Joe Ferguson

Joe Ferguson got his first big break covering the Arizona Legislature as the Don Bolles Fellow for the University of Arizona School of Journalism. From there, he spent seven years at the Arizona Daily Sun before returning to Tucson to cover politics and local government for the Arizona Daily Star for another seven years. He joined the Tucson Agenda in 2025, where — surprise — he covers politics and local government. Along the way, Joe has picked up numerous awards from the Arizona Press Club and Arizona Newspapers Association, including the Press Club’s Sledgehammer Award in 2019. A lifelong Trekkie, Joe spends his free time with his family and remains disappointed that the 21st century has produced neither transporters nor replicators. [email protected]

Oct 30, 2026

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6 min read

Make the boardroom tremble

Let’s lend a hand to those Star reporters ... Farewell, Dolores ... And it's amazing what a little paint can do.

Curt Prendergast, +1

Oct 29, 2026

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6 min read

Reading the tea leaves

Democrats are surging in two key districts ... Developers want a data center in Willcox ... And how do you remove a hex?

Joe Ferguson, +1

Oct 28, 2026

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6 min read

Meet Pima County’s new boss

Carmine, you’re up ... You hired that guy?! ... And at least he’s having some fun this election.

Joe Ferguson, +1

Oct 27, 2026

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6 min read

Why is Prop 425 controversial?

No one wants to trust the future ... Ciscomani defends Big, Beautiful vote ... And a little poetry to get thru the silly season.

Joe Ferguson, +1

Oct 26, 2026

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6 min read

Throwing money at the problem

Political groups rush into Southern Arizona ... Welcome to Anywhere, Arizona ... And just what the world needs, Mo’ PACs.

Joe Ferguson, +1

Oct 21, 2026

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6 min read

Who wants to pay more for electricity?

How much power do you have over your power? ... TUSD taps two schools out ... And at least we’re not Maricopa County.

Joe Ferguson, +1

Oct 20, 2026

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7 min read

Weighing a judge’s baggage

The hardest choices on the ballot ... Secret recordings, secret checkpoints ... And a swing and a miss.

Kiera Riley, +1

Oct 19, 2026

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7 min read

A newsroom throws down the gauntlet

It’s music to our ears ... Plenty of blame to go around ... And it pays to own everything.

Curt Prendergast, +1

Our memo to the next county administrator

Oct 16, 2026

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5 min read

Our memo to the next county administrator

Maybe read this before you sign anything?

Joe Ferguson

Oct 15, 2026

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6 min read

“Don’t ignore me again, John”

The most annoying campaign pleas ... Let the public vetting begin! ... And no “Steve Christy Day.”

Joe Ferguson, +1

Oct 14, 2026

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7 min read

Southern Arizona's political chessboard

The battle beyond Congress ... Tohono O’odham prepare for the worst ... And he’s clearly had enough.

Joe Ferguson, +1

Oct 13, 2026

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7 min read

A border wall brouhaha

Everybody’s all riled up ... Hindsight is 20/20 ... And we’ll remember this campaign sign.

Curt Prendergast, +1

Oct 9, 2026

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5 min read

South Tucson’s messy housing headaches

A tiny town with big problems and an election on the horizon.

Joe Ferguson

Oct 8, 2026

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6 min read

Earning $1,027 a day

That includes weekends ... Check your (other) mailbox ... And who wants to buy a lifetime of burritos?

Joe Ferguson, +1

Oct 6, 2026

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6 min read

Border Patrol loses its cool

Who do you trust? ... Betting on the Space Force ... And we should’ve been city managers.

Curt Prendergast, +1

Oct 1, 2026

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6 min read

Mike Johnson protects his gavel

VIPs, deleted tweets and more ads ... Just what Marana needs ... And Tucson’s the new Minneapolis.

Joe Ferguson, +1

Sep 30, 2026

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6 min read

Paid for by TEP for Tucson

Politicians let TEP pick up the tab ... Border walking is not a crime ... And we paid for our own argument, thank you.

Joe Ferguson, +1

Out of the frying pan, and into the fire

Sep 29, 2026

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6 min read

Out of the frying pan, and into the fire

It’s like Flock for newspapers ... Questions abound ... And it's a conspiracy!

Curt Prendergast, +1

Sep 24, 2026

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5 min read

A moratorium for no one

No more data centers (except those) ... Substitute teachers are teachers too ... And AI can’t give you a job.

Joe Ferguson, +1

Sep 23, 2026

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6 min read

Pima College makes its case

What’s inside PCC’s $250M bond request ... The public enters the chat ... And keep an eye out for that billboard.

Joe Ferguson, +1

Sep 22, 2026

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6 min read

Don’t talk about Donald

Ciscomani’s campaign avoids POTUS ... School’s out (not in a good way) ... And proclaiming a proclamations policy.

Joe Ferguson, +1

Sep 21, 2026

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5 min read

What is Project Gravel?

What public records tell us about the other data center proposal in Pima County

Joe Ferguson

Sep 17, 2026

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5 min read

Reckoning with the past

Council stops renaming parks (for now) ... Kerfuffle in Sahuarita ... And she might have a point.

Joe Ferguson, +1

Sep 16, 2026

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6 min read

Where did everyone go?

Volunteering is the new protesting ... Romero v. Ciscomani ... And “animals” fight the border wall.

Curt Prendergast, +1

Sep 14, 2026

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5 min read

Christians are winning the voucher game

They’re trouncing secular schools ... Everyone still hates data centers ... And he-who-shall-not-be-named vibes.

Curt Prendergast, +1