Posted June 25, 2014
PHOENIX HEALTH NONPROFIT COMPANY READY TO TAKE OVER UA HEALTH NETWORK - Phoenix-based Banner Health would acquire the University of Arizona Health Network, which includes two Tucson hospitals, under the terms of a 30-year draft agreement that still needs approval from the Arizona Board of Regents. Banner Health, a nonprofit company, is Arizona’s largest health system and operates 16 Arizona hospitals, but none south of Casa Grande. The UA Health Network includes two teaching hospitals - the UA Medical Center-University campus at 1501 N. Campbell Ave., and the UA Medical Center-South at 2800 E. Ajo Way. The network also includes clinics, health plans and a physician practice plan that staffs the teaching hospitals with doctors from the UA. A recent financial report shows that the UA Health Network recorded a $28.5 million loss for the first eight months of the current fiscal year. Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.
HIRING UNDERWAY FOR NEW SHELTER TO HOUSE MIGRANT CHILDREN - Southwest Key currently has 272 job openings at its new shelter north of Downtown Tucson. The company is looking to fill numerous positions for cooks, care providers, and more. According to job descriptions posted online, many positions require that employees are bilingual and have previous childcare or case management experience. The shelter will house mostly Central American unaccompanied minor children who crossed illegally into the United States. Many of those children currently are housed in a Border Patrol facility in Nogales, Ariz.
TRAFFIC ALERT: 22ND STREET ASPHALT WORK - Crews from the Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT) Streets and Traffic Maintenance Division are performing asphalt maintenance work on 22nd Street between Country Club Road and Tucson Boulevard. The work began early this morning and is expected to be finished by Friday, July 11, 2014. Work hours will be weekdays from 6 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. A single travel lane restriction will be in place during the work. At least two lanes of travel will be maintained at all times. Read the news release.
RIO NUEVO TO HAVE ACCESS TO DISTRICT TAX RECORDS - The Rio Nuevo Board unanimously authorized signing an agreement with the Arizona Department of Revenue, giving the district access to tax forms showing which businesses’ sales tax collections are being credited to the downtown redevelopment effort. About 1,100 businesses within the district are supposed to fill in a code on their tax forms so Rio Nuevo can receive its share of those tax dollars. However, district employees can’t access the forms to see how many of them actually are entering the code. Filling in the box doesn’t increase the amount of tax collected, but it means that all the money goes to the state instead of some of it remaining in Tucson. The board also approved $25,000 for a group wanting to renovate the fountains that link La Placita Village and the Tucson Convention Center. However, the money is contingent upon the group finding a match from the City, County or private parties. Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.
ELEPHANT BABY SHOWER THIS WEEKEND - The Reid Park Zoo is hosting a baby shower for Semba, the pregnant African Elephant. The party will be held at the Zoo Sunday from 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. Semba isn't expected to give birth to her calf for a few more weeks. In all, the pregnancy lasts about 22 months. Education staff will be on hand with crafts, activities, shower games, and a giant card for guests to sign. You can make a contribution for a specific gift through the Reid Park Zoological Society.