Prerana Sannappanavar

ASDB's blind, low-vision students will be moved to regular public schools The Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind will no longer directly provide on-site classes for students who are blind or have low vision and are not also

🚨: After weeks of not confirming if all visually-impaired ASDB students are being mainstreamed into public schools, ASDB said they won't directly provide on-site classes for VI students who are not also deaf as they move their current Speedway campus.

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Tucson's Catholic Diocese celebrates its new bishop In his first official remarks Friday as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson’s new bishop, James Misko recalled his mother teaching him how to pray and how to love God.

🚨: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson just got its eighth bishop since it was established in 1897. Bishop James Misko, from Austin, was ordained Friday afternoon at the downtown church which serves 400,000 Catholics in nine counties. Read my latest:

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U of A to build massive $250M dorm project at Speedway and Campbell A new 19-story dormitory is coming to a major Tucson intersection. Here’s what the $250 million project means for the University of Arizona and its 1,200+ future residents.

🚨: The UA is undertaking a $250 million project of building a new 19-story student dorm on Speedway and Campbell, which will also have a dining hall open for all students. It will be built, operated and financed by a nonprofit organization. Read more:

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State audit of U of A finds minor revenue overstatement, other issues University of Arizona's global campus overstated revenue by 0.13%; UA didn't take an ex-employee off payroll for 1-year plus.

NEW: An Arizona Auditor General’s report on the UA for FY25 has found UAGC overstated revenue by more than $250k and a former employee was paid for over a year after resignation, among other finds. Read my exclusive:

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$35 million expansion coming to U of A semiconductor facility Arizona Commerce Authority invests in expansion of the University of Arizona semiconductor research and manufacturing facility.

The Arizona Commerce Authority, a state economic development agency, will invest $35.5 million to expand UA's semiconductor research and manufacturing facility’s cleanroom, helping prevent microscopic contaminants from damaging or destroying highly sensitive microchips.

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Intentional kidnapping or robbery? Crime experts split on Guthrie case Crime experts say new FBI images of a masked gunman at Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home suggest a planned burglary that may have turned into an abduction.

🚨: Crime experts are divided on whether the newly released footage and images of a potential abductor in the Nancy Guthrie case shows evidence of it being a burglary gone wrong or an intentional abduction or kidnapping. Read mine & Cathy Burch's story:

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U of A emphasizes mining leadership, expects more US funding in critical minerals push The University of Arizona is focusing on mining as one of its strengths and initiatives, and expects increased federal funding for it as the Trump administration emphasizes interest in critical

NEW: The UA is focusing on mining as one of its strengths and initiatives, and expects increased federal funding for it as the Trump administration emphasizes interest in critical minerals, including copper and rare earth minerals. Read my exclusive:

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U of A president named to US science advisory committee University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella will provide independent advice on challenges probably including fusion energy, a UA initiative.

🚨: The U.S. Energy Department has named UA President Suresh Garimella to the new Office of Science Advisory Committee, established to provide independent advice on scientific and technical challenges, probably including fusion energy, a UA initiative.

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Faculty chair criticizes U of A change in honorary degree process A faculty leader is urging University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella to reverse his plan of cutting off Faculty Senate participation, while keeping input from individual faculty, in deciding wh...

NEW: UA Faculty Chair Leila Hudson is proposing a motion urging President Suresh Garimella to reverse his plan of cutting off Faculty Senate participation, while keeping input from individual faculty, in deciding who receives honorary UA degrees.

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U of A faculty leader distributes emergency whistles for campus safety University of Arizona Faculty Chair Leila Hudson also makes political remarks to the Faculty Senate as she explains why she's giving out whistles.

🚨: UA Faculty Chair Leila Hudson announced she is distributing "emergency whistles" to faculty, students, staff at the first Faculty Senate meeting of the year, in the midst of what she described as "paramilitary thugs" threatening neighborhoods. Read more:

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ASDB abruptly ends Tucson community forum on school's planned move Leaders from the Arizona School for the Deaf and Bling abruptly shut down a community meeting at the Tucson campus Monday night after frustrated audience members shouted questions about the

🚨🚨: An ASDB community meeting Monday night brought heightened emotions as parents shouted out questions on if their kids were going to be served appropriately at the new location, after which the school's management abruptly shut it down. Read more:

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Layoffs hit ASDB in Tucson amid campus move, sources say Several teachers working with blind students at the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind in Tucson were notified Friday that they are being laid off, sources said.

🚨: Teachers working with blind students at the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind's Tucson campus were notified Friday that they are being laid off, according to sources with professional ties to ASDB, my colleague @charlieborla.bsky.social writes.

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U of A launches national security institute amid geopolitical upheavals The University of Arizona is launching an institute for national security that aims to translate research into solutions to “safeguard U.S. national security interests and armed services personnel ami...

NEW: The UA is launching an institute for national security that aims to translate research into solutions to “safeguard U.S. national security interests and armed services personnel amid an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.” Read my exclusive:

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ASDB in Tucson to move to Oro Valley The Arizona State School for the Deaf and Blind is leaving its longtime, sprawling campus on West Speedway, west of Interstate 10.

The Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind's Tucson branch is leasing Copper Creek Elementary Schools' Oro Valley campus starting in the fall 2026 semester due to reduced student enrollment.

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U of A joins team competing for up to $151 billion in Golden Dome contracts The University of Arizona announced it is partnering with defense contractor Precise Systems, Inc. to compete for up to $151 billion in contracts under President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome missile

🚨: The UA is partnering with defense contractor Precise Systems to compete for up to $151 billion in contracts under President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense system, which he expects to be capable of intercepting missiles even if from space.

