SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — At the beginning of December, it was a called a ‘last ditch effort,’ by Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre. On December 17th, Mayor Aguirre left for Washington D.C. to get funding for the Tijuana River sewage crisis.

Saturday, President Biden signed a federal funding bill that will dole out $250 million towards the full repair and expansion of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant near our southern border. It’s been a long wait for relief for south bay residents — relief from the smell and relief from a federal level.

Back in August, we spoke with Everett Sena who expressed his frustration after living in the area with his wife for more than 40 years.

“We can smell it at night, you can smell it at the wee hours of the morning,” he tells us. “It’s pretty annoying. I mean we’ve dealt with it for years already and I just wish the system would be taken care of because we’ve dealt with it.”

The action taken by the White House comes after Mayor Aguirre told ABC 10News she was going to push for a federal state of emergency while in D.C. and felt optimistic about her conversations with republican congress members.

In an Instagram post, Mayor Aguirre called it a’success.’

The Tijuana sewage crisis has been a decades long issue, 10news has been following along the way.

From county leaders calling for federal help including San Diego County Supervisor, Terra Lawson-Remer. At a presser back in Juneshe doubled down once again.

“We’ve been demanding that the state and federal government take urgent action to clean up the Tijuana sewage crisis and to protect public health.”

And even the younger generation taking a stand, like the Imperial Beach Charter second graders who sent letters to the President.

This, while South Bay residents have been trying their best to adjust to the persistent stench, where they’ve called it terrible.

And while its a step in the right direction, Mayor Aguirre explains the fight is far from over.

“The plant itself is not going to solve the entire crisis. The plant will treat 50 million gallons per day of sewage once it’s completed, which won’t be for another 5 years.”

You can track the progress of the upgrades to the South Bay International Wastewater treatment plant here.

SAN DIEGO (CNS) — An alleged getaway driver was arrested today and accused of aiding an armed accomplice who robbed a gas station in San Diego, authorities said.

The robbery occurred around 7:10 a.m. Saturday at 3010 Market St. at a 76 station near the intersection of 30th Street in the Stockton neighborhood, according to the San Diego Police Department.

“He approached the cashier and displayed a firearm, demanding display items. The suspect got into the passenger side of a black Dodge truck which left the area,” the department reported.

The truck was later found along with the driver, who was identified as Juan Correa. He was arrested, police said.

The armed suspect is at large. He was described as a man between 20 and 30 years old wearing a green hooded sweatshirt, face mask, dark pants, red gloves and black-and-white athletic shoes.

No injuries were reported. Authorities urged anyone with information related to the robbery to call the SDPD or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

Copyright 2024, City News Service, Inc.

By JOE HUTCHISON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: 16:02 GMT, 21 December 2024 | Updated: 16:15 GMT, 21 December 2024

A California man forced a close friend at gunpoint to help him dump his wife’s body into a freezer, a new report claims. 

Mary Margaret Haxby-Jones’ remains were found inside the freezer in their rear of the San Diego home she shared with her husband Robert Haxby last December. 

She hadn’t been seen in nine years, and her body was only discovered after her husband suffered a stroke and was taken to a hospital. 

An autopsy report unsealed this week and seen by The Los Angeles Times alleges that a friend, identified by CBS as Joseph Beneventin, told the family about her body. 

The report also claims that Beneventin helped Haxby put her remains inside the freezer. 

Advertisement

Her manner and cause of death have been left as undetermined, with police believing that her body was hidden so her husband could continue to claim her benefits.

They have been unable to gather enough evidence in the case to prosecute it, with Haxby also passing away in February of this year. 

Beneventin has since came forward and said that she died from natural causes due to being obese and suffering from dementia. 

Mary Margaret Haxby-Jones’ remains were found inside the freezer in their rear of the San Diego home she shared with her husband Robert Haxby last December

Advertisement

They have been unable to gather enough evidence in the case to prosecute it, with Haxby, seen here, also passing away in February of this year

Speaking with CBS8, he said: ‘Mary died of natural causes, she was 400 pounds. Bob told me that Mary passed away.

‘I go into the room, and she is inverted like 180 degrees. Her pelvic was in her face.’

When questioned by the outlet however, he said he had ‘nothing to do with’ putting her remains in the freezer. 

He claimed that he found her body inside the freezer the next day, saying: ‘I said “you can’t do this”, he said “why not?”

Advertisement

‘I said it’s against the law, you’ve got to bury her in the ground. So he went and got a shotgun and loaded it. He said: “Next time you talk about this guess where you’re going”.’ 

Beneventin said she had died sometime in 2013 and her death was keep quiet so Haxby could continue to claim her benefits. 

He added: ‘He did it for financial gain because Mary took all the equity out of the house. The only way to pay the mortgage back was the checks Mary was getting.’

The outlet also uncovered that Beneventin resides in a property owned by Haxby, with the two homes now in probate court. 

Beneventin has since came forward and said that she died from natural causes due to being obese and suffering from dementia

Advertisement

Her manner and cause of death have been left as undetermined, with police believing that her body was hidden so her husband could continue to claim her benefits

The attorney now representing Haxby’s children has questioned Beneventin’s side of events. 

Nicole D’Ambrogi told CBS: ‘There were ample opportunities for Joe to go to the police and indicate that Miss Haxby Jones was located in the freezer in the backyard. 

‘Yet he didn’t do that. What he was doing was he was living in Mr. Haxby home, rent free.’

She seemed to suggest that Haxby may have also been a victim of financial fraud, saying he too suffered from dementia and was in a state of decline. 

Advertisement

Haxby-Jones’ stepdaughter Wendy Edick also said: ‘It was completely shocking, also to know that nobody has missed her.’

She told the outlet that she had been estranged from her father, and that the two had been veterans.