Get your morning recap of today's local news and read the full stories here: tucne.ws/morning An armed man was shot and killed by Oro Valley police Monday night inside Tohono Chul Park when officers were at the closed park to check on a report of gunfire in the area Officers encountered the armed man during a search of the private 49-acre property west of North Oracle Road near West Ina Road an officer involved shooting occurred," the release said "he shooting resulted in one male subject being shot." Officers at the scene rendered first aid until fire crews arrived the multi-agency unit that investigates local police-involved shootings The Pima County Sheriff's Department is the lead agency in the probe Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email A 45-year-old man who was driving a pickup truck that was struck on Tucson's southeast side has died days after the wreck For Star subscribers: Protest encampments on university and college campuses in Arizona could soon be outlawed under legislation being sponsor… A man injured in an April 17 crash on Tucson's east side has died days later prison officials and advocates say Inmate Ricky Wassenaar went on a methodical killing spree at the state pr… A 39-year-old man died Saturday night after an apparent street fight on Tucson's south side A 33-year-old man died Friday after a confrontation on a Tucson bike path A 39-year-old woman faces a variety of charges in connection with a trailer fire earlier this month in Sierra Vista in which a person died No one injured Tuesday when Tucson police say a man fired a gun inside Tucson Mall A 39-year-old motorcyclist was killed Sunday night in a head-on crash on Tucson's east side The former agent was convicted of taking money to let load vehicles through the Interstate 19 border checkpoint south of Tucson Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInTUCSON (13 News) - A suspect is dead after an officer-involved shooting near Ina and Oracle roads in Oro Valley Monday The Oro Valley Police Department said the shooting happened at the Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens which is located at 7366 North Paseo Del Norte The OVPD says officers were called to the area for a report of gun shots heard in the area of the park the responding officers contacted a male who was armed the suspect was declared dead at the scene No officers or other community members were hurt Tohono Chul said it will be closed on Tuesday due to the incident “We appreciate your patience and understanding during these unexpected circumstances,” the business wrote in a Facebook post The Pima Regional Critical Incident Team has been called in to investigate the shooting as is normal for all officer-involved shootings in southern Arizona PRCIT is comprised of investigators from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department the University of Arizona Police Department and the Tucson Airport Authority Police Department PRCIT was formed in 2022 to be an independent law enforcement agency to take the lead in criminal investigations of critical incidents involving member agencies That includes shooting and in-custody deaths Monday’s incident was the second shooting involving law enforcement in southern Arizona this year On April 11, an Arizona DPS trooper fatally shot a woman after she charged at him with a large knife. Be sure to subscribe to the 13 News YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@13newskold (KGUN) — One man is dead after Oro Valley police say an officer-involved shooting occurred at Tohono Chul Park Monday evening Oro Valley Police Department's (OVPD) Public Information Officer (PIO) a call came in reporting gunshots heard in the park the responding officers contacted a man who was armed The shooting resulted in one male subject being shot Officers on scene rendered first aid until relieved by fire personnel," Wright said The unidentified man was declared dead at the scene Wright says the Pima Regional Critical Incident Team responded to the scene and the Pima County Sheriff's Department will take over as the primary agency of the investigation no officers or other community members were injured in the incident and there is no ongoing threat to the community Report a typo Andrés Cano seems like the frontrunner for the District 5 seat on the Pima County Board of Supervisors — but beware frontrunner status Plus: Oro Valley looks to change up its planned town center new Santa Cruz judges and more from government meetings around Tucson this week The Pima County Board of Supervisors is moving fast to replace Adelita Graijalva who stepped down to seek her father's seat in Congress Six applicants have thrown in their lots to sit on the board which is a pretty cushy gig at an annual salary of more than $96,000 The smart money is on former state lawmaker Andrés Cano. He's worked in the District 5 office, under former Supervisor Richard Elías trying to establish a new progressive power center representing a new generation of leaders and maybe it's time for him to take his place among leadership in Tucson Pima Community College Governing Boardmember Karla Morales looks like a dark horse if Cano can't get the votes A word of caution to the "smart money." Actually, two names of caution: Elías and Ray Carroll Elías wasn't in anyone's top tier of candidates to replace Raúl Grijalva when the former supervisor declared his run for Congress. Elías ran the county's housing department impassioned speech on behalf of the working class and found himself on the Board She had been Tucson Unified School District's Governing Board president Except, Grijlava nominated Carroll. There was a 2-2 vote on the board and it was broken by then Clerk of the Board Lori Godoshian — and thus Carroll was on the board The local Republican Party threw a hissy fit Carroll appointed his old friend Scott Egan as his staff guy and Egan had been a member of the Communist Party but you gotta know Egan He can at once be a Democratic Socialist and an old school Tea Party Republican and he somehow makes it work Sugar Ray won over the GOP and even charmed the Democrats Just remember the old wisdom about papal succession: He who enters the conclave a pope Each supervisor can have their favorite candidate but none get to three votes So the obvious candidates can be eliminated in a game of "Screw my person So don't sleep on engineer Cynthia Abril Sosa Ontiveros county employee Kimberly Baeza or retiree Richard Hernandez Raul Grijalva's death prompted the vacancy Adelita Grijalva had held her dad's old Pima seat and resigned to