Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInTUCSON (13 News) - A crash shut down part of Avra Valley Road early Monday The crash involved just one vehicle and forced the closure of Avra Valley between Trico and Garvey roads The PCSD says two people suffered life-threatening injuries after a vehicle went off the road and hit a power pole They were taken to a local hospital for medical treatment Be sure to subscribe to the 13 News YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@13newskold The Mesa man suspected of killing a man and leaving his burnt remains in car northwest of Tucson in 2015 was found guilty of murder on Thursday was arrested on suspicion of killing 57-year-old Curtis W Oliver in desert area near Avra Valley in August 2015 Detectives determined he committed the act with Deanna Huber drove Oliver's car to the remote area north of Avra Valley Road while directing Huber to follow in Oliver's mother's car A cyclist reported the pair was driving in the area and a strong smell of decomposition coming from the car driven by Huber Firefighters later found the remains in the vehicle burnt down to the frame "Evidence showed that Oliver had been wrapped in duct tape and baling wire and covered with a tarp and a mattress cover before the fire," the attorney's office said Huber was sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty to one count of abandonment of a dead body in April 2018 Aukerman's sentencing date has yet to be scheduled Contact Star reporter Shaq Davis at 573-4218 or sdavis@tucson.com Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community was stolen from the UA Museum of Art in 1985 Indictment: He obtained taxpayers' information to file more than 200 false tax returns Thirty plus years and thousands of kids later the dream persists a 17-year veteran currently employed with the Tucson Police Department bomb squad unit hits two homers in 8-0 victory at Hillenbrand Stadium A man was critically injured after exchanging gunfire with a Tucson police officer around 2 a.m Grant and Alvernon intersection was closed for several hours while detectives investigated  A former Ironwood Ridge High School assistant volleyball coach was found not guilty on numerous felony charges for sexual conduct with a minor… A two-vehicle collision has closed northbound State Route 77 at Graham Street A man suspected of shooting at a police officer during a traffic stop on Sunday was previously convicted in the 2013 shooting deaths of two Tu… A Sierra Vista woman was fatally struck by a vehicle Wednesday while crossing State Route 90 near Rainbow Way in Sierra Vista Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device The westbound lanes of I-10 are closed near Avra Valley Road in Marana due to a deadly crash according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety DPS says a pedestrian attempting to cross the highway was hit by several vehicles The Marana Unified School District says the crash may delay transportation for all Marana Schools Avra Valley Road is also closed in both directions between Trico and Garvey according to the Pima County Sheriff's Department The sheriff's department says it is a serious single vehicle crash Report a typo TUCSON, A.Z. — Two people are dead after a plane crash in Arizona, according to News10NBC’s affiliate, KVOA News4 Tucson between two small planes happened at 11700 West Avra Valley Road Wednesday morning The Marana Police Department is at the scene along with the FAA and NTSB Marana Police posted the following update to their Facebook: and will be updated once more information is available Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public file should contact Richard Reingold at rreingold@whec.com or 585-546-1701 (KGUN) — A plane crashed in a Marana neighborhood Tuesday morning but what caused the crash is still under investigation Federal investigators will spend a lot of time examining the plane and questioning the pilot to explain why the plane went down on Crooked Peak Trail People caught video of the plane flying low and erratically over the neighborhood Orencio Diaz-Gonzales looked up from his work and wondered what was up with that plane “It just was flying really low and I saw everything It did like a cartwheel and we didn’t hear no more engine noise so we figured it crashed.” The plane landed nose-down between two houses designed for agriculture work like seeding and crop dusting Federal aviation records show the plane was built almost 50 years ago but it had passed recent inspections For something as dangerous as a plane crash The officers did contact the pilot of the airplane They also contacted the occupants of the two homes that were on each side of the airplane Most of the investigation shifts now from Marana Police to the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA They often take many months to analyze the crash and decide if any lessons learned should lead to new safety rules (13 News) - A 2-year-old drowned in the Marana area on Tuesday The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said it happened at a home in the 10100 block of North Avra Vista Drive The PSD said the young child fell into the pool and was found unresponsive minutes later The victim was transported to a local hospital but they passed away Get your morning recap of today's local news and read the full stories here: tucne.ws/morning A small plane crashed between two homes in Marana early Tuesday in an Avra Valley neighborhood near West Lambert Lane and Quarry Road Marana Police and Northwest Fire District remained on scene No details about the crash had been released late Tuesday morning No one was injured early Tuesday when a small plane crashed in a Marana neighborhood A pilot program allows federal and local law enforcement agencies to work together to seek federal weapons charges against local defendants wh… A deputy was shot in the leg in August as he chased a