(KGUN) — Advocates for Tucson's immigrant community are responding to a letter sent to people in the United States under parole status South Tucson Missionary Priest Ray Riding is one of the advocates that was shown the letter received by the people he serves “So my whole ministry is to walk with them the same day DHS Secretary Kristi Noem issued a reminder that all foreign nationals must be registered under the Alien Registration Act by April 11 have been doing exactly what the process is asking to do,” Riding commented a DHS spokesperson provided the following statement to KGUN 9 Father Riding spoke on behalf of those who received the letter stating he's seen a lot of fear circulating He said it goes against his religious beliefs Report a typo Thousands took to the streets to protest the Trump administration as part of a National Day of Action More than 20 local groups organized the march in conjunction with mass gatherings across the country and Arizona Protestors begin to gather along 10th Avenue outside the Southside Presbyterian Church for a National Day of Action march Thousands took to the streets for a route that wound through Tucson and South Tucson and closed down streets for about two hours More than 20 groups organized the march to protest the Trump administration and it’s policies John Booth stands in the parking lot of the Southside Presbyterian Church with his U.S flag while waiting for the start of the part of the National Day of Action march Marches and protests took place across the country and Arizona speaking out against the Trump administration shutting down rush hour traffic as they take part in National Day of Action protests The march took about two hours and closed 22nd Street 29th Street and 10th Avenue to motor traffic Units from the Tucson and South Tucson police departments escorted the throng on their route marches well ahead of the vanguard of thousands of protestors taking part in the National Day of Action along 29th Street A participant holds holds her message on her head while waiting outside the Southside Presbyterian Church for the start of the evening’s National Day of action march waiting for the signal to begin their National Day of Action march Thousands eventually showed up for the two hour protest The thousands of protestors get fired up by a speech as they prepare to march on the National Day of Action Organized protests took place across the country in opposition to the current political situation The head of the thousands of marchers makes it’s way along 29th Street taking part in tNational Day of Action protests A video crew and others on their cell phones get footage of the thousands of marchers returning to the Southside Presbyterian Church at the end of a two hour protest on the National Day of action A protestor and her elaborately adorned trike waits with the others for the word to commence their march for the National Day of Action protests One of the organizers get the crowd to chant while helping lead thousands in a protest against the Trump administration on the National Day of Action May Day organizers framed this year’s protests as a pushback against what they see as the Trump  administration's widespread assault on labor protections diversity initiatives and federal employees Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device (KGUN) — On Sunday people living at the Spanish Trail Suites still did not have electricity a day after a smaller building near the apartments caught fire The South Tucson Fire Department said the fire caused the electricity to go out KGUN 9 has reported on the Spanish Trail Motel right next door catching on fire three other times said they might not have electricity until at least Tuesday She said there’s a lot of electrical damage She said an abandoned shack right behind the apartments with electrical units caught on fire and two to three buildings don’t have electricity On Sunday the Southern Arizona Red Cross served breakfast and dinner to the people living there and helped with medical needs such as keeping insulin cool with ice packs Now they’re waiting to see if they will feed people on Monday and says their work is important with even something as simple as food making sure that they’re not hungry is the least we can do is the most important thing that we do,” Hammarstrom said The chief of the South Tucson Fire Department said they’re still looking into how the fire started The square-mile city of South Tucson won't "participate in any mass deportation efforts under the incoming administration," officials said Wednesday The City Council had considered a resolution last week setting a police policy but opted to instead make a public statement after legal concerns were expressed The members of the Council voted 6-1 to issue the news release after discussing the matter at a meeting last Tuesday South Tucson Police Chief Danny Denogean joined other leaders of the small city — which is surrounded by the larger city of Tucson — in saying they "stand united" and police will "not enforce mass deportation threats." Councilman Brian Flagg requested the Council vote on a resolution declaring it was a city policy to not take part in any Trump-led deportation efforts and require police to declare over the radio the reasons for any traffic stops citing logistical hurdles such as the smaller city sharing the radio system with the Tucson Police Department and not wanting to clog the dispatch airwaves The South Tucson chief said all of his officers are trained that they must have a legal reason to make a traffic stop An attorney advising the councilmembers cautioned that adopting a resolution that put in place formal policies could put the city in conflict with state laws they opted to make the public statement that "in response to recent national rhetoric on mass deportation the city of South Tucson City Council and Police Chief Denogean reaffirm their commitment to the community's safety and well-being They have made it clear