take a shot at his congressional one After the vote to fill the District 5 seat the plan is for the winning candidate to be immediately sworn into office and take the dais during the meeting The last two times a seat came up to be filled supervisors asked that the applicants commit to not seeking a full term Voters are the only people who should be able to confer the advantages of incumbency to any county officer We don't want to go back to the time when the supervisors picked the three of five board members and half the row officers. That's the voters' job The Tucson City Council approved a notice of intent to raise water rates by hiking the price charged to county residents who get city-supplied drinking water The county hates this idea and will vote on a resolution condemning the hike the county resolution includes 13 "WHEREASes," just to enumerate all the reasons they are angry before the resolution gets to "be it resolved." A Maricopa County judge ruled the city didn't base the new rate on any hard evidence so the Council put their shoulders into a big study which justified raising rates now even more than they tried to do four years ago cities are far better equipped than county governments at providing urban services It's smart to do things like differential water rates to encourage annexation I was under the impression that the water delivery system was doing OK not known for high water tables and flowing rivers Sometimes I think the city and county do things to one another with joy in their hearts about how much it peeves the other side More than half of all county voters are city voters the Board of Supervisors forgets that if the current pricing scheme is bad for city voters County Administrator Jan Lesher wants to discuss with the board an April 1 letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency warning that the Trump administration may try to claw back money spent on asylum seekers The feds lay out how the county is expected to shut down the programs (set up to help stem issues created by the feds themselves) and seeing as there are none right now The problem is with the attitude FEMA is taking and the threat of demanding money back "As part of its review, FEMA will determine the final allowable costs for your awards This will include evaluating whether all submitted costs incurred before the date of the Remedy of Noncompliance Letter are necessary FEMA will notify you of the final allowable costs for the awards and if the payments made exceed the final allowable costs you will need to promptly refund the difference." Donald Trump created the problem when he demanded Republicans vote against a Senate compromise that would have addressed a bunch of border issues the failure of the federal government to honestly address immigration made the issue worse Local governments needed money from the feds because immigration is a federal issue Congress has enjoyed ignoring So what's this crap about the local government legally spending money on matters that were appropriated by Congress only to have the next administration come and say "How dare you spend money on migrants we hate and do it before we took power." Congress and a president give local governments money to address problems (wouldn't want federal "Deep State globalists" involved) and local government spends according to the rules set down by the people in charge What team Trump is saying is "You should have anticipated our victory and begun operating as xenophobic as we want to be." But under that logic Lesher and the county should right now begin preparing for the incoming President Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez administration and ignore the orange guy's they should consider what President-elect Barron Trump may demand in 2041 Maybe what they should really do is prepare for the coming Large Language Model virtual presidency in 2052 Local governments deal with who's in charge at any given time The county was supposed to just let migrants wander the streets of Tucson so the voting public would hate asylum seekers even more The problem had to be a crisis to justify the eventual stripping of due process rights from anyone with a Spanish last name By handling the problem and preventing a local crisis Lesher interfered with the Trumpist hatred of legal asylum seekers and is what The county can't really say all that because they are looking for federal money elsewhere For instance, supervisors will also vote on submitting a consolidated action plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lesher will also be discussing the fiscal year 2025-26 county budget with the board no one knows if the country is sliding into a recession a slow down or a Golden Age (willing to bet against that last one) The Tucson City Council was kind of all over the board during their budget discussions They are part pretending nothing is happening and part expecting a 2007-style fall-off in revenues Property taxes fund the county and they don't tend to fluctuate as much as sales taxes Supervisors will also get an update on the county's Climate Action Plan and Wildfire Mitigation Plan The background material isn't out yet about the specifics The thing the country has to wrap its head around is that voters don't give a rip about climate change anymore they wouldn't have voted for a president who called it a Chinese hoax The same voters who demanded change on climate also decided the awfulness of Gaza in 2023-24 trumped 5,000 years of global catastrophe I'm at the point where I'm starting to think mitigation needs to take precedent over prevention of climate change The county might also want to consider the Marjorie Taylor Greene presidency of 2048 because climate refugees will only add fuel for the America First crowd Breaking 3 degrees of warming will light a veritable Festivus of Hatred toward people fleeing the effects Participants in INVEST also were found to have achieved better employment and housing stability So, now the Sheriff's Department is asking for an expansion in the program Re-read the part about the county budget outlook $8 million in opioid settlement funding will be used to provide substance prevention and response Supervisors will also be choosing from their ranks a representative to sit on the board of the Regional Transportation Authority Chairman Rex Scott should have the gig They'll also be picking a Visit Tucson rep from the board. One of the new people would be good there. Heck, put Republican Steve Christy on the tourism board It might not be a bad idea to put a car dealer on an organization that is