On-Air Reporting

Former Santa Cruz County Treasurer Elizabeth Gutfahr, who has been accused of embezzling nearly $40 million from the county over a decade, appeared in court for a “receivership hearing” on Wednesday, Aug. 14. The hearing focused on whether or not a temporary receivership on Gutfahr’s property and assets should be extended. A judge did rule Wednesday to extend it. The court had previously ordered a receivership. According to prosecutor Benjamin W. Reeves, the financial group appointed to oversee the assets is MCA Financial Group out of Phoenix. A “receivership” is a third party appointed by the court to take possession of any property or assets the Gutfahrs may have. This is especially important since the Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors is suing Gutfahr to reclaim the money that was allegedly stolen. Originally aired: Aug. 14, 2024

New technology to enhance safety for community members and those on the front line is making its way to Santa Cruz County. According to Santa Cruz County Chief Deputy Gerardo Castillo, the new technology consists of a new telecommunication system that he said will increase safety. Castillo said that $4.8 million in state grant money will go towards new mobile and portable radios to support the infrastructure of the updated system. “The grant included all of our deputies, our volunteers, search and rescue, and our jail,” Castillo said. “It’s huge for us. It’s overdue.” Original air date: Jul. 30, 2024

A World War II veteran was finally laid to rest in Marana on Friday, April 19. “The peace this burial will provide to the family, both present and past is a special gift to my family,” said Joanne Lowry, niece to U.S. Air Forces Technical Sergeant Harold Lynn Seifreid. Seifreid, who was killed in Burma in December 1943, was honored at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Marana. Seifreid was aboard a B-24-J Liberator Bomber when it went down. He and the entire crew were killed. Originally aired:

Sierra Vista Fire and Medical Services is introducing the southern Arizona community to its newest fire squad member. According to Brett Scheib, the Fire Captain for S-V-F-D, the seven-month-old Dalmatian puppy whose name pays tribute to Molly Williams, a well-known trailblazer for women firefighters. “Molly Williams was the very first female firefighter in like 1818,” Scheib said. Fast forward over 200 years, and this Molly is anything but your typical first responder. Originally aired: Oct. 17, 2023

Arizona educators rallied at the state’s capitol in Phoenix, demanding lawmakers address several concerns. These teachers are asking state leaders to tackle Arizona’s growing teacher retention rate. According to the Arizona Education Association, as of January, there were more than 2,800 teacher vacancies in the state. The association says nearly half of all teacher positions open are being filled by people who don’t meet the state’s standard teaching requirements. Margaret Chaney, an educator in southern Arizona, tells 13 News the teacher retention crisis keeps getting worse as this school year goes on. The educators say their agenda isn’t political; they just want lawmakers to fund public schools fully. “For the past few years, it’s just become unsustainable,” Chaney said. “The more they are asked to do, the harder it gets, the less they can take care of themselves and let alone their own families.” Originally aired: Mar. 22, 2023

Border crossing times at the state’s southern border have skyrocketed in recent days, causing frustration and worry for the border towns that rely so heavily on the back-and-forth traffic. A few people traveling from Nogales, Mexico, tell 13 News depending on the time of day; it normally takes around twenty to thirty minutes to pass through the Deconcini Port of Entry in Nogales. However, wait times have more than doubled in recent days, causing travelers driving into the states to have more than an hour wait to cross. What is the cause behind the increased wait times? According to the Mayor of Nogales, Jorge Maldonado, migrants seeking asylum are stretching border agents thin, causing some to be reassigned to assist with the influx. “Washington called Friday to U.S. Customs and asked them to shut down half of their lanes at each port,” Maldonado said. “We had half our lanes cut at Deconcini and half of our lanes cut at Mariposa.” Originally aired: Sep. 19, 2023

The Arizona Department of Transportation is entering its next phase of planning for the Sonoran Corridor. According to Garrin Groff, the roughly 20-mile corridor, also known as State Route 410, would create a connection between Interstate 19 and I-10, starting at El Toro in Sahuarita and ending at Rita Road in east Tucson. “This will really nail down the specifics, exactly where the highway is going, exactly where the interchanges are going,” Groff said. “We are also looking at any environmental and mitigation efforts.”