that South Tucson's Police Department will not participate in any mass deportation efforts under the incoming administration." "Immigration enforcement is not the role of local police," said Denogean in the press release "Our officers are focused on continuing to serve and protect all residents through lawful Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela said "we want every member of our community-regardless of immigration status-to know they are valued Leaders of the city of South Tucson are committed to safety and that's why we are putting forward this unified message of reassurance." Councilman Paul Diaz voted against the city making the public statement citing his "oath of office" without providing details during the meeting last week South Tucson "joins Pima County and the City of Tucson in planning mode to determine the appropriate legal response to specific plans that may be released by the federal administration." we are focused on not allowing fear to run rampant through our community," Valenzuela said with a police department of about a dozen officers the Tucson Sentinel publishes our stories without a paywall We believe a healthy community depends on everyone having access to quality independent journalism we're committed to providing real reporting to everyone in Southern Arizona But a single story can cost us thousands of dollars to report – some take months and months of dogged digging others require paying for tall stacks of records that officials don't want to provide Some mean driving to remote corners of Pima County and some see our reporters sitting through endless government meetings to make sure they get the whole story and not just a quick headline Our award-winning newsroom has some of the best reporters and we're dedicated to getting the story right Our pioneering effort to rebuild local news will only work if enough people join our Watchdog Club community of paying members Please join today for as little as $15/month For those who can't afford to contribute right now, please sign up for one of our free Watchdog Update newsletters and help the spread word about the Sentinel to your friends Your contributions help the Sentinel sustain & grow our nonprofit newsroom & bolster our commitment to delivering the important independent news our community needs to thrive A smarter Tucson is a better Tucson — and the Sentinel shines a light on this town because we love it The Tucson Sentinel is published by Tucson Investigative Reporting Center Inc. 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Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInTUCSON (13 News) - The father of the 3-year-old boy killed after being shot in the head in South Tucson on Wednesday made his first court appearance this early Thursday 23-year-old Anthony Noriega was arrested on charges of negligent homicide and domestic violence endangerment The shooting happened near West 27th Street Noriega was released to pretrial services and ordered to surrender any firearms inside the home to police You can watch that court appearance in the video player below The interim complaint shows Noriega told police he keeps all firearms in loaded with a round in the chamber Noriega also allegedly told police he was aware of the danger of the firearms being unsecured “officers observed multiple firearms in unsecured locations throughout the house” and “the room that two of Anthony’s firearms are kept in is the bedroom shared and used by the children.” the state had asked for a bond of $750,000 Noriega was also ordered to not have any unsupervised contact with minors His next court appearance is scheduled for March 19 This is the second shooting involving a child in the Tucson-area in about a month Be sure to subscribe to the 13 News YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@13newskold (KGUN) — South Tucson Fire crews responded to a fire near Spanish Trail Suites Friday night The building was a smaller building near both the motel and the motel suites nearby but once crews started putting water on the flames they discovered the electrical boxes were on fire South Tucson Fire said that as a result of the fire there are now partial and possibly full power outages at the apartments nearby It’s currently up to the property owner to resolve the power issue but the exact scope of responsibility remains unclear An inspector was expected to visit the scene on Thursday to determine whether power could be safely restored to the affected buildings South Tucson Police are now handling the ongoing investigation and determining next steps KGUN 9 will update this article as more information becomes available a special election is set for August 5th to vote on whether some members of the council will be recalled This comes after one of the members spent months collecting signatures to recall three others on the council Former South Tucson mayor Paul Diaz is asking South Tucson to recall Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela and Councilmen Brian Flagg and Cesar Aguirre all my suggestions about the fire department was never taken in consideration," said Diaz He said their focus on affordable housing and the unhoused community part of their work with non-profit Casa Maria special interest group that were really only for their causes and not for the city of South Tucson," Diaz added He clarified he supports affordable housing but doesn't believe South Tucson has the capacity Councilman Brian Flagg says Diaz should focus on other issues "We have a bunch of issues that we are tackling head on here in South Tucson and I wish that Councilman Diaz would join in that struggle stupid like like things to just bad mouth us," said Flagg Diaz says he went door-to-door collecting signatures on the recall petition Pima County validated 163 for Brian Flagg,170 for Cesar Aguirre Diaz is standing strongly against their decisions– including their support of Proposition 409 the voter-approved tax to fund public safety "We