I had a great time this week taking a 19-year-old I mentor to her first concert. 

We saw singer-songwriter Indigo De Souza at Crescent Ballroom in downtown Phoenix, one of my favorite Arizona venues. 

Indigo De Souza performing at Crescent Ballroom on March 3, 2026. (Jessica Swarner/The Copper Couier)

It was great to see so many people come together to listen to uplifting music, especially some kids in the crowd as young as 16. I heard a group of girls next to me meet for the first time and exchange numbers so they could stay in touch and go to more shows together.

I always recommend Crescent as a venue to people because it not only holds concerts with affordable tickets, but it also offers events like dance parties and story slams. 

Have you been to a concert yet in 2026? 

P.S. On behalf of our parent company COURIER, check out this March 12 virtual event. COURIER is hosting MAHA & the Midterms to help break down how recent political choices are shaping health care access, affordability, and what families should know moving forward.

The conversation features author Hank Green, psychologist Dr. Mary Trump, US Rep. Lauren Underwood (a registered nurse), Shaughnessy Naughton of 314 Action, and medical analyst Dr. Vin Gupta.

👉 Save your spot here.

A federal agent wears an Immigration and Customs Enforcement badge in New York, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)

By The Associated Press

A Haitian man confined at an Arizona immigration detention center for months died at a hospital Monday after a tooth infection was left untreated, the man’s brother said Wednesday.

Emmanuel Damas, 56, told medical personnel at the Florence Correctional Center that he had a toothache in mid-February, but he was not sent to a dentist, said Damas’ brother, Presly Nelson.

Nelson believes the staff at the facility did not take his brother’s complaints seriously even though it was a treatable condition. Nelson said he would expect such a death in countries with less access to health care, but not the United States.

“As a country—I’m an American now—I think we can do better than that,” Nelson said.

Damas is among at least nine people who have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody this year.

A specialized Phoenix school designed to acclimate immigrant children to the American education system is closing its doors as enrollment plummets, leaving behind a model for supporting vulnerable students. 

This weekend is packed full of events in Arizona, including a chili cook-off and a pet parade.

A weekly roundup of Arizona political events, protests, advocacy opportunities, and ways to take action statewide from Friday, March 6 to Thrusday March 13. 

This is the LOOKOUT Lowdown, where once a month we’re highlighting stories from LOOKOUT, a nonprofit newsroom that serves Arizona’s LGBTQ community. 

Here are some of their latest stories: 

🥾 Patrick Dome and Karl Schmitt, life partners for 44 years, operate Hereford’s Casa de San Pedro B&B—an LGBTQ-friendly spot to unwind, which can be hard to find in rural Arizona. 

🚨 Arizona Republicans are pushing a bill that would make it a crime to allow a minor to view a drag performance. Democrats argue they only support parental rights when it’s convenient. 

💻 And speaking of drag, an email from Republican Rep. Alex Kolodin shows the far-right lawmaker purposely kept certain language in the bill to provoke Democrats. 

Want more news like this? Sign up for LOOKOUT’s newsletter (which includes The Weekly Kiki, a great weekly events roundup!) and check out membership options. 

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Jessica Swarner with stories from The Associated Press, Leah Bowers, Martin Nieves Sanchez, and USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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