Category: CNN Regional

By Marc Monroy

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    SOUTH TUCSON, Arizona (KGUN) — Tomatoes are hitting their highest price point in eight years, and it’s hitting local restaurants hard.

At Comida del Barrio in South Tucson, the surge is stretching the budget for a staple ingredient found in nearly every Mexican dish — from salsa and picadillo to bistec ranchero.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says tomatoes are at their highest price since 2016. One pound now averages about $2.30, roughly 50 cents more than this time last year.

A 25% tariff on Mexico is fueling the increase. Truckers in Sinaloa — where 22% of tomatoes in the U.S. come from — say the fruit didn’t grow in bunches like they hoped, which could also be adding to the price.

Lety Sanchez, a cook at Comida del Barrio, said the impact is being felt across the board.

“Right now it is extremely expensive and it’s impacting everything,” Sanchez said.

With tomatoes serving as the base of nearly every dish on the menu, finding a substitute isn’t a realistic option.

“Every plate has tomato so now imagine how much that is costing us to the point of thinking of substituting it for something else,” Sanchez said.

The financial pressure isn’t limited to the restaurant.

“It impacts us at home and here because the costs are so high,” Sanchez said.

Despite the setback, Comida del Barrio is continuing to offer deals, including three burritos for $5 and two Sonoran dogs for $7.

“That sells a lot because it is cheap,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez said most of the food truck’s sales now come from those deals — a possible sign of how people are approaching eating out now.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KGUN verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Vanessa Gongora

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    TUCSON, Arizona (KGUN) — Maximo Jimenez Lugo, a senior at Pueblo High School, will attend the University of Michigan debt-free after earning the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship.

The scholarship covers tuition, flights, food, room, and some personal costs.

“So they look at whatever financial aid offer that a school gets you and basically whatever is not being covered by their financial aid and your FAFSA stuff, they basically cover the rest,” Jimenez Lugo said.

According to the Tucson Unified School District, it is more difficult to receive the Gates Millennium Scholarship than it is to get into an Ivy League school. Out of 61,000 applicants, only 750 received the scholarship.

Jimenez Lugo has a 4.3 GPA, plays football and is vice president of the Pueblo Aspiring Latino Lawyers Club, but it wasn’t only the grades and extracurricular activities that got him the reward.

“They look for people that are leaders that persevere through the toughest of times and that are also really emotionally mature,” Jimenez Lugo said.

Being the oldest of four siblings in a Hispanic household, Jimenez Lugo says he has gone through some rough patches and still pushes forward.

“My little sister, you know, being in epilepsy and stuff, you know, just the fear of the convulsions, stuff like that, really did a number on me, and it’s like the typical high school stuff that every guy goes through,” Jimenez Lugo said.

He said leading by example is important to him.

“I’ve always taken the extra step, you know, like, even if I was in class, no one else wanted to present first. I was always the one presenting. No one else wanted to answer a question. I was always, you know, raising my hand,” Jimenez Lugo said. “I’m doing it for my family, just show them that it’s possible, that it doesn’t matter our background, where we’re from, our neighborhood and stuff like that. Like it’s possible.”

Although Jimenez Lugo loves playing football, he said it is time to hang up the cleats.

“I was listening to a few offers to go play football elsewhere in some schools in Illinois and stuff, but I just decided it wasn’t really worth it for me, like sacrificing my body,” Jimenez Lugo said.

“It’s one of the best years of my life and stuff playing football here for Pueblo, but, you know, just in the future, I think academics will really suit me better in my future career endeavors.”

Pueblo High School Head Football Coach Sly Lewis said Jimenez Lugo has been first class since the day they met.

“He’s one of those guys that puts in the extra work when everybody’s, you know, kind of tired. He’s kind of the one getting them inspired, ready to go, but also, he stayed after and made sure that he could take care of his things off the field and on the field,” Lewis said.

Jimenez Lugo is thankful for everyone that has played a part in his life — family, friends, teachers and coaches.

“I will never ever be able to say in my life that I never had anyone on my side, like no one supporting me. Like I will never be able to say that, honestly. Like high school mainly is what you make of it,” Jimenez Lugo said.

“It’s if you actually take that time to build those connections, and I built it with, you know, Mr. R, my principal, also with, with my coaching staff here and also, Doctor Toro. She like really hammered it home. Get your stuff done. Get your stuff done, get your stuff done, and reminded me of deadlines and stuff and always just encouraged me to just do my best.”

He shares a message for future scholarship applicants.

“I will say just be yourself. If they don’t like you if you’re being yourself, then know it’s not meant to be. I mean, don’t ever try to pretend to be something you’re not because you’ll regret it eventually,” Jimenez Lugo said.

Jimenez Lugo will attend the University of Michigan in the fall and plans to double major in political science and biomedical engineering, with the goal of becoming a lawyer.

“When I go to law school, I’m looking to either go into patent law or into immigration law because I know the struggles of immigrant families and I wanna help,” Jimenez Lugo said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KGUN verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Ava Kershner

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    OCEANSIDE, California (KGTV) — Oceanside is one of San Diego County’s most popular tourist destinations, drawing more than 5 million visitors to its beaches last year, according to the city.

