Streetcar ready for riders next summer

Although beset by countless delays, the company building Tucson's streetcars said it's on target to have all eight cars delivered by late March next year.

Incentives yield results

What a difference a year makes.

Coming Sunday: Tucson's business incentives analyzed

What a difference a year makes.

Expect frank talk at sex-trafficking forum

With the Cleveland kidnapping case grabbing headlines nationwide recently, as well as sex-crimes closer to home, the Ward 6 Office will hold a sex-trafficking forum to inform parents and youths of the existing dangers and how to avoid them.

Many unhappy with city's statement of goals

A little-known state mandate that cities adopt a new general plan every 10 years is causing some residents' blood pressure to skyrocket.

Expect candid talk at Tucson sex-trafficking forum

With the Cleveland kidnapping case grabbing headlines nationwide recently, as well as sex-crimes closer to home, the Ward 6 Office will hold a sex trafficking forum to inform parents and youths of the existing dangers and how to avoid them.

15 firms rush in to run city golf

As the community temperature spiked over the possibility that Grand Canyon University would replace El Rio Golf Course, and some city officials questioned why any contractor would want to take over running city courses, 15 companies were submitting bids to do exactly that.

Public vote sought to rein in city pensions

A citizens group hopes to dramatically alter how the city provides retirement benefits for its employees. And it's trying to bypass the City Council to do it, by putting the issue on the November ballot.

Tucson supports Vail's bid to incorporate

Tucson officially supports the residents of Vail, should they form Pima County's newest municipality later this summer.

Web portal to list immigrant services

Immigrants will soon have a one-stop shop to get in touch with city services.

Tucson City Council OKs two gun laws to give police a hand

The Tucson City Council passed two new firearms regulations Wednesday night aimed at giving police additional tools when investigating gun crimes.

El Rio Golf Course dropped as possible site for Grand Canyon University

The city's El Rio Golf Course is no longer being considered as a new home for Grand Canyon University.

Pension liabilities worry city bond-rating agency

There's a mixture of good news and bad news with the city's recent report card from the Fitch rating agency.

City Hall adds metal detectors, police officer

The public will have to jump through a few more hoops before accessing City Hall in the near future.

City hires TUSD lawyer as new deputy city manager

It didn't take the city long to fill departing Deputy City Manager Liz Miller's position.

'Lithomosaic" streetcar art is installed

Fourth Avenue got a little more colorful this week. A crew from Progressive Hardscapes installed the first piece of the $765,000 streetcar art project between Sixth and Seventh Streets along Fourth Avenue.

Tucson eyes change to partnership registry to allow couples to record contracts they've made

Same-sex couples could receive greater legal recognition if the Tucson City Council approves proposed changes to its domestic-partner registry.

Council approves$1.272B budget

The Tucson City Council voted unanimously on final adoption of next year's $1.272 billion budget. But not before getting an earful from frustrated city employees over disproportionate pay increases.

Tucson's deputy city manager, Liz Miller, steps down

There's a job opening in the Tucson City Manager's Office.

Magazine honors Tucson's fleet division for efficiency

The folks who keep the wheels turning on city vehicles are being recognized as being among the best in the nation.

Travel Channel, website put us in top 10 of cycling cities

Tucson has been reaffirmed as a top-10 bike-friendly destination by two national media entities.

Buehler-Garcia tries again to take Uhlich's Ward 3 Tucson City Council seat

Republican Ben Buehler-Garcia is taking another shot at capturing the Ward 3 City Council seat.

Challenger files for Ward 5 council seat

The first challenger to an incumbent Tucson City Council member filed his nominating petition signatures Tuesday.

Talks continuing on El Rio future for Grand Canyon University campus

The Tucson City Council voted 5-2 after a closed-door session to continue discussions with Grand Canyon University over building a new campus on El Rio Golf Course.

City pay raises balloon to $11M

Pay raises the City Council thought would total $5.3 million when it approved them last month are now going to cost taxpayers $11 million a year.

Tucson shortfall leaves lots of questions, few answers

About three dozen residents packed into the Ward 6 conference room Monday evening to air their frustrations about city government and raise questions about the proposed budget.

