NEWSBREAK ORIGINAL

Sometimes figuring out what everyone wants to eat can be a bit of a chore. Unless you head out to a mall food court, someone will likely be disappointed with the final decision on the restaurant. That is unless you decide to go to a joint that specializes in an assortment of foods, including several from various culinary styles you wouldn’t normally find offered in the same destination. At one new restaurant that opened this month in Tucson, you’ll find both Mexican and sushi, all rolled into one unique dining experience.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of restaurants didn’t attempt to tread water and serve customers via take-out and delivery orders. They simply closed up shop. Some returned after the forced shutdowns were lifted, while others remained closed. It often depended on the kind of restaurant. Buffet-style restaurants were not able to function in their same way during the pandemic, so most of these locations had little to no course of action, other than to fully close. One particular restaurant chain decided to shutter all 97 restaurants around the country, not just for the duration of the pandemic, but for good. This affected a number of locations in Arizona, including right here in Tucson. However, the restaurant, now under new management, has made some changes, and it now plans on returning to Tucson in the coming fall.

A safety committee at the University of Arizona has decided to disband over concerns of retaliation for a scathing report they recently issued that condemned the university's serious safety deficiencies as well as a belief that the institution's leadership was "stonewalling" access to information.

Former University of Arizona Men's Basketball standout and previous assistant coach Damon Stoudamire is reportedly expected to accept a new job as head coach at Georgia Tech following the firing of fellow Arizona product Josh Pastner, according to ESPN.

An Arizona homeowner was surprised to find a bobcat laying in poor little Squeakers dog bed, and it attacked her dog, leaving it wounded. Arizona Game and Fish were called to their home to catch the bobcat, but it managed to get away before they arrived. A GoFundMe was set up to help pay for little Squeaker's surgery and medical expenses.

An email from the Arizona Department of Transportation reports that over the last two weeks, the department has received public comments about the development of the next state Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) during meetings held in Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff. ADOT hosted a virtual public meeting on March 9, and will host a second virtual meeting at 6 pm on Wednesday, March 22. Interested individuals can register for this telephone town hall online.

Ukrainian pilots are reportedly taking part in a program to assess how long it would take to properly train them on how to operate attack aircraft such as the F-16, according to NBC News, marking another step in the military relationship between the two countries as the war between Russia and Ukraine rages on.

Researchers are excited by the discovery of a new moai statue on Rapa Nui, commonly known as Easter Island, which is Chilean territory. The finding has sparked hopes that more such artifacts may be awaiting discovery.

A female Border Patrol agent was assaulted by a male illegal immigrant over the weekend as she attempted to take him into custody. The Border Patrol agent was injured on her arms and face and she was taken to the hospital for treatment. According to CBP On March 4, 2023, at approximately 4:00 a.m., a U.S. Border Patrol agent assigned to the Tucson, Arizona Sector took a subject into custody near Foudy Road and State Route 92, after investigating the subject’s illegal entry into the U.S. While being placed in a service vehicle, the subject assaulted the agent, injuring the agent’s face and hands. Additional agents responded and took the suspect into custody. The FBI and Cochise County Sheriff's Office are also investigating the incident. For the current fiscal year of 2023, there have been 174 assault incidents on Border Agents.

The United States is currently assessing two Ukrainian pilots to determine how long it would take to train them to fly attack aircraft, including F-16 fighter jets. The evaluation is being conducted on simulators at a U.S. military base in Tucson, Arizona, with the possibility of more pilots joining soon. The arrival of the Ukrainian pilots marks the first time Ukrainian pilots have traveled to the U.S. for skill assessment by American military trainers.

Tucson, AZ. - The Greater Tucson area is home to a population of more than one million residents. Furthermore, the city's economy is comprised of several key industries like higher education, defense spending, aerospace, technology, and tourism. Many of the companies in the high-growth industries pay competitive wages for the state.

Tucson, AZ. - While Tucson's cost of living is just slightly higher than the national average, renters in the city are increasingly having to shell out more money each month for rent.

When it comes to a taste of Africa, there aren’t many options available around greater Tucson. Outside of a handful of Ethiopian restaurants and the occasional Moroccan offering, there isn’t all that much in terms of variety. And yet, the African continent has provided some of the most pronounced and influential flavors around. Its flavors have impacted culinary styles throughout the Americas and the Caribbean, which means in order to enjoy the flavors outside of North Africa, your best option was often to visit one of the Caribbean restaurants found in the Valley. That, however, is set to change this month, as a new restaurant, dedicated to the diverse flavors of Africa, is set to open.

Prime restaurant and bar real estate in Tucson might mean an exceptional opportunity to bring in business, but it also means incredibly high rental costs that are not always the easiest to get past. This is often one of the main reasons why businesses seem to come and go in Downtown Tucson as well as the connected 4th Avenue. And as of today, one particular popular bar in downtown Tucson with about as good of a location as possible is closing, making way for a new restaurant.

Arizona Weather Force has issued three cold air alerts for parts of Arizona. The Frost Advisory, Freeze Warning, and Hard Freeze Warning are now officially activated for overnight Wednesday and into Thursday morning, which in part includes Yuma, Phoenix, Pinal County, Tucson, Santa Cruz County, La Paz County and Cochise County for the most part so to see what alert you are in then read on for details …

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, singer Linda Ronstadt and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Natalie Diaz are among the authors scheduled to speak at the Tucson Festival of Books during the March 4-5 weekend. The festival will take place on the University of Arizona campus. The festival's regular events are free and open to the general public. Seats can be reserved for some events.

Seconds felt like minutes for Arizona State as their rivals, the Arizona Wildcats, ranked #7 in the country, Oumar Ballo was on the free throw line, and missed the first free throw attempt, with a crowd rising to their feet, then he made his second free throw. Knotting the game up to 88-86 with 2 seconds left to go in the game.

There is tragic news out of Arizona Thursday after it was announced that a decorated U.S. Navy SEAL was killed during a training exercise over the weekend after he suffered a mishap during a free-fall parachute training exercise.

Bisbee, an English Setter from Tucson, Arizona, has made history by breaking the Guinness World Record for having the longest tongue on a dog. The three-year-old pooch's snout measures 3.74 inches, and his tongue is longer than a popsicle stick at 9.49 cm. Bisbee's tongue was measured by a trained veterinarian, who measured from the tip up to where it first becomes visible.

When you think of the top 10 restaurants in the country, you may picture polished and glamorous settings, exotic flavor pairings, and loads of extruded foam. But one local restaurant may force you to reconsider that notion.