Daniel Eduardo Hernandez

I'm a California-based Latine bilingual journalist. I specialize in reporting in written, visual, and audio formats.

Los Angeles Times •

A self-published lucha libre tale put J. Gonzo on Marvel’s radar. He almost refused the offer.

Jason Gonzalez, who goes by his artist moniker J. Gonzo, recalls feeling hesitant about accepting a dream gig with Marvel Comics. The company had asked him to create a Día de Muertos-inspired cover for Latino Heritage Month, but before he accepted, he needed to be reassured that his authentic style would be embraced. The 50-year-old Chicano illustrator with more than a decade of experience as an independent artist had occasionally freelanced for IDW Publishing and Image Comics, but this was his...
Los Angeles Times •

Regional Mexican acts contributed millions of dollars at L.A.’s venues post-pandemic

During the final night of Grupo Firme’s 2021 stint of seven sold-out shows at what was then called Staples Center, frontman Eduin Caz launched into “En Tu Perra Vida” — “In Your Bitch Life” — by singing its chorus a capella.Standing in the back and wearing matching white Dodgers-inspired jerseys that read “Gracías L.A.,” the rest of the septet waited for Caz to finish before joining in. The crowd exploded with cheers and applause. “It was like a party happening onstage,” recalled Hallie Yavitch,...
Los Angeles Times •

Rep. Joaquin Castro says ‘Blood In, Blood Out’ should be added to the National Film Registry

As part of his work to champion Latino inclusion in Hollywood, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) has recommended that the crime dramas “Blood In Blood Out” and “American Me” be entered into the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry for 2024.“Both movies were able to show the humanity in the Latino community, even within very flawed characters,” Castro said, while acknowledging that the films depict characters as gang members — a long-held stereotype in media. “It was an exploration of a c...
KQED •

Salvadoran American Voters in San Francisco Divided Over Tough-on-Crime Approach

Salvadorans are the second-largest Latino population in San Francisco, and with concerns about rising crime throughout the city, the idea of voting for a more law-and-order-leaning candidate is a political force in the community. Bukele’s popularity, however, has also moved progressives in the area to mobilize against the Salvadoran president’s influence abroad and in San Francisco.

Calderon, 73, is firmly in the law-and-order camp. She recounted the danger she faced in El Salvador from both it
KQED •

Tio's Tacos, a 30-Year Journey of Authentic Mexican Cuisine and Recycled Art

“I saw an opportunity in the garbage, in recycling,” Sanchez said. “I don’t have money to buy materials, but I have bottles. I have cans. I have what the restaurant throws away.”

Sanchez’s love for his hometown of Sahuayo, in the Mexican state of Michoacánis, is reflected in many of his pieces.

“Here we have ‘The Dance of the Old Men,’” Martín said as he pointed to a statue of traditional folk dancers in his back patio. “I always wanted to create different spaces. If you notice here, this dini
Golden Gate Xpress •

Profesores de CFA participan en huelga en SFSU para un mejor contrato laboral

Daniel Hernandez (he/him) is a transfer student from the Inland Empire majoring in bilingual journalism. He also oversees Golden Gate Xpress' Spanish section. His passion for storytelling and journalism started after he bought his first camera six years ago. What began as a fascination for taking photos and videos grew into a passion for multimedia journalism. When he isn't researching for an article or working as the Spanish editor, he explores the Bay Area or falls down a YouTube rabbit hole.
Viewpoints Online •

FENTANYL EMPIRE: THE INLAND EMPIRE’S LATEST DRUG CRISIS

Fentanyl, a drug that has been running rampant within the United States, is becoming a serious issue within the Inland Empire. The region that once was called “The Meth Capital of the World” now fears that fentanyl will cause another drug epidemic. Riverside City College Viewpoints journalists, in partnership with California Humanities through the Democracy and Informed Citizen Emerging Journalist Fellowship Program, looked to answer three questions: 1) How is the drug entering the region? 2) Wh
Golden Gate Xpress •

Live Updates: CSU Board of Trustees votes to increase tuition

California State Student Association president Dominic Quan Treseler and students sitting in the meeting walk out.

