53+ min ago (331+ words) TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) " Local shops along Tucson's 4th Avenue saw steady crowds Saturday as Small Business Saturday kicked off the start of the holiday shopping season. The nationwide event, created by American Express in 2010, is designed to drive customers into independently owned stores " and merchants along the avenue say it has become one of the most important days of the year. According to American Express, Small Business Saturday has generated more than $200 billion in sales for small businesses across the country since its launch. On 4th Avenue, owners said the boost is essential heading into the winter months. "For our business in particular it is like a pivotal moment," said Kate Stern, co-owner of Antigone Books, a longtime independent bookstore on the avenue. Stern said the surge in foot traffic does more than fill the shop for a single weekend. "It launches…...

14+ hour, 15+ min ago (217+ words) TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) " The 2023 Winter Solstice was Thursday evening, bringing longer days and shorter nights as time goes on. Friday was the first full day of winter as Tucsonans saw rain and a shift in temperatures. For indigenous communities, there's another shift that's present during the winter solstice. Alfonso Chavez has a background in indigenous agriculture and has used his knowledge to help prepare for this time of year. "Winter solstice for indigenous communities, more specifically farming communities, is a time to kind of take a break, re-amend the fields, the soil, the land, and do that work not only for that element, but for ourselves and for the community as well," he said. "In permaculture design and traditional water harvesting practices, we work with the land to be able to utilize the water source to the surface water run…...

17+ hour, 4+ min ago (176+ words) TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN 9) " The Pima Regional Critical Incident Team is investigating after a Pima County Sheriff's deputy shot and killed a man during a domestic violence call late Friday night. According to the Pima County Sheriff's Department, deputies from the Vail District were called to the 400 block of South Stone Bench Road around 11:40 p.m. on Nov. 28 for a report of a possible shooting. When deputies arrived, they learned the call involved a domestic violence situation. Witnesses told deputies that a 47-year-old man had fired at least one round outside in the neighborhood. Deputies searched the area and found the man nearby. As one deputy made contact, PCSD says the man, who was armed, began walking toward the deputy. The deputy gave repeated commands for him to stop, but the man did not comply and produced a firearm. The deputy then fired,…...

1+ day, 18+ hour ago (348+ words) TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) " The city is cleaning up neighborhoods and helping those in need with the Team-Up to Clean Up program. It's a group effort on the Northside from E Fort Lowell Rd & N First Ave, where volunteers from organizations across the community are doing their part to give the neighborhood the respect it deserves. Volunteer Robert Drummell calls the Northside home. "I've been here for like a decade already," Drummell said. "I'm glad to see that everybody is getting in this because it just gives you more incentive to come out, be with the people. Some people need help during these times, but it should be during out throughout the year." Volunteers like Drummell want to see a clean Northside. It's why they're out picking up litter and cleaning up the streets with the City of Tucson Environmental Services…...

2+ day, 2+ hour ago (129+ words) TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) " Thanksgiving brought beautiful weather to southern Arizona and the nice weather will carry us all through the holiday weekend. Black Friday will bring high temperatures in the mid to upper 70s under partly cloudy skies. Saturday and Sunday, high temperatures will climb into the lower 70s under partly cloudy skies as we wait for a weak cold front to come through early Monday morning. This cold front won't have much moisture to work with and will only produce a slight chance of showers and mountain snow showers to the northeast of Tucson. The biggest change will be slightly cooler temperatures to start the week with highs dropping back into the upper 60s. Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the nice weather for the rest of the weekend!...

2+ day, 4+ hour ago (349+ words) Through donations and support, The Salvation Army has made over 150 turkeys, 300 pounds of potatoes, 300 pounds of veggies, 300 pounds of stuffing, and 25 gallons of gravy to make over 800 meals to feed the community here at this Thanksgiving feast. All of it was used to feed hundreds of people, with lines stretching around the Salvation Army's Hospitality House. KGUN 9 was able to speak to a few citizens as they were enjoying their meals, including Raymond Mathis, who says it's the community that's the best part of his meal. "Oh, man, it feels good to be around people," Mathis said. You know, it's a blessing to tell you the truth. Just to see a lot of people, different colors and races, Man, get together on a special occasion. "We're all just enjoying a good meal and not speaking hate to each other," Estrada…...

2+ day, 15+ hour ago (412+ words) TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) " As Thanksgiving celebrations get underway, the Tucson Fire Department is urging people who are cooking to stay alert in the kitchen. Fire officials said they responded to two cooking-related calls on Wednesday alone " a reminder of how quickly holiday meal prep can turn dangerous. TFD Captain Mario Ciarlo said the simplest way to prevent a kitchen fire is to be aware of what's near your stove or oven. "Anytime you're dealing with a live fire or ovens, you want to make sure you don't have any combustibles on the cooking surface," Ciarlo said. He also advises keeping pot and pan handles turned inward so they don't get accidentally bumped. Sometimes an oven flare-up can catch cooks off guard. "If you open the oven door and you see a fire in there, the best thing to do is…...

2+ day, 21+ hour ago (320+ words) TOMBSTONE, Ariz. (KGUN) " The City of Tombstone is working to transform Medigovich Field into a soccer field, addressing the lack of youth sports leagues in the historic Arizona town. Currently, families like Colin Regan and his daughter Cassidy must travel to Sierra Vista, Tucson, or even Phoenix just so she can play soccer. "Living here in Tombstone, there's not much for us to do other than go to school and play our school sports, but at school we don't have soccer," Cassidy Regan said. Mayor Pro Tem Colin Regan wants to change that reality for local children. "We want to build more of a community bond with the kids and whatnot here. So we ultimately believe that this, this is a good starting point," Regan said. The community has raised $6,400 so far, covering costs for irrigation and grass for the…...

2+ day, 21+ hour ago (559+ words) ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (KGUN) " The holidays are here, and while you're enjoying Thanksgiving dinner, those puppy dog eyes might be begging for a taste. But before you share your feast, veterinarians warn that certain foods could send your furry friend to the emergency room. Brooke Croel, emergency veterinarian at Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) hospital in Oro Valley, sees the consequences every year when pet owners give in to temptation. "Every year we see an uptick in cases of bone ingestion, vomiting, diarrhea, pancreatitis, consistently every year after Thanksgiving and Christmas from people wanting to include their pets," Croel said. If you absolutely must share, there are strict guidelines to follow. Avoid anything with garlic or onion, which Croel says can be particularly dangerous. "Those can cause life-threatening anemia when consumed in large enough quantities," Croel said. Stay away from grapes…...

2+ day, 21+ hour ago (301+ words) MARANA, Ariz. (KGUN) " Small businesses are preparing for what could be one of their busiest days of the year as Small Business Saturday approaches this weekend. The National Retail Federation expects this weekend to draw the largest number of shoppers on record, with holiday sales projected to surpass $1 trillion this year. While Black Friday remains the most popular shopping day, followed by Cyber Monday, small business owners are hoping Saturday will bring strong community support. "If my business fails, I could lose my farm, I could lose my house, it's not the same as what you deal with at these corporate stores that can just kind of come and go," Nichols said. Some of the products at Eden's Echo Country Store are made at the Nichols family farm in St. David, including soaps and lotions. "In a sea of all…...