Students at the new Tucson School for the Blind go on their first field trip.

AZPM | By Mark McLemore

Published August 19, 2026 at 3:06 PM MST

TSB student in library — Tucson School for the Blind student Maredi Gaxiola feels the spines of the books at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library during the field trip on Aug. 7, 2026.

TSB sign — Tucson School for the Blind hand-made sign put up in front of the entrance of the Tucson School for the Blind on July 10, 2026.

Students at the new Tucson School for the Blind go on their first field trip.

Featured on the August 20th, 2026 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with host Mark McLemore:

AZPM reporter Thatcher Warrick Hess tells about the start of a new school year for students at the Tucson School for the Blind, including their first field trip.

TSB teachers laughing — Teachers Laura Prelsnik Aragon and Hiris Vela talk about student field trips on Aug. 12, 2026.

TSB vacuum lesson — Teacher Kimberly Dotseth guides student Enrique Lomeli to vacuum the floor after lunch at the Tucson School for the Blind on Aug. 6, 2026.

Author, poet & entrepreneur Marquez Pricecreated a multi-media documentary about his father’s and his uncle’s high school basketball triumphs, called The Backcourt: Basketball’s Best Kept Secret. The film will screen at []The Loft Cinema](https://loftcinema.org/film/the-backcourt-documentary-basketballs-best-kept-secret/) on Saturday, August 22nd at 3 pm.

marquez price backcourt unsized — Marquez Price with his new sports memoir "The Backcourt" in AZPM's radio studios.

the backcourt marquez price unsized — "The Backcourt" by Marquez Price.

delano hoegie unsized — Hoegie Simmons and Delano Price are the central subjects of Marquez Price's new book "The Backcourt."

Susanne Lasseter shares the true story of how her grandparents made a home in Arizona, testing their strength & love.

lasseter grandparents unsized — Dan and Ruth's wedding portrait, 1917.

Lasseter photo collage — Susanne's grandfather Dan on the first construction job h found after arriving to Phoenix, and she has been told it was known as Luhr’s Tower. The right picture is of Dan, Susanne, and her younger sister with of her grandfather's precious shetland ponies, which he raised after coming to Ariszona.

susanne lasseter unsized — Storyteller Susanne Lasseter

And a poem about the many different rhythms of life, read by the author Liza Porter.

Liza Porter's collection of poems "Keep the Singing" is dedicated to her late sister Edie, It explores the depth of their relationship, and can be characterized as a journey of discovery and connection.

Arizona Spotlight airs every Thursday at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm and every Friday at 8:00 pm on NPR 89.1 FM / 1550 AM. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, or the NPR App. See more from Arizona Spotlight.

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Students at the new Tucson School for the Blind go on their first field trip.