City News

For the first time in six years, the State of Arizona will begin accepting applications next week for KidsCare, the state's version of the federal Children's Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP. Coverage will begin Sept. 1.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a law in May to reinstate the stalled program. Federal dollars will cover the entire cost of KidsCare until at least the end of next year.

Tucson Water this year will launch a $350,000 pilot project for neighborhood-scale stormwater harvesting to increase shade and mitigate the urban heat island effect.

One way to harvest water from storms includes curb cuts to direct water to landscaping and other areas. Another way is through the use of so-called bump outs, which are small peninsulas that stick out from the curb to better capture flowing stormwater. Other benefits of bump outs include traffic calming and neighborhood beautification.

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) now has a self-service kiosk in Pima County Consolidated Justice Court. The kiosk will give customers the ability to renew and print vehicle registrations, get license plate tabs, change address, obtain a duplicate Driver License, register to vote, and more.

Come and catch Pokémon at Reid Park Zoo this Saturday and Sunday, 7-10 p.m. Trainers can capture Pokémon, meet other players, and learn tips and tricks from local Pokémon GO pros.

Meanwhile, guests can enjoy music, face painting, caricatures, and more. Lures will be activated in the Pokémon GO app at several different locations in the Zoo approximately every 30 minutes.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) ranks Arizona No. 1 in the United States for aerospace manufacturing. The study's methodology measured the weighted average of taxes, operating costs (industry and overall wage rates, business climate, and energy costs), industry size (existing suppliers and supply/growth of workforce, including available aerospace technicians, engineers, and mechanics), and educational attainment.

Learn your rights and responsibilities for Transaction Privilege (Sales) Taxation by attending the Tax and License Workshop sponsored by the City of Tucson Finance Department. The contracting workshop will be held this Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-noon, at the Murphy-Wilmot Library, 530 N. Wilmot Road. Questions will be answered, and written materials will be available. Samples of sales tax records, worksheets, and monthly returns will be explained. You should bring a calculator and a pencil to the free workshop.