A Mexican cabinet member and Governor Francisco Vega met Monday with wheat producers from Mexicali Valley in order to address issues that impact local growers.
Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing and Food José Calzada heard complaints from Mexicali growers who have been demanding a special price per ton of their produce.
The parties agreed to create a working group to address the issue.
Local wheat producers have protested due to the low prices per ton of wheat that are getting paid and also to demand a special program designed for their Sonoran counterparts who obtained through the federal government a higher pay for their produce.
Wheat growers said while their expenses have increased 17 percent in a year, sales prices have decreased 22 percent, which will not be enough to cover their expenses and will make them incur in debt.
The issue has been ongoing for several years, producers said during the meeting.
Growers asked for a 50 million pesos or $ 2.9 million special program to compensate their losses.
Man killed in accident
An accident reported in a rural road left a man deceased and his two passengers injured, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities said the accident was reported at 8:07 a.m. at State Highway 8.
The police said the driver of a burgundy 1996 Ford Explorer overturned after exiting the road for unknown reasons.
The deceased man had around 40 years of age.
The injured passengers were identified as Frida Francisca Gaspar, 40 and Biendali Martinez, 32.
The women were transported to a Health Center at Ciudad Morelos rural town.
Robbery reported at convenience store
A robbery was reported early Tuesday at a convenience store located west of Mexicali’s Civic Center, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities said a 51-year-old man told police officers that two men crashed the store’s main door to steal cell phones, computer memories and other items.
The robbery was reported at 2:59 a.m. at an Oxxo store located at the corner of Ciudad Victoria Avenue and Quintana Roo Street at Colonia Nueva Esperanza.
The suspects fled on feet but one of them was found and arrested moments later.
The suspect was identified as Felipe “Doe,” 16.
Police officers recovered all items robbed, authorities said.
The suspect was transported to the police headquarters.
Minors arrested after robbery
Two minors were arrested Monday west of Mexicali’s Civic Center for allegedly committing a robbery in a beer store, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities said at 1:30 p.m. a robbery was reported at SIX store located at the corner of Veracruz Avenue and Fourth Street at Colonia Loma Linda neighborhood.
A female employee of 29 years of age told police officers the suspect arrived on scene and fled after robbing her cell phone.
The suspects attempted to rob money but were unable to do so.
The teenagers were arrested blocks ahead along with the phone.
Robbery reported
Two men were arrested Monday morning after allegedly committing a robbery against a convenience store, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities said at 10:48 a.m. a robbery was reported at Oxxo store at Gómez Morín Boulevard at Fraccionamiento Fundadores neighborhood.
The suspects were identified by authorities as Alfonso “Doe,” 26 and César “Doe,” 32.
According to authorities the suspects arrived at the store with a firearm and threatened an employee.
The suspects attempted to flee on a gray 1998 Honda Civic with California plates.
The vehicle was reported stolen, the police said.
The suspects were observed by police agents while leaving the store, but were stopped and arrested moments later.
Police officers did not find the weapon, but the employee identified the suspects who were transported to the police headquarters.
Memorial Day visiting report released
Over 200,000 people traveled throughout Baja California during Memorial Day weekend and hotel occupancy rates reached 77 percent, an increase of 26 percent compared to the same dates of last year, said the state Secretary of Tourism.
Authorities said Mexicali hotel occupancy rate was 82 percent during the weekend, well above the 78 percent reported at beach destinations.
Visitors spent at least 240 million pesos or $14.1 million, of which a little over a quarter was spent in hotel rooms.
Ensenada was guest of two cruisers with 3,258 passengers, of which 2,606 visited the city on foot.
Undersecretary of Tourism Ives Lelevier said if the tendency remains as of today, 2016 will be a better year in terms of tourism of the last nine years.
Unemployment rate decreased
Baja California’s unemployment rate went down from 3.9 percent in April of 2015 to 2.8 percent during the same month of 2016, said the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, or INEGI in Spanish.
According to the Mexican agency’s report the state has the lowest unemployment rate among the northern border states and the seventh nationwide.
Baja California is above in unemployment rates than states considered among the poorest in the country like Guerrero, Michoacán and Oaxaca, whose rates vary from 1.9 to 2.6 percent.
The rate is also the lowest since June 2008 and has been decreasing for 21 consecutive months.
According to the Mexican Institute of Social Security, or IMSS in Spanish, during the first four months of the year the businesses in the state have reported 24,146 new jobs.
