The threat of West Nile virus has caused stewards of standing water around Tucson to take extra care to ensure mosquito populations are kept under control. Two human cases of West Nile have already been recorded in Pima County this fall. Next summer, several species of endangered fish may be drafted to help reduce mosquito populations at wetland locations around the Tucson valley.

Last week, the Arizona Daily Star reported that state officials are currently finalizing an agreement under the Endangered Species Act that would allow the reintroduction of the Gila topminnow, Yaqui topminnow, desert pupfish and Quitobaquito pupfish into selected wetlands to begin controlling mosquito populations. [Read article]

The rain that soaked the UA area last week provided a nice reprieve from this fall's dry conditions. But climatologists say it wasn't enough to pull us out of a drought that has plagued the entire Southwest region for the past several years.

Gregg Garfin of the UA's Institute for the Study of Planet Earth was quoted in Thursday's Arizona Daily Star as saying that some areas have built up a 20-inch rainfall deficit during the drought. Given that the Tucson area averages only 11 inches of rain per year, we would need nearly two years worth of rainfall to make up the deficit. [Read article]

A major city election is only two weeks away. Those UA students who are registered must make big decisions on Nov. 4 — or sooner, if they vote by mail — that will have an enormous impact on the university and the community as a whole for years to come.

Perhaps one of the most important, and most controversial, issues that will appear on ballots is a comprehensive transportation plan that comes in the form of propositions 200 and 201. [Read article]

Nearly a year and a half after Tempe voters enacted a ban on smoking in restaurants, bars and bowling alleys, State Rep. Linda Lopez (D-Tucson) plans to introduce legislation that would do the same statewide. She plans to introduce a bill that would ban smoking in all public places, which includes bars and bowling alleys.

In 1999, the Tucson City Council, with the energy of since-retired Council member Janet Marcus, passed a ban on smoking in restaurants. Pima County followed suit in 2001, rendering the question of "smoking or non?" obsolete. [Read article]

Did everybody see our football team get creamed by LSU last week? Did anybody stop to think about the even more dreadful loss that surrounds the very stadium in which the game was played?

For those who are already confused, here's the story:

In 1974, before the new — or at least newer — part of the football stadium was added, the university needed to raise $5.5 million for the construction — quite a chunk of money in those days. [Read article]

Just finished the big move into the dorms? Taking UA classes for the first time? Bring your books, cell phone and bike lock. Leave your gun back on the ranch in Texas.

Those little signs with a circle and red line through a gun have an important message to everyone on campus: no weapons allowed. Period.

So what harm could a small pistol in the purse of a so-called "law abiding" citizen (at least by the NRA's definition) on campus do? Plenty, says Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. [Read article]

With the second consecutive painful tuition increase on the way, students may soon face additional registration fees, including a proposed technology fee.

As reported in the Wildcat Wednesday, some administrators believe the UA must begin levying a technology fee in order to compete with other universities that charge such fees and are able to more easily afford technology. Students at schools similar to the UA pay between $45 and $425 in technology fees. [Read article]

After surviving a number of roadblocks last year, Residence Life Recycling seems to finally be getting back on its feet. Recycle bins are up and going in the dorms, and it's not even November yet.

Students are still interested in recycling, too. Marcella Silva, a family studies senior, has noticed that some of her friends in the dorms are even asking where they can recycle materials not included in the current recycling program. [Read article]

Ask a UA student about the election in six weeks and you are more likely to get a blank stare than a well-reasoned answer. While many students are busying themselves with the week's assignments and the party scene for the upcoming weekend, not so many have taken the time to understand the important issues they could affect on Nov. 4.

Voters across the city will choose a mayor and three City Council seats and will decide whether or not to accept a transportation plan that includes money for a light rail system that would service the UA area. Democrat Tom Volgy is challenging incumbent Republican Bob Walkup for mayor, and Democrats Shirley Scott and Jose Ibarra are facing Republicans Mike Jenkins and Armando Rios for their council seats. Democratic Councilwoman Carol West is running unopposed in the general election. [Read article]

The Student Union Memorial Center is a beautiful new building that has made a permanent mark on our campus and will be an important landmark in our community for years to come. Sadly, inside this unique landmark lies a food court that typifies "Any College, USA." Efforts were made — or so the university claims — to provide a variety of food options at the union. The problem is that this one-of-a-kind building only offers the choice between a few different low-end national chains and several places owned by the university. [Read article]