Home About Articles Gallery Contact

Featured Articles

Los Angeles Times •

In the Coachella Valley, a team of middle school girls is helping keep escaramuza alive 

COACHELLA, Calif. — Donning a bright red Adelita dress, a large beige sombrero and a silky bow tied to