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Highlighted by a trip to the Bahamas for multiple games in the Battle4Atlantis, welcoming Texas to McKale Center, and facing Gonzaga in Phoenix as part of Jerry Colangelo's Hall of Fame Series, the Arizona women's basketball team's 2023-24 nonconference schedule appears set.

The UA released its list of dates and finalized nonconference opponents Wednesday, with the season effectively kicking off for coach Adia Barnes' Wildcats on Oct. 25 with an exhibition against West Texas A&M in McKale.

That's followed by a second exhibition against Point Loma at home on Nov. 1, then a trip to Las Cruces, New Mexico, to take on New Mexico State five days later. After that: three home games five days, Nov. 10-14, against NAU, Loyola Marymount, and San Diego.

Arizona then head to The Bahamas, where the Wildcats take on Memphis Nov. 18. Depending how that game goes, Arizona will play up to three games against others in the Battle4Atlantis field. DePaul, Michigan, middle Tennessee, Ole Miss, South Dakota and Howard are also in the field.

In December, Arizona gets UNLV in Las Vegas on Dec. 2 and UC-San Diego and Texas at home on Dec. 7 and Dec. 13, respectively.

Arizona then faces Gonzaga in Footprint Center, home to the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and NBA's Phoenix Suns as part of an eight-team, four-game showcase that also features the UA's men's program and ASU's men's and women's teams.

Lastly, the Wildcats wrap up their nonconference slate New Year's Eve at home against Seattle. The UA and Seattle programs are linked a bit, historically speaking; the 36-year head-coaching career of former UA boss Joan Bonvicini — Barnes played for Bonvicini from 1994-98 — included 17 seasons leading the Wildcats (1991-2008), followed by seven as coach at Seattle (2009-16).

Contact Brett Fera at bfera1@tucson.com. On Twitter: @brettfera

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MENAFN TUCSON, Ariz. Aug. 16, 2023 The Haunted Ruins Presents: Legler's Legacy

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Photo By Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Patrick Thomas, 355th Force Support Squadron Chief Master... read more

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz– The 355th Force Support Squadron’s Chief Master Sgt. Carl E. Beck Airman Leadership School was named the Air Force Airman Leadership School of the Year 2022, Aug. 6, 2023.

Airman Leadership School is professional military education that teaches U.S. Air Force senior airmen (with at least 36 months time-in-service), newly appointed noncommissioned officers and frontline supervisors the necessary skills for a complex global environment. These skills include communication, trust, problem solving, critical thinking and negotiation.

“This education is important because as a military, we can mold staff sergeants for making decisions in big teams,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Patrick Thomas, 355th FSS ALS instructor. “It is up to our NCO corps to instill these skills to the next generation of Airmen.”

Also open to U.S. Space Force and civilian applicants, the schoolhouse deliberately develops students into highly competent frontline supervisors, strengthening the backbone of the armed forces.

“Only 1% of our Nation signs up to do what we do” said Thomas. “So we have to get back to the basics and ensure these standards are upheld.”

In line with the National Defense Strategy, 10 Davis-Monthan ALS instructors cultivate a workforce the nation needs: Airmen who understand complex situations, and think critically.

“I am grateful to be surrounded by an amazing team,” said Tech. Sgt. Andrew Denney, 355th FSS ALS instructor. “All of the instructors want to create an amazing environment for our students to learn and grow.”

As recipients of an Air Force-level award, these instructors have gone above and beyond the Air Force’s standard of excellence. By partnering with 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern), the ALS cadre brought international allies to the schoolhouse, providing tips and tricks to how the U.S. military trains its future NCO corp with professional military education.

An additional factor to their success was obtaining student feedback and implementing the necessary change. The cadre’s deliberate course modifications bolstered their success.

Leading with Air Force values, like excellence, these instructors train more than 600 students annually, allowing a wealth of knowledge and lessons learned to be brought back to the students' home units.

“We are held to a higher standard, in the Profession of Arms,” said Thomas. “The next fight is coming and we need to be ready to go.”

Today

The first University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine class is set to graduate next week. President Robert C. Robbins will confer 106 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees on Aug. 24.

The state's first and only public veterinary medicine program, launched in 2020, is unique in that the curriculum spans three years, unlike most traditional veterinary degree programs in the U.S., which are four years. The program design allows students to enter the workforce one year sooner.

Another distinct aspect of the program is that students interact with live animals from the very beginning, unlike conventional four-year programs, in which students often don't touch animals until their third year. This active-learning model gives students real-world experience in veterinary medicine from day one.

