Another Brick In The Wall

For the second time this year, Amphitheater district administrators are issuing a statement regarding alleged teacher-student misconduct.

Ironwood High School teacher, Melissa Anne Dalton, is charged with four counts of sexual misconduct with a minor. The charges involve two students, one 15 and the other 16.

In January, David Rogers, then a teacher at Amphitheater High School, was brought up on the same charges in connection with a 16-year-old student.

Flowing Wells District is dealing with similar allegations. Teacher Christina Marie Carbone was arrested last week on misconduct charges involving a student in the Tucson Unified School District.

All three teachers were placed on administrative leave and Amphitheater reports it has begun the process of firing Rogers. 

Search and Hope Continue

Week number two passed with no sign of Isabel Celis, the six-year-old who disappeared from her bedroom on the Morning of April 20.

Local police have thoroughly searched, investigated hundreds of potential leads, involved Mexican authorities and recreated the event. Isa’s parents have cooperated fully with the investigation from the beginning, and recently addressed the local media.

A surveillance videotape released by TPD last week that many hoped would lead to key witnesses was later found to be worthless in regard to Isa’s case.

TPD will no longer be holding daily press conferences, but officials say the investigation continues to make daily progress.

Community support continues to run high. This weekend, local volunteers took to the streets, posting flyers and supporters organized a concert and a softball game to raise money toward the search.

Anyone with information is urged to call 911, 88-CRIME, or leave an anonymous tip on the TPD website.

Good Scott!

Second Saturday will relocate this month to facilitate both event-goers and downtown construction. Scott Avenue will host the May event.

Ready To Continue

Despite the suicide death of its leader, JT Ready, this week, members of U.S. Border Guard say they will continue their armed patrols of the Arizona/Mexico border.

Ready, killed four people, including a toddler, before turning the gun on himself during what is being deemed a domestic dispute last week. According to FBI officials, Ready was under federal domestic terrorism investigation at the time of the shootings.

Lofty Aspirations

Tucson landmark theater, The Loft, has revealed plans to renovate. Upgrades will include a third screen, a bigger lobby, more wheelchair accessibility, an elevator and a rear patio.

The theater will purchase a property next door to facilitate the expansion.

Cop Killer = Crazy

Last week David “Nick” Delich, the man who led Tucson police on a 20-mile chase in 2008 after fatally shooting TPD officer Erik Hite, was sentenced to 91 years in the state mental hospital after entering a plea of “guilty but insane.” Delich is diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Delich will be transferred to prison if and when doctors determine him no longer seriously mentally ill.

Delich used his opportunity to speak to inform the court that he would resurrect Hite if he knew the officer’s whereabouts. Hite’s widow said she agrees with the punishment, and hopes his treatment will help Delich find peace.

Justice Executed

Thomas Kemp was executed Wednesday, nearly 20 years after he robbed and killed a Pima Community College student. Kemp’s final words were, “I have no regrets.”

Catch The Moon

Tucsonans were treated to a spectacular sight Saturday night, when the moon was in close proximity to the sun because of its naturally elliptical orbit. Timing of the lunar event coincided with a full moon, making the celestial body appear 14 percent larger than usual.

“Best” Ballots Begin

The Tucson Weekly’s Best of Tucson 2012 ballot is now available online. The perennial favorite allows Tucsonans to vote for their favorite local businesses, events, media and more.

Rebel Without A Leg To Stand On

Here’s what we know: John Frederick was riding a gasoline-powered bicycle when he encountered Shawn Patrick Cleary on a walking path along Golf Links Road.

After that, the real story seems to be anyone’s guess — Cleary calls himself a concerned citizen and says he was simply using his walking staff to enforce path policy regarding motorized vehicles. Frederick says he was just riding to work when some dude jumped him with a big ol’ stick.

Cleary admits to having several other altercations on the same path, for the same reason… but doesn’t consider himself a vigilante or believe he deserves the assault citation.

They Say The RTA Lanes Are Wide On Broadway

The Regional Transit Authority — working from what are reported to be 25-year-old projections — plan to widen Broadway Avenue from Euclid to Country Club. To six lanes. For two miles. And take out 100 buildings. All for the low, low price of $71 million dollars.