The proposed amendment to reduce the five year tuition increase to four years fails 8-12.

Student trustee Diana Aguilar-Cruz has motioned to reduce the five-year hike proposal to four years as a way to compromise on students paying up to $7,682 by fall 2028. With this proposed amendment, tuition would be raised by $7,248 by fall 2027.

However, trustee Jack McGrory believes that t
Los Angeles Times •

Educators are using música Mexicana to teach Spanish and strengthen their students' cultural roots

Wendy Ramirez, co-founder of online learning website Spanish Sin Pena, saw firsthand how música Mexicana affected her students — many of whom are of Latin American descent — during a recent language immersion trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, organized by her company. At the end of a long day trip, the group sat down at a local karaoke restaurant to celebrate an instructor’s birthday. The students knew this educator loved to sing, and they wanted to show off their newfound confidence in the language by be...
Los Angeles Times •

The 7 best spots in L.A. to get your música Mexicana fix

To many, the upbeat sounds of música Mexicana are synonymous with a night of partying in L.A.Between the genre’s roaring trumpets, high-pitched guitars and resounding bass lines, its distinct sounds almost demand dancing. Catering to the evolving and now mainstream soundscape, Los Angeles nightlife offers a mix of pop-up dance parties, iconic concert venues and nightclubs where everyone — including its nearly 5 million Latino residents — can indulge in the regional Mexican sound. Hot spots throu...
Los Angeles Times •

Karol G and her 'Bichota' flair headlines ‘Fortnite Festival’ game this summer

Months after a leak hinted at a collaboration between Epic Games and Karol G, the Colombian singer-songwriter has taken to social media to confirm she will star in her spin-off game of “Fortnite Festival.”The Aug. 16 debut will feature the reggaeton and urban pop act who teased the Epic Games venture through her platforms with a video featuring a boombox adorned with stickers of the popular video game. A hand appears from the side and pulls out a cassette with “Fortnite x Karol G” written on top...
Los Angeles Times •

Rauw Alejandro, Anitta, Bad Bunny among Latino nominees for 2024 MTV Video Music Awards

Anitta, Rauw Alejandro and Bad Bunny lead the list of Latin acts nominated for the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.In his VMA debut, Alejandro is tied with the most nominations among Latino artists as his music video “Touching the Sky” is listed in the best Latin, best cinematography and best choreography categories. In the music video, the Puerto Rican reggaeton artist shows a different side of himself as he dances Broadway-style through New York. The visuals are reminiscent to 1961’s “Westside Sto...
Los Angeles Times •

Latinx Files: America is getting older. Not all racial and ethnic groups are aging at the same rate

The number of working-age people in the United States is on pace to shrink by 2060, though not all racial and ethnic groups are aging at the same rate.On Tuesday, the Census Bureau published a report that used population projections under various immigration scenarios — ranging from zero immigration to a 50% increase in immigration based on current trends — to look at how the workforce will change in the coming decades. With the exception of the non-Latinx multiracial population, every group wil...
Los Angeles Times •

Hard Summer 2024: These Latino DJs are set to spin at EDM festival

Bianca Oblivion, a rising Mexican American DJ and Los Angeles native, understands the importance of her upcoming appearance at Hard Summer, one of the largest electronic music festivals in Southern California.“Obviously you’re going to get these headliners that are from all over the world,” Oblivion said. “There’s this representation now, this position I’m coming into; as a Latina, as someone who is from here and in the electronic music world. I don’t take that lightly.”Oblivion is part of a lis...
Los Angeles Times •

Danny Ocean gets political about Venezuela's election in 'Venequia'

Danny Ocean was between shows in Australia and New Zealand, but the main thing running through his mind was the upcoming Venezuelan elections.“We’re all very tense, waiting to see what’s going to happen,” he told The Times.A week before the July 28 vote in his home country, the “Me Rehúso” singer and Caracas native released the surprise EP “Venequia.” The seven tracks, according to the singer-songwriter, are meant to showcase the emotions felt by millions across the world affected by the economi...
Los Angeles Times •