"The three-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, with its innovative curriculum, will help meet the demand for veterinarians both in state and nationally, paving the way for the University of Arizona to become a leader in veterinary medical education," Robbins said. "The first graduation ceremony for the College of Veterinary Medicine is a proud moment for the university, and these graduates have been well prepared to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people and animals throughout Arizona and beyond."

The college's inaugural Commencement is a major milestone for students and their loved ones, as well as the faculty and staff of the college, said Julie Funk, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. The first class also represents the success of the university and the many communities and stakeholders that have supported the college along the way, added Funk, who will deliver the Commencement keynote address.

The ceremony will take place at The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave., from 5-7 p.m. on Aug. 24. The event will be livestreamed on Vimeo. The ceremony is open to anyone, and tickets are not necessary. However, RSVPs via the event website are strongly recommended.

Doors will open at 4 p.m., and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bags are allowed, provided they are clutches no larger than 8 inches by 5 inches or clear bags no larger than 14 inches by 16 inches. A complete list of restrictions can be found on the music hall website.

Additional speakers at the event will include Anthony Martin, associate professor of practice at the College of Veterinary Medicine, and graduating veterinary medicine student Ari Adams, a first-generation college graduate.

Adams has been accepted into a yearlong small-animal internship at Gilbert Queen Creek Emergency Veterinarian & Pet Urgent Care in Phoenix's East Valley. As of July 1, more than 47% of College of Veterinary Medicine graduates have landed internships or jobs with corporations or private practices.

The graduates will specialize in various disciplines, including emergency and critical care, small-animal general practice, equine medicine, and mixed animal practice, which includes small and large animals.

Some of the in-state employers hiring College of Veterinary Medicine graduates include Jackpot Veterinary Center in Tucson, Canyon Pet Hospital in Flagstaff, and Yavapai Emergency Animal Hospital in Prescott Valley. Out-of-state employers include BluePearl pet hospitals in Georgia and Texas, VCA Animal Specialty & Emergency Center locations in California and Oregon, and Columbia Pike Animal Hospital & Emergency Center in Virginia.

"I am deeply grateful and excited to celebrate this milestone with the entire community," Funk said. "And I cannot wait to see what this inaugural class achieves as they move forward with their careers."

It's like a scene from a movie. An Arizona woman returned home from vacation to an unexpected guest, a snake in her toilet!

TUCSON, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) - This story is like a scene from a movie. An Arizona woman returned home from vacation to an unexpected guest, a snake in her toilet! She called a local rattlesnake company who had to come three separate times because each time they tried to get the snake out, it would go back into the toilet.

It’s a worst nightmare for some, but it was real for Michelle. An employee with a local rattlesnake company was taking a video with one hand while grabbing the snake out of the toilet with his other hand! Luckily, he got the snake out, but not without a few scratches.

“I immediately screamed probably the most blood-curdling scream ever to come out of my body and jumped back and threw the toilet lid down,” homeowner Michelle Lespron said.

Lespron returned to her Tucson home after vacation to the unexpected guest in her toilet. “I thought literally this was only the stuff of horror novels,” she said. “I sent it to a few people afterwards, and literally every person thought I was playing a joke on them, and I’m like no that’s my bathroom, and that’s what was waiting for me after my trip.”

Lespron called Rattlesnake Solutions. They do all kinds of snake removal. The worker is taking video while trying to grab the snake and even getting bitten in the process. “It’s a coachwhip snake. They bite if you pick one up. They’re fast and intelligent snakes. There is no venom, though,” Bryan Hughes, the owner of Rattlesnake Solutions, said. “We prefer not to be bitten or bleed by anything, but it’s not any worse than getting some scratches by gardening.”

This wasn’t his first time out to the house. This snake was stubborn. He tried to get the snake out several times over the two days. Hughes says you do not need to worry, and this is extremely rare. “We get maybe one out of every 1500 calls is a snake in a toilet or less, especially a big snake like that it’s very rare,” he said.

Even after the man removes the snake from the toilet, it isn’t too happy. It tries to strike at him again. Hughes says if you find yourself in this situation, the best thing to do is call a professional to make sure it’s not venomous. “There’s a lot of reasons a snake can be in a toilet. Usually, when we get these kinds of calls, it’s because there is something wrong with the pipes in the area or the septic has an issue,” Hughes said.

While Lespron is happy for their help, she says she’s extra cautious now. “I could not use that restroom. Thank goodness I had another one,” she said. “Now, even if I’m tired in the middle of the night, I always turn the light on and lift it up carefully and look to make sure there are no critters in my toilet ready to take a bite out of my butt.”

Hughes says now is a good time to ensure your house is sealed. Don’t leave any doors open or excess water outside. He says in this extreme heat, snakes are becoming desperate for ways to stay cool and things to drink.

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