A combination of city and county incentives would help land an American Battery Factory plant in Tucson — with a forecast of 1,000 jobs at a $1.1 billion plant. But the deal might remind some of the World View situation. Read more»

The Tucson City Council is set to vote Tuesday on paying City Manager Mike Ortega $300,000 per year, but the they're being needlessly shifty about it. Plus a plethora of other local government meetings this week. Read more»

The Tucson Unified School District is mulling whether to outsource math instruction at middle and high schools to combat a teacher shortage. Elevate K-12, a Chicago virtual instruction company, is offering to fill 24 vacancies and save the district almost $1 million. Read more»

Classes started on Monday at the Vail Unified School District with 188 new teachers hired for the this academic year Read more»

Tucson city staff will ask for an informal nod to move to start working with 190 families who owe $135,000 in back rent, while local school district budgets are set for adoption after state runs late on its spending plan. Read more»

Sales tax revenues can ride a fiscal rocket during good times. Amphi, Vail and Catalina Foothills schools rely on property tax revenues and miss out on the windfall. Plus more in the Sentinel's roundup of what's on the agendas for local government meetings this week. Read more»

Catalina Foothills-area voters are likely going to be in a position to decide whether to continue a 13 percent increase in school funding above the state expenditure limit. Read more»

Pima County is revisiting COVID-19 public health policies, including vaccine requirements and sick leave for government workers, as the number of weekly cases of new infections among area residents continues to decline. Read more»

The Tanque Verde and Catalina school district governing boards will vote on a pair of November ballot questions aiming to raise more money. Read more»

Pima County Supervisors Matt Heinz and Steve Christy — hardly a buddy movie in the making — both have questions about how the county's former top executive was able to retire with no one knowing. Read more»

The Tucson City Council will look at possible revisions to the Commercial Water Harvesting Ordinance, plus whether to take part in a renewed RTA and a "livable wage" also up for votes. Local school districts haven't yet turned in their meeting homework. Read more»