man linked to a domestic violence incident southwest of Tucson The fatal pedestrian crash happened Saturday night near West Speedway and North Stone Avenue used social media to coordinate smuggling efforts along the Arizona-Mexico border Eric Schumeister is accused of using his pickup truck to purposely run down Michael Guillen after the pair argued on a vacant dirt lot on Tucs… Two people were killed in a two-vehicle crash Sunday night on Tucson’s northeast side No one was injured in a Monday night fire that tore through a midtown Tucson house The 60-year-old pedestrian was killed after being struck by a vehicle early morning last Friday on Tucson's south side (KGUN) — Two single-engine fixed-wing planes collided midair at the Marana Regional Airport Wednesday morning around 8:30 a.m. A press release from the town says four people total were on the two planes Two people in a Lancair 3600 were killed in the crash KGUN 9 was on-scene following the story throughout the day The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FAA are investigating KGUN 9's Craig Smith provides insight into the type of plane involved in the crash and the investigation that will take place: The plane destroyed in the crash was a Lancair 3600 It’s a kit plane but that does not mean it’s unsophisticated It’s a very modern design made mostly of composite materials like carbon fiber and fiberglass The Lancair 3600 has a reputation as a high-performance plane best left to a highly experienced pilot Investigating this sort of plane crash is a little similar to the way police might investigate a fatal car wreck They will look at the wreckage and probably pull some of it into a lab for close analysis look for any camera that may have caught the crash a crop duster crashed into a Marana neighborhood in October the NTSB has just a preliminary report with just a few details A final report is still pending and probably several months away KGUN 9's Marana reporter Madison Thomas has an update on the plane crash: Marana Airport superintendent Galen Beem issued the following statement: “On behalf of the Town of Marana and the Marana Regional Airport our hearts go out to all the individuals and families impacted by this event and we are grateful for the swift response from the Marana Police Department and Northwest Fire District.” READ FULL TOWN OF MARANA STATEMENT I fly out of this airport often, including just a few days ago. My thoughts are with everyone involved and their families. My team and I are tracking this incident as we await more information. https://t.co/r9kfr4mfhO the two planes in Marana collided in midair Two people were on board the Lancair and two others were on board the Cessna 172 Helicopter footage from Scripps News Group shows the Cessna intact: UPDATE 11:12 a.m.: Marana Police have now confirmed two dead in the plane crash involving two planes this morning at Marana Regional Airport UPDATE 10:25 a.m.: Marana Police have confirmed that two planes were involved in the crash and both were occupied according to KGUN 9 reporter Blake Phillips A crash has occurred at Marana Regional Airport KGUN 9 has confirmed with airport personnel According to a social media post by Marana Police Department MPD refers to the crash as an "aircraft collision." KGUN 9's Blake Phillips has learned from the Town of Marana that this was a plane crash Viewer-submitted photos show smoke in the direction of the airport: Breaking: We are getting reports of a small plane crash at Marana regional airport. We have a crew on the way and are working to confirm more details. These photos were taken near the airport by Justine Brent. @kgun9 pic.twitter.com/UHu7aFBQUj KGUN 9's crew on scene is working to learn more about the nature of the crash and whether injuries have occurred Marana reporter Madison Thomas previously reported in November about project delays to the airport's air traffic control tower RELATED | Air traffic control tower project at Marana Regional Airport has new deadline after project delay and KGUN 9 will update this article when we learn more on this breaking news MARANA, Ariz. (KGUN) — A new section of the Chuck Huckelberry Loop officially opened to the public on Saturday A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the new CalPortland Loop connection at the Gladden Farms Soccer Fields to celebrate the connection’s opening after the years of work that went into making the project a reality The entire loop system now connects to North Marana with the roughly 1.5 mile connection which runs from about Avra Valley Rd to the Gladden Farms area The majority of the funding for the $4 million project came from Town of Marana impact fees with $670,000 coming from the Pima Flood Control District The National Weather Service has issued dust storm warnings for Pima County on Aug A wall of dust was along a line extending from near Picacho to 11 miles east of Santa Rosa to 7 miles southwest of Kitt Peak The weather service warns of less than one-quarter mile visibility with strong wind in excess of 40 mph This includes State Route 86 between mile markers 110 and 135 A wall of dust also was along a line extending from near Picacho Peak State Park to 13 miles south of Avra Valley to 14 miles southeast of Kitt Peak The weather service warned of less than a quarter mile of visibility with a strong wind in excess of 40 mph This included the following highways: Interstate 10 between mile markers 217 and 236; State Route 86 between mile markers 110 and 154; State Route 286 between mile markers 18 and 45 For the latest watches and warnings, see our weather alert page A "haboob" typically occurs in Arizona during monsoon large dust storms can occur across the state as high winds pick up loose dust "Haboob" is an Arabic word that translates to "big a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Phoenix and former linguist Terminology: When did we start using haboob to describe dust