supposed to sell Tucson like a Chrysler or a Jeep Supervisor Matt Heinz is asking the board to start an economic development plan to create financial incentives to bring Mexican business and workers into the country to shore up critical labor shortages in services like health care Heinz didn't get the memo that immigrants need not apply in the U.S Heinz seems to be seizing on the Trump administration's hopes to relocate businesses to the U.S He's also asking for three cents for Affordable Housing but he's not clear where the three cents comes from The idea is to raise $207 million over 10 years to help the county get closer to it's goal of 38,000 homes over the next decade To build 38,000 homes at $200,000 a pop would cost $7.6 billion In Oro Valley the Town Council will vote Wednesday on approving a $12.6 million loan to complete the Northwest Recharge the town of Marana and the town of Oro Valley each approved a 50-year agreement to build and maintain the recharge pond The cost was estimated at $26 million and then came the inevitable over-run So the governments asked for a loan out of the state's Water Infrastructure Finance Authority The consortium went to WIFA for the NWRRDS for better H2 WIFA is a perfectly fine acronym because it flows off the tongue NWRRDS reads like an acronym having a seizure The debt is not to exceed $12,018,000 and just over $1 million of the principal is forgivable The 20-year financing will be repaid out of water bills and the interest rates is capped at 4.25 percent The council will also consider a reworking of the town's master-planned downtown It's actually either the Towne Center or the Town Centre Might we suggest "Towne Centre" for good measure It's 127 acres, divided into four areas at the intersection of North Oracle and West Pusch View roads It seems like there are concerns about height There was a vote earlier in April on a church school requesting a height waiver The idea is that there will be two different height limits There's a 30-foot limit for buildings and then a 49-foot limit for architectural features The maximum size of a hotel is currently 75 feet and apparently too high for the council now conscious of the perpendicular Council members would initiate this plan amendment and not a developer the changes would have to go to a pair of public meetings on the matter a planning and zoning commission hearing and a public hearing in front of the council The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will vote to approve multiple judges and justices of the peace. All of them would be pro tempore. Sheila Dragucon and Karla Berber would serve as temporary It's like they're like judges but they don't get business cards and their chambers are the snack bar Dee Dee Samel would be a part-time volunteer judge but not temporary Vanessa Cartwright would serve as a full-time judge pro tempore Deirdre Eshleman and Concepcion Bracamonte are all up for approval as temporary All would serve from this July 1 to June 30 Local government meetings around Tucson this week: 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 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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. the woman on retrial for a crash that caused the death of two people was found guilty on two counts of negligent homicide Friday afternoon a jury declared a mistrial on five of the six charges but found her guilty of tampering with evidence She was found not guilty of criminal damage on Friday She was involved in a crash that led to the death of Caitlin Festerling she was sentenced to three years probation and 300 hours of community service for tampering with evidence (KGUN) — A long-dry pond at the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve will be refilled following a 4-2 vote by the Oro Valley Town Council marking the latest step in the town’s efforts to restore the former golf course land The plan approved on April 16 calls for using reclaimed water to refill the 2.5-acre pond a ramada and desert landscaping expected to follow in later phases as funding allows The project has received broad community support with several residents speaking in favor of restoration at the recent council meeting Many cited the pond’s ecological and recreational value and its history as a community gathering spot “Literally a drop in the bucket compared to what the three golf courses consume in a month,” said resident Richard Beam in reference to the water required for the project the plan drew opposition from a small number of residents and two members of the council an environmental scientist and Oro Valley’s representative on the Pima Association of Governments’ environmental planning committee warned the reclaimed water may carry contaminants Harry “Mo” Greene II both voted against the project who has opposed the concept from the start reiterated his view that the project does not align with the town’s conservation goals Council member Greene said his biggest concern was maintaining the amount of water needed for the pond "If we do it and we run out of our reclaimed water we’ll be using drinking water or portable water to fill the pond," he said The plan as presented carries a $3.84 million price tag and an estimated $135,000 in annual maintenance costs it would fund early restoration work using an already budgeted portion of $2 million previously set aside for improvements to the 202-acre nature preserve $1.5 million of that funding was earmarked for a “desert garden” concept at the pond site — a plan favored by Winfield that would install native vegetation without refilling the pond who introduced the motion to move forward with pond restoration said the town would seek grants and potential donations to help fund future additions like turf and shade structures She also urged town staff to manage the project internally and solicit bids directly to reduce overall costs Barrett was joined in support by Councilmembers Joyce Jones-Ivey There is no timeline yet for when construction might begin (KGUN) — A major community pickleball tournament is relocating to Oro Valley for the next three years thanks to a new partnership between Explore Oro Valley Pickle-icious Jingle Jam and nonprofit We Care Tucson The Pickle-icious Jingle Jam will now be held at the Oro Valley Community and Recreation Center from December 12–14 The high-energy event is expected to draw hundreds of players from around Arizona and beyond — blending friendly competition with a charitable mission “We’re incredibly excited to bring the Pickle-icious Jingle Jam Pickleball Tournament