Breaking News

Baja Norte, Breaking News, Rosarito, Safety, Tijuana, Transportation

More Signs, Smoother Roads on the 2000 Corridor

Drivers on the Tijuana–Rosarito 2000 highway might notice some new changes—and they’re not just cosmetic. The state’s infrastructure department (SIDURT) is in the middle of adding fresh road signs and fixing up a five-kilometer stretch that’s seen more than its share of accidents over the years.

The new signs include directions to Ensenada and downtown Rosarito, plus posted speed limits of 60 and 40 km/h near the Rosarito-Ensenada junction. It’s part of a push to reduce wrecks in a spot that’s become notorious for crashes.

In addition to the signage, workers have been patching potholes, fixing the shoulders, and cleaning up the medians between KM 35 and KM 40, in both directions.

#Old Signs

SIDURT’s top official, Arturo Espinoza Jaramillo, said the signs are there to help drivers make safer choices, and he reminded everyone to stay under the speed limit and actually follow the signs. He also asked drivers to keep the road clean—apparently, some folks have been turning the highway into a dumping ground.

It’s a simple message: slow down, pay attention, and don’t treat the corridor like a racetrack. The smoother ride is just a bonus.

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 Baja Norte, Breaking News

Love at the Beach, Visa Lost at the Border

No charges, no scandals, just a mysterious visa revocation

It’s not every day that a sitting Mexican governor loses her U.S. visa. But here we are. On May 11, Baja California’s governor, Marina del Pilar Ávila, confirmed that both she and her husband, Carlos Torres Torres, had their U.S. tourist visas revoked.

No midnight raids, no courtroom battles—just a quiet click from the folks over at the U.S. State Department. The couple made the announcement through social media, saying it’s an “administrative decision.” That’s government-speak for: we’re not gonna tell you why, but we did it anyway.

So far, no formal accusations, no legal action in Mexico or the U.S., and no indication of wrongdoing. According to both Marina and Carlos, their records are clean, and they’re hopeful this gets resolved soon. She remains calm, collected, and confident. He says it’s politics. We say… welcome to borderland bureaucracy.

Carlos, in case you’re wondering, is the state’s Coordinator for Strategic Projects. So yes, he’s on the government payroll too—and now, apparently, also off the guest list at the San Diego Costco.

The U.S. Embassy, true to form, has said absolutely nothing. And while this kind of visa revocation isn’t exactly rare, it is unusual when it involves high-level public figures. Naturally, people are asking: what’s going on behind the scenes?

Photo from Marina del Pilar’s Facebook account – U.S. Consul General in Tijuana, Christopher Teal, meets with Governor Marina del Pilar on May 8 to discuss security matters.
Photo from Marina del Pilar’s Facebook account – U.S. Consul General in Tijuana, Christopher Teal, meets with Governor Marina del Pilar on May 8 to discuss security matters..

Is it political? Is it part of a broader U.S. policy shift? Or is it just some paperwork caught in a borderland paper shredder?

We’re not here to speculate. We’re here to report—without turning up the heat. There’s enough fire in the headlines already.

As for Marina, she’s still in office, still traveling around Baja, and still active on Instagram. No signs of slowing down.

📣 What do you think? Overreaction or red flag? Smart move or sloppy diplomacy? Let us know—we’re all ears at the Gringo Gazette North.

Because when it comes to cross-border drama, everyone’s got a visa story. This time, it just happens to be the governor’s.

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Governor Marina Del Pilar leads a security meeting with federal, state, and local authorities to coordinate public safety efforts
 Breaking News, Safety, Tijuana

Baja Residents Surrender 169 guns + 2 grenades

On Thursday, May 8, Baja officials announced the results of their latest disarmament campaign—and the numbers are wild.

In Tijuana, citizens turned in a total of 97 handguns, 70 long guns, 2 grenades, and over 9,000 cartridges. That’s not all—they also handed over more than 5,000 detonating capsules, several magazines, and 22 fully automatic rifles. Yes, from regular homes.

The program, led by Baja California’s State Attorney General’s Office (FGEBC) and the Secretary of Governance, is part of a statewide push to reduce violence by getting weapons off the streets—and out of living rooms.

Photo: Governor Marina Del Pilar leads a security meeting with federal, state, and local authorities to coordinate public safety efforts

Authorities praised the public’s cooperation and noted that all collected weapons will be forensically examined and then destroyed. According to the state, the goal isn’t just about gun control—it’s about building trust between citizens and law enforcement.

So far, this is only phase one, and officials say results have exceeded expectations. More rounds of the campaign are expected soon, possibly expanding to other municipalities.

🔫 From pistols to military-grade rifles, it’s clear: some Baja homes were armed like bunkers. Fortunately, many of those weapons are now out of circulation.

