The Department of Homeland Security has granted $15 million to the UA in Tucson to study border security and immigration. This research will be done as one of five new departments planned for a six year study on this topic with the possibility of renewal at the end of this period. This center of excellence will gather information from 10 other universities which include Arizona State University. Other Universities taking part are New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, New Mexico State University, San Diego State University, University of Albany, the University of Southern California, University of Texas — Pan American, the University of Minnesota, University of Washington, and the West Virginia University. This multi-institutional project in Tucson will include new technologies for detection of threats and surveillance in addition to developments in communications. There will also be studies on environmental impact due to commerce and immigration including optimum border security according to the law of the land.

An Arizona Senate panel voted to allow staff and students at Arizona Colleges and Universities, which will include Tucson, to carry arms for their protection. They did not pass this bill for K-12 schools. It does appear that there are enough votes to also permit guns in K-12 schools. This legislation only allows someone to carry a weapon on campus who has a permit, and in order to obtain consent to do so, they have to pass certain conditions as well as be at least 21 years of age.

Tucson environmentalists and residents are opposed to a power line extension thinking that the power company in moving ahead too quickly to serve new developments in SE Tucson. TEP wants to build two substations and close to nine miles of power lines for this area but many are concerned about the effect on the environment and landscape. At public hearings last week, Tucson Electric Power offered a two phased approach that would include 85 foot tall poles infringing on prickly-pear and creosote bushes as it moves east in historic sites and riparian areas. More hearings are set for March to hopefully determine other routes for this rapidly growing area and its great need for power.

The U.S. Supreme Court is going to decide how much money the taxpayers in all of Arizona have to pay in order to teach English in the schools. Legal costs to continue the 16 year old battle regarding the laws in place would be less than what Arizonans will have to pay in additional monies if the current provisions are removed from the existing laws. In order to alter what already exists, in Tucson/Phoenix and throughout the state, it is thought that the changes in the law could cost Arizona $200 million a year. Arizona is already dealing with a $1 billion shortage. In December a lower court judge ruled that beginning on March 4, he would begin placing fines on the State at $1 million a day if Arizona does not have what he considers being an adequate plan that will offer all students the opportunity to learn English.

Pima County Health Department has confirmed a case of measles at Northwest Medical Center in Tucson. This is the first confirmed case in 14 years. The patient arrived from Switzerland and was treated for flu-like symptoms. Later a rash appeared and the patient was put in isolation. The Health Department is asking people who visited the facility from February 12 through February 15 to review their immunization shots. There is a call center that will be open throughout the weekend for more details at 243-7808.

The Federal Government has approved plans for the first virtual fence to stop illegal invaders into the U.S. southwest of Tucson. This first fence that is being built by Boeing Co. will be 28 miles using some new technology including radars and surveillance cameras. Plans are afoot to continue it’s use including physical fences as well, along other areas of Arizona and Texas that border Mexico.

Tucsonans who will be filing taxes for the first time in many years, may need help filling out the forms. There is no place on the 1040EZ tax form for income from Social Security so the need is for the complex 1040A form to be completed. The United Way in Tucson is creating an informational flier that will explain how to do this in order to qualify for the rebates that are part of the recent stimulus package offered by the government. It is understood that previously, many of the elderly and low-income individuals who were exempt from filing taxes but may qualify for the rebates have no knowledge of how to fill out the forms.

Dr. Salvatore Albani, director of UA’s Arthritis Center in Tucson is developing a synthetic peptide that will be safer and less expensive, offering more relief for those who are debilitated by crippling rheumatoid arthritis. This autoimmune disease uses the body’s own immune system, which in healthy individuals protects the body, to inflame joints. Dr. Albani is creating an immune modulation therapy that causes the immune system to control the mechanisms that cause inflammation, pain and swelling that damage the body and will not suppress the immune system with adverse side effects. The hope is that this will be a pill that is taken daily and perhaps at some point the patients will be able to discontinue it’s use after the peptide’s do their work inducing long lasting tolerance of the disease.

This project includes five databases on all elected politicians, both federal and state, in the entire United States. This information has been years in the gathering. A bus tour kicking off the completion of this project will begin in Tucson in front of the Main Library at the UA campus on Wednesday. The compilation of this information was a daunting task that involved close to 6,000 people from interns and journalists to political scientists and staffers across the nation. The goal of this organization is to allow people to download truthful information on politicians from this website voter hotline without the campaign propaganda. It will contain biographical history, campaign finance details, how the politicians stand on various issues, their speeches, voting history and much more.

Tucson’s city staff is to expand benefits not only to cover same-sex relationships but those of heterosexual partners as well. This would bring the city of Tucson into compliance with its own nondiscrimination policies since it has offered benefits to same-sex relationship partners since 1997. Recommendations have been made by three city appointed commissions, which include the Human Relations Commission, Pima County Tucson Women’s Commission and the Tucson Commission of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues, to extend the benefits to all employees.