Daily Brief
August 9, 2026
Sunday
🚨 Public Safety
Lightning-sparked fire burns in the Santa Catalinas near Finger Rock. A wildfire believed to have been started by lightning was burning in steep terrain near Finger Rock Canyon, at roughly 20 acres and 0% containment, with the Finger Rock Trail closed, according to fire officials cited by local outlets. Crews reported Saturday that the fire stayed mostly within its footprint; the Arizona Daily Star reported flames were visible overnight from parts of the Tucson area.
KVOA News 4, KVOA News 4, KOLD News 13, Arizona Daily Star
Two sentenced in good Samaritan homicide case. Wendy Scott and Elmer Smith were sentenced Friday in Pima County Superior Court for their roles in the killing of Paul Clifford after reaching plea deals and testifying against a third defendant, Jack Upchurch. KOLD reported Smith received a prison term and Scott was sentenced to probation.
Video released in Tucson police shooting of armed teen. The Pima Regional Critical Incident Team released footage showing a pursuit that ended with a Tucson police officer firing at a teenage carjacking suspect who was also struck by a police vehicle. The 17-year-old faces six charges, according to KOLD.
Tucson man charged with murder after allegedly leaving the country. Varun Batchigari, 20, who had been living in Tucson, faces charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping in the death of his girlfriend, according to KOLD, which reported he fled the country.
Pima County reports more drug-resistant fungus cases. The county is seeing an increase in cases of Candida auris, a fungus that can cause serious drug-resistant infections, KVOA reported.
🏛️ Government
Arizona insurers seek double-digit premium increases. Several health insurance companies operating in Arizona are requesting rate increases of more than 25%, according to AZPM, a change that would affect individual-market customers in Pima County.
Biggs holds first Tucson rally of general election campaign. Republican gubernatorial nominee Andy Biggs held his first Pima County rally of the general election Friday on Tucson's south side, drawing more than 100 supporters, KOLD reported.
🏗️ Development & Business
Starter homes return to the Tucson market. New starter-home models are being offered in the Tucson area starting at $249,000 as builders respond to affordability pressures, the Arizona Daily Star reported.
Mobile Meals to merge with Community Food Bank. Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona, which has served the region for more than 50 years, is merging with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona in a move both organizations describe as expanding resources and services.
Oro Valley moves ahead on new police headquarters. Oro Valley is building a new police headquarters that Deputy Chief Curtiss Hicks told Inside Tucson Business has been needed "for two decades now," and which department leaders say should help with recruitment.
Inside Tucson Business, Inside Tucson Business
🎉 Community & Events
New exhibit at Center for Creative Photography puts animals in focus. The "Animality" special exhibition opened at the Center for Creative Photography, developed through a collaboration between the museum's curatorial staff and University of Arizona students, KGUN 9 reported.
📢 What Your Officials Are Saying
Sen. Mark Kelly (U.S. senator, D-Ariz.). Kelly marked Purple Heart Day in a post on his official account, saying servicemembers who earned the honor "paid a price most of us will never fully understand."
Sen. Mark Kelly (U.S. senator, D-Ariz.). In a separate post, Kelly said he had visited the New Jersey house he grew up in and that people in such communities "deserve a government that works as hard as they do."
*Neither campaign in the governor's race — Katie Hobbs (D) or Andy Biggs (R) — nor either campaign in the CD6 race — JoAnna Mendoza (D) or Juan Ciscomani (R) — posted to their campaign channels in the past 48 hours.*
⛈️ Weather — Tucson
No active National Weather Service alerts for the Tucson area this morning.
Today (Sunday): Sunny and hot, with a high near 106 and heat index values as high as 106. Patchy blowing dust and a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. West-northwest wind 1 to 21 mph.
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms into the late evening, then partly cloudy, with a low around 80 and south wind 2 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 30%.
Tomorrow (Monday): Mostly sunny with a high near 103 and showers and thunderstorms likely after 2 p.m., 60% chance, continuing into the overnight before 5 a.m.
Outlook: Monsoon activity picks up as temperatures ease through the week, with a high near 99 Tuesday and 96 Wednesday. Rain chances climb to 50% Tuesday and 70% Wednesday. Blowing dust and gusty outflow winds are possible with afternoon storms.
NWS Tucson Forecast API
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