Who were those masked people?

The Republicans in this state are unclenching in face of facts. Cities and town can now set their own rules for wearing masks. Doesn't sound like a big deal but the Republican controlled legislature has blocked all kinds of local laws they didn't like. For instance it's illegal to set off all but the tamest of fireworks in practically any city or town in the state. But the state legislature made it illegal for cities and towns to prohibit *sales* of fireworks. Yes, it's nutsy.

As of Saturday in Tucson you must wear a mask anywhere social distancing often isn't practical (i.e. in stores and malls, on downtown streets, at the university...) I won't have to start wearing a mask to walk the short block up to my mail box, since I can easily distance myself from anybody else who happens to be out at the same time. I've already been doing that for months. People can still walk their dogs, and go for exercise walks without masks in our "wide open" subdivisions, as long as they don't start getting too chummy about it. If you are brave, you can eat inside a restaurant. But some restaurants are going back to take out and delivery only, so their help doesn't get sick.

The biggest effect will be on bars that got totally out of hand with going back to normal on the weekends.

Forest fire: It was really bad on the mountain today with high winds. For the first time I could see flames up on this side of the mountain, and there was smoke coming from most of the hidden canyons. The tourist town at the top of the mountain has evacuated and the place lower down the highway where the forest rangers live is evacuating this evening.