Although it might be worth 8 digits to finally be rid of that old Wienerschnitzel.

He’s Down With GOP

Republican candidate for the special CD 8 election to fill the Giffords seat, Jesse Kelly, is so very unpopular that even members of his own party are jumping ship. Many prominent GOP members from the Southern Arizona region have given Kelly’s opponent — and Giffords’ choice — Ron Barber their official endorsements.

At least Kelly can apparently count on the seniors-sitting-around-in-soft-focus-while-pleading-to-keep-their-Social-Security-checks vote, according to his latest non-evil TV ad.

No Hablo Drama

A student-led group called UNIDOS was ousted from the UA department of Mexican-American Studies. Que pasa is the $64,000 pregunta.

UNIDOS made national headlines last year, when protesting MAS students took over a TUSD board meeting. With UNIDOS was kicked off UA campus, some — including Social Justice Education Project manager, Kim Dominguez —  are speaking out against what they see as the university’s attempt to railroad student activism.

The details are a little difficult to follow in any language, but essentially, a UA MAS email leaked to the press by SJEP sternly warns UNIDOS against Save Ethnic Studies fundraising in MAS department facilities.

Como se dice SNAFU?

* The “You Gotta Laugh A Little, Cry A Little” feature is strictly opinion-based, humorous commentary. Nothing here should be considered statement of fact nor be interpreted as news. For quality news reporting, please visit the links provided and/or the news sites on my blogroll. Don’t sue me, I’M JOKING.

** Direct/indirect quotes and other re-posted content remain the property of the original author. Attribution on Locally,Vocally is provided in the form of a hot-link to the original work and/or written acknowledgment of the material’s original source.

News Briefs — What To Know This Week

4.30.12

ISA SEARCH EXPANDS: POLICE LOOK IN MEXICO, QUESTION POSSIBLE WITNESS

Unfortunately, the most important local story this week surrounds 6-year-old Isabel Celis.

Isa, as her family — and now her entire community — know her, is believed to have been kidnapped from her bedroom sometime early last Saturday morning, April 21. She is still missing.

Police have expanded the search for Isa into Mexico this week, one report quoting a former FBI agent as calling the possibility that Isa was taken south of the border “actually realistic.”

Here in town, police are attempting to track down some people seen walking toward the Celis home in the early hours of Saturday morning. It is reported that one of the group, a potential key witness in the case, is now communicating with detectives. The authorities have not yet released information regarding what, if anything, the person can tell them about Isa’s disappearance.

FAMILY PLANNING AT RISK: PENDING LEGISLATION COULD HELP AXE COVERAGE, FUNDING

House Bill 2625, which passed the AZ House of Representatives on April 19 and is currently before the State Senate, would extend the rights of employers to refuse their workers health-care coverage for contraceptives.

Beyond allowing employers to fire women for using birth control regardless of how they obtained it, the bill also exempts employers from disclosing to new hires the company’s practices concerning family-planning coverage and how contraceptive use might affect their employment eligibility.

Meanwhile, House Bill 2800 — already through the Arizona House and Senate and awaiting Governor Brewer’s signature — would ban the use of federal funds like Medicaid for use by organizations that provide abortion services.

And on April 17, Brewer signed House Bill 2627 into law, stripping Planned Parenthood of its “eligible nonprofit” status. Doing so ensured that AZ taxpayers will not receive formerly available credits for donating to the organization.

NEW REPRESENTATIVE: FONTANA FILLS PATTERSON SEAT

Nicholas Fontana, a local attorney and Tohono O’odham tribal court judge pro tem, will fill the seat vacated by former District 29 legislator Daniel Patterson, who recently resigned amid a hailstorm of ethical allegations.

Fontana, a Tucson native, was appointed by the Pima County Board of Supervisors to represent the southside district on Monday, April 23.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES: APPLICATIONS BEING TAKEN

The Arizona Department of Health reported that it is accepting applications for medical marijuana dispensaries through May 25. Officials expect to award operational certificates as soon as August 7.

April 27, 2012

Jesse Kelly: Seriously?

So, there’s a Republican contender for the Congressional seat recently vacated by our beloved Gabrielle Giffords. Jesse Kelly, who gave Gabby a run for her money in the last election, has a pretty strong contingency. Unfortunately, he also has no clue.

