Good morning, this is Tucson Local Pulse for Thursday, November twentieth. We start today with big changes at 100 Acre Wood. Just after sunrise on Tuesday, city crews cleared Tucson’s largest homeless encampment to make way for a long-anticipated bike park. This move is the final phase in an effort that’s been going on since last spring. The city says construction materials start arriving today, and the park is set to reopen as an all-skills bike park in Spring 2026. Meanwhile, outreach workers have helped around half of those previously camping there get into housing, though some still don’t know where they’ll go next. Tucson Parks and Recreation is asking everyone to stay out of the area until the new park opens.

Local government is also making news this week. Downtown, the Tucson City Council and Pima County Board of Supervisors held a rare joint meeting, focusing on the intersecting issues of unsheltered homelessness and fentanyl use. Leaders are putting aside past disagreements and say they’re aiming for a stronger, unified approach to public safety and community support.

If you live on the east side near Interstate 10 and Houghton, you’ve likely heard about Project Blue, the massive three-point-six billion dollar data center proposed for that area. While developers are pushing forward – not needing reclaimed water for cooling, just enough for bathrooms and fire systems – opposition from environmental groups continues. They’re concerned about potential rises in electric rates and extra strain on local water, urging regulators and residents to pay attention to long-term impacts.

Over at the Arizona Water Board, new efforts to shore up the state’s water future took a step forward yesterday. The board approved taxpayer funding to develop at least two desalination plants, one likely in Baja California and another possibly in California, aiming to boost Arizona’s water supply over the next decade. These projects won’t bring water overnight, but the hope is they’ll help offset cuts to our Colorado River allocations down the road.

Turning to the weather, we’re off to a chilly start this morning with mostly clear skies. Highs will reach the mid-seventies, making it perfect for getting outside. Breezes might pick up later in the day, but no rain in the forecast. The next few days look sunny and mild, ideal for holiday shopping and outdoor events.

On the business front, Project Blue and city infrastructure investments are driving job openings in construction, utilities, and tech. If you’re looking, regional boards estimate around nine hundred new job postings this week, mostly in skilled trades and customer support.

For upcoming local events, tonight at Illuminations on East Fort Lowell, the ASID Arizona South Chapter is hosting their Sip and Sparkle holiday event, complete with festive drinks and showroom tours. Over the weekend, Wreaths Across America is still seeking sponsors to help honor veterans at local cemeteries.

In local sports, Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball continues its strong start to the season, pulling off a hard-fought seventy-one to sixty-seven win over third-ranked UConn behind Jaden Bradley’s twenty-one points. At the high school level, congratulations go out to the Tucson High Badgers for clinching a playoff spot in boys’ soccer after a dramatic overtime win Tuesday night.

On the public safety side, police are investigating a single significant incident from the past day: a man was struck and killed on East Speedway near Wilmot after reportedly crossing against the light early Wednesday morning. Our hearts go out to his family. Tucson Police are reminding us to use caution at crosswalks, especially during the upcoming holiday rush.

Before we wrap up, a quick feel-good note: after the recent encampment clear-out, Jamal Russell, who just moved into his first apartment with his pit bull Ladybug, says he’s looking forward to helping former neighbors however he can. It’s a reminder that small acts of kindness make Tucson stronger.

Thank you for tuning in this morning. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a local update. This has been Tucson Local Pulse. We’ll see you tomorrow with more local updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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