For more eyebrow-raising updates like this one, stick with Gringo Gazette North—we keep it locked and loaded.

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 Breaking News, International

White smoke alert! The Catholic Church just made history.

This Thursday, May 8, the Vatican confirmed what thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square had hoped: we have a new pope. After only two days of voting, white smoke floated out of the Sistine Chapel chimney at 6:07 p.m. local time. That meant one thing—decision made.

The new leader? Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago. He will now be known as Pope Leo XIV—and he’s the first American-born pope ever.

#Pope Leo XIV—and he’s the first American-born pope ever.

Even more surprising, he wasn’t the frontrunner. Still, the cardinals reached a rare fast-track consensus after just four rounds of voting. Moments later, the traditional Habemus Papam echoed from the basilica’s balcony. Cardinal Dominique Mamberti made it official before a crowd of over 150,000.

Pope Leo XIV, born in 1955, spent nearly 40 years in Peru as a missionary and bishop. Because of this, he holds dual citizenship—U.S. and Peruvian. Before today, he was the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, meaning he already had serious Vatican credentials.

In his first speech, he thanked Pope Francis and called for “peace, unity, and courage.” Then he turned to the crowd and, in Spanish, sent a heartfelt message to his old diocese in Chiclayo, Peru. Smooth move, Padre.

This conclave followed the April 21 passing of Pope Francis, who died at 88. While some expected a longer vote, the outcome signals strong agreement within the church. Many see this new pope as a global bridge between Latin America, North America, and Rome.

🙏 Whether you’re religious or just curious, this is a big one. And yes, the Gringo Gazette saw it coming.

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Ensenada 911 Line Drops
 Breaking News, Ensenada

Ensenada’s 911 Line Drops the Ball

If calling 911 in Ensenada lately has felt like shouting into the void, you’re not imagining it.

The FGEBC (Baja California’s State Attorney General’s Office) confirmed on Thursday that the 911 emergency line is having technical issues. Calls may not go through, and if they do, don’t expect the usual speedy response.

The Citizen Security Secretariat says it’s working with C5 command centers to fix it. But until then, they suggest using the “911 Móvil BC” app. Here’s the catch: that app has a lovely 3.0 out of 5 stars on the App Store. So… good luck.

#911 Movil BC App
#911 Movil BC App

For now, authorities advise calling local emergency numbers directly if the line fails. And yes, they’re thanking you for your patience while they figure this mess out.

We hope nobody has to test this system in a real crisis, because a dropped emergency call and a buggy backup app isn’t exactly a confidence booster.

☎️ One job. Just one job.

Stay with Gringo Gazette North—because we answer when others don’t.

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 Breaking News, Tijuana, Wildlife

Wildlife Shocker: Tijuana Cops Rescue Tiger, Monkeys, and More

In a wild twist, Mexican authorities uncovered what felt more like a jungle than a city home. This weekend, things got wild in Tijuana. The FGR (Federal Attorney General’s Office) and the FGEBC (Baja California State Attorney General’s Office) raided a home in colonia Buena Vista. What they found looked more like a zoo than a house.

Inside, officers rescued a Siberian tiger, a mandrill, and a spider monkey. They also found a snapping turtle, two horned owls, a lilac-crowned parrot, three bearded dragons, a chameleon, and a tarantula. Yes, all in one place.

  • Noah’s Ark took a detour through Tijuana.
    #Siberian tiger
  • Noah’s Ark took a detour through Tijuana.
    #spider monkey
  • Noah’s Ark took a detour through Tijuana.
    #Horned owl
  • Noah’s Ark took a detour through Tijuana.
    #chameleon
  • Noah’s Ark took a detour through Tijuana.
    #two horned owls
  • Noah’s Ark took a detour through Tijuana
    #three bearded dragons

The suspect, Juan José “O.”, was arrested. Along with the animals, he had firearms and military-only ammo. Not exactly pet supplies.

One of the animals—the spider monkey—is protected under Mexican law. So now, the suspect faces charges for both illegal animal possession and weapons violations.

Authorities say the animals were not living in proper conditions. Luckily, someone sent an anonymous tip, and now these animals are in safer hands.

This wasn’t just a weird pet story. It shows how the illegal exotic animal trade is still a problem—even in the suburbs.

🐅 Tigers, tarantulas, and tactical gear. Just another Wednesday in Baja.

Stay tuned to Gringo Gazette North—where the news is wild, and the jokes are free.

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“AI-generated image of black smoke rising over the Vatican—symbolizing the wait for a new pope continues.”
 Breaking News, Interational

Locked In and Looking Up: Vatican Kicks Off Conclave to Pick New Pope

Today, 133 cardinals from around the world locked themselves into the Sistine Chapel. Why? To pick the next Pope.