storms in Arizona The Arizona Department of Transportation has helpful tips for drivers who may get stuck in a dust storm while driving Stay Alive" campaign aims to save drivers from dangerous situations by providing tips to survive a blowing dust event This article was generated by The Arizona Republic and USA TODAY Network using data released by the National Weather Service The Pima County Board of Supervisors has asked Gov Katie Hobbs to re-think her hands-off stance on the proposed route for Interstate 11 near Tucson Supervisors voted 4-1 last week for a resolution to oppose an interstate route that it says would “go through the Avra Valley which would put a huge gash through the Sonoran Desert add hordes of noisy pollution-spewing cars and trucks promote thirsty and energy-consuming new commercial and residential development while destroying wildlife habitat and severing wildlife-movement corridors.” The board has “formally opposed” a highway route through Avra Valley “and other sensitive areas” since 2007, most recently in 2021 The route that the Arizona Department of Transportation recommends parts ways with I-19 north of Green Valley with the road then heading west around Tohono O’odham land near San Xavier before it cuts north adjacent to Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park It also runs directly through what’s known as the Tucson Mitigation Corridor The road is supposed to be part of a link through the state between Mexico and Canada The latest maps from the state Transportation Department show a route through Avra Valley as the “recommended alternative.’’ The agency says no final decision has been made The board’s vote, according to Board Chair Adelita Grijalva, was prompted by statements Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs made to Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services earlier this month Hobbs told Fischer that while she is not surprised that environmental groups have taken the state to court over plans for Interstate 11 she won’t intercede on the location of the new highway near Tucson “One of the most important (concerns) in looking at it is that when they looked at the justification for this .. it’s the traffic for the understaffed ports of entry,” Grijalva told her colleagues on June 18 “The last time this was considered was several years ago without taking into account some of the other multimodal transportation facilities (and) those things that have been expanded since.” was formerly a board member and chair of the Arizona State Transportation Board He told fellow board members last week that “there were significant reasons” for ADOT’s choosing the proposed route “In addition to the excessive use of trucks and semi’s on I-10 and the damage they were doing to the road as well as the congestion and unfortunately to the high rate of accidents along I-10 this was designed to be a bypass where they had these semis routed outside the area,” Christy said last week it had something to do with air pollution and things of that nature as well and it also expedited the commerce and free trade and the free access to unfettered roadways.” Christy shared two “issues” he had with the board’s opposition to the I-11 route: the ability for present-day highway construction to be “sensitive” to wildlife and the environment; and his desire to keep Pima County and southern Arizona “at the table” when it comes to transportation issues in the region Supervisor Rex Scott said supporting the resolution did not mean opposition to the overall I-11 project Supervisor Matt Heinz pushed for the resolution to include alternatives like high-speed rail through the Phoenix-Tucson corridor Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter The city council has canceled on a special election this summer that would have asked Tucson voters to establish a new sales tax Louis Taylor is seeking damages against the city and county for years he spent in prison after being convicted in the 1970 Pioneer Hotel fire.… Tucson's new budget keeps free transit fares going and gives city employees a minimum 1.5 percent raise But the outgoing city manager warned … Professional hockey's Tucson Roadrunners are here to stay in Southern Arizona after the Tucson mayor and council unanimous… Arizona has the go-ahead to immediately take $115 million from an opioid settlement to balance the budget A judge dissolved a temporary restr… the city will focus on Tucson's  underserved communities that lack trees for shade and are especially affected by … Two men were found dead Monday of gunshot wounds on the Tucson area's far northwest side in a suspected murder-suicide Deputies found the bodies of Daniel Kellogg to a report of a suspicious death in the 5000 block of North Blacktail Road the Sheriff's Department said in a news release The area is near West Manville and North Trico roads in the Avra Valley Detectives found a revolver near the men and learned in their investigation that the two had not been seen since Jan and no further information will be released at this time," the news release said Get your morning recap of today's local news and read the full stories here: tucne.ws/morning Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email The man was killed in a shootout after he ran away while being taken into custody for suspicion of driving impaired who had been in the trailer's sleeper unrestrained according to the state Department of Public Safet… The 29-year-old man ran from officers as he was being arrested on suspicion of DUI James Galvin was found dead at the site of a plane crash near Picacho Peak according to the Pinal County Sheriff's office PCSO received a call early Saturday morning from a hiker who witnessed the single plane crash The aircraft was occupied by only the pilot DPS Ranger 2 and Avra Valley Fire are working on recovery efforts The scene will be turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration Picacho Peak State Park is closed until further notice due to this incident Updates about the park’s closure and reopening will be provided at the state park website (KGUN) — A plot of more than 70 acres of land in Avra Valley once served as a popular spot for people to ride ATVs the out-of-state property owner and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department are starting to enforce trespassing laws the landowner has been receiving citations due to piles of tires this is costing the property owner and Pima County money to clean up," Lieutenant Stephen Carpenter with the Pima County Sheriff's Department said Bill Campbell lives out of state and helps manage the property “The cost has been finding people and paying them to clean it up," Campbell said Campbell and the ownership group allowed the off-roading activity on the land they've owned for twenty years But with the population in the area growing the land is a popular spot for illegal dumping Everything from beer to bed springs are scattered around the lot “There’s been a plastic doll house dumped," Carpenter said The Sheriff’s office says fines for illegal dumping can get as high as $750 and criminal trespassing can be punished with up to four months of jail “It’s been decades that people have been able to use this land and it’s going to be a shock to them they can’t use it anymore," Carpenter said "But the property owner has rights and we want to help him assert those.” Lieutenant Carpenter says they don’t plan on citing anyone in April for trespassing as it will be an educational period “The easiest thing to do is for everyone to respect it as private property "Please use the beautiful areas the county makes available for off road vehicles.” (KGUN) — A crash on I-10 near Tangerine closed two of the three lanes Marana Police Department says this is a fatal crash Crews on scene say traffic is backed up to Avra Valley MPD says people should avoid the area and the investigation remains ongoing AZ — A pilot is dead after a small plane crashed near the top of Picacho Peak Saturday morning Pinal County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call shortly before 7:30 a.m from an individual stating they had seen a plane crash near the top of Picacho Peak Officials identified the victim as James Galvin of Oro Valley Do you have a concern in your community or a news tip Connect with us: share@abc15.com Facebook | Instagram | YouTube Department of Public Safety and Avra Valley Fire crews are working on recovery efforts The NTSB and FAA will investigate the incident (KGUN) — The Pima County Sheriff's Department is now prohibiting neighbors from partaking in recreational activities — or even walking across — a major desert stretch near Avra Valley The new enforcement goes into effect on Monday Deputies say the 70-acre patch of land west of Musket Rd has been used by residents for decades to go off-roading the owner of the land received several fines due to illegal dumping on his property Only those with permission from the land owner will be allowed in the area Those in the general public who are caught trespassing on the property could face a citation or even a misdemeanor PCSD Tucson Mountain District Commander Lt understands that this may be a big adjustment for many "The sudden change of people not being able to access this property is going to be a big shock.. we as an agency don't want to just slam our fists down and start writing people tickets and arresting them," Lt PCSD is holding a press conference on Monday the department will work to educate neighbors about the new regulations surrounding the area The Arizona Department of Transportation's latest report on possible Interstate 11 corridors includes three options through Pima County An ADOT spokesperson said the I-11 Alternatives Selection Report was shaped by public comments received at public meetings and via other means The three corridors listed for further study include one that uses portions of interstates 10 and 19 One involves a new route west of Tucson through all of Pima County and the last splits off of I-19 near Sahuarita and joins I-10 near the Pinal County line "This is the time where the study team really takes all of that input and we continue to listen to the public," said Laura Douglas questions — and that's part of our meetings summary report that we've published And we'll continue to have those conversations moving forward." Two Tucson-area meetings featured strong opposition to plans to build a new interstate through Avra Valley. "We heard a lot of input during our May public meetings," said Douglas "We heard a lot of conversations during that time about what Interstate 11 should or should not look like and that has allowed us to forward to prepare for the next step which is the draft environmental impact statement." The draft environmental impact statement is due for release in the summer of 2018 with public input meetings to follow in fall of 2018 The report can be viewed here. the Tucson Sentinel publishes our stories without a paywall We believe a healthy community depends on everyone having access to quality independent journalism we're committed to providing real reporting to all Southern Arizona residents A single story can cost us thousands of dollars to report – some take months & months of dogged digging others require paying for tall stacks of records that officials don't want to provide Some mean driving to remote corners of Pima County & some see our reporters sitting through endless government meetings to make sure they get the whole story & not just a quick headline Our award-winning newsroom has some of the best reporters and we're dedicated to getting the story right Our pioneering effort (we were one of the very first local nonprofit news outlets in the entire country) to rebuild local journalism will only work if enough people join our Watchdog Club community of paying members