need economic development to bring sources in other than property tax and secondary property tax While Aguirre and Valenzuela could only provide statements Flagg spoke on their behalf standing confidently despite attacks "We're just going to keep working really hard and make this a better place," said Flagg Councilman Cesar Aguirre and Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela provided the following statements: (KGUN) — A small space in South Tucson is making a big impact by bringing more shade and community connection to the 1.2 square mile city “There's not one locally owned coffee shop south of 22nd that's a sit-down community space," said Selina Barajas Luna Y Sol Cafe is on track to become the first sit-down coffee shop in the City of South Tucson have been working toward their grand opening they also wanted to make an impact by giving back to the community the Barajas family was able to cut the ribbon on their community habitat connected to the soon-to-be coffee shop Meyer's Clean Days and Kids Gardening "Lots of Compassion" grant Luna Y Sol Cafe was one of ten recipients of the $20,000 grant from across the nation tasked with turning that into an urban garden in all of the county with the heat island effect There's not a lot of consistent public parks available for our families So that's what we wanted to do here," said Selina Barajas As many gathered to celebrate this milestone South Tucson leaders praised community organizations for their collaborations One of the partners in the project was the Tucson Bird Alliance “Spaces like this help to cool the neighborhood," said Megan Eubank with the Tucson Bird Alliance "They provide wonderful spaces for people to gather and they're also excellent for our birds and our butterflies and bees making sure that they have what they need to stay here in this really biodiverse region that we're very fortunate to be part of.” Southside's Barrio Restoration has also played a role in the project by hosting community clean-ups around the area “It's a space where numerous individuals from the neighborhood have come and invested their time and sweat equity into the soil here,“ said Barrio Restoration's David Garcia The family business is still preparing to open the coffee shop at 137 W the housing authority hosted its annual health fair Organizers coordinated with 28 vendors to make several resources accessible to the community “We have mobiles with doctors and nurses from Zion city the Director of the South Tucson Housing Authority Centers for Disease Control and Prevention a study from 2023 found 24% of noninstitutionalized adults 65 and older described having fair or poor health Many people attending the health fair resided in the adjacent housing complex which houses older adults and is owned by the South Tucson Housing Authority “It helps me real good because I'm diabetic,” said Martha Rios The event also had a free raffle for the attendees described the health fair as an opportunity to build community "Many people are recluses and don't leave their apartments and I think socializing among your peer group is very important for your mental health," Ochoa said The annual event received support from vendors like La Frontera SOUTH TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Nearly a year after a devastating fire reduced much of the historic Tucson Greyhound Park to rubble the long-vacant site is getting a second life — this time as a hub for youth sports and community growth BVB International Academy Arizona, an affiliate of the German soccer club Borussia Dortmund has unveiled plans to transform the former dog racing facility into a state-of-the-art soccer academy complex The multi-year project will include three soccer fields — two of which will meet FIFA regulation standards — as well as a restaurant with floor-to-ceiling glass windows so parents can watch their children play “This isn’t just about building a training facility,” said Armando Ramirez Executive Director of BVB International Academy Arizona “Our main objective is to attract kids from the surrounding areas and other parts of Tucson to practice soccer If we can help keep them out of trouble and give them a place to grow South Tucson Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela says the development couldn’t come at a better time “We have very few amenities here,” she said “The two small parks we do have are locked up.” Valenzuela hopes that the new complex will bring an economic boost to the city “There’s a lot of emotion behind the Greyhound Park,” Valenzuela said “Many of my cousins got their first jobs there I’m hopeful this project brings jobs and opportunities to the community.” the soccer complex is expected to provide economic and social benefits He says all construction and future operations will utilize local contractors with plans for job creation in both hospitality and coaching roles as the facility expands “This project will attract other investors too,” Ramirez added “It’s not just about improving South Tucson — it’s about elevating the whole city.” the academy has ambitions to become a regional destination Ramirez envisions hosting tournaments and events that will draw families and athletes from across Arizona we’ll inject tourism dollars into the local economy,” he said Construction is slated to begin in mid-May and city leaders are eager to see this long-dormant site transformed into a place of energy Ramirez says the full project is expected to take about a year and a half to complete “We welcome these developers and we definitely think this is a great investment for them and for our whole community,” said Mayor Valenzuela “It’s about time our community got something like this For more information on the project, visitthe organization’s website (KGUN) — The South Tucson Housing Authority is opening its affordable housing wait list on April 11 for adults older or nearing the age of 65 you will realize how big of an impact housing will make in their life," said