The Tucson Police Department Aggravated Assault Unit is asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect in a shooting that occurred on June 3^rd, 2007 at a residence in the 8400 block of E. Beverly St. On that date at approximately 2:50 a.m., a homeowner went outside to check on noises he heard in front of his house. The homeowner’s property had recently been vandalized. Once outside, the homeowner was confronted by a suspect who shot him in the leg. Due to the severity of the gunshot wound, the homeowner has had to have his leg amputated.

The suspect is described as a White or Hispanic male, 20 to 24 years of age, 5’5″ to 5’7″ with a goatee. The suspect is possibly associated with a dark colored 4-door sedan. Anyone with information about this incident or the identity of the suspect is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME.

A police officer noticed an Oldsmobile SUV obstructing traffic because it was moving so slowly in the Tucson area on I-10 near Marana and he decided to investigate. Once stopped, the officer was receiving conflicting answers to his questioning. He then released his drug sniffing K-9 that found nearly 149 pounds of cocaine beneath the seats and in the rear quarter panel of the vehicle as per the U.S. Dept of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration’s news release. The driver of the vehicle was from Nogales, Son, was arrested while DEA agents were notified and assisted with the 67.5 kilos of cocaine found.

The Arizona Department of Economic Security shows that even though Tucson got rid of nearly 9000 jobs in June the latest figures are still good. Aerospace, health care and mining brought in new jobs. The unemployment rate is down from June of last year in Tucson though. Local retail cut jobs due to the slowing economy and rising fuel prices where consumers have less to spend. The business services, transportation and utilities as well as schools lost jobs for the summer. The leisure and hospitality industry was another to cut jobs but those are expected to increase again with the fall season.

The great numbers in homes for sale in the Tucson area may be affecting rents. As we are seeing rents rise locally the occupancy rates are slipping moderately according to a rental market research firm’s data. Tucson’s rent increase is thought to be reasonable when compared to other markets. We are now finding that a number of unsold single-family homes are being marketed to renters as well. The tighter lending requirements in the real estate industry might also help send the would-be home buyers to the rental market even with the slight increase in rent.

The number of home sale closings in June was lower than in June of last year but the number of pending contracts have now increased by 19 percent with the median price for homes increasing to $229,000. This information was found in a report from the Tucson Association of Realtors. The thought is that the Tucson Real Estate Market slowdown may be nearing its end. There were fewer homes in the market with more realistic pricing on the ones available for sale with expectations of price increases at about 3 to 5 percent creating a much more normal market.

During the heat of the summer in Tucson many of us are looking for home repair contractors, from air-conditioning repair to roofing contractors. These types of businesses were at the top of the list of inquiries to the Southern Arizona Better Business Bureau in late spring/early summer. Following them in the list of inquiries were pest-control firms, movers and swimming pool companies with the most complaints being placed against furniture stores, auto dealers and repair companies as well as air-conditioning contractors. The BBB and the Registrar of Contractors warn that there are many home-repair scam artists who often go door-to-door offering discounted rates for money up front that either perform poor quality work or leave without performing any work at all. You can always check a contractor’s license status with the Registrar of Contractors and obtain the BBB reports as well as their references and full written estimates.

More than 125 Tucsonans recently invested in offerings by Pacific Wealth Management LLC with some local investors claiming losses of over $400,000. These people may now lose their homes that they mortgaged in order to pay for their investments. The Security and Exchange Commission is investigating these claims by hundreds of people that include airmen from Davis-Monthan and members of the Christian Faith Center in Tucson. They claim that they were taken advantage of by a number of companies that offered dishonest real estate deals and almost useless Iraqi currency. The SEC has evidence that seems to show violations of the Federal Securities laws such as deceit, fraud, and confusing representations as well as unregistered securities from unregistered dealers in this Tucson Scam, and it has subpoenaed bank records along with other documentation to try to find out what happened to the investors’ monies.

The Governing Board at Tucson Unified School District is looking for five members to join an audit committee that will be used to review and reinforce internal financial controls in the school district. This committee is being formed due to the accounting error where more than 4,500 employees are being asked to pay for the mistake that led to $700,000 in free health insurance. The Governing Board in Tucson is hoping to find five members who have a finance-related degree or experience with budgets and accounting who can review the district’s accounting of this error. Apply Monday at http://www.tusd1.org/ or 520-225-6070 or 520-225-6035. Deadline for applications 4 p.m. Aug. 3.

Bistro at Las Candelas 427 E Limberlost Drive Tucson is hosting a benefit event for the local social-services agency, Our Family Services. You’ll enjoy four evenings of entertainment which is Japanese drumming by Odaiko Sonora and gourmet grilling in the bistro’s sunken garden. $35 for event. $5 of each ticket is tax deductible and benefits Our Family Services. 7 p.m. July 18, Aug 1, 15, 29. 520-696-9100.

The Chamber of Commerce in Tucson is making arrangements for a “Mission to China” guided tour and local businesses are invited to get involved. This event will take place from Nov 8-16 and those who take part will learn how Chinese businesses work as well as travel to some of China’s most famous sites. The cost of this tour is $1,399 per person, based on double occupancy (add $350 for singles), which includes round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to China, hotel, three daily, fees for all attractions and taxes. The application deadline is Sept 1. Contact Shirley Wilka in Tucson792-2250 x 132 or swilka@tucsonchamber.org.