Juixxe the viral TikToker takes on street vendor rights and dreams

Jesús Morales, a.k.a. Juixxe on TikTok with millions of followers, has showered day laborers and street vendors with donations of cash and trips to Disneyland. Those viral outings and social media acclaim ended up giving him unique access to the systemic barriers immigrant entrepreneurs face.“We never really take things seriously, but then we do get serious,” said Morales, referring to the behind-the-scenes conversations he has with his subjects. “They’ll start really speaking about their strugg...
Los Angeles Times •

Inaugural Púchica Fest celebrates Central American culture

Johnny Dominguez and his wife, Celinda, couldn’t believe they were tasting a tamarindo-infused coffee slushie from the Salvadoran Cipota Coffee booth.“You can taste your identity here,” said the husband, who celebrated his Salvadoran heritage with his family on a recent Sunday. “I just feel seen.”Dominguez is from Los Angeles but recently relocated his family to Las Vegas. Yet when they saw the social media post for Púchica Fest, he was willing to make the three-hour drive. Dominguez and about 4...
Los Angeles Times •

Selena Gomez's 'Murders in the Building' acting-producer roles and more Latinos break Emmy barriers

The 2024 Emmy nominations rolled out early Wednesday with several Latino actors breaking personal and industrywide barriers.Selena Gomez locked in two Emmy nominations for her work in the Hulu series “Only Murders in the Building.”She received her first acting nomination as lead actress in a comedy series for her performance as Mabel Mora. She is only the fourth Latina actress ever nominated in the category and could become only the second winner in history, according to Variety.Her second nomin...
KQED •

'There Is Such Optimism': Activists, Workers Welcome Deal Ending Boycott of Amy's Kitchen Products

Activists and Amy’s Kitchen workers welcomed the end of a boycott of the Petaluma-based organic food company over labor violations and unsafe working conditions and expressed optimism about the path ahead. Boycott leaders from the food justice nonprofit Food Empowerment Project announced the end of the two-year boycott on Wednesday after Amy’s Kitchen agreed to better working conditions within its facilities, including improved worker safety and better wages and health insurance. FEP founder Lau
El Tecolote •

This mobile pop-up gives free dental screenings, education in SF

The last time Elsa Natareno went to the dentist was over a year ago.

The 72-year-old nanny from Guatemala received partial dentures, a procedure that costs an average of $1,500. “I had to go on a payment plan,” Natareno said. “Medi-Cal covered the cost of some extractions, but they didn’t for the partials.”

Looking to avoid further expenses, Natareno became one the hundreds of people who have received free dental screenings, oral health education and goodie bags from The Magic Tooth Bus, a mob
El Tecolote •

SFSU reaches agreement with campus Gaza protesters

Nearly three weeks after encampments were erected at San Francisco State University (SFSU), university leaders agreed to meet three of four demands made by student protestors.

“We will support the addition of a human rights-based investment strategy, including divesting from direct investments in weapons manufacturers and limiting other such indirect investments,” said university President Lynn Mahoney in a statement.

“This timeline was a lot shorter than we thought,” said Brian Y., a media li
El Tecolote •

SFSU students join Gaza war protests, erect tent encampments

Student protestors erected nearly 20 tents and several canopies at San Francisco State University (SFSU) Monday, joining the dozens of pro-Palestinian encampments sprouting across U.S. college campuses demanding a cease-fire in Gaza and university divestment from companies with ties to Israel.

“It’s to make sure that after six months of this genocide, we still aren’t still silent,” said Ziniab Imtair, president of SFSU’s chapter of the General Union for Palestinian Students. “For the past coupl
Xpress Magazine •

A Space to Call Their Own

It has only been one year since the Latinx Queer Club has filled the void that many of its members recall feeling in previous semesters. Club president Adrián Reyes, a fourth-year double major in communications and Latino/a studies and a minor in race and resistance, was inspired to create the club after a random conversation they had with two of their peers in the Latinx Student Center.

The three discussed how they felt that SF State lacked LGBTQ+ outlets for Latine students, and how their str
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