Irma Gonzales Santa Rita Park closures have affected the 1.2-square-mile city by making the encampment hotspot unavailable pushing unhoused people into the South Tucson community The park is expected to close for long-term construction starting April 21 here it's imperative that we open up units to make them available so that more people are not left out in the streets and they're able to have an opportunity to be housed," said Gonzalez The units have been upgraded and are mostly either single bedroom or studio apartments The city provides 172 total affordable housing units and this housing lottery will provide 45 more units for people in need "We are trying to make sure that our community is impacted in a positive way," she said. She also added that the word spreads quickly about applications. The application can be found online or in-person at 1713 S The application must be fully complete to be considered and will close on April 25 (KGUN) — Neighbors joined city leaders in breaking ground at Santa Rita Park Thursday morning The park revitalization has been in the planning process since 2021 and is funded by voter-approved Prop 407 The ceremony marked a significant step for Tucson as the $8 million project will include several upgrades to the park Mayor Regina Romero described the project as an investment for a historically disinvested community that will introduce several new amenities to this Southside park "I truly believe in parks for all," Mayor Romero said "Everyone in the community should be able to enjoy their neighborhood park the more individuals and neighbors will come and attract it It's just a resource for them to be able to use." The project is expected to be completed by summer 2026 and will include upgrades such as a new splash pad The park is a well-known hotspot for homeless encampments which has worried residents of South Tucson South Tucson Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela said the city has not seen an impact since the park closed on Monday but she's still concerned for the people in need of resources "I am hearing concerns from the residents that you know or they're just going to be in unsafe conditions," Mayor Valenzuela said but it's also about time that we do have an investment in a park for our greater community Valenzuela wanted to remind the community of the resources offered at Casa Maria The City of Tucson provided the following information on additional resources Medical Services: El Rio Community Health Centers call (520) 670-3909 to schedule an appointment at an El Rio clinic or a telehealth visit by phone or video chat The park was also a place where mutual-aid group Community on Wheels gathered every week to provide food Victoria Devasto expressed her concern for the closure of the park "We'll still be operating close by," Devasto said and that's what made Santa Rita such a centering point I'm really disappointed that the park is closing the way it is right now." While Devasto hoped for more spaces for the unhoused community to become available she also acknowledged the need for investment One neighbor shared her excitement for the completion of the project and so we really care about what happens to this park," said Madeline Golde while holding her grandchild it just didn't feel comfortable enough for us And then we have this lovely little granddaughter and it would be so wonderful to have a park that's just a few steps away." KGUN 9 will continue to follow the progress on the park and provide updates The South Tucson Police Department has announced the child died after being shot in a residence near 27th Street and 10th Avenue The department has announced the child is a 3-year-old boy has been booked for negligent homicide and domestic violence endangerment (KGUN) — South Tucson Police have announced a male child was shot near 27th Street and 10th Avenue on Wednesday morning Police said the incident occurred in a residence in the area An investigation is underway to determine if it should be a criminal investigation The police are not providing details on the condition of the child KGUN 9 will have updates as they become available (KGUN) — The Spanish Trail Motel is one of the abandoned structures seen as "eyesores" in South Tucson that have been damaged by large fires The structure caught fire in February last year The fire rekindled again with the strong winds seen Monday afternoon South Tucson has been taking action by enforcing the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance which sets safety standards for businesses in the 1.2 square mile city "We're investigating several properties within South Tucson and some are pending," said South Tucson Police Commander Raul Navarro provided details on those citations and clarified one citation had been issued to the owner of the Tucson Greyhound Park that caught fire in May last year the city is working on citing the owner of the Spanish Trail Motel “He should have remediated this area a long time ago and now our community is suffering more,” Valenzuela said The city has seen frequent fires since August 2023 While businesses such as the Crossroads Restaurant have worked to restore the damage the destroyed structure of the Spanish Trail Motel can be seen by anyone driving by the City of South Tucson issued a lawsuit to the owners of the Spanish Trail and the Sixth Avenue Suites for frequent crime in and around the properties there was a protest outside of one of those properties held by people who claimed to be advocating for better conditions The protest was separate from the city's lawsuit but several members of the South Tucson council led the protest including newly-elected Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela The City of South Tucson eventually worked through a settlement agreement with the owner of the properties Before the fire rekindled Monday afternoon Valenzuela talked to KGUN 9 about the property "The reality is that the conditions haven't changed,” she