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2025 is coming to a close, and we've got a panel of journalists joining us on The Press Room to discuss Southern Arizona's big stories of the year. From community activism against big data to a new face in Congress with a familiar name, we wrap up the year with a lively discussion of the year's news, and a look ahead to 2026.
This week, we discuss Pima County Supervisors moving Project Blue another step forward; Attorney General Kris Mayes joins lawsuit over Trump Administration attempting to charge $100,000 for H-1B visas; City council approves transit safety plan. GUESTS: Yana Kunichoff, AZ Luminaria; Dylan Smith - Tucson Sentinel; Alisa Reznick - KJZZ; Nick Rommel - AZPM News
Senator Kelly speaks at Tucson Town Hall about President Trump and in support of Mendoza's congressional bid. Updates on new potential data centers. Representative Grijalva and others pepper-sprayed by HSI and CBP as Taco Giro location were raided by ICE. GUESTS: Joe Ferguson, Tucson Agenda; Paul Ingram, Tucson Sentinel; Prerana Sannappanavar, Arizona Daily Star and Danyelle Khmara, AZPM News.
Border Patrol agents raid a No More Deaths humanitarian aid camp, allegedly without a warrant, and arrest three people. Plus, Senator Mark Kelly says he won’t back down from his criticism of President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth. This week on The Press Room, our panel of Southern Arizona journalists discuss these stories and more. GUESTS: Paul Ingram of the Tucson Sentinel, Katya Mendoza of AZPM News, and John Washington of AZ Luminaria.
A special newsmaker panel discusses homelessness in Tucson, the needs of the unhoused community, and the services available to help fill those needs. Joining us are Jenifer Darland, Pima County Office of Housing Opportunities and Homeless Solutions, Tisha Tallman, CEO of the Primavera Foundation and Bruce Beikman, Communications Director of Gospel Rescue Mission.
This week, a widely anticipated meeting between the Pima County Board of Supervisors and Tucson Mayor and Council focused on crime, drug use, and homelessness. What did they accomplish? Our panel of journalists talk it over. Plus a new section of the border wall and what it means for wildlife in the remote bi-national biodiversity hotspot, the San Rafael Valley. GUESTS: Alisa Reznick of KJZZ, Nick Rommel of AZPM News, Caitlin Schmidt of Tucson Spotlight, and John Washington of AZ Luminaria
Our panel of journalists discuss the end of the federal government shut down and the beginning of Rep. Adelita Grijalva’s congressional term; plus, local law enforcement voices concern that immigrant crime victims are being targeted for deportation, and what that could mean for police outreach in the community. GUESTS: Rafael Carranza of AZ Luminaria, Jim Nintzel of the Tucson Sentinel, and Tim Steller of the Arizona Daily Star.
Democrats sweep the Tucson City Council election, with two new council members voted in. Our panel of journalists discuss what changes could be ahead for the newly-elected council. Plus, the government shutdown continues, and Southern Arizona finds itself at the center of some social media misinformation this week. GUESTS: Joe Ferguson of the Tucson Agenda, Paul Ingram of the Tucson Sentinel, Katya Mendoza of AZPM News, and Dan Shearer of Green Valley News
Arizona joins the lawsuit over the suspension of SNAP benefits, and our panel of journalists look at the upcoming Tucson City Council races. Also on this week’s program, hear about an investigative collaboration between AZPM and AZ Luminaria on hardships facing mobile home residents in Southern Arizona. GUESTS: Yana Kunichoff of AZ Luminaria, John DeSoto of AZPM, and Raye Winch of Poder Casas Moviles.
The University of Arizona rejects the Trump administration's higher education compact, but leaves the door open for some discussion. Plus, The Press Room's panel of journalists breaks down the lawsuit filed by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva against the US House for her delayed swearing in. GUESTS: L. M. Boyd of AZPM News, Paul Ingram from the Tucson Sentinel, Prerana Sanappannavar of the Arizona Daily Star, and John Washington of AZ Luminaria.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has threatened to sue House Speaker Mike Johnson over his delay swearing in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva. Plus, Customs and Border Protection is awarded $800 million for a "smart wall" in Southern Arizona, and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero unveils a new "Safe City" initiative. GUESTS: Danyelle Khmara of AZPM News, Yana Kunichoff of AZ Luminaria, Jim Nintzel of the Tucson Sentinel, and Caitlin Schmidt of Tucson Spotlight.
