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Candidates for Mayor of Tucson. From left to right: Ed Ackerley (I), incumbent Regina Romero (D), and Janet "JL" Wittenbraker (R).

The Buzz: El Tour de Mayor of Tucson

AZPM takes a drive around Tucson with three candidates running in the mayor's race.
Downtown Tucson is seen in the distance from the intersection of Broadway Boulevard and Country Club Road.

The Buzz: Sunshine Mile project complete after years of work

Renovation to downtown's eastern gateway has been a topic since the 1990s.
Jeffrey Berk shows off a Colombian quartz crystal to visitors at the 2022 Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase after many people cancelled or postponed their travel plans in 2021 due to coronavirus concerns.

Thousands of people return to Southern Arizona for gem shows

The Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase is attracting national and international crowds.
"Hope" is an important element to what the Friends of Aphasia offers members who are trying to overcome their communication disorder.

Raising awareness of aphasia, one stone at a time.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: The plans to create a Tucson Gastronomy Collective to celebrate the unique flavors of Tucson; and a 5th grader and her family embark on a road trip from Sheboygan to Tucson.
A patio outside Elliott's on Congress in downtown Tucson that was recently constructed to offer patrons outdoor dining options amid concerns about the spread of COVID-19. June 2021.

Patio extensions pop up at Tucson restaurants

A popular program is providing an economic boost during the Pandemic
Superb Minerals imports its items from India and leases a 12,000 square foot warehouse in Tucson where they can be stored and sold. The Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase, a vital annual event, was cancelled in 2021 due to the pandemic.

How gem & mineral dealers are coping with the pandemic's impact.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: How "Blax Friday" is building community to help black-owned businesses thrive; Adiba Nelson versus her 11-year-old's "tween 'tude"; and a song from John Coinman.
A construction site at Tucson's historic Benedictine Monastery on June 11, 2020.

A look at how zoning shapes Tucson development

Zoning is increasingly at the heart of conversations around housing affordability and environmental sustainability.
The exterior of the AC Marriott Hotel in downtown Tucson. The hotel is one of many downtown that have taken advantage of the GPLET tax incentive.

Tucson to stick with development tax incentive, but changes coming

A series of public meetings will guide changes to the GPLET.
An image depicting a building proposal to replace the parking lot on Broadway and Sixth Avenue.

Once abandoned, downtown high-rise project gets final approval from Rio Nuevo

The 20-story tower will be Tucson’s second-tallest.
The exterior of the AC Marriott Hotel in downtown Tucson. The hotel is one of many downtown that have taken advantage of the GPLET tax incentive.

Tucson mayor and council rethinking development tax incentives

The mayor and council on Wednesday delayed the renewal of the city's central business district.
A scene from the film "DUSTWUN", written and directed by Genevieve Anderson.

DUSTWUN - A film about life, death & trust on the U.S. / Mexico border.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: How Imago Dei Middle School is building community with food; and - can a borderlands hotel that has survived a century endure the COVID-19 pandemic?
Madeleine Erasto, who's family are refugees from the Congo, dances to the live music at the family fun fest of the World Refugee Day celebration at Catalina High School on Saturday, June 22, 2019, in Tucson.

World Refugee Day in Tucson

Also on Arizona Spotlight: The youth photography program "Parks in Focus" in action, and The Southwest Fair Housing Council observes the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act.
The 145-acre Kino Sports Complex expansion looking southwest from I-10, April 2, 2019

Kino Sports Complex Expansion Draws National, International Attention

The facility is still under construction, but is already booking space for January.
The exterior of the AC Marriott Hotel in downtown Tucson.

Tourist Office: Tucson Hotel Industry Booming

Revenue hit $415 million in 2018, marking the 6th consecutive year of revenue growth in Tucson.
Angie Dickinson at Old Tucson Studios during the filming of "Rio Bravo" in 1959.

Return to Rio Bravo

Also on Arizona Spotlight: How the Kino Border Initiative is aiding migrant families; Tucson mystery writer bases novel around opioid addiction; and remembering filmmaker Nicolas Roeg.
The steel frame of Caterpillar's new Tucson headquarters was recently finished. The company agreed not to include a cafeteria in its facility in its incentive deal with Rio Nuevo. Board Chair Fletcher McCusker said that will help area restaurants draw lunchtime business.

Downtown Redevelopment: A Look at Rio Nuevo's Past and Future

The state has extended the development district through 2035; how is downtown doing and what's next?

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