Midnight on Saturday the in house Fire Department’s contract with Raytheon was to expire but a new agreement between the AFL-CIO affiliated International Association of Machinists, Old Pueblo Lodge No. 933 and Raytheon has been made that includes a bonus and wage increase for each year of the three year term of agreement. It is not known at this time how much the firefighter’s salaries would increase but they should be competitive with local Tucson and state firefighters. Raytheon, which is Southern Arizona’s largest employer with close to 12,500 employees, own its own Fire Department that handles everything from fire, hazardous-materials to medical emergencies.

This is an Arizona state bill presented by state lawmakers who are trying to make it easier for people to carry concealed weapons anywhere in their vehicles without the need for a special permit. This affects the cities of Phoenix and Tucson as well as all other areas of the state. Currently you must obtain a state permit to carry a concealed weapon which involves a background check, fingerprinting and a training course approved by the state. If this law is accepted people could carry concealed or not concealed weapons anywhere in their vehicle without the need for a special permit. Republicans who have a majority in both the House and the Senate are in favor and Democrats are opposed to it as well as the Department of Public Safety. Democratic Governor, Janet Napolitano, has vetoed some changes in gun laws in the past and will have the final word.

A 2,500 acre wildfire and a smaller fire nearby keep burning with the help of 50 mph winds and low humidity. There are no structures in the path of either fire which started close to 1:45 p.m. on Thursday. There are 11 fire engines at the scene with no airborne support at this time. No determination has been made as to how the fires were started and full containment of the fires is expected by Sunday. Hopefully the rains that are occurring today will help get them under control even earlier.

Historical preservation guidelines are at play for those who want to turn the Historic Depot on Toole Avenue in Tucson into a neighborhood market and those opposed want to keep the historic train station intact. Some of the concern is also that there is already need for the lobby daily when Amtrak passengers are waiting for the train. The current waiting area is far too small. The developer states that the historic features will remain untouched in plans for the new use of the building.

Arizona lawmakers are making an effort to block photo-radar enforcement throughout the state. The Senate Transportation Committee approved legislation on Tuesday to disallow any type of photo-radar enforcement on Arizona State roads that would identify those running red lights and speeding. The thinking is that this equipment would not make roads safer and is only being installed to generate revenue which could collect $90 million in fines. The lawmakers wording would keep cities and counties from introducing their own mobile radar units on any roads in their areas of control.

Despite filling nine vacancies in January the Pima County Consumer Health and Safety unit is short seven workers. These employees are responsible for inspecting assisted living centers, bars, day-care centers, food stores and vendors, restaurants, schools, swimming pools as well as trailer parks and more. Though the department is short employees, it appears that they have a wealth of applicants for these government jobs that provide good benefits. The existing employees are trying to focus on known trouble spots and until they are able to expand their budget, the inspections may continue to be less frequent.

Pima County has a pilot water-conservation program in place to install low flow toilets in older neighborhoods in the Tucson area at the expense to local taxpayers’. The plan is on hold at the moment because the toilets may be too effective. Some residents complained about having to flush the toilets twice since the flow was reduced too. They are concerned about the solid waste products in the sewer lines that do not have enough liquid, causing backups, corrosion and odor. After a consultant’s study last year, the county restricted the areas where the toilets should go and no more have been ordered for the project. The Conservation Alliance had also asked the county to pay for installation of pipes and storage tanks in the homes to allow the use of gray water from washing machines for irrigation but this proposal was declined.

Environmentalists fear that lower water rates will cause a decrease in water conservation programs. The Tucson City Council has only funded 25 percent of the water-saving procedures like incentives for the use of gray water, rebates for upgrading irrigation systems, the implementation of low-flow toilets, waterless urinals, as well as retrofitting older homes when sold along with so much more that was set forth by a task force. With the lack of new construction in the area, Tucson’s budget may be $14 million in the red next year. The increase in rates was to take place on Tuesday but may only be raised by 8 percent due to uneasiness of ratepayer’s reactions. The thinking is to now hold a community meeting to find a way to at least raise the $2.1 million needed for the conservation project.

Discussions are being held by Tucson Police Department to no longer have the SRO unit in July that is used in the schools. The current thinking is to utilize the funds putting more officers in the field to handle violent crimes. The SRO unit in the Tucson schools not only investigates child abuse cases, but also makes home calls that many times result in preventing problems before they become criminal activities. TPD administrators plan to meet on Monday to discuss cut-backs.

Students at the UA in Tucson are using ground-breaking ideas to build a solar home. They are including a greenhouse to alter air quality and temperature while implementing modular panels. The students are using new devices in their designs to develop this home that will be both healthful and environmentally friendly in order to compete in the annual U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C. The development of these new advances in technologies and designs, which include a thin-film solar panel that follows the sun during the day, could soon find their way into new homes and also be used in products that could make existing homes much more energy efficient.