Good morning, Tucson.

Tucson-area food providers say new SNAP rules and reduced DES staffing are making it harder for homeless residents to receive timely food benefits (the rule now requires 80 work or volunteer hours per month).

The Sunnyside Foundation's sixth annual Burrito Run will be held on Sept.

20 at Mission Manor Park — check-in starts at 7 a.m. and the 5K runs at 8 a.m., and the event will kick off Gives Week to raise $130k for local students and families.

Four nonprofits in Tucson offer programs in art, adaptive sports and home repairs to help residents overcome challenges (many services are free or low-cost) and clear barriers to full, safe living.

Therapeutic Riding of Tucson has introduced Westie (a new therapy horse donated by The West shop) to support people with disabilities with relaxing rides.

Westie is in training to begin providing rides that strengthen community support.

Tuesday night, state Treasurer Kimberly Yee and former schoolteacher Teresa Leyba Ruiz debated oversight of Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts as they sought to lead public schools.

The candidates clashed over spending rules and accountability, with Yee supporting voucher choice and Ruiz calling for stricter transparency.

Pueblo High teacher Sarah Wilson was honored with a $1,000 check as part of HSL Teacher Appreciation Awards for her 23 years teaching broadcast journalism & radio production.

News 4 Tucson and HSL Properties presented the award earlier this week.

Pima County will use $200,000 from its Project Blue land sale to support economic development in five chambers of commerce—Marana, Greater Vail, Green Valley-Sahuarita, Oro Valley and Southern Arizona Hispanic—with contracts finalized next week.

Tucson officials are considering leasing land to developers of an Air Force-themed golf course to finance a PFAS groundwater treatment facility & a STEM-learning center near Davis-Monthan.

The City Council may vote on the agreement Sept. 22.

Officials at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base held a ceremony today to retire the A-10 Warthog and last EC-130H Compass Call—both symbols of local history since the 1970s.

The aircraft will be moved to either Moody Air Force Base or the boneyard as part of the fleet modernization.

County officials released a memo showing SNAP participation in Pima County dropped 45% between July 2025 and July 2026.

New eligibility rules under the Big Beautiful Bill Act lowered monthly benefits from about $331 to $207, prompting some residents to rely on local food banks.

Pima County Health Department seeks input on youth commercial tobacco use through a survey and forums.

The events occur today at Drexel Heights Community Center (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) and in October at Vail’s Anne Gibson–Esmond Station Library (5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) and online.

Two local veterinarians launched Companion Animal Care Team & Urban Sanctuary in Sells this year to work with nonprofits and provide free care for pets including check-ups, surgeries and vaccinations.

They also care for rescued animals on a sanctuary property and are recruiting volunteers.

Pima County Health Department reported 123 heat-related deaths as of Sept.

8, eclipsing last year’s 117 and recording 930 heat-related illnesses through Sept. 9. Officials continue operating cooling centers (and distributing relief supplies) as they analyze data to address ongoing heat vulnerabilities in our community.