Please join today for as little as $15/month For those who can't afford to contribute right now, please sign up for our free Watchdog Update newsletters & help the spread word about the Sentinel to your friends Your contributions help the Sentinel sustain & grow our nonprofit newsroom & bolster our commitment to delivering the important independent news our community needs to thrive The Tucson Sentinel is published by Tucson Investigative Reporting Center Inc. we're committed to providing real reporting to everyone in Southern Arizona But a single story can cost us thousands of dollars to report – some take months and months of dogged digging and some see our reporters sitting through endless government meetings to make sure they get the whole story and not just a quick headline Our pioneering effort to rebuild local news will only work if enough people join our Watchdog Club community of paying members For those who can't afford to contribute right now, please sign up for one of our free Watchdog Update newsletters and help the spread word about the Sentinel to your friends A smarter Tucson is a better Tucson — and the Sentinel shines a light on this town because we love it Tucson Sentinel's independent nonprofit newsroom is an award-winning journalism pioneer that learns from & informs Southern Arizonans about the community challenges & unique culture of our Borderlands. © 2009-2025 TucsonSentinel.com Tucson Sentinel's independent nonprofit newsroom learns from & informs Southern Arizonans about the community challenges & unique culture of our Borderlands. Emergency crews are on the scene of a two-vehicle crash involving three people in the area of West Avra Valley and North Sanders Road Marana police are investigating a crash on the northwest side of town that left two people seriously injured Tuesday morning but three people were injured in the two-car collision at West Avra Valley and North Sanders Road Northwest Fire paramedics transported two of the patients to the hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries and the third patient was also taken to the hospital but emergency vehicles on the scene are causing heavy traffic due to slowing Contact reporter Caitlin Schmidt at cschmidt@tucson.com or 573-4191 Follow @caitlincschmidt Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter Southbound Campbell Avenue at Grant Road to re-open Cause of the crash is currently under investigation Incidents reported to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and Tucson police Deanna Johnson of the Pima County Sheriff's Department special investigations division speaks about the investigation bighorn sheep can cross from range to range without too many obstacles the transportation department built highways on the outskirts and development followed the new roads in a cycle that repeated and built on itself Phoenix metastasized into the monstrosity it is that way Now the Arizona Department of Transportation is recommending construction of I-11 a new interstate highway running in part west of the Tucson Mountains It would also roughly parallel I-10 all the way to Wickenburg It’s meant to facilitate international trade as part of the long-imagined Canamex Corridor it would also cause development along the rural corridor including the area between Saguaro National Park and Ironwood National Monument we need to look at these proposals differently than we did last century The United Nations report on extinctions around the globe released last week just as ADOT was conducting hearings on the proposed interstate The figure that most news outlets highlighted is that 1 million of around 8 million known species are in danger of extinction over the next decades That means we’re on the verge of causing a mass extinction This affects not just the extinguished species but every creature that interacts with it — that eats it or is eaten by it for example — with effects rippling outward along the web of life pollinators disappear and can no longer fertilize food crops The leading cause of extinctions is both obvious and important: Changes in the way people use the land and the sea We’re making it ever harder for other species to survive as human numbers grow and we dig into every cranny of land and plunge into every nook of the oceans Avra Valley is not an untouched wilderness and semi-rural on the southern end near Arizona 86 where suburban development has happened west of the Tucson Mountains It’s a place for them to thrive and a corridor where deer bighorn sheep and other creatures can cross from mountain range to mountain range without too many obstacles a resident of the rural western stretch of the valley for 15 years low-impact human home there has caused changes “Just our living on this land has already been destructive Call attended a hearing last week in Tucson, one of two held in the area by ADOT on the proposal that followed the release of an environmental impact statement in April. The Arizona Department of Transportation is also accepting comments online at i11study.com The department emphasizes that while it is exploring a 2,000-foot corridor for the new interstate the actual highway alignment would only be 400 feet wide This suggests it would actually be quite narrow in a valley five miles wide in some stretches the plan would include several strategies intended to mitigate the interstate’s impacts such as installing seven wildlife crossings in the stretch between Sahuarita and Marana But this minimizes the magnitude of what would really occur if I-11 were built A research category known as “road ecology” has shown how new highways have much broader effects than just the breadth and length of their path each exit would likely become a node of development The 400-foot-wide road would quickly expand its impacts outward in multiples said Carolyn Campbell of the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection She was one of the