South Central Mercado a creative hub of local businesses
The South Central Mercado was established in October of 2019 by Cecilia Rivera, Sam Gomez and Joe Munoz. The pop-up market gives small businesses, artists and entrepreneurs a space to create business plans and sell their goods.
Door-to-door campaign helps Guadalupe turn the tide against COVID
GUADALUPE – With the help of Town Council members, tribal leaders, and health care organizations, tiny Guadalupe is driving down COVID-19 cases.
Audit shows Border Patrol hampered by outdated technology, flawed evaluation of new equipment
NOGALES – The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has received more than $743 million in funding since 2017 for upgrades in border technology. But it has only bought 28% of the equipment needed to modernize and coordinate systems designed to thwart the flow of illegal goods and border crossers.
CBP agents in Nogales rely on technology in race against Mexican drug cartels
NOGALES – More than 9% of the drugs that entered the U.S. in fiscal year 2021 came over the border in Arizona, U.S. Customs and Border Protection data says. CBP has technology to help seize drugs, but agents say cartels are steps ahead.
Corridos tumbados bring modern, urban edge to traditional musical style
LOS ANGELES - Traditional Mexican corridos have always been about telling stories, as is the new Southern California style known as trap or 'hood corridos, but it offers a different, grittier style of storytelling that reflects the urban lives of a new generation.
Despite football’s popularity among Hispanic Americans, participation rates remain low
PHOENIX – Over 30 million Hispanic Americans consider themselves NFL fans. Despite the numbers, that fails to translate to participation in the sport at all levels.
Tucson chief approved – barely – to lead Customs and Border Protection
WASHINGTON - The Senate voted by the slimmest of margins this week to make Tucson Police Chief Ron Magnus the next commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, confirming his appointment almost eight months after he was first nominated by President Joe Biden.
Neither side thrilled with immigration reforms in Build Back Better bill
WASHINGTON - Buried in the $1.9 trillion Build Back Better Plan is $100 billion for immigration reform, money that critics say has no business being in the bill and that migration advocates say does not go nearly far enough.
‘Remain in Mexico’ migrant policy resumes, even as feds vow to end it
WASHINGTON - The Trump-era "remain in Mexico" policy will resume Monday, after the Mexican government agreed to accept migrants who are turned away at the border and forced to wait in Mexico for their hearing.
Nonprofits, business groups help Latino-owned businesses hit hard by pandemic
PHOENIX – Salvadoreño Restaurant No. 3, like other Hispanic-owned restaurants, endured many hardships during the pandemic. Yesenia Ramirez, co-owner of the restaurant, says they had to “respond to change immediately.”
‘Historical’ infusion of dollars resuscitates marginalized arts and cultural groups
PHOENIX – Eighty-eight community nonprofit cultural organizations are coming back to life after the pandemic, thanks to $2.65 million in federal COVID-relief aid targeting the arts in marginalized communities. The money was allocated by the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture.
Reopening of border after 20 months is both exciting and low key in Nogales
NOGALES – Nogales had a celebratory if low-key border reopening Monday, as people in cars and on foot crossed over from Mexico for the first time since March 2020, when COVID-19 prompted the U.S. to ban all nonessential travel.