But as more people come to enjoy the shoreline, a question keeps popping up: Where’s the sand?

Up in North County, the sun shines and people enjoy the ocean breeze, but the waves splash down on rocks instead of soft sand.

“What you see behind me here is our lack of a beach,” Robert Ashton, CEO of Save Oceanside Sand, said.

Ashton has lived in Oceanside since 1961 and has watched the shoreline erode over the years.

“We’ve been losing our beach over decades and the city’s really done nothing about it until recently,” Ashton said.

Despite dredging the harbor annually, Oceanside has struggled to keep the beach in reach.

“It’s just because of the construction of the coast we’ve urbanized our shoreline, so there’s no sand coming from decomposition of these cliffs,” Ashton said. “We’ve dammed the rivers and we’ve altered the coast with harbor structures.”

Now, the city is trying something different.

“We had a jury and the jury voted, in the end for this artificial reef, design, which is called the living speed bumps design,” said Jayme Timberlake, Oceanside’s Coastal Zone Administrator.

The artificial reef would be built offshore between Tyson Street and Wisconsin Avenue, sitting 900 feet from shore and shaped like a butterfly. A 1/35 scale model of the structure was tested through thousands of wave cycles to validate the design.

The reef, combined with two headlands on the beach, would create a wave pool-like effect intended to keep sand on the shore. The design is being finalized by a team at Oregon State University, with a report expected in June. If funding and permits fall into place, the project could be shovel-ready by the fall of 2027.

“The community wants their beach back and not only temporarily through just dredging and placing sand on the shore, which goes away, they want it back for the long haul for generations to come,” Ashton said.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Dani Miskell

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    SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Nearly 100 veterans received more than 11,000 pieces of fan mail during a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Washington, D.C., with Honor Flight San Diego.

Honor Flight San Diego is a nonprofit that flies America’s heroes to visit memorials honoring their service in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

The first of many surprises on the trip came during the flight to Washington D.C., during mail call — a tradition dating back to World War I, when letters from home lifted morale on the front lines.

One by one, veterans were handed stacks of approximately 120 envelopes, filled with words of gratitude from strangers across the country.

For many, the outpouring was overwhelming.

Rick Harby, a Navy Veteran who served for 20 years, including during the Vietnam War era, said, “This is more mail than I ever got because we didn’t get mail.”

Another Navy veteran, Robert Pitchford, remembered what it felt like to receive mail while serving in Vietnam.

“I would get mail from my wife. I was very excited just to find out what was going on at home, how she was doing, and how my oldest daughter was doing, and everything. It just felt good to know that you had somebody at home that was caring for you,” Pitchford said.

Then came another surprise for the veterans — letters from family and friends.

“I’m so inspired by a letter from my son, just the memories and tears in my eyes,” Richard Fisher, a Navy Veteran who also served during the Vietnam War era, said.

Navy Veteran Larry Brenner was also caught completely off guard by a letter from a longtime friend.

“Looking back at our 30 years of friendship, Larry, I see the same selfless devotion in every area of your life. This is a total blindside. I had no idea,” Brenner said as he read one of his letters out loud.

Sons and daughters, attending the Honor Flight trip as guardians, listened as their parents read their letters aloud.

“It’s very emotional,” Diana Dorsha said through tears.

Her daughter, April Edwards Dorsha, said the moment was meaningful for the whole family.

“I feel like it’s a great way to remind her how courageous and how wonderful she truly is,” Edwards Dorsha said.

For Michele Bass, watching her father, Sr. Chief John Billups’s, reaction made the moment unforgettable.

“Just seeing his response, it melts me,” Bass said. “My dad is my hero.”

Even decades after their service, the letters were tender reminders that the Veterans’ sacrifices on the battlefield or at sea are still not forgotten.

The next Honor Flight San Diego trip will be this September. For anyone wanting to participate in writing letters to surprise veterans, contact Donna Hester at donna@thehesters.com.

Honor Flight San Diego is volunteer-based and can provide this all-expenses-paid trip for veterans only through donations.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Michael Chen

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    SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A 28-year-old City College graduate remains hospitalized with severe brain damage after being beaten outside his City Heights apartment. A 41-year-old man faces attempted murder charges in connection with the attack.

Louis Estrada was beaten just outside his City Heights apartment complex near 42nd Street after going out to chase off a ‘transient known for causing problems in the area,’ according to his father, Johnny Castillo.

Castillo said his son spotted the man near a back window and went out to chase him off.

“He will sleep there at night. Scream out and wake up the entire complex. He has been kicked out by everybody there,” Castillo said.

When Estrada did not return after several minutes, Castillo and his wife went to look for him. A passing driver pointed to to a body in a nearby alley.

“I found him face up, bleeding, struggling to breathe,” Castillo said.

A shocked Castillo desperately performed CPR while his wife got in her car and cornered the suspect a few blocks away.

Prosecutors told Castillo his son was beaten with an object and using the pavement.

“He was in a rage. He just didn’t stop,” Castillo said.