Local businesses hit by monsoon storms aren’t letting their guard down yet. On Sunday, July 14, 2024, a strong storm hit near Prince and Fairview, and multiple businesses in the area suffered damage. Many are still dealing with the damage. At Hot Dogs La Reyna, employee Jesus Guzman said the wind completely shattered a window and door. He said they’ll be keeping a close eye and hope any future storms aren’t as destructive. Originally aired: 07/24/2024

As National Hispanic Heritage Month ends, Tucson Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director is bringing the sound of his culture to the Old Pueblo. Jose Luis Gomez is the music director of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. He tells 13 News he discovered his love for music as a boy growing up in Venezuela. “My journey has been filled with a lot of great people around me,” Gomez said. “I’ve been very lucky not only as a violinist but also as a conductor to have the chance to work with different orchestras.” Gomez started as an assistant conductor in Germany and then became a music director in Italy all before taking on his role in Tucson. Originally aired: Oct. 16, 2023

A local southern Arizona law enforcement agency is breathing a sigh of relief after they got the message, “I am okay.” According to Tombstone Marshal Jim Adams, one of his officers was deployed at Tower 22 in Jordan, the U.S. military base that was attacked by drone strikes. Adams said like many law enforcement agencies across the region, the Tombstone Marshal’s Office is extremely close and like a family. Adams remembers when the news of the drone strikes at Tower 22 came across his phone. He said his stomach immediately sank because he knew one of his own was deployed in that area. Originally aired: Jan. 30, 2024

Marana has been the center of a development boom with new residential and commercial projects being constructed all over town. Since its town’s incorporation in 1977, Marana has been the center of constant growth from housing to commercial developments. The evolving town is now known as one of the fastest-growing town in southern Arizona. According to data from the United States Census Bureau, the once small town is now home to more than 60,000 people, with no signs of slowing down. Original air date: May 15, 2024

A Tucson family is searching for answers after their loved one was found dead in a drainage tunnel near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base last week. On March 18, family and friends held a candlelight vigil for 32-year-old Casandrah Poole by putting out flowers and signs just feet away from where her body was located. According to the Tucson Police Department, officers responded to a welfare check near Stella and Wilmot around 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. The TPD said Casandrah was found in a drainage with obvious trauma. Originally aired: Mar. 18, 2024

Every year, hundreds of golfers make their way to the Old Pueblo for their chance at the Cologuard Classic Tournament title. Organizers have been making sure the tees and greens are ready. Michael Castillo has been playing golf for the last 50 years. He tells us these strong winds, possible rain, and snow will make the game just a little bit more interesting for those playing in the tournament. “Weather like this shows you what kind of shots these great players have in their bag,” Castillo tells 13 News. Originally aired: Mar. 1, 2023

New data shows the Nogales Port of Entry is seeing a rise in commercial, pedestrian, and passenger vehicle traffic. The increase of people and goods coming across the border has city officials looking toward the future. According to Josh Rubin, a board member on the Greater Nogales Port Authority, $32 billion worth of goods traveled through the Nogales Port of Entry just last year. A jump of over 10% from 2022.

On Monday, May 20, 2024, crews broke ground on the latest phase of the Grant Road Improvement Projec,t which includes enhancements drivers believe are long overdue. Vivian Mackinnon occasionally drives on Grant Road and told 13 News she is ready for the improvements. “I’m mostly looking forward to having control entrances and exits in places where people can flip a U-turn instead of people jumping in and out of the medians,” Mackinnon said. Mackinnon said the road’s current design is dangerous for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.

The community unites to stand in solidarity with the paramedics seriously injured in a collision. Two paramedics from Arizona AMR were seriously injured in a wrong-way, head-on crash after a police pursuit in Tucson on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. AMR Arizona and community members gathered outside Banner University Medical Center to support the two injured paramedics. Even though many understand the dangers first responders face, they said it’s never easy to hear about an injured first responder, but it’s especially hard when it’s a team member. Originally aired: Jan. 24, 2024