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Hey Tucson, hope your week’s off to a good start! Off-duty police on Sun Tran, Biosphere 2 coral study, the Gem and Mineral Show, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
New targeted safety measures: Sun Tran is adding off-duty Tucson police officers this week, focusing on data hotspots. Body cameras are in use and use of force limits are under review — get details on the rollout.
New cross-border education effort: UA signed an agreement with Taiwan’s National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University to launch a Talent and Innovation Hub for semiconductor workforce training, with implications for Tucson students and employers — learn what the partnership means.
New chapter in climate research: U of A’s Biosphere 2 will introduce corals to its ocean habitat for the first time, studying how Gulf of Mexico and Florida Keys species cope with warming waters — get all the details.
Celebrating community and heritage: Tucson is hosting multiple Black History Month events this February, from neighborhood gatherings to campus programs, celebrating local stories, art, and culture with family friendly ways to learn and connect — see recommended browser options.
Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? GoldCo has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with Lemonade.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Pet support on display: A Valentine’s Day InFURmation Fair will bring more than 26 local groups together to share resources on vaccinations, spay and neuter, adoptions, training, pet nutrition, and help for injured strays. Led by SAAFB and the Scarritt Foundation, it highlights animal services available to Tucson residents. Get all the event details.
Your neighbors are Googling you: It’s uncomfortable but true — employers, new friends, even other parents at school pickup search names all the time. If something negative, outdated, or misleading shows up first, it can shape opinions before you ever meet. BetterReputation helps push down unwanted search results so your first impression actually reflects who you are today. And if it’s someone you care about, you can help them too.
Steward of civic records: Tucson is set to welcome a new city clerk, Marisa Stoller, picked by Mayor Regina Romero and City Council. The council was set to vote last Tuesday, and she is expected to start Feb. 22, succeeding Suzanne Mesich, who served from February 2022 to December 2025 after a 46-year career. See what the job involves.
Gold is having a moment: Between inflation headlines, market swings, and growing global uncertainty, precious metals are (again) in the spotlight. American Hartford is currently offering up to $25,000 in free silver when you open a qualified account. They’ll also help you set up a penalty-free gold IRA with a lowest price guarantee, no buyback fees, and 7-day price protection.
String dreams, meet reality: Chicago Music Store has quietly powered Tucson’s music scene since 1919, with a deep selection, rentals, lessons, and expert repairs. Whether your guitar needs love, your kid needs a clarinet, or you need fresh strings, this place delivers with friendly know-how.
A second opinion never hurts: Not every financial advisor is the right fit, and it’s okay to explore your options. Unbiased matches you with an advisor based on your personal situation, giving you a chance to ask questions in a free, no-pressure conversation to see if the fit makes sense. No obligation — just helpful advice.
Outsource the airport run: If you’re juggling airport pickups or plotting a Sonoita or Willcox tasting day, Arizona Sunshine Tours & Shuttle Service handles Tucson International transfers and small-group wine tours, with local lore along the way, so you can keep your sanity (and your driver’s license) spotless.
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📆 Around town this week
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.
This week
🦅 Arizona CARES Volunteer Kickoff @ HawkWatch International | Tuesday (2/10) at 5:30 PM – Nothing like helping Tucson’s tiniest raptors with their housing crisis. HawkWatch is recruiting locals to adopt nest boxes and monitor Western Screech-owls, American Kestrels, and more. Pop into the kick-off for updates, light snacks, and biologist gossip, or snag the recording and sign up.
🌙 Twilight Tour! @ Historic Bates Mansion | Wednesday (2/11) at 6:00 PM – Grab a drink and wander their Twilight Tour to sip, snack, and snoop around a beautiful event space. Meet the crew, feel the ambiance, and decide if this is the spot for your next wedding, reunion, or “we finally made it to 50” bash.
💎 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show® @ Tucson Convention Center | Thursday (2/12) – When the 71st year of Tucson’s first and longest-running gem show hits town, the desert gets extra sparkly. Expect museum-grade displays built around this year’s theme, rare finds, and rockhounds debating luster with Wildcats-level passion, all without stepping on a single cactus.
This weekend
🖍 Chalk Block Party @ Children’s Museum | Saturday (2/14) at 9:00 AM – Bring your inner kid to the museum’s north lawn for pro chalk inspiration, free chalk, and sidewalks begging for color. Stake a square with family, hit face painting and food trucks, and, for once, making a mess is encouraged. Free outside, museum admission inside.
🎉 Statehood Celebration @ Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón Museum | Saturday (2/14) at 10:00 AM – Only in Arizona do you get fresh tortillas, cannon fire, and a quick tour of the 5 C’s before lunch. Expect roping, blacksmiths, and Mexican hot chocolate at the comal, plus smart talks on tuberculosis and our rocky road to statehood, all included with admission.
🎗 Desert Gold Childhood Cancer Walk @ Brandi Fenton Memorial Park | Sunday (2/15) at 12:00 AM – Walk for something real at Brandi Fenton Park on International Childhood Cancer Awareness Day. Join families, survivors, and groups like Bald Beauties and Candlelighters, make or join a team, and if your family is in treatment, ask about registration scholarships.
🚶 Fort Lowell Park Walking Tour @ Fort Lowell Museum | Sunday (2/15) at 9:00 AM – Think Tucson started with Davis-Monthan jets? Take a leisurely, under-a-mile tour of Fort Lowell Park’s adobe ruins, from the Quartermaster and Officers’ Quarters to the hospital, and see how the Apache Wars shaped Tucson, museum admission included. $35 general, $20 member, bring water, park restrooms.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Tucson report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 78°F – Low: 54°F – Precip: 12%
Sunny, with a high near 78. South southwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind around 7 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 78°F – Low: 51°F – Precip: 6%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
This house is wild
2015 Pulte model on a half acre in gated Desert Willow Ranch with 4 beds, 4 baths, and 3,480 square feet. Guest suite includes plantation shutters and a full bath. Great room flows to a granite kitchen with large island, walk-in pantry, and a 5-burner Wolf cooktop. Split plan highlights a primary suite with mountain views and pool with fountain.
Take a peek inside →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we genuinely think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week:
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