🌱 Patch AM: How you can brighten the holidays for Tucson kids fighting cancer

Good morning to you Tucson! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How you can brighten the holidays for Tucson kids fighting cancer
• Why a Tucson traffic stop sparked an internal shooting investigation
• Is public art the best use of Tucson housing dollars?

Also on today's calendar: Arizona National Livestock Show and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the balloon say to the doctor? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: Very warm, with a high of 82 and low of 53 degrees.
• Monday: Record-breaking temperatures, temps: high: 84, low: 56.
• Tuesday: Increasing cloudiness, with a high of 79 and low of 61 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Candlelighters helps families facing childhood cancer during holidays (kold.com) — A Tucson nonprofit, Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Southern Arizona, is asking locals to help fulfill about 200 holiday gift wishes for children with cancer or sickle cell disease and their siblings. The group, which has supported families here for 40 years, also needs grocery gift cards, with donations accepted through Christmas at 40 North Swan Road or via an online Amazon registry.
   

2. Pima County team investigates Tucson traffic stop incident (kvoa.com) — A late-night Tucson traffic stop near 22nd and Swan escalated into a foot chase and an accidental gunshot from a Tucson police officer that struck his own vehicle and the suspect’s car, but hurt no one. A regional critical incident team and Tucson Police’s internal unit are now investigating, while the driver faces aggravated DUI and drug charges in Pima County custody.
   

3. City of Tucson teams up with the Arts Foundation for Tucson for public housing arts project (kgun9.com) — Tucson is investing nearly $120 million to overhaul Tucson House and other public housing sites, with $383,000 specifically earmarked for new public art. City officials say the art will beautify spaces at Tucson House, Amazon Flats, and Sugar Hill on Stone, while some residents argue safety, cleanliness, and health needs should come first. Renovations, including major system upgrades and elevator replacements, are expected to take about 30 months.
   

4. Whatcom READS Presents: The Sonoran Desert: Biodiversity and the Perils of Human Passage (wwu.edu) — A Tucson-based conservation biologist will lead a Zoom talk on the Sonoran Desert’s biodiversity and how border policies shape dangerous migration conditions, drawing on her work with the Tucson Bird Alliance and humanitarian aid efforts. Registration for the free online event opens January 1, 2026, giving locals a chance to learn more about the desert ecosystem that surrounds them.
   

5. Traveling Holocaust exhibit brings survivor stories across Arizona (glendalestar.com) — Tucson residents will soon be able to visit a major Holocaust exhibit at the Tucson Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center, running from late November through August 2026 with stories from survivors like Andrew Schot and Margot Frank. It’s part of a statewide “Triumph in Tragedy” series bringing powerful artifacts and companion events to five Arizona cities, all free and open during regular business hours.
   

📸 Around Tucson

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Tucson

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 27

• Arizona National Livestock Show
  Arizona State Fair, 1826 W McDowell Rd, Phoenix
  8:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Monday December 22

• Homework Help
  Valencia Branch Library , 202 West Valencia Road , Tucson
  4:00 pm

Tuesday December 23

• Toddler Storytime
  Flowing Wells Library , 1730 W. Wetmore Rd. , Tucson
  10:15 am
• Preschool Storytime
  Flowing Wells Library , 1730 W. Wetmore Rd. , Tucson
  11:15 am
• Read to a Dog
  Flowing Wells Library , 1730 W. Wetmore Rd. , Tucson
  2:30 pm
• Winter Seed Starts
  Flowing Wells Library , 1730 W. Wetmore Rd. , Tucson
  2:30 pm
• GED One-on-One Help
  Valencia Branch Library , 202 West Valencia Road , Tucson
  3:00 pm

Wednesday December 24

• It's Babytime! Storytime for Babies
  Flowing Wells Library , 1730 W. Wetmore Rd. , Tucson
  10:30 am
• GED One-on-One Help
  Valencia Branch Library , 202 West Valencia Road , Tucson
  3:00 pm

Saturday January 3

• Mainly Murals Walking Tour-Jan 3rd
  Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón Museum , 196 N Court Ave , Tucson
  10:00 am

📣 Tucson Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Monday December 22

• Celebrate the Winter Solstice at Mission Garden
  Mission Garden · Tucson , AZ , South Tucson
  9:00 am
• Craft Table
  Sam Lena-South Tucson Branch Library , 1607 South Sixth Avenue , Tucson
  9:00 am
• Behavioral Health Outreach Walk-In Clinic (El Rio)
  Joel D Valdez Main Library , 101 North Stone Avenue , Tucson
  10:00 am
• It's Babytime! Storytime for Babies
  Joel D Valdez Main Library , 101 North Stone Avenue , Tucson
  10:15 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Tucson PatchAM possible:

• Junk King Tucson — (520) 549-5865
  The Greenest, Cleanest Junk Removal in the Desert!
• Sunrise Roofers LLC — (520) 668-6638
  Roofing Contractor in Tucson, Arizona.

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• I want to say that I had a massive amount of Christmas miracles today when my car broke down on Sunrise late this afternoon.
  Firstly let me apologize to any of the people that were backed up forever because of my break down. The miracles were that people who were in cars… (Nextdoor Coronado Villas)
• I was able to bless two beautiful families and their kids gifts!
  I’m so thankful, and loved seeing the smile on there face! Thank you all and everybody in this group, hope everybody has a blessed day! (Nextdoor Grant/Glenn)

• MyJobsCorner posted a job opening for Activities Assistant Jobs: Hiring Immediately! Full Time / Part Time - $20-$37/Hr in Tucson. Apply here.
• Wal-Mart posted a job opening for Cart Attendant in Tucson. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Tucson here.

Ok Tucson! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I feel lightheaded!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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