leaders who helped push passage of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan in 1998 The plan was intended to protect wildlife habitat and limit sprawl in Pima County two of which might be affected by the proposed I-11 if it’s built in Avra Valley “This would devastate (habitat) connectivity,” Campbell told me “The conservation plan didn’t necessarily stop sprawl The freeway would absolutely contribute to sprawl.” The majority of people who have commented on the proposed I-11 route west of Tucson have opposed it the Pima County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution against it City of Tucson officials have expressed concern both over the diversion of travelers from Tucson proper and the construction of the freeway near the city’s water-recharge basins The Arizona Game and Fish Commission has come out in opposition and the National Park Service has expressed concern But an I-10 bypass through Avra Valley seems to have a momentum of its own It has long been envisioned for accommodating growth Tucson attorney and civic activist Si Schorr told me He supported the idea when he was on the state transportation board 10-plus years ago The 2008 recession seemed to have killed the idea off But now the bypass idea has combined with the Canamex Corridor to revive the dream “The economy will continue to grow,” Schorr said “We’re not going to see the elimination of truck or automobile traffic in the next 40 to 60 years There is an alternative: ADOT could widen I-10 through Tucson to accommodate the trade corridor but that would lead to some neighborhood destruction The department eliminated the idea of stacking freeways on top of each other as too expensive and inadequate for the corridor concept The department could also pick the “no-build” option and do nothing special to accommodate international trade Congestion on I-10 likely would increase some while a portion of trade would be diverted to other corridors that are faster The logic for building a freeway through Avra Valley is clear enough when the spread of cities could be something to celebrate and the threat of a mass extinction was not looming over us I think of an especially shocking piece of data from the U.N report: The biomass of all wild mammals on Earth has declined by 82 percent This is mostly because we’ve wiped out their habitat We’ve got to draw the line and stop killing off nature somewhere Avra Valley seems like as good a place as any to start Contact: tsteller@tucson.com or 807-7789 The proposed 280-mile highway is planned for mostly undisturbed sections of the Sonoran desert Kevin Howard's troubled childhood led to an adulthood of military adventures most recently fighting with Syrian militias Four officeholders and experts say there are practical things the federal government can do to handle the Central American migrant flow With charges against student demonstrators dropped unanswered question is how to deal with immigration agents on campus A 50-year-old substitute teacher in Cochise County was arrested for allegedly assaulting a student Friday afternoon Interstate 11 may be helpful in moving business traffic from Mexico through Arizona but it does nothing to help the burgeoning snarls that Tuc… Brutal text messages from an agent accused of civil-rights violations only tell part of the Border Patrol's story Federal prosecutors insisted they were bringing a case against Scott Warren but it was really just an exertion of authority Tucson has tapped into a new vein of volunteerism that could benefit legacy charities for the homeless over the long term Opposition to Interstate 11 continues to grow among Avra Valley residents.  The Avra Valley Coalition has recently obtained records from the Arizona Department of Transportation that show two potential routes for the proposed highway that would connect Wickenburg to Nogales.  About 50 homes and businesses in the Avra Valley area will be effected along at least one of the routes Avra Valley Coalition member Christopher Johnson says one of the routes goes right through his home on Avra Valley Road.  MAP: See where Interstate 11 goes through your land The Avra Valley Coalition has created the interactive map with the proposed routes ADOT says I-11 is needed for population and employment growth Johnson says expanding Interstate 10 would be a more viable option and would preserve existing homes ADOT is expected to release which route I-11 will take.  (KGUN) — Two people were taken to the hospital with serious injuries after a head-on crash Friday morning Northwest Fire says two vehicles were involved in the collision at Avra Valley Rd Crews say one victim had to be extricated from their vehicle Pima County Sheriff's Deputies say the road will be blocked so drivers can expect delays PCSD advises those traveling in the area to find alternate routes Crews on scene with @PimaSheriff of a two vehicle head-on collision at Avra Valley Rd and Longview. One victim had to be extricated from their vehicle. Two people transported in serious condition. Please avoid the area as the road get cleared. pic.twitter.com/o5J05ZZZ7A One person died in a house fire in Avra Valley early Monday One person died and another person injured in a house fire on the northwest side early Monday The Avra Valley Fire District responded to a house fire at about 3:30 a.m The fire consumed the house and several vehicles outside firefighters found one person dead inside the home Another person from the home was sent to the hospital to be treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation The resident was in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries The name of the person who died was not released The cause of the fire is under investigation with the Pima County Sherriff’s Department Arson Investigation Unit and fire investigators from the Northwest Fire and Golder Ranch Fire districts A gofundme page has been started to raise