The Trump Administration looks to the University of Arizona as one of nine universities asked to sign its "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education." Our panel of journalists examines reactions by the U of A Faculty Senate and Tucson City Council. Plus, safety on Tucson public transit and The Loop, and CD 7's Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva has yet to be sworn in. GUESTS: Hannah Cree of AZPM News, Paul Ingram of the Tucson Sentinel, Alisa Reznick of KJZZ, and Prerana Sanappannavar of the Arizona Daily Star.
The fallout of the government shutdown on Arizona, and Rep. Adelita Grijalva's swearing in gets political. Plus, seven Tucson Starbucks are closing, but our panel is not too broken up about it. Susan Barnett of the Tucson Spotlight, Tucson Sentinel's Jim Nintzel, Tim Steller from the Arizona Daily Star, and AZPM's Katya Mendoza join Steve Goldstein to discuss this week's top news from Southern Arizona.
Democrat Adelita Grijalva, a former Pima County Supervisor and daughter of the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva, came out the winner of Southern Arizona's special election for Congressional District 7. She'll be headed to DC as the state's first Latina elected to Congress. We sit down with her for a one-on-one interview this week. Plus, political science professor Samara Klar on politics and partisan rhetoric.
Some Tucson residents are pushing back against a city-sanctioned safe sleeping site for unhoused women and nonbinary individuals. We discuss the project details with our weekly panel of journalists. And, the company behind the Project Blue data center is still moving forward on Pima County land. Plus, we discuss the state of the First Amendment following the death of Charlie Kirk. Paul Ingram of the Tucson Sentinel, Prerana Sannappanavar of the Arizona Daily Star, and John Washington of AZ Luminaria join host Steve Goldstein to discuss these issues and more.
Following the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a public appearance, the Press Room discusses social media's role in the news, and local reactions by students. Plus, we speak with Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes about President Trump's statement on eliminating vote-by-mail elections. Hannah Cree of AZPM News, Jim Nintzel of the Tucson Sentinel, and Yana Kunichoff of Arizona Luminaria join host Steve Goldstein to discuss these issues and more.
The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted to tighten up its policies on non-disclosure agreements and environmental reviews after Project Blue raised a red flag around government transparency. Plus, Republicans in the State Senate claim a democratic lawmaker endangered ICE agents by sharing a post about possible raids on social media—but she says that information was already public knowledge. Rafael Carranza of AZ Luminaria, Joe Ferguson of the Tucson Agenda, Danyelle Khmara of AZPM News, and Tim Steller from the Arizona Daily Star join host Steve Goldstein to discuss these topics and more.
Is Project Blue moving forward despite Tucson City Council's resounding 'no' vote? A request by Tucson Electric Power to provide energy to the potential project is raising questions. Plus, the Congressional District 7 candidates Daniel Butierez (R) and Adelita Grijalva (D) met on the debate stage this week to talk immigration, water, foreign policy and more. And Tucson's Ward 3 recount is a go after a judge's ruling this week. Eric Fink of KVOA, Paul Ingram of the Tucson Sentinel, and John Washington of AZ Luminaria join host Steve Goldstein to discuss these topics and more.
Will Pima County decide to extend a Regional Transportation Authority sales tax? Plus, a Tucson City Council recount is on hold after candidate Sadie Shaw claims that some voters were disenfranchised, alternative sites for Project Blue, and Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes responds to President Trump's social media comments about getting rid of mail-in voting. Alisa Reznick of KJZZ, Caitlin Schmidt of Tucson Spotlight, Jim Nintzel of the Tucson Sentinel, and Steve Jess of AZPM News discuss these stories and more with host Steve Goldstein.
As the school year starts in Southern Arizona, we talk with guests Marisol Garcia, President of the Arizona Education Association, about funding for K-12; Janice Palmer, VP for Government Affairs and Public Policy for the Helios Foundation, about higher education; and Fred DuVal from the Arizona Board of Regents about the economic impact of Arizona's public universities and federal cuts to university research programs.