to Oro Valley this December,” said Crystal Franke Destination Marketing Manager for Explore Oro Valley in a statement to KGUN 9 “This partnership is a great opportunity to welcome visitors and showcase the hospitality our community is known for It’s especially meaningful that the event will also give back locally the Jingle Jam is organized as a fundraiser for We Care Tucson a local nonprofit that began in 1998 under the name World Care The organization provides refurbished medical equipment free of charge and restores used computers and technology to resell at low cost to individuals and families needing affordable digital access Executive Director Meme Aguila said the tournament raised $52,000 in its first year — and hopes to match that success again this year they will learn about We Care Tucson,” Aguila said “The event is to benefit ‘We Care Tucson’ and the mission and things that we do.” Aguila added the group hopes the Jingle Jam can eventually grow into a regional staple and partner with even more local nonprofits in future years For Oro Valley players like Jonathan Heskett Heskett plays three to four times a week at Naranja Park using pickleball to stay active and connect with friends “I didn’t have the camaraderie with the guys anymore and I needed something to take its place,” Heskett said “Everybody loves playing in tournaments — and hopefully it’ll raise some money.” who describes himself as more of a casual player says he still enjoys coming out to “hit the ball a few times” about once a week But with Oro Valley now hosting a major tournament he believes small upgrades could make a big difference — like adding shaded structures at the Naranja Park courts "We’d really appreciate some shade," he said To learn more about the Pickle-icious Jingle Jam or to register, visit pickle-iciousjinglejam.com. For more on We Care Tucson, visit wecaretucson.org (KGUN) — An Oro Valley family is thankful nobody was hurt after their neighbor's Saguaro cactus fell onto their cars in the middle of the night Last week, I spoke to a horticulture expert on some stress Saguaro cacti might be experiencing during this drought "Is this something people have to start worrying about?" Pettijohn explains her neighbors had planted the Saguaro about 30 years ago, and thinks it was about 15 feet tall. A grown, hydrated Saguaro can weigh between 3,200-4,800 pounds A camera placed by their garage caught the moment the Saguaro toppled over it’s definitely not something you see every day," Pettijohn explains Pettijohn also explains how bad this could've been but it could have easily fallen in the walkway and someone could’ve been walking by because Scott Genteman is the owner of AZ Insurance Center and explains how even though this is the neighbor's Saguaro it is not their responsibility to pay for the damages in this situation He says if the Saguaro did not seem to be neglected it is up to the car owners to fix their cars it is crucial to have comprehensive insurance Pettijohn explains one of the cars does not have comprehensive insurance, and they are reaching out for the community's help Nearby residents have also been shocked by this “We had to put a sign out on our door and say thank you we do know about the cactus but still they come to ring the doorbell," Pettijohn said Pettijohn says she hopes homeowners will be reminded to check on their cacti and make sure they are secure to prevent a similar accident from happening If you plan to plant your own Saguaro in your yard, there are important guidelines to follow as well as making sure it is done legally ———Athena Kehoe is a reporter for KGUN 9, she joined the KGUN 9 team in July of 2024 after graduating from Arizona State University. Share your story ideas with Athena by emailing athena.kehoe@kgun9.com or by connecting on X/Twitter and community giving come together at Steam Pump Ranch for the 10th annual 'Taste of Oro Valley.' businesses and nonprofits — with every dollar raised going right back into Southern Arizona “Service above self means that you are taking all of your gifts and your talents and you’re putting it towards other people in your community who may need a little extra help,” said Jane Shurtleff, Communications Chair for the Rotary Club of Oro Valley Guests will get to sample food from more than a dozen Oro Valley favorites — including Amelia’s Mexican Kitchen Village Bake House and Wildfire Wing Company Laramita Cellars and Catalina Brewing Company will provide drinks and local band OnesAll is set to perform live throughout the event There’s also a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle The event supports four local nonprofits this year: Edge High School Freedom Warriors brings awareness to the sexual exploitation of children Executive Director Maria Cochran says events like this help them keep their mission alive “I believe it’s our responsibility to keep our children safe And we can all take a part in do this together We can link hands and work together to make sure that is what we’re doing,” said Cochran She added that her passion for protecting children grew even stronger when she became a mother herself A Taste of Oro Valley takes place Sunday, April 13 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Steam Pump Ranch. Tickets are still available (KGUN) — A long-running dispute over the expansion plans for Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene may have reached a turning point following years of debate and public backlash the Oro Valley Town Council unanimously approved a modified plan allowing the church to move forward with building a new sanctuary—scaled down from an original proposal that was rejected earlier this year The latest meeting stretched late into the evening many wearing bright orange shirts and presenting more than 500 petition signatures backing the original 40-foot height request Instead, council members approved a revised plan for a 36-foot-tall sanctuary—four feet shorter than originally proposed and previously denied by the Planning and Zoning Commission in January The council’s decision came despite continued resistance from nearby residents some of whom submitted letters urging officials to uphold the commission’s denial the vote marked a major step forward for the church which had previously pivoted from a sports ministry proposal to the sanctuary expansion following community opposition “We feel like we’ve been praying through this for a long time,” said Executive Pastor Chris Collins “We’ve been trying to figure out a path forward for a long time and so I think there was a lot of