money for the surviving resident of the burned house She is described as being a retired police officer who is active in the Avra Valley community The popularity of portable electric machines have increased as energy bills have soared The Guatemalan woman arrested in the Arizona desert will be given the choice taking her newborn — a US citizen born Wednesday at Tucson Medica… An undocumented Mexican man who has lived in Tucson for almost 15 years was arrested by immigration agents outside St agency staff cuts and efficiency improvements are still under review VA Secretary Doug Collins said Monday i… University of Arizona announces departure of senior vice president for health sciences says health sciences colleges will now be under the provost The Guatemalan woman apprehended south of Tucson was initially facing expedited deportation and the choice to take her newborn — a US citizen … (KGUN) — After she went missing on Wednesday morning 14-year-old Nichole Hyatt was found safe on Friday at approximately 10:30pm in Virginia PCSD said she is currently in the process of being returned to her family PSCD said Hyatt was reported missing from her home near Springfield Road in Avra Valley Her family and friends have organized search parties since Wednesday (13 News) - Authorities have identified the woman killed in a train-vehicle crash in Marana late Friday The Marana Police Department said Ema Gallego died at the scene after crashing into a moving train The MPD said it happened on the frontage road between Tangerine and Avra Valley around 8:15 p.m — Marana Police is investigating a deadly crash involving a train and a vehicle at the Avra Rd and westbound frontage road railroad crossing off I-10 Police have identified the driver of the vehicle as 54-year-old Salvador Bustamante and the passenger as 26-year-old Alonzo Abeyta the driver and passenger in the vehicle were killed in the collision Marana Police say the vehicle was a pickup truck that belongs to a subcontracting company working in the area MPD say the truck did not stop for the stop sign at the railroad crossing Stay with KGUN9 and KGUN9.com for more information Marana Police originally reported that the vehicle was a truck associated with TEP William Peachy said he's studied saguaros since 1997 including a very unique one growing north of Tucson When KGUN 9 recently shared a photo of a saguaro taken by Sean Edwards and shared to the Arizona Photography Group it caught the attention of Peachy and he reached out to share the backstory of "Shiva" the saguaro in Avra Valley with 78 arms Its name references a Hindu god often depicted with many arms "Probably something to do with one of the hormones in the cactus that control that kind of stuff." He said people who are aware of it have dubbed it 'Shiva.' Shiva is a healthy and happy saguaro that could be around for long time if it isn't disturbed "This could be going on for another hundred years or so Following the attention given to "Shiva" due to Sean's photo other KGUN viewers have shared photos of many-armed saguaros they have seen in southern Arizona If you have a photo of an unusual saguaro that you would like to showcase in our newscasts Human remains were found in the trunk of a car that burned in northern Avra Valley on Sunday Pima County sheriff's deputies responded to the fire in the desert near Waterman Mountain Road the vehicle was no longer burning; however there were a few hotspots that needed to be extinguished," Suitt said in a news release Firemen from the Avra Valley Fire Department put out the rest of the blaze and opened the truck of the car at the deputies' request A severely burned body was found in the trunk An autopsy will be conducted to help in identifying the body PCSD's homicide and arson units are investigating anyone with information on the case should call 911 or 88-CRIME A Century of Impact is a 192-page hardbound treasure celebrating NPCA’s first 100 years of protecting America’s national parks Saguaro National Park's special qualities are threatened by proposed Interstate 11 this freeway would be only a short distance from the park's visitor center Avra Valley is a biologically rich area with significant protected open space and wildlife linkages It is located between Saguaro National Park and Tucson Mountain Park on the east and Ironwood Forest National Monument and the Tohono O'odham Nation on the west The valley also contains the Santa Cruz River lands managed by the Bureau of Reclamation and open space owned by Pima County A new interstate through all of these protected lands would be devastating and irreversible Most of the residents in this rural area do not support this freeway segment part of a larger plan to create a new freeway from Mexico to Canada New interstates bring with them new development None of these things are needed in this area; and all of them endanger the natural resources and visitor experience at Saguaro National Park Can we count on you to attend one of these public meetings to speak up for the park and voice your opposition to any interstate alternative through Avra Valley WHAT: Public Meetings on Alternative Selection for Interstate 11 through Avra Valley May 3 – Marana Middle School Cafeteria the Federal Highway Administration and YOU QUESTIONS: Contact me via email (kdahl@npca.org) or phone (520.603.6430) OTHER INFO: This is an open house-style meeting with a presentation at 5:15 p.m followed by a Q&A session with agency officials and consultants “The president’s proposed budget plan is beyond extreme our national park system would be completely decimated." - Theresa Pierno unrealistic and destructive National Park Service budget a President has ever proposed in the agency’s 109-year history It’s nothing less than an all-out assault… "Rather than supporting our park staff during this challenging time further straining an overwhelmed Park Service." - Kristen Brengel