At the hospital, loved ones received a grim diagnosis. Tests confirmed severe brain damage.

“It’s not good, doesn’t look good,” Castillo said.

Despite the dire prognosis, Castillo said his son has defied expectations.

“He wasn’t supposed to last 3 days. He’s here past 2 weeks, he’s fighting,” Castillo said.

Castillo is a constant presence at his son’s hospital bedside.

“Most doctors say he won’t wake up, but I pray for him. I pray for strength every day,” Castillo said.

Estrada, a City College graduate and devoted dog owner, had been planning to return to school to become a plumber.

Police arrested 41-year-old Phillip Hightower in connection with the attack. He was booked on charges including attempted murder.

Castillo said he is leaning on his faith as he waits for justice.

“I want him to answer for what he did. He needs to pay for what he did,” Castillo said.

A mental competency hearing for Hightower is scheduled for June 11.

A Gofundme campaign has been set up for the family to help with medical and other expenses.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KGTV verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Ava Kershner

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    CARLSBAD, California (KGTV) — Living in Southern California comes with high home costs, with big repair bills if anything needs a fix.

For some seniors, there’s a risk of being scammed into paying far more than they should.

Martin Carr, CEO of Roof Maxx in Carlsbad, said he has seen firsthand how some roofing contractors take advantage of homeowners, particularly older residents.

“And I see that where people have had quotes that are, you know, $10,000 to $15,000 over what the cost of a roof should be,” Carr said.

Carr advises doing research before hiring a contractor is critical.

It’s something Leslie Wisner learned when her roof was damaged during a Santa Ana wind event.

“I called about 25 different people,” Wisner said. “I got so many bids. I was so tired of it.”

Wisner is 78 years old and uses a wheelchair after losing her leg, which made it impossible for her to climb up and inspect her roof herself.

That left her dependent on the quotes from sales representatives, with some doubling the actual cost of the repairs, according to Carr.

“I mean, because I was in my wheelchair, so he thought maybe he could take advantage of me,” Wisner said, describing one incident with a sales person. “I guess I don’t know what he was thinking, but he wouldn’t leave.”

Wisner said the experience gave her a deeper understanding of how vulnerable some seniors can be in these situations.

“It was very difficult, and I can understand where some seniors that really don’t have it together enough to … do their homework,” Wisner said.

To combat these scams, Carr is developing an online calculator that allows homeowners to upload their address to receive a more accurate repair estimate. He hopes the tool will give consumers the information they need to identify a fair price.

“Seniors particularly don’t have $15,000 to $20,000 to spend, you know; they’re on low income year in, year out,” Carr said. “If the roofing company comes around and tells them their roof is about to collapse, it scares them. That’s where the scams happen.”

Carr said his goal is to make sure seniors can afford to live in Southern California without being taken advantage of.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Darren Cunningham

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    ROMULUS, Michigan (WXYZ) — Spirit Airlines employees who just got the ax are trying to navigate a new reality after the company shut down abruptly this weekend.

Many are in the process of filing for unemployment and wondering what comes next.

The Spirit ticket and check-in counter at Detroit Metro Airport is a ghost town.

Dayneen Daniels and Latasha Green spent their Monday afternoon at Michigan Works in Wayne. They weren’t checking in for a shift. They were filing for unemployment benefits. Both are former Spirit ticket and gate agents.

While the airline has faced financial turbulence before, they said this final descent caught them completely off guard.

“I thought of it as nothing. I’m thinking we’ll be fine. I go to work Friday, Saturday no work,” Daniels said.

They said the realization didn’t come from a manager or a memo, but it came from watching the news.

The pair said they didn’t receive an official notification until just before noon on Saturday, well after the headlines had already broken the news.

“I’m just thinking how am I going to take care of my son. That’s mainly what was on my mind,” Green said.

While their source of income has disappeared, the bills haven’t. Daniels said she’s turned to crowdfunding and started a GoFundMe while she works to land a new job.

“I did start applying for other jobs. Aviation jobs, customer service jobs, secretarial skills job, different jobs like that,” Green explained.

Daniels said, “We actually loved our job. We loved working for Spirit. We loved dealing with all the different customers, people from all walks of life.”

“I loved it. Honestly, I was ready to go to work every morning,” Green added. “And I’m really affected by this. Like that really hurt my heart.”

The heartbreak is shared by those who spent their careers in the cabin. Sherri Mercier was also at Michigan Works trying to navigate a complex unemployment system while processing the loss of a 12-year career.

“We had some of the best passengers. We had some of the most amazing people,” she said. “I had gotten in from working 12 hours, a red-eye and I couldn’t take my uniform off. I cried all day, and it wasn’t until about 8 o’clock that I finally took it off because I knew that was the last time.”

For flight attendants, the “start over” is particularly daunting. Decades of seniority and pay scales effectively evaporated overnight.

“My friends that are now family, they’ve been here 20, 25, 28 years and it’s just, we’re flight attendants and starting over, you start over at the bottom,” Mercier said.

As employees fight to be paid for accrued paid time off, she said they’ve been told they will only receive pay for time worked.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.