excitement from our perspective Probably a little bit of a relief feeling as well.” said he hopes the two sides can move forward together “I would hope they’ll get together and try to see if there’s some things they can do as a neighborhood in the future," he said speaking over the phone on behalf of the Buena Vista Group—a coalition of over 120 neighbors opposing the project—said they are not ready to back down “We’re exploring different options that are available to us,” Tarris said “We may not succeed at that but we certainly are going to explore that opportunity.” The approved sanctuary expansion is the latest chapter in a years-long standoff between OVCN and surrounding homeowners many of whom have voiced concerns about disruptions to the character of their historic neighborhood The Sahuarita Town Council will vote Monday on a tiny land exchange and a town-initiated rezoning The Oro Valley Town Council will discuss long-term capital budgets during a Wednesday study session The investment plan is part of the fiscal year 2025-26 budget These are the only two meetings to follow this week because months with five Tuesdays are like that Councils and county boards (except Sahuarita) usually meet the first and third weeks of the month while school boards usually meet the second and/or fourth weeks The rezoning in question is sizeable the rezoning is a specific plan and they establish (or I guess re-establish) multiple zoning designations on a parcel The property is designated Rural Residential and Rural Homestead The new designation will provide for mixed-use development It could be businesses on the first floor and offices above and apartments next door The town is initiating this rezoning so there's no big plan attached Developers would have to submit full proposals before building on the land Sahuarita's zoning has long been a relic of the time before the town incorporated zoning matched the needs of county land remote from Tucson's Downtown core So the land was deemed more suited for ranches and other rural uses.  Then Sahuarita happened A town sprung up. Incorporated in 1994, the population in 2000 stood at 3,400. It's now more than 10 times as big Communities like that need businesses and businesses need workers So higher-density development naturally follows The Town Council has been supportive of such growth for a of couple years now The town gives up a quarter-acre and gets 186 square feet of land owned by the Edilia Tariori Revocable Trust That primary-bedroom-sized parcel is needed for drainage work Governments try to think long term when putting together capital investment plans that that year and a whole bunch of those a few years from now If a roof was replaced 14 years ago and is built to last 20 So if a government has a bunch of stuff needed in 2031/32 it might want to prioritize some work earlier and some later Maybe there are a couple major subdivisions being built near a certain intersection Stop lights and crosswalks will be needed in the near term but not today The thing is, the Oro Valley Town Council will review next fiscal year's budget component only The council has approved the long-term plan so it's not being ignored The capital work order will cost $45.3 million The priciest components of the plan – and more than a third of the total capital injection – has been slated to move Central Arizona Project water from a booster station pump to a reservoir near North Shannon Road and West Naranja Drive The Water Impact Fee fund will be tapped (no pun intended) to pay for the project The plan is to spend another $3.3 million to replace an aging fleet of town vehicles. $2.1 million will come from the Capital Fund and an Arizona Department of Transportation grant will provide another $1.2 million Another $2 million will be spent to resurface and refill a 2.5-acre pond at Vistoso Trails The rest of of the capital program consists of six-figure projects like the Steam Pump Ranch Farmer's Market upgrade or the Lambert Lane multi-use path The council will also vote on a union contract for employees The new deals will be finalized during a closed-door executive session so public details are still non-existent Tucson and Pima County have been bolstering their benefits packages putting pressure on other Southern Arizona local governments That will provide an incentive to hold the line  Local and state governments are having to flip coins and read chicken entrails to divine revenue expectations in the latest age of uncertainty From 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, the Rotary Club of Oro Valley is hosting its 10th annual A Taste of Oro Valley food festival local and national restaurants will be serving up bites Laramita Cellars and Catalina Brewing Company will be pouring drinks and the OnesAll band will be rocking the stage Proceeds from this event will help the Oro Valley Rotary Foundation with funding to the following nonprofits: “The Rotary Club of Oro Valley has made a real impact by serving our community and enriching people’s lives,” said Joe Winfield “We congratulate the Rotary on its 10th anniversary of ‘A Taste of Oro Valley’ and its commitment to supporting local nonprofits that strengthen our community.” Tickets are $30 for adults and free for anyone eight years old and younger bid on “exciting excursions” in a silent auction and/or enter to win a 50/50 raffle A Taste of Oro Valley is sponsored by BNI 6 Figure Success A Taste of Oro Valley will be held at Steam Pump Ranch, 10901 N. Oracle Rd. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit tasteoforovalley.org Love Tucson food? So do we. That’s why our stories are free to read — and focused on the chefs, farmers, and restaurants that make Tucson so delicious.