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Hey Tucson, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Festival of Books guide, $1M raffle jackpot, and first vehicle-to-grid school buses + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Tucson protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Guide to events and access: The Tucson Festival of Books will take place at the University of Arizona Mall March 14-15, with free author talks, Science City activities, and TFOB app to build a schedule — find schedules, venues, and FAQs.

Record-setting local fundraiser: TMC Mega Raffle, in its 14th year, has a 50/50 jackpot topping $1 million. Tickets are available until March 19, with thousands of prizes benefiting patient care at TMC Health — get all the raffle details.

Clean energy meets student transport: TUSD will unveil 10 electric school buses soon, replacing aging diesel routes in Tucson. Funded by EPA grants, TEP rebates, and bonds, it’s Arizona’s first vehicle-to-grid school bus project — learn how it supports the grid.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Highlights this week:

• Create Scream-inspired art with Jay101
• Pick up free food at Goodwill
• Celebrate spring at Quincie Douglas Egg Hop

🫶 We got your back

Crave-worthy lunch upgrade: Tucson-born since 1998, Beyond Bread keeps weekdays easy with from-scratch loaves, stacked sandwiches, house-made soups, and pastries that make “just one bite” a myth. Ideal for the midweek rotation and a lunch you won’t regret.

Desert magic, close by: Whether you’re sneaking in a sunrise loop or a golden-hour stroll, Saguaro National Park turns the everyday into a whoa-we-live-here moment. Towering saguaros, wide-open skies, and trails for every mood make it perfect for a midweek reset, all without leaving Tucson.

Playtime upgrade ahead: Mildred & Dildred is a cheerful, locally owned shop for thoughtful toys, puzzles, books, and delightfully odd little treasures. Expect free gift wrap and low-key story time, perfect for a last-minute birthday save or a midweek pick-me-up, with finds that spark curiosity and smiles.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 Free events worth checking out

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🎲 Midday Game Time @ Poppin’ Off Pop Culture Gifts & More | Tuesday (3/10) at 12:00 PM – Your lunch break just got interesting. Poppin’ Off is dealing Texas Hold’em in a fandom-filled shop, free to join, low on ego, high on laughs, and ripe for bragging rights. Slide in, play a few hands, then stroll back to work feeling oddly triumphant.

🎶 Matt Mitchell and more @ Historic Pima County Courthouse Courtyard | Wednesday (3/11) at 11:00 AM – Midweek slump calls for a free jazz reset in the Historic Pima County Courthouse Courtyard, downtown. Grab lunch, claim a shady spot, and let Tucson stalwarts Matt Mitchell and Adam Gay deliver chops that make your workday feel like culture, and your calendar look productive.

🧠 Trivia Night @ Bear Canyon Pizza on Broadway | Wednesday (3/11) at 7:00 PM – Bear Canyon Pizza Broadway hosts free trivia every Wednesday, so rally your smartest friends, order a pie, and convert random Tucson and 90s sitcom knowledge into gift cards. Free to play, and you can snag three extra clues beforehand if you sign up.

🌙 Maiden • Mother • Crone @ De La Vega Art Gallery | Friday (3/13) at 5:00 PM – If you’ve been meaning to trade doomscrolling for something nourishing, Opening Night at De La Vega delivers art exploring the Maiden, Mother, Crone, plus a live music sound immersion with Michal Mael, the Queen of Rocks. Free, reflective, and transportive, like therapy with better acoustics.

🛠 IOD Guided Artisan Workshop @ CoCo Workshop | Saturday (3/14) at 10:30 AM – Swing by the CoCo Workshop where Shannon from Colliope Co, Tucson’s Iron Orchid Designs stockist, is hosting a free, craft-and-carry session on IOD Transfers. It’s first come, first seated, supplies vanish fast, and you’ll make something you want to keep. Monthly on second Saturdays.

🍺 On The Rocks: Amped and On Tap 2nd Saturdays @ On The Rocks | Saturday (3/14) at 7:00 PM – Second Saturdays on the east side mean a free, all-original rock show at On the Rocks, with Tucson standouts and a few out-of-towners. Loud guitars, friendly faces, and food and drink specials, so you can claim you came for the music, not the tab.

✏ Rhapsody in Hue @ Tucson Jewish Community Center | Sunday (3/15) at 2:00 PM – Thought colored pencils were just for the junk drawer? Think again. The Fine Art Gallery hosts CPSA’s Phoenix and Tucson artists, turning meticulous layers into rich, luminous works, and there’s a free reception with light refreshments, because we were raised right.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Tucson report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 68°F – Low: 46°F – Precip: 42%

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. West wind 2 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Southwest wind 2 to 6 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 78°F – Low: 49°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 78. East northeast wind 2 to 9 mph. Later: Clear, with a low around 49. Northeast wind 5 to 8 mph.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Arizona but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

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This 4-bed, 4-bath Oro Valley Desert Vista home offers 3,500 square feet on .87 acres with Catalina Mountain views. An open plan and windows impress. An island kitchen and a multi-use suite with private bath and exterior entry add flexibility. New LVP flooring shines. Out back, a travertine patio, pool, and hot tub await, with parks and the Loop nearby.

Take a peek inside →