Congressman Ron Barber was one of nine Democrats who joined with Republicans to support a continuing resolution that would have kept the federal government open while delaying for one year the Affordable Care Act's mandate requiring individuals to buy health insurance and blocking the Obama administration's effort to help congressional staffers to purchase health insurance on the health-insurance exchanges.

The legislation was rejected by the U.S. Senate, leading to a federal government shutdown about an hour ago.

Barber's statement:

Tonight I voted to keep the government from shutting down. A government shutdown would hurt the economies of Arizona and our nation. The American people deserve a government that can work together even when they disagree. This was not a perfect bill, but I voted for a reasonable solution to get things done. That's why the people of Southern Arizona sent me to Congress.

Beginning tomorrow, under the Affordable Care Act, many Americans will begin purchasing health insurance for the first time. Giving them an extra year before charging them penalties is the right thing to do. Tonight my vote to delay the individual mandate for one year did just that.

America deserves better. My wife Nancy and I couldn't run a small business this way, and it’s no way to run a country. I call on my colleagues to stop this cycle of brinkmanship and come together for common-sense solutions.

Carla Morrison is gracing us with her presence tonight at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress Street. I can't resist this show even though I won't understand everything she's saying because all her music is in español.

GRAMMY nominated album Mientras Tu Dormias- Dejenme Llorar (Out On Carla Morrison Musica/Cosmica Records OUT NOW) Her most personal and fully realized record to date. It has been nominated for FOUR Latin GRAMMY Awards including RECORD OF THE YEAR, SONG OF THE YEAR, ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR, AND ALTERNATIVE SONG OF THE YEAR (winning ALTERNATIVE ALBUM AND SONG OF THE YEAR respectfully). The album has also been nominated for a GRAMMY in the Best Latin Rock, Urban, or Alternative Album category.

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There's always food and the chairs are comfortable. You get to work around me. Everyone wins.

From Aaron May, the man who brought you May's Kitchen Counter and Lodge Sasquatch, comes a new artisan pizza joint, Heist Pizza Parlour. The Grand Opening is today starting at 11 a.m. Heist is located in the old Big Fat Expensive Chain Greek Restaurant, 7131 E. Broadway.

In browsing the menu, I got both hungry and thirsty while looking at the signature pies and beer selection. May always has a funny, quirky, menu (see Everyday I'm Brusselin'), so the thought of this being applied to the pizza scene, especially on my side of town, is exciting.

The second annual Cardboard Ball was held Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013, at the restored Steinfeld Warehouse on the outskirts of Downtown Tucson. Hosted by artist Mykl Wells, the event showcased 2D and 3D works by local artists, and a cardboard themed dance party.

The event, which led well into the early hours of Sunday, was held to help fundraise for the All Souls Procession in November. Listen to Robert Alcaraz's report below.

The Range talked with Moises Orozco's partner yesterday about an accident the Tucson artist had this week on Friday, Sept. 27, falling off the roof of the two-story Sculptors Resource Center and landing on a jagged metal sculpture below.

Phoebe Jenkins told us Orozco was in serious condition when he first arrived at UMC, but is expected to do well despite the serious nature of his injuries. Orozco had to have titanium rods placed in his face because when he fell on the sculpture he landed face first and he had to have a second surgery on his leg.

To help pay for his medical expenses (Orozco does not have health insurance) and expenses during what Jenkins said will be about a two-month recovery, she and other friends launched an indiegogo campaign to raise $5,000 and more. There remain 46 days on the campaign, and so far, as of this writing, more than $7,000 is pledged.

Jenkins said she was "thrilled" by the response to the campaign.

"Right now the focus is on the surgery and healing," she said. "But of course, I feel blessed."

Jenkins said there are some short-term memory issues and Orozco was having difficulty speaking and does not remember the fall. But the prognosis so far is good, despite the injuries from the fall to his upper body and head. He's expected to be out of the hospital in the next day or two, and then head home to heal.

"He's super healthy and positive," Jenkins said. "His spirit now is very strong as well, and he's even managed to crack a joke."

Here's the most recent update from the campaign's indiegogo page:

[UPDATE (9/29): We have almost reached our goal!!!! (OMG thank you!) But we will NOT STOP THERE! The reason the goal was set so low ($5,000) was to ensure that we would reach it (IdieGogo takes a higher percentage of the proceeds if we do not reach the goal than if we reach it). In reality, OUR GOAL IS $25,000 or more. Moises is getting intense surgery, titanium implants and many days in a hospital plus is going to need major oral surgery/work at a later date. We cannot stop at $5,000. Even $25,000 will be a small contribution. Please reach out to everyone who know in any way who can help donate, auction, raise funds, etc, etc,. ] Thank you from our hearts.