👉 Get exclusive perks & support local with the Foodie Insiders Club and learn how to eat local year-round Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego If you’re in the mood for strange stories Oro Valley Police are investigating a fatal crash that happened on Tucson’s north side Friday afternoon All lanes of Oracle Road reopened around 4 p.m closed down Oracle Road earlier in the day Close to 43,000 people died in a traffic crash in 2021 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration That's up from about 39,000 deaths in 2020 Jamie Donnelly covers breaking news for the Arizona Daily Star. Contact her via e-mail at jdonnelly@tucson.com  Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter Police identify the three officers involved in the shooting The suspect was charged on suspicion of first-degree murder and is being held at the Pima County jail on a $1 million bond The new facility will house the tribe's fire and police departments and its Emergency Medical Services The Tucson police officer was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries The victim's step-granddaughter was arrested in connection to the fatal stabbing and is facing charges of second-degree murder A man suspected of driving a car carrying migrants near Sierra Vista was struck and killed by a passing car Sunday night as he fought a deputy… (13 News) - Authorities are investigating a two-vehicle crash in Oro Valley late Wednesday The Oro Valley Police Department confirmed that the accident happened at Oracle and Hardy A 13 News photographer on the scene said traffic was blocked at the intersection and drivers were being rerouted to side streets The photographer said a crime scene van arrived around 9:30 p.m Be sure to subscribe to the 13 News YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@13newskold (13 News) - A man has been arrested on charges of arson and endangerment after two vehicles burned in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Oro Valley late Wednesday The Oro Valley Police Department confirmed Matthew Priest Priest is being held without bond and has a no-bond hearing set for March 5 and a preliminary hearing on March 10 According to the judge in Priest’s first court appearance he told investigators how the fire started and both an accelerant and an ignition device were found in his apartment The defense attorney said Priest was the one who called 911 The fire happened just before midnight at the Peak at Oro Valley Apartments There were no reported injuries and Golder Ranch battled the blaze TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — With the town of Marana moving forward with plans for a 20-acre downtown district discussions about Oro Valley’s own town center are resurfacing one major challenge continues to stand in the way—available land making a proper downtown difficult to achieve “I think the bottom line is because of where we’re at today we only have about 12 percent of the land base of Oro Valley that’s not developed,” Mayor Joe Winfield said According to the International Downtown Association downtowns typically make up just 2% of a city’s land area but have a significant impact some town officials believe Oro Valley could still create its own version of a community hub.“With careful planning and consideration those values can be maintained while creating a central gathering area,” said Bayer Vella Winfield pointed to existing locations that serve as gathering places Kriegh Park and the Oro Valley Community Center these spaces bring residents together for events and activities the idea of a town center is still being explored in the 2026 General Plan where town leaders continue to assess ways to balance growth with Oro Valley’s existing character Following Marana’s downtown announcement some Oro Valley residents shared their thoughts on social media “Would like to see this in OV,” one resident wrote on Facebook “I always ask why OV [doesn’t] have anything like a little cute downtown.” (KGUN) — Oro Valley is asking for public input as it updates its Trails Master Plan for the first time since 2010 The OV Trails Connect Project aims to improve the town’s 36 miles of paved and unpaved trails by addressing gaps between paths updating signage and enhancing accessibility “Having a high level of accessibility and ease of use hopefully encourages more folks to participate and be outside,” said Bayer Vella Residents can provide feedback by completing a 20-question survey online or speaking directly with town staff at upcoming trailhead events Anyone can participate — whether they live in Oro Valley or have visited and used the trail system Frequent hiker Guillermo Mendoza says he enjoys exploring the town’s trails because of the wildlife he encounters and we’ll see wild animals sometimes,” Mendoza said “My biggest thing would be that I think they need to plant more trees,” Gonzalez said “There needs to be more shade on the trails.” The town hopes to present the finalized plan to the Oro Valley Town Council in September The survey is open until March 17. To participate, visit: OV Trails Connect (KGUN) — The Town of Oro Valley’s annual Celebrate Oro Valley event returns on Saturday with a lineup of activities for the whole community moving from its longtime home at Steam Pump Ranch The celebration also serves as the town’s final event commemorating its 50th anniversary in 2024 with food trucks and wine sales available for purchase The event also features a free youth dodgeball tournament and community booths hosted by local businesses and organizations.“This event is always just a chance to be grateful for everything that we have here in Oro Valley whether it was at Steam Pump Ranch or here at JDK,” said Matt Jankowski “We’re in the shadow of the Catalina Mountains we’re doing it during a time of year where the weather is fantastic And it’s just another opportunity to get together with your friends and neighbors and celebrate everything that makes Oro Valley great.” Local businesses and wineries still have an opportunity to participate by registering for a free community booth or signing up as a wine vendor For more information or to register, visit orovalleyaz.gov the Oro Valley Marketplace transformed into a vibrant hub of creativity as it hosted the Oro Valley Spring Festival of the Arts an event dedicated to celebrating and supporting local artisans Organized by the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance (SAACA) the festival featured over 140 artists and exhibitors the event served as a crucial economic driver offering exposure and sales opportunities for artists during uncertain financial times “Oro Valley is home to so many diverse and talented artists folks who have been in their craft for a long time,” said Amanda Staples “To be able to make a connection with the artists and hear more about their process and keep the funding in our economy is so important for the health and wellbeing of our community and the art scene in general,” Staples said Among the featured artists was Joni Pevarnik a seasoned potter with 45 years of experience She emphasized the importance of community support in keeping artists thriving and Tucson is the most wonderful community because they support artists They care about us working artists,” Pevarnik said Pevarnik noted an encouraging trend—locals opting to support small businesses over big-box stores ensuring their dollars go directly into the hands