said She brought up the limited resources the city has to work with and talked about taking further action against the owner “Staff has been working really hard right now but this one's going to be a lot more aggressive He has not complied with his agreement to keep that property safe for not just the benefit of his tenants but the whole community,” Valenzuela added and asked about his response to the fire and the idea of another lawsuit (KGUN) — The City of South Tucson is set to welcome a new fire truck after purchasing a used vehicle that is currently being customized in “South Tucson style.” The new addition comes as part of ongoing efforts to address public safety concerns in the 1.2-square-mile city “We’ve been working with South Tucson for 20 years doing the cop cars and now we’re doing the fire truck,” said the owner of Centerline Wraps Centerline Wraps has been working with South Tucson’s Fire Captain Andy Luna on designing the fire truck The truck is expected to hit the streets within the next week representing a significant step forward for the community Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela emphasized the importance of the new truck or another structure fire that we need to control.” This acquisition comes in response to the city’s current fire engines both of which are over 25 years old and out of service The urgency surrounding the new fire truck has been heightened following a recent fire at a local feed store City leaders recognize the need for a sustainable fire service model as they continue to grapple with financial challenges “I don’t know what that’s going to look like but we are trying everything we can to save it to keep our services in-house,” Valenzuela added The city council's focus this time last year was on the future of the fire department the arrival of the new fire truck is a “huge win for our community." This announcement also follows the City of South Tucson's recent approval of Proposition 409 which aims to provide additional funding to enhance public safety City leaders are in the process of acquiring these funds and will continue to update the community as the situation evolves (13 News) - Two people were found shot in South Tucson on Friday The South Tucson Police Department confirmed it happened at a home in the 230 block of West 32nd Street which is near the intersection of 29th Street and 6th Avenue The STPD said the victims’ injuries were not life-threatening and there is no known danger to the community The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call 88-CRIME or 911 Be sure to subscribe to the 13 News YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@13newskold The South Tucson City Council and its police department will not participate in mass deportation efforts that may come under the incoming Trump administration "Immigration enforcement is not the role of local police," police chief Daniel Denogean said The announcement comes after some city officials including the attorney’s office and Denogean expressed concerns over potential conflicts with state law if the city were to pass official policy on the issue the council attempted to approve a resolution that would put into policy their anti-mass deportation stance and require South Tucson police to explain why they are conducting a traffic stop Denogean recommended against the regulation which is shared with the Tucson Police Department "For us to have to get on the radio and explain everything would irritate the people we're working within the city of Tucson and takes up too much radio time." councilmember Brian Flagg urged the council to take a stance during the meeting “I think that we as a city of South Tucson need to make a public statement that lots of people in our community have a fear of the threatened deportation,” Flagg said “We want every member of our community—regardless of immigration status—to know they are valued,” Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela said “Leaders of the City of South Tucson are committed to safety and that’s why we are putting forward this unified message of reassurance.” Councilmember Paul Diaz voted no to making a statement due to his “oath to the office.” He did not provide further reasoning South Tucson city officials also announced that they are in the process of determining a legal response to specific plans that may come from the new federal government we are focused on not allowing fear to run rampant through our community,” Valenzuela said Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said he will continue to treat all arrestees the same (KGUN) — A large fire early Monday morning devastated the Arizona Feeds Country Store a longtime staple in the South Tucson community leaving only charred remnants and a few hay stacks and firefighters from South Tucson and Tucson Fire quickly responded Crews were able to contain the fire just before 1 a.m. preventing it from reaching propane tanks located at the front of the store expressing sorrow over the loss while also thanking the community for its support drove up from Green Valley on Monday afternoon He was surprised to see the store he visits twice a month in its current condition Community members were visibly shaken by the fire’s aftermath reflected on the emotional toll the fire had taken on the community especially knowing there were animals in there,” De La Cruz said While it’s unclear what happened to the animals that were housed at the store the community’s concern for their well-being has added to the sorrow surrounding the fire This fire marks the fourth large structure fire in South Tucson in recent years following previous blazes at the Crossroads Restaurant Local residents have expressed concern over the frequency of fires in such a small area De La Cruz questioned the trend: “It seems like one too many in such a short little area South Tucson’s Public Safety Director told KGUN 9 that federal fire investigators will look into the cause the Arizona Feeds