Tucson budget, planning is focus of Monday forum

For weeks the Tucson City Council has squabbled over the budget.

City offers freebies to those filling out construction permits

Applying for a new-construction permit is about to get a lot more exciting.

Firehouse allegation costs Tucson $125,000

The City Council has agreed to pay $125,000 to settle a sexual harassment claim filed by a former Tucson Fire Department paramedic.

El Rio golf course planned as new Grand Canyon University site

Tucson's El Rio Golf Course appears to be the leading contender to become the home of a new campus of Grand Canyon University.

City to double parking rate downtown to $1 per hour

If you drive downtown, you'll be paying double to park at a meter - once downtown streets are re-opened enough for anyone to drive there and reach a parking meter.

Tucson City Council complains it wasn't told full cost of city raises

City budget planners downplayed the actual costs of the city's recent pay raise after the City Council voted to approve it.

Assess penalties for late streetcars now, some council members say

While city workers are taking a wait-and-see approach toward collecting damages for late streetcar deliveries, some City Council members say it's time to hit Oregon Ironworks in the pocketbook.

Tucson paying $4M and counting for company to oversee delayed streetcar construction

Tucson is paying a consultant more than $4 million to monitor construction of its streetcars in Oregon - and repeated delays at the factory are expected to push that figure even higher.

Penalties just $5K in work-theft case

Two former Transportation Department supervisors who diverted nearly $100,000 of taxpayer money into their private business will have to reimburse the city only $5,000 a piece.

Tucson Water awards $408,000 contract to former agency officials

After the longtime caretaker for the city's 22,459 acres of retired farmland in Avra Valley and his supervisor both retired, Tucson Water officials opted to outsource the work to a private contractor.

City paid almost $10K for gun buy

Tucson Police Department records show just under $10,000 was spent on 42 police officers who worked at Councilman Steve Kozachik's gun buyback event last January.

All staffers for city to get raise of 55¢/hour

After a heated debate, the Tucson City Council voted 4-2 to include a 55-cent-an-hour raise for all 4,918 employees in the next budget, effective no later than Jan. 1, 2014.

Zoo hauls in water after break in line, but animals are safe

Visitors to the Tucson zoo could face long lines looking for a sip of water or access to the lone functioning bathrooms for the next couple of days after a waterline broke Monday.

Tucson activist's school supplies to counter McClusky's shotgun plan

A Tucson activist is spearheading a campaign to purchase school supplies for kids who live in the same neighborhoods slated to receive free shotguns.

Sam's Club builders sue Tucson over canceled land sale

The developers who wanted to build a now-scuttled south-side Sam's Club have sued the city for reneging on a deal to sell them the land for the project.

Life-size nude dancers in bronze finally adorn 4th Ave. underpass

Rome has Michelangelo's "Pieta." Paris has Rodin's "Thinker." And now, Tucson has two nude dancers.

Raises for city employees pitched

The Tucson City human resources director is proposing a 55-cent-an-hour across-the-board pay raise for city employees as part of next year's $1.269 billion budget.

Pima County closer to suing Tucson over courthouse waterline

Pima County got the green light to take legal action against the city for hundred of thousands of dollars of what it considers excessive construction costs for a waterline to the new county courthouse.

Rio Nuevo board approves contracts for Tucson Convention Center 3D scans, design advice

Rio Nuevo took the first, formal steps Monday toward fixing up the dilapidated Tucson Convention Center.

Many in mental crisis call Tucson police

Tucson Police Department receives more calls about mental illness than about burglaries or stolen cars.

Tucson City Council looking to cut public-safety pensions costs

With Tucson police and fire pension costs expected to jump 20 percent next year, to $42 million, the City Council voted Tuesday to create a task force to search for ways to scale back on the costs.

Pima County faces $11 million claim over Valencia Road project

A local developer has filed a claim for about $11 million in damages against the county over what he says is a politically motivated breach of contract.

Tucson to county: Streetcar stop downtown will stay put

City of Tucson officials have put their Pima County counterparts on notice that a streetcar stop being built atop a county sewer connection is staying put - and if the sewer line breaks, the county will be expected to pay all repair costs.