of independent creators Pervarik held up one of her handmade mugs as an example “You can buy this cup if it was made in China and it would be a lot less expensive but the materials and effort were still paid by the Earth,” she said it’s another experience and it didn’t have all that energy wasted being made somewhere across the ocean It’s like eating your mother’s homemade food.” The festival also featured interactive experiences, such as the Plein Air Painting Competition, where more than 20 painters captured the beauty of Oro Valley in real-time. Artist Sam Hernandez participated in the event painting a landscape he says was inspired by the colors of the mountains as he arrived that morning “People tend to think of the desert as barren with no color and I wanted something that showed how majestic the desert can be,” Hernandez said “I like to consider my painting style flowing so when I’m painting mountains I try to follow the paths the water run in.” Hernandez highlighted the broader impact of investing in the arts “Those artists are likely to also become your next engineers “Being good at one makes you good at the other Hernandez enjoyed the engagement with festivalgoers while painting live “I like the people stopping and talking,” Hernandez said Abel “Pato” Aguilar also participated in the Plein Air Painting Competition painting an indigenous women accompanied by a hummingbird He says festivals like these can be a lifeline to struggling artists “Sometimes there’s an idea that this is just a fun world and it can be sometimes The competition culminated on Sunday with each piece displayed for the public For more information about SAACA and upcoming festivals, visit the organization’s website (KGUN) — The Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene is going back to the drawing board after the town's Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously denied its request to increase the height of its proposed new sanctuary The commission's decision came during a nearly two-hour meeting on Tuesday night during which close to two dozen nearby residents spoke out against the proposal Many of those residents have been vocal in their opposition to the church's expansion plans for years “We were pleased and find some comfort in that this morning We're not doing any victory dances or anything like that,” said Tim Tarris a neighbor who organized the group “Neighbors Against OVCN Rezone” a few years ago Tarris says he and other neighbors were surprised the commission voted unanimously to deny the request He believes a turning point came when town leaders physically surveyed the property and saw how the proposed sanctuary would impact the area The church initially planned to build a sports complex on its property but after significant pushback from neighbors and light pollution continuing to drive their resistance Pastor Chris Collins of OVCN says the church is disappointed but remains committed to finding a solution to accommodate its growing congregation “While we might have been disappointed for a moment We will regroup and figure out what is available to us to utilize existing zoning,” Collins said Tarris says neighbors are taking the commission's decision as a small victory “We're hoping that they're able to find that somewhere else that will allow our little historic piece of the world here to remain unchanged Which really was the driving force behind our opposition,” Tarris said The church now plans to reassess its options under current zoning regulations the commission’s decision provides temporary relief as they prepare for what may come next ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (KGUN) — Nestled at the foothills of the Catalina Mountains, Oro Valley has been ranked as the top retirement destination in the United States stunning views and active lifestyle make it a haven for retirees seeking peace and prosperity The ranking also highlights its higher-than-average income for retirees: $52,098 compared to the national average of $27,617 He and his wife discovered the community while passing through Arizona and were quickly won over “The people that we’ve had as neighbors in Oro Valley since day one have watched out for one another,” James said We’ve had snowbirds who never worried about something happening to their house and her husband first experienced Oro Valley as snowbirds spending winters in Tucson they decided to settle in the small town just north of the city it was learning a lot about the desert,” Bruno said That was part of my enjoyment of the community Despite its reputation as a retirement community Oro Valley’s population of 47,000 includes a mix of families “Right across the street there’s a little girl that’s in first grade,” James said (KGUN) — The Tucson Bicycle Classic is back and this year’s final stage is taking place in Oro Valley The three-day race will wrap up Sunday with the Oro Valley Circuit Race a fast-paced 2.8-mile loop at Naranja Park featuring a tough uphill finish on Musette Drive including members of the Bicycle Ranch Racing Team this race is more than just an event—it’s personal “Most of our people are grassroots,” Morgenstern said hardworking people that happen to also race But to be out there and mix it up with people who may be racing on a more consistent professional level the Tucson Bicycle Classic is expected to generate approximately $180,000 in economic impact for the community and spectators will be spending at local hotels “Bringing that kind of lodging and dining and retail spin to our town is extremely helpful,” said the town's Destination and Marketing Manager Crystal Frank Road closures will be in effect during the event Spectators are encouraged to arrive early and check road closure maps before heading out More information on the first two days of the event can be found here FIND MORE THINGS TO DO IN TUCSON THIS WEEKEND: The Oro Valley Town Council is scheduled to vote next week on whether to appoint Oro Valley police Cmdr Kara Riley as the town’s next police chief as the department’s first female police chief during its meeting Wednesday Terms of the employment had not yet been released Riley has held multiple positions with the department serving as the field services commander since 2017 She previously worked for 11 years as a police officer and as a sergeant with the Tucson Airport Authority She would replace longtime police Chief Danny Sharp who had served in the position since 2000 and is scheduled to retire in February Sharp said he is “elated” with the council’s decision “I’m very pleased for the department and