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U of A international politics experts see red flags in U.S. actions in Venezuela University of Arizona researcher: Trump's action "engenders massive amounts of distrust in the international system."

🚨: UA political science professors express concern and confusion after U.S.'s Venezuela invasion and President Nicolás Maduro's capture under U.S. President Donald Trump, questioning if Maduro's justice is being achieved the right way. Read my exclusive:

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Faculty leader says U of A violates employee rights in dismissal process A faculty leader is criticizing the University of Arizona’s processes for handling dismissal cases, saying President Suresh Garimella’s delegation of that responsibility entirely to the provost’s offi...

NEW: A faculty leader is criticizing the UA's processes for handling dismissal cases, saying President Garimella’s delegation of that responsibility entirely to the provost’s office seems to be undermining conciliation efforts and employee rights.

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Rep. Grijalva: Review U of A prof Chomsky's ties to Epstein University of Arizona Professor Laureate Noam Chomsky had ties to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, records show.

🚨: U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva calls for review of former UA Professor Laureate Noam Chomsky who maintained communication with late convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as recently released portion of the "Epstein files" show. Read my exclusive:

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U of A president names 2nd chief of staff in a year University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella has a new chief of staff for the second time in a little less than a year.

UA President Suresh Garimella has a new chief of staff for his office for the second time in a year. Rachel Reinhardt, UA’s former associate vice president for research communications, has replaced Francisco Garcia, who took on the role in January.

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Historic Lees Ferry bell donated for display at Arizona Capitol Historic Lees Ferry bell dates to an era of Mormon migration to Arizona in the 19th Century.

NEW: An artifact from the history of Mormon migration to Arizona in the 19th Century, the Lees Ferry bell, has now been donated and dedicated to be displayed at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza at the Arizona Capitol Mall in downtown Phoenix.

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Allegations fly as tenured U of A prof appeals dismissal A University of Arizona committee is investigating the dismissal of a tenured English professor who alleges the university targeted him after he spent years suing UA over public records and

🚨: UA English professor Matthew Abraham is currently in the midst of having his dismissal investigated by a committee on academic freedom and tenure, with the university alleging he wasn't fulfilling his responsibilities and threatening fellow colleagues. Read more:

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U of A provost offers bridge funds for students facing federal cuts The provost’s office at the University of Arizona will invest $200,000 in a new, one-time bridge funding program to support students working on grant projects whose federal funding has been

🚨: University of Arizona's provost's office will be investing $200,000 in a new, one-time bridge funding program to support students working on grant projects whose federal funding has been paused or stopped. Read my latest:

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U of A to pursue other partnerships like new Yuma medical school branch Onvida Health will invest nearly $33 million over eight years in the University of Arizona’s new medical school branch in Yuma because of the severe need for primary-care doctors in

🚨: Onvida Health will be investing nearly $33 million over the next eight years in a partnership with UA's College of Medicine in Phoenix, on a rural medical branch that addresses Arizona's shortage of primary care physicians. Read my latest:

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U of A and partner to open medical school branch in Yuma The University of Arizona’s College of Medicine — Phoenix will open a medical school branch in Yuma, partnering with Onvida Health, to help address a severe shortage of rural doctors.

🚨: UA's College of Medicine in Phoenix will be announcing its partnership with a Yuma medical health Center, Onvida Health, today, establishing a three-year primary care accelerated pathway program to address Arizona's physician care shortage.

tucson.com/news/local/e...

U of A will review alcohol policies, education and prevention University of Arizona Provost Patricia Prelock talks about this and other issues in a wide-ranging interview.

🚨: UA Provost Patricia Prelock said the university looks will look into its alcohol policy, education and prevention activities, after a UA student was alleged by police to have struck and killed three other UA students while driving when impaired by alcohol and/or drugs.

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U of A's veterinary college draws large applicant pool The University of Arizona’s College of Veterinary Medicine has attracted more than 2,500 prospective students for the class of 2029 beginning next fall. The program is now the third-most popular

The University of Arizona's College of Veterinary Medicine brings more than 2,500 prospective students for the class of 2029, making it the third-most popular choice in the U.S., according to the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.

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U of A secures grant to combat hazardous dust effects from mines The University of Arizona has received a five-year federal grant of $14.8 million to help understand and mitigate health threats of dust from mine tailings and associated hazardous fungal spores,

The University of Arizona has received a five-year federal grant of $14.8 million to help understand and mitigate health threats of dust from mine tailings and associated hazardous fungal spores, specifically within mining communities.

tucson.com/news/local/e...

U of A keeps tuition flat for in-state students for 3rd year in row University of Arizona officials say they're emphasizing affordability.

🚨: University of Arizona will be keeping tuition and fees flat for in-state undergraduate students for the third year in a row, despite dealing with the remaining $65 million financial deficit from fall 2023. Read my latest:

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U of A asks units to plan for more potential budget cuts The University of Arizona asks units to craft budgets with 2%, 3% and 4% cuts, citing uncertainties in U.S. funding for research overhead and other issues.

NEW: UA colleges have now been asked to craft budgets with 2%, 3% and 4% cuts for fiscal year 2027, due to uncertainties in federal funding for research overhead costs, drops in international student enrollment and other issues. Read my latest:

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U of A to lose millions in tuition after closing China micro-campuses For Star subscribers: The University of Arizona could lose more than $4 million in tuition revenue from closing micro-campuses in China, an official says.

🚨: UA to allegedly lose approximately $4 million after 834 Chinese students quit their degrees at one of the micro-campuses in China, according to the executive vice dean of the Arizona College of Technology at the Hebei University of Technology.

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