The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that a single propeller aircraft made a crash landing on Pump Station Road in the Avra Valley area near Tucson Sunday One man and one female whose age is unknown were in the plane when it crash-landed. Both escaped the incident without injuries Pima County Sherriff’s Department spokesperson The roadway will be closed between Avra Valley Road and El Tiro Road while the Sheriff's Department investigates No further information was immediately available The area is known for its parachuting and aerial recreation Reach breaking news reporter Michael McDaniel at michael.mcdaniel@arizonarepublic.com or at 480-469-3144. Follow him on Twitter @themikemcdaniel Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Geologists are warning about the ongoing threat of fissures in the Earth’s crust in Avra Valley near Marana and other parts of Southern Arizona Earth fissures are large cracks that develop underground and eventually break open at the surface Researchers say they are caused by pumping groundwater in rural areas and the cracks can turn into geologic hazards for residents in the dry valleys of the state keep water from getting into it," said Michael Conway with the Arizona Geological Survey you can perhaps keep the fissure from growing larger.” Fissures can be 15 feet wide and dozens of feet deep in some locations The Geological Survey is making fissure planning maps available free on its website. Click here When it comes to creating policies that will preserve Arizona's water supply Ducey said he wants to see stakeholders work together on long-term solutions "We want to see the state speak with one voice regarding water," Gov That type of collaboration is already visible in Tucson Water's efforts to conserve what it's allotted from the Colorado River Most of that water can end up collecting in one of 20 sprawling basins that stretch across hundreds of acres at two sites The Southern Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Project (SAVSARP) and the Central Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Project (CAVSARP) play a critical role in restoring water to Southern Arizona's aquifers the water makes its way 300 feet down to the water table," Tucson Water spokesman Fernando Molina said "It gives us the ability to store water over the years." Tucson pumped groundwater at a rate faster than aquifers could naturally recharge the basins have become a conservation tool for cities outside of Tucson "This is Colorado River water that they can't use today they don't have it later in the future," Molina said "We worked out an agreement with them where they will store extra water in our recharge facilities at no cost to us." Molina estimates the basins recharged more than 127,000 acre-feet of water back into the ground – roughly enough liquid to create a column that would span a football field and reach 24 miles high Storing water this way puts Tucson at an advantage when planning for potential shortages along the Colorado River the utility is also developing other conservation techniques "Rainwater and stormwater for decades has been dealing with it as a nuisance Molina said Tucson Water is in the process of updating its 50-year water plan That includes reassessing information related to the long-term availability of water from the Colorado River the utility will continue to help other communities store excess Colorado River Water at its SAVSARP and CAVSARP facilities so it can be pumped out and delivered for use when it's needed "The advantage to the region is they stop pumping their groundwater wells And we begin to see the water table rise when that happens," Molina said Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInElaina Berlick (Source: Pima County Sheriff's Department)Troy Bethell (Source: Pima County Sheriff's Department)TUCSON AZ (Tucson News Now) - The Pima County Sheriff's Department recovered thousands of pieces of stolen property in a major burglary bust on the northwest side last week Deputies found the items in an Avra Valley home following a relatively routine traffic stop Dozens and dozens of pieces of stolen watches even some precious coins from all over the world were among the items There are personal items that been taken from people's homes when an older-looking pickup was photographed leaving the scene of a burglary near River Road and La Cholla The northwest-side victim told her friends to be on the lookout for a silver-colored Nissan with no plates On March 3 they found it near Ina Road and Thornydale and called the police "Inside their vehicle during the traffic stop 24 was located  that she was able to identify,” said Detective Hans Goritz of the Pima County Sheriff's Department 29-year-old Troy Bethel and girlfriend Elaina Berlick were subsequently arrested on stolen merchandise and prohibited possessor charges Detectives served a search warrant on the couple's home in the 10700 block of North Wasson Avenue in Avra Valley "Sitting in the living room on one of the shelves was this tray of watches," Goritz said holding at least 20 time pieces of various makes and designs even the makings of a professional chop shop these were the parts from it," Goritz said pointing to the door of green Grand Cherokee and family heirlooms that money alone can't replace were found at the scene That is why authorities want the public to take a close look at everything there "I don't know who that gentleman is," Goritz said while holding a World War II era photo of an unidentified Navy man "But I'd sure like to find out who he is or who his family is so we can get these items back to them." burglary victims are asked to come to PCSD's Property and Evidence Building at 1600 E Benson Highway to recover their lost items They will need to bring a police report outlining their stolen property serial number or picture of the property may work as well but they will need to call ahead and make arrangements.