for the town,” Sharp told the Arizona Daily Star I don’t think they’ll be any issues for the full vote for her appointment She will take this appointment to the next level to where it needs to go.” He called Riley a “very caring people person” and said her background is “being able to deal with people and things empathetically.” He said he feels “really good” about her serving as his replacement “She’s fearless and willing to take on any hard issue and does it in a very caring way She has a unique way of doing things,” Sharp said “I think she is fiercely loyal to the Constitution and the laws She has a different perspective to being able to care for her community I’m very pleased for the department and for her community.” The pick of Riley ends a monthslong search that has ruffled some feathers in the town which is consistently rated among the safest municipalities in the state The council voted last year to conduct an internal and external search for Sharp’s replacement, angering many who felt the replacement should come from within. The police chief process was cited as a reason for a recall effort against Mayor Joseph Winfield and Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett that was launched last year The town said it received more than 70 applicants from 31 states with applicants possessing an average of 27 years’ experience and 10 years at the command staff level according to documents obtained by the Star The council named four finalists four the position last week — Riley fellow Oro Valley police Commander Chris Olsen former Chandler police Commander Gregg Jacquin and Chris McCall Riley was named the preferred candidate Wednesday “The town was fortunate to have so many qualified applicants across the country interested in leading Oro Valley’s exceptional Police Department,” Winfield said in a prepared statement we have agreed that selecting a police chief is one of the most important responsibilities of this body and we are united in our commitment to select the best candidate I am excited that the council will have the opportunity next week to vote on the appointment of Commander Riley to that position.” Sharp had made public his preference for an internal candidate “I know the caliber of people who work here I absolutely feel that an internal candidate was the way to go And at the end of the day that’s what we have,” said Sharp who has served on various national and international police boards I’m very comfortable with my retirement knowing that they’ve got a great leader here.” The Town Council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m Contact reporter Justin Sayers at jsayers1@tucson.com or 573-4192 environmentalists regarding the land are reignited the town entered a $24,900 contract with Cincinnati-based Novak Consultant Group to conduct an internal-external search Town council voted 6-1 to keep the 18-hole Cañada and Conquistador courses open The perjury allegations stem from comments made by merit commission member Mike Hellon during a hearing for sheriff's Lt The sheriff said he has asked for an investigation by the Pima County Attorney's Office into the allegations involving department's top commanders Oro Valley residents behind the initiative said they were satisfied with recent decisions by the town council Effort for massive plantings part of mayor's climate resiliency plan for a city that was recently ranked as the third-fastest warming city in … July 1 marks the beginning of the fiscal year for Oro Valley and the final budget is set to be adopted at a public hearing on June 17 (13 News) - A pedestrian died after they were hit by a golf cart in Oro Valley on Saturday The Oro Valley Police Department confirmed it happened around 7 p.m near East Rancho Vistoso and North Del Webb boulevards The OVPD identified the victim as 72-year-old Thomas Tjossem Police have determined that impairment was not a factor Be sure to subscribe to the 13 News YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@13newskold (KGUN) — Oro Valley’s popular Public Art Tours are back after being suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic giving art lovers a chance to explore the town’s vibrant art scene free of charge during this pilot season funded by $50,000 allocated by the Town Council will take participants to more than 20 locations Each two-hour tour includes a stop at Oro Valley Hospital where participants can view both indoor and outdoor art collections the town’s Community and Economic Development Director says the schedule was designed to accommodate a variety of participants we wanted to have a mid-week tour so any of the residents who might not be working a 9 to 5 job can take advantage of it And then also offer that Sunday tour as kind of a weekend activity for those people that work during the week,” Melcher said The tours are held on Wednesdays and Sundays with departures from Charred Pie and Hoppy Vine in the Oro Valley Marketplace The town has partnered with Arizona Winery Tours to operate the tours Seats for the tours can be reserved online through the Arizona Winery Tours website Accommodations for guests with disabilities are available upon request More information on the dates and times can be found here Sign along Oracle Road north of Ranch Vistoso and just south of Catalina tells people that they are in the Town of Oro Valley The results are in for 2017's safest cities in Arizona The National Council on Home Safety and Security posts a list every year saying that safety has always been important factor when looking for a new home but the political system and increased in violent crimes has made it a priority "Because navigating through crime statistics can be a difficult and time-consuming process adding that it uses the most recent FBI crime statistics along with the site's own population data and internal research to compile the list Oro Valley is considered the fourth safest place to live with only 27 violent crimes and 583 property crimes in 2016 as the schools rank in the top third of the state and Family Circle magazine ranked it as one of the top ten towns for families Check out the full list of Arizona's safest cities and learn more about crime in Oro Valley here. Deputy Chief Aaron Le Suer has been with the department for 28 years Town officials will restart the process in a few weeks Doubling the standard deduction could mean less mortgage interest deductions Tucson Creole restaurant changes name to avoid fight with liquor company Brett Interiors opens Leather Gallery in Oro Valley Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.