Tucson Local Pulse: Debate on Project Blue, Crime Rates Down, New Murals, and Back-to-School Fun

Good morning, this is Tucson Local Pulse for Saturday, September 6, 2025. We wake to warm September sunshine with partly cloudy skies and a high near 92 today. Right now it’s in the upper 70s, moisture from last night’s showers hovering in the air, but the chance for more rain today is low. It’s a good morning to get out before the heat hits, with UV levels expected to be high, so sunscreen is a must if you’re headed to the park or planning to walk downtown. This weekend’s big story: all eyes on the debate around Project Blue, a massive data center project many believe is backed by Amazon, despite ongoing secrecy. City hall faced pushback from neighbors, especially over concerns about water usage and rising energy costs. The City Council meets again Tuesday, September 9, where Project Blue is expected to draw more scrutiny along with updates on the newly enforced citywide camping ban impacting people in washes and public spaces. For the latest on public safety, KGUN 9 reports a 34-year-old man was shot and killed yesterday on Tucson’s Southside. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department continues its investigation and asks anyone with information to come forward. Meanwhile, a new report from Tucson Sentinel highlights that rates of violent crime here are actually continuing to trend downward in 2025 despite national debates on urban safety. Shifting gears to community news, we have good vibes on the mural front: four spectacular new murals by Tucson artists now brighten downtown, unveiled as part of our city’s 250th anniversary celebration. And art lovers will want to mark their calendars for the annual Tucson Meet Yourself folklife festival, running October 17th to 19th. The festival is seeking volunteers—folks who sign up help greet guests and support performers, plus they get a festival shirt and food voucher. Now to music and culture. Whiskey is for Drinking, Water is for Fighting Over promises an evening of local spirits and deep dives into Arizona’s water history on September 17 at Whiskey del Bac on Forbes Boulevard. And for outdoor fun, Cyclovia Tucson is gearing up for October 26, opening up city streets from Dunbar Spring to the Pima Community College Downtown Campus for biking, skating, and walking. In schools, congratulations to Marana High for hosting the region’s Youth Leadership Academy and to Teresa Anthofer, named a Top 5 finalist for Arizona Teacher of the Year. We also celebrate Sahuarita’s Dane Hartnett, a sophomore who stepped up at quarterback in a thrilling late-game fight against Desert Sunrise last night, showing grit and versatility even as the Mustangs fell by just two points. Local job growth remains steady as new businesses quietly set up shop along Grant Road and South Alvernon. On the real estate front, home inventory is up slightly while median prices in central Tucson hold steady near four hundred thousand—good news for those trying to buy this fall. Looking ahead, families can grab free backpacks and school su This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.