This secretive meeting—known as a conclave—comes after the death of Pope Francis on April 21. And no, they’re not allowed to bring their phones.

The word conclave comes from the Latin cum clave, which means “with a key.” As in, they’re literally locked in until a decision is made. The tradition began in 1274 after a papal election dragged on for nearly three years. Talk about deadlines.

The voting? It’s old school. Handwritten ballots, burned in a special stove. If the smoke is black, no Pope. If it’s white—ding ding—we have a winner.

The process can take a day or stretch into weeks. But this time, many expect a decision in under three days. Cardinals Pietro Parolin of Italy and Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines are top contenders, but in conclaves, surprises happen.

#Photo by Claude Truong-Ngoc / Wikimedia Commons

Cardinal Pietro Parolin
#Photo by Lawrence OP / Wikimedia Commons

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle

This is the most geographically diverse conclave ever. Expect some intense debates, lots of incense, and maybe even a miracle or two.

📿 As always, the world waits for the smoke… and the name.

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CESPT crews working
 Breaking News, Tijuana

Water Outage in Otay: CESPT Nears Completion on Emergency Repair

Since Sunday, several neighborhoods in Otay have gone without water. A busted 18-inch pipe on Bellas Artes Boulevard caused the disruption. CESPT crews identified the break and started repairs immediately.

The affected area includes Otay Módulos in Nueva Tijuana. Workers have battled through mud and tight conditions to replace the damaged section. This morning, May 5, CESPT announced they had reached 80% completion on the job.

They expect to finish repairs around 1:00 p.m.. After that, water service will gradually return to the neighborhoods.

Many residents, frustrated by the lack of notice, scrambled to adjust. Some stocked up on bottled water. Others just hoped the fix would hold longer than the last one.

CESPT crews working on 18-inch pipe in Otay after water service disruption

Photo: CESPT crews working on 18-inch pipe in Otay after water service disruption

Crews stayed on-site through the night, pushing to wrap up the work before Monday rush hour — or at least before dinner. In Otay, water breaks are a recurring guest.

💧 Water’s political. Thirst is personal. Stay tuned for updates — and in the meantime, maybe skip laundry day.

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Bus Gets Stuck
 Breaking News, Ensenada

Bus Gets Stuck, Snarls Traffic on Calle Ruíz and Ámbar

This morning in Ensenada, a bus got stuck in a dip at the intersection of Calle Ruíz and Ámbar, causing a serious traffic slowdown.

According to witnesses, the driver didn’t notice the shallow but sneaky dip in the road and ended up wedged halfway in. It’s the same dip locals have warned about before, but this time it trapped a whole bus. A backhoe was brought in to help, followed by a cement truck attempting to assist.

As of 9:20 a.m., the bus was still there, with just one police officer managing the chaos. Drivers in the area reported long delays and confusion.

📍If you’re headed through this part of town, take another route. And if you’re behind the wheel of a larger vehicle — slow down and stay alert, especially on familiar streets. You never know when a “little dip” turns into a big problem.

Photos taken on the scene show the unusual rescue effort in action. We’ve posted them below.

Ensenada Bus Gets Stuck
Bus Gets Stuck

🚨 When buses bounce into dips, we bring you the bumpy details — only at the Gringo Gazette North.

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Generated by our newsroom’s digital team using AI tools to reflect the news story visually and respectfully.
 Breaking News

Pope Francis Dies at 88—A Voice for the Poor,

Not a Fan of Mass Deportations

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and a champion for the poor, died this Monday at the age of 88. He passed away peacefully in Casa Santa Marta, his residence at the Vatican.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, Francis made history in 2013 when he became pope after Benedict XVI stepped down. He kept things simple. He lived modestly. And he shook things up.

Pope Francis
Pope Francis

Francis focused on compassion, not grand speeches. He spoke often about migrants, climate change, and inequality. Unlike many of his predecessors, he didn’t stay behind marble walls—he walked into the mess.

One of his strongest stances? He condemned mass deportations.

In a message to U.S. bishops, Francis called mass deportations “a disgrace.” He warned that such policies destroy families and rob people of their dignity.

So if you ever wondered how a pope felt about border walls and detention buses, well—now you know.

His critics called him too progressive. His followers called him necessary. He didn’t aim to please. He aimed to be human.

The world is now preparing for the next pope. The conclave will meet, and eventually, white smoke will rise again from the Vatican. Until then, many will remember Francis for his humility, his fire, and his habit of saying what others wouldn’t.

At the Gringo Gazette North, we don’t do incense and Latin prayers. But we’ll tip our hat to a man who spoke up for the voiceless—and reminded us that faith isn’t always quiet

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