Jenkins said a benefit in the works at Hotel Congress with a lot of local bands. A date will be announced soon. The Range will keep you posted.

Love it or hate it, the streetcar is coming. The Sun Link website says that the project is currently 85% complete, so don't expect a joy ride until midsummer of next year.

Sunday night party animals caught a glimpse of a unicorn, or AKA the modern streetcar. Allan Sturm gave us permission to use his footage of the taxpayer nightmare chugging along Congress Street.

Hopefully this thing moves faster than the Sun Tran on a holiday schedule, but it does look cooler than the 3D animated clips Sun Link fed us in the beginning.

Townes Van Zandt's roughshod life somehow created space and breathed life into a pack of uncontainable West Texas singer-songwriters whose time arrived like a haboob in the early ’90s and departed just about as quickly a decade later. Still, they abide.

Want to keep your money out of the compost heap? Sign up for the Desert Potted View and our Free Monthly Potted Garden tips.

I have to admit. I have a resistance to pink. I am not sure why — maybe because I had a pink bedroom growing up. Pepto-BismolTM pink that is. Now I am sure it was my choice, maybe? Well — maybe not since I must have been very young. I do remember when I was given a choice of room color, it was a soft green. Go figure!! Green — gardening — was my color choice directing my future path?

As I came into my own with designing flower gardens for our desert landscape, I had similar negative reactions to pinks in the garden. And I absolutely abhorred pink with orange to the point that I told my staff — never, never put pink near orange. That was one of those rules!!

Then, one day… I saw a rich fuchsia (pink) bougainvillea as a backdrop to some gorgeous orange lantana. At first, I was resistant and then it struck me — I liked it! So I started experimenting in the nursery putting together some different pinks, oranges, purples or blues and reds to see what I liked. I came up with what you might call jewel tones — a rich, deep pink, an orange with a red hue and a deep red. A touch of purple or blue seemed to support the other colors.

I even planted my “pass by every day” pots at my own home with these colors. And each time I saw the combination out the window or from the patio, it took me a moment to stop my pink and orange resistance but I soon became hooked by the colors.

Lessons to be learned from this?
1. Experiment with plant and color combinations at the nursery.
2. Try things that you might not normally combine — well, at least in your clothing choices!
3. Keep it simple with how many colors you put together in one pot. Combine and repeat.
4. Enjoy playing with color!

Marylee is the founder and former owner of Tucson’s The Contained Gardener. With more than 15 years of successfully designing and growing potted gardens in the desert’s challenging and oftentimes harsh climate, Marylee has become known as the Desert’s Potted Garden Expert. Marylee is available for in-home or digital consultations and you can always email her with your questions and comments. Follow The Potted Desert on Facebook!

This week in your desert potted garden:
1. Deadhead your flowers this week. Be sure to cut them back to the main stem when removing spent flowers.
2. Prune any leggy plants to create new growth and a well-shaped plant.
3. Feed your potted plants a water soluble fertilizer.
4. Follow the directions on the label. I prefer using a hose applicator to get thorough feeding.

Philip Franchine of The Green Valley News notes that property on and near downtown's Fourth Avenue is getting snatched up by a religious group with UFO tenets—and that has been accused of being a cult:



Why all this activity in Tucson?

“We fully intend to take this message to the entire world,” Lilly said. “While Tumacacori is great for agriculture, Tucson has a large student population and they need a society like we have — that is drug-free, alcohol-free and environmentally conscious.”

Global Community has attracted young people from around the world who seek to learn sustainable farming and ranching techniques, describing itself in a colorful brochure as “a living agricultural/all-volunteer community sharing its resources and the harvest of the land purchased and worked together...”

But the group has drawn plenty of criticism from former members and at least one international cult expert.

The Alliance believes that messengers from space delivered a revelation known as The Urantia Book, which explains the nature of God, creation and man’s purpose. They believe Gabriel has re-established contact with the space beings and will one day reign after a catastrophic war.

Cult expert Rick Ross, who tracks religious groups through his Rick A. Ross Institute, told The Arizona Republic in 2009 that the Alliance is “a personality-driven group. This (Gabriel) is a guy who has a lot of money, and it’s been accumulated through the surrender of assets.”

Ex-followers said members are forced to give up their legal names and shun family outside the group when they join. They said in a 1998 Dateline NBC program that the organization took control of all aspects of their lives, including finances, marriage and divorce. Since then, many more have come forward with similar stories.

“We are a non-profit and rely on the generosity of others,” Lilly told the Green Valley News when asked how the group paid for the buildings. “Members of the community bring their resources. Some have much, some have little. We have been the recipients of grants and receive donations from various supporters.”