El Independiente

South Tucson Opposes New Walgreens Liquor License

Nathan Mitchell

South Tucson's packed city hall broke into cheers when the city council voted unanimously to oppose Walgreens' liquor license.

The license will go before the state liquor board in either April or May, said Peter Schelstraete, Wal-greens' lawyer. In the past, licenses have been approved despite the council voting against them, South Tucson Mayor Jennifer Eckstrom said.

"The best we can do is forward our recommendation," she said.
The Class 10 license would allow the store—located at 1900 S. Sixth Ave.—to sell beer and wine to go. It must receive final approval from the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control.

Nuestras Raíces to Explore Mexican Culture at Festival

Heather Rissi

Nuestras Raíces, the Pima County Public Library program that celebrates Mexican-American culture, is joining the Tucson Festival of Books this year.

Historically, the library has held a single festival for Nuestras Raíces (Our Roots) every year in March, says Adriana Rendon, a librarian and the co-chair for Nuestras Raíces.

This year, the library joined forces with other groups to showcase different aspects of Mexican-American culture, such as music, language and arts during the UA-based Tucson Festival of Books, March 13 and 14.

Journey to the Center of the World

Nathan Mitchell

Oregon-based Sue Liebetrau has been coming to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show since 1982. She is a “well-aged” collector of gems and minerals with a particular interest in petrified woods, though her fascination began at an early age. Her collection has grown into a full-time hobby.

“You know that little kid going around picking up rocks and sticks? That was me,” she says.

Immigration Reform Could Stimulate Economy

Josh T. Saunders

A recent study found that immigration reform is capable of reviving the nation's struggling economy.

With a comprehensive reform model, the report shows that alternative immigration policies could "yield at least $1.5 trillion in added U.S. gross domestic product over 10 years."

By legalizing unauthorized workers and basing immigration limits on the U.S. labor demand, comprehensive reform would "raise the 'wage floor' for the entire U.S. economy - to the benefit of both immigrant and native-born workers," according to "Raising the Floor for American Workers: The Economic Benefits of Comprehensive Immigration Reform," conducted by UCLA professor Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda and released through the Center for American Progress and the Immigration Policy Center.

Sunnyside Looking to Double Enrollment at Alt. High School

Brett Booen

Between an ongoing concern to tighten the budget and a $12,000 spending fiasco involving Sunnyside High School's superintendent, an unsuspected source of hope emerged at Sunnyside Unified School District's Governing Board meeting Jan. 26.

While the primary concern for many in attendance was answers from the board regarding Superintendent Manuel L. Isquierdo's personal use of a district credit card, a band of students and faculty from STAR Academic Center gathered for a different cause.