store promises to keep the community updated as they begin their recovery process and shell casings were among the findings police reported after searching the home where a three-year-old was shot on Feb The boy died after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head according to reports from the South Tucson Police Department KGUN 9 obtained a copy of the report listing the search warrant findings admitted to having several loaded guns around his home when speaking to first responders.In Arizona there isn't a law that requires gun owners to implement safety measures in securely storing the weapon but parents can face charges if a child finds a gun and uses it “Don't just put it somewhere out in the open especially if your little kids are running around everywhere,” said Phillip Martin he shared with KGUN 9 that he is a firm believer in responsible gun ownership he did share how he believes guns should be stored around children or always be aware of where your gun's at," said Martin He has found that safes are the best option for securing a weapon and keeping it away from children was booked into Pima County Jail on negligent homicide and domestic violence endangerment He was released to pre-trial services and his first hearing will be on March 19 Crews from South Tucson Fire and Tucson Fire battled a two-alarm blaze at the Arizona Feeds Country Store Tucson Fire arrived at the scene at just before midnight It spread to multiple buildings on the same property of the feed store and the scene was turned over to South Tucson Fire UPDATE | Another devastating fire in South Tucson fans the flames; concerns resurface as list of large fires grows (KGUN) — South Tucson welcomed the community to its inauguration for three new members of the council and Melissa Brown-Dominguez were elected by residents of the 1.2 square mile city and I want the rest of our surrounding area to see that," said Pablo Robles Melissa Brown-Dominguez was also appointed a position and will serve as vice mayor The council voted 5-1 to appoint Roxanna Valenzuela as South Tucson mayor we are facing real challenges in our community the community joined a celebration at El Casino Ballroom Two tribal leaders from the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and Tohono O'odham Nation spoke in support of South Tucson's future To see the council in action for the first time The City of South Tucson announced via news release Wednesday morning that it would not participate in any mass deportation efforts under the incoming Trump administration "Immigration enforcement is not the role of local police," South Tucson Police Chief Danny Denogean said Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela said in the statement that the city wanted every member of the community "Leaders of the City of South Tucson are committed to safety and that’s why we are putting forward this unified message of reassurance," Valenzuela said The city said it has joined Pima County and the City of Tucson to determine "the appropriate legal response to specific plans that may be released by the federal administration." "we are focused on not allowing fear to run rampant through our community.” Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInTUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - A South Tucson man has been found guilty in the brutal beating death of his mother more than two years ago. A jury recently found George Valles guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Carmen Ruiz The trial lasted only four days and the jury deliberated less than three hours Ruiz was found beaten to death in her South Tucson home and her family said Valles used a statue to kill her KGUN 9 was notified that the Spanish Trail Motel was once again ablaze Our Southside and South Tucson reporter Reyna Preciado has been following this story today and has a live report: Live view from Arizona Department of Transportation camera just after 4 p.m: The Tucson Fire Department says they arrived on the scene just minutes after the fire broke out around 9 p.m TPD and the South Tucson Fire Department worked together to put out the fire at the abandoned building, the department said on X. A South Tucson Fire Department official confirmed the Spanish Trail motel building is on fire Sunday night The same building caught fire in February 2024 KGUN 9 has also reported on a lawsuit involving the building KGUN 9 will have updates as soon as they become available A two-alarm fire late Sunday night destroyed Arizona Feeds Country Store in South Tucson A two-alarm fire Sunday night destroyed a longtime feed store in South Tucson South Tucson Fire Department was on scene six minutes later and the Tucson Fire Department provided additional aid first arriving at the scene 11:43 p.m who rents storage space in the building next door said he was at a nearby tavern when he noticed the fire Piles of debris was scattered Monday across the property of at Arizona Feeds Country Store “I saw the smoke and we immediately thought like “The fire was just huge.” The fire did not spread to the storage unit facility The cause of the fire remained under investigation The fire did not spread to the storage unit facility Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community Elijah Palmer was confirmed missing about 4 a.m Arizona welcomed dozens of new animal residents on Saturday when approximately 70 dogs from California shelters were flown in to find safe hom… The alleged incident between a 16-year-old student and a 22-year-old teacher's aide is believed to have occurred off campus in late December Chris Rickenbach was among a group of bystanders who helped save a man who collapsed on a Tucson soccer field in September (KGUN) — According to Fire Captain Andy Luna the South Tucson Fire Department is responding to three to five calls about warming fires daily Luna said he's frequently seeing them on private property “These types of warming fires can be a danger because they