Two Kelly statements jump off the page: “We have an unlimited supply of wealth in this nation,” he said. “Get the EPA out of the way. … It solves everything we need.” (Quote from AZCentral.com article here.)

Which is enough for me to write him off as a candidate. To write him off as a person it took a little more. According to the above article, Kelly has been encouraging voters to help him “finish the job” of taking back Gabby’s seat for the GOP.

Um… not cool, dude. NOT cool.

I adore Gabby, and have full faith in her recommended successor, Ron Barber — both of whom know firsthand exactly why gun violence is no laughing matter.

Canary’s Dead: What You’ll Never Know About the Mine Next Door

Lotta mines around Tucson. Lotta mines. Now, thanks to Governor Jan Brewer’s signing of the Polluter Protection Act, both you and I could be living next to a toxic sinkhole. A death trap that is actively — and legally — hiding its poisonous shenanigans. Oh, and if all of your hair and teeth fall out because of it? You can’t sue. This legislation is so very environmentally destructive that even the envoy of Satan, former Governor Fife Symington, once vetoed it. But Brewer seems to think its a famous idea. Wow.

All the Wrong People Are Unemployed: Lazy Bureaucrats Could Cost Workers Their Bennies

Apparently, the AZ legislature thinks filling out a little bit of paperwork just ain’t where the party’s at. Tell that to the thousands of Arizona workers who are poised to lose their unemployment benefits if our representatives refuse to lift their pencils. The unemployed know all too well how much fun it is to wade through the red-tape-and-snotty-attitude maze that is filing for government money. (While also looking for jobs in the worst economy since the Great Depression, btw.) But you’re right, lawmakers — those slackers obviously don’t deserve a break.

Daniel Patterson: Good Riddance 

Just when I thought AZ politicians couldn’t be more of an embarrassment, along comes Daniel Patterson. Quitting his post moments before being ousted from the House of Representatives for being … well … a friggin’ train wreck, Patterson’s girlfriend still managed to out-class him by getting herself arrested on meth charges.

Listen, Danny boy, we’re used to taking “racist” flack from the entire nation over the parade of morons that is our state government, but you really pissed off some people by making Tucsonans look like trailer trash too. I’d stay out of the Golden Nugget for a while if I were you.

The NIMBY-hood Report: Overlay, Lady, Lay

You really don’t want to f*ck with West University folks. They voluntarily choose to buy homes in a demilitarized zone — ergo, they love a good fight. And the city council is their favorite frienemy. Which is why I, for one, am far from surprised that the Hatfields and McCoys are at it again.

The council is pushing redevelopment around the UA, while area homeowners are digging their heels in against the city’s plans. Advocates of the overlay say the redevelopment efforts will improve the area and often accuse its opponents of alarmism. Meanwhile, critics of the overlay say they’re just trying to save their historic neighborhood from a razing at the hands of profiteers.

Wherever the truth lies, the NIMBY-hooders have legitimate cause to be cheesed-off at the council this week. City council tossed out more than 12,000 petition signatures objecting to the overlay plans on a technicality — despite the fact that its own office had caused the error.

Dirty pool, man. Dirty pool.

Marco Rubio Hates Mexican People: And the Feeling Is Mutual

So the rich white guy might choose a hot-token minority running mate whose skin tone belies very little about his political views? Color me shocked. Despite Rubio’s abysmal reputation in regard to issues that Latino voters hold dear: immigration issues, health care, poverty, education … and on and on … presidential candidate Mitt Romney still seems to be wondering what brown can do for him. The main problem with this strategy is that Latino voters aren’t stupid. Unlike Romney, who apparently thinks Cuba and Mexico are the same thing.

* The “You Gotta Laugh A Little, Cry A Little” feature is strictly opinion-based, humorous commentary. Nothing here should be considered statement of fact nor be interpreted as news. For quality news reporting, please visit the links provided and/or the news sites on my blogroll. Don’t sue me, I’M JOKING.

** Direct/indirect quotes and other re-posted content remain the property of the original author. Attribution on Locally,Vocally is provided in the form of a hot-link to the original work and/or written acknowledgment of the material’s original source.