The Aspen Fire in 2003

Leroy Day and his wife, Jeanne Mayer, both firefighters with the Mount Lemmon Fire Department, rebuild their home in 2004 after the Aspen Fire. In the background is their neighbor's home. Many homes along North Ajo in Summerhaven were destroyed by the Aspen Fire.

Arizona sales-tax revamp advances; mayors opposed

PHOENIX - Rebuffing the concerns of mayors from around the state about lost revenues, a Senate panel voted Wednesday to sharply revamp how sales taxes are assessed and collected.

Race is on to tidy downtown in time for gem-show crush

City employees work in the rain to install rails for the new modern streetcar along South Granada Avenue, which lies just west of the Tucson Convention Center. As of Thursday, Granada had only one lane of traffic in each direction.

Race is on to tidy downtown in time for gem-show crush

This is the scene on South Granada Avenue as it approaches an underpass at Interstate 10. The road is a key artery for visitors to gem shows along the frontage road and the convention center.

Race is on to tidy downtown in time for gem-show crush

City officials say crews have been working overtime in an effort to get the streetcar construction completed before the gem shows. Business owners have complained that the work is a threat to their livelihoods.

Race is on to tidy downtown in time for gem-show crush

Tick tock. Tick tock. Streetcar crews have just seven days to transform chaotic construction zones downtown to pristine condition before the start of Tucson's gem-show season.

Road runner: Stepped-up widening work coming to Orange Grove

Pima County's transportation director is fond of saying that if you left Tucson's northwest side for a few years and came back recently, you wouldn't recognize the place.

Glenn closed near Craycroft

Action Pipeline Contractors' Joel Valenzuela, right, works on draining the line that needs to be repaired. Water was pumped from this spot to a manhole in the middle of the street. Motorists are advised to use East Grant or Fort Lowell roads while repairs are made.

Glenn closed near Craycroft

Action Pipeline Contractors' Joel Valenzuela, right, works on draining the line that needs to be repaired. Water was pumped from this spot to a manhole in the middle of the street. Motorists are advised to use East Grant or Fort Lowell roads while repairs are made.

Glenn closed near Craycroft

East Glenn Street is closed on Tucson Medical Center's north side after a waterline broke and caused a sinkhole.

Glenn Street closed near TMC after water line break

East Glenn Street is closed between North Craycroft Road and North Wyatt Drive today after a water line broke and caused a sink hole.

Road runner: Streetcar construction chugs on, to become less disruptive

We're 300 days into the 475-day streetcar construction calendar.

City, county in big holes in keeping streets fixed

Local transportation directors know streets are in bad shape, but the challenge is how to fix them with an ever-shrinking pot of money.

Walmart construction hard on other stores

The new Walmart Neighborhood Market at Thornydale and Ina roads has disrupted parking for neighboring shops and restaurants.

Walmart construction hard on other stores

Business owners at the northwest corner of West Ina and North Thornydale roads hope a new Walmart Neighborhood Market will help draw customers to the intersection.

Construction is progressing on Kino-22nd St. project

Dirt is flying on the Kino Parkway-22nd Street intersection project.

Construction is progressing on Kino-22nd St. project

Traffic headed south on Kino Parkway approaching 22nd street is squeezed by road construction. Improvements will widen 22nd Street to three lanes in each direction and provide a grade-separated interchange at the Kino-22nd Street intersection.

Streetcar work to be done by 4th Ave. fair's opening

Workers gauge track before concrete is poured at Fourth Avenue and Eighth Street. The project should be finished a few days before the Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair opens Dec. 7.