spread quickly." It's especially a concern when small fires occur around abandoned structures like the Spanish Trail Motel and Tucson Greyhound Park “We don’t know that that happened with a warming fire we don’t know the situation that happened there But that is certainly a concern of ours that that could happen where these folks migrate and try to stay warm," said Luna South Tucson Councilman and Casa Maria worker Brian Flagg is also frustrated seeing warming fires in the city I confront them and sternly tell them to not be lighting fires here and immediately put them out," he said referring to fires around the Casa Maria Soup Kitchen Flagg is also a housing advocate and empathizes with people living on the streets who are starting fires to battle the extreme weather “We need to figure out how to do rent control build housing for people that would otherwise be on the street,” said Flagg Fire Captain Andy Luna said the department gives out blankets to keep people warm in other ways (13 News) - A teen has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in South Tucson on Tuesday The South Tucson Police Department said a 17-year-old boy is facing charges of discharging a firearm 13 News is not identifying the suspect due to his age The STPD said a 15-year-old boy was found shot near 6th Avenue and 30th Street The STPD said the victim’s name is not being released due to his age Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME (KGUN) — Out of 768 total votes cast in South Tucson in regards to Arizona Proposition 409 RELATED STORY | What you need to know about Prop 409 in South Tucson an approved Prop 409 proposition will allow the City of South Tucson to collect more funds and chip away at the shortfall preventing council from planning the future of the city's fire department RELATED STORY | South Tucson Mayor stands against measure to fund fire department 409 will now add a secondary tax for property owners in the 1.2 square mile city Actual amounts will depend on the property's value but city leaders have said the average cost per person should be $10/month The new tax will pay off $6.12 million in bonds over an estimated 20 years The language in the bond measure allows South Tucson to issue and sell that amount in general obligation bonds As council meetings resume with newly-elected members KGUN 9's Reyna Preciado will continue to follow up with coverage on the future of Public Safety in South Tucson Reyna Preciado and Pat Parris sat down to discuss the proposition and news leading up to it (13 News) - The Tucson Police Department is investigating a shooting that sent one person to the hospital The South Tucson Police Department says a male victim remains in stable condition (KGUN) — The City of South Tucson has struggled in balancing its budget to fund fire protection services Money for new equipment and other necessary upgrades has been highlighted in city council meetings over the past year RELATED STORY: "Hot" topic: the future of the South Tucson Fire Department giving residents the power to decide if they want to pay a secondary tax to help South Tucson City Manager Veronica Moreno provided KGUN 9 with an informational pamphlet describing issues on the ballot She said it was sent out to voters over a month ago A sample of the official ballot below describes what the secondary tax would fund and how the council unanimously voted to add the proposition to the ballot It was recommended by a special bond committee which was formed earlier in the year to find a solution for funding the fire department One committee member was chosen by each council member RELATED STORY: BURNED OUT: South Tucson budget prevents council from deciding on direction for fire department Councilwoman Roxanna Valenzuela is leading efforts to ask voters to mark 'yes' on their November ballots "Our first responders deserve to have the tools they need," said Valenzuela South Tucson Mayor Paul Diaz is advocating for a 'no' vote you need to be aware of what's going on in the City of South Tucson," said Diaz The division among councilmembers stems from how the City of South Tucson would use the money for fire protection services and that is not all for the Fire Department," said Diaz referring to the purpose of the bond stated on the ballot The sample ballot says the purpose of the bond would be Finance Director Lourdes Aguirre explained the second point allowed the city use of the bonds to pay off existing debt it gives the city that savings that the city can then repurpose into fire services," Aguirre told KGUN 9 the mayor questioned why taxpayers will have to pay an average of $10 a month if "the money is already there," referring to about $600,000 in contingency that's been set aside in the budget Councilmember Roxanna Valenzuela said this money would be used for a rainy day "That's not a sustainable solution," she added As rumors about South Tucson losing its fire department circulate in the community Valenzuela said she would advocate against outsourcing fire services to the City of Tucson "Our goal has always been to keep our fire department," Valenzuela said "There is no plan to get rid of our fire department That is a misperception that's been put out there by certain community members KGUN 9 will continue following this in the upcoming election (KGUN) — As KGUN 9 continues highlighting neighborhoods throughout Southern Arizona showcasing our reporters in their communities KGUN 9 South Tucson reporter Reyna Preciado is sharing a look at the strong connections and culture in the 1.2-square-mile city The city is also hitting an important milestone this week as three new members were elected to its city council and Dulce Jimenez will be inaugurated into their new positions The inauguration ceremony will be held at South Tucson City Hall from 5-6 p.m These new council members will help usher in a new era for the city as decisions on economic development and public safety are on its horizon RELATED STORY | South Tucson votes 'Yes' on Prop 409 and approves new public safety bond Pat Parris will also be highlighting his previous coverage of Mi Nidito which was recently awarded Legacy Business of the Year by Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce RELATED STORY | Mi Nidito famously remains Absolutely Arizona As the community continues strengthening its cultural legacies in South Tucson, connections grow to support the future of the city. A group of women, known as the Reinas This group of community leaders are rooted in the Southside of Tucson and are actively working to uplift communities like the City of South Tucson recently started working as South Tucson's Community Outreach Strategist Her investment in the community was celebrated in a special way this past weekend and KGUN 9 will be highlighting this story as part of our coverage on the road tonight on KGUN 9 at 5 p.m.: (KGUN) — The South Tucson Fire Department is giving part-time firefighters a chance to move up the ranks and improve their skills Around 40 part-time firefighters serve the 1.2 square-mile city but only one holds a full-time Fire Captain position the department has launched a program to train firefighters as officers equipping them with state-certified skills and leadership training Captain Andy Luna says the initiative is about more than titles “So what we’re doing here in South Tucson is we’re providing our firefighters with an opportunity to become an officer on our vehicles Eighteen firefighters signed up for the program a firefighter with the department since 2009 Santiago spent six months preparing to teach the course which includes both classroom instruction and hands-on experience “Becoming a fire officer is a difficult dynamic because you have to be a people-person You have to deal with interpersonal problems,” Santiago explained The training aims to enhance the safety of South Tucson by ensuring more crews have a fire officer on-call with advanced skills and leadership capabilities The program marks a significant step for the department and its firefighters who are working to make the community safer While registration for this course is closed the department seeks new applicants to join their team visit the South Tucson Fire Department website or contact them directly KGUN 9 will follow the progress of this training program and its impact on the city’s fire safety (KGUN) — Now in just its fourth year of serving South Tucson and Tucson's southside South Tucson Community Outreach is making a big impact in its tight-knit community It makes me feel like I am doing something right and that we are making a difference," says Desirée Guerrero executive director of South Tucson Community Outreach The 'difference' she's making is helping to feed nearly 2,000 people a year in South Tucson and on the Southside The small nonprofit provides weekly food boxes to those in need as well as a monthly meal for older South Tucsonans living in public housing Pat Parris and Southside/South Tucson reporter Reyna Preciado were live in South Tucson to talk about our Giving Project, as well as other news in the South Tucson community: South Tucson Community Outreach collaborates with area businesses "They've been an essential part of our group just really helping us grow and spread the word," Guerrero tells me "We collaborate a lot on projects together We dream about what we want to do in the community together and we make it happen," says Board Member Melissa Brown-Dominguez Brown-Dominguez and her husband Mel Dominguez own Galeria Mitotera As a board member of South Tucson Community Outreach she has partnered with Guerrero to find ways to end hunger in their community "We dream about the day that we no longer have food deserts in our communities of color here in Tucson," Brown-Dominguez says they need your help in the form of monetary donations or physical food donations Brown says donations are what the volunteer-driven South Tucson Community Outreach needs most to make sure the food boxes are packed and distributed each month it's important to remember just how impactful this nonprofit has been in this tight-knit community They provide more than just food through their outreach programs and community events it's just about community as a whole," says Brown-Dominguez You can help support South Tucson Community Outreach by donating directly to their website here The website also include volunteer sign-ups Our partners in the Giving Project, the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona will again match the first $500 in donations GIVING PROJECT TOTAL CASH DONATIONS SINCE LAUNCH TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE NON PROFITThe Giving Project wants to identify local nonprofits that address community needs to spotlight a new nonprofit every month Email details and contact information to givingproject@kgun9.com (KGUN) — Whether you call it frybread or popover has earned its status as a community staple for the authenticity of the Native American specialty It's kept people coming through the doors for more than 12 years cultivating a loyal customer base that has brought support through the recent setback “Everybody kind of says it feels like home cooking and that's something we take a lot of pride in as owners," said one of the owners of the family business he's had to navigate operating the restaurant with the needed repairs a driver crashed into the front of the restaurant while it was open the seating in that half of the front of the restaurant is closed the community has continued to choose the Tohono O'odham-style cuisine we're just super thankful with what they've given this far and they continue to come in but southern Arizona has been awesome,” he said Gonzales said they've utilized other parts of the restaurant to meet the continued demand He described how many of the customers were surprised to see there is a bar He found optimism in the situation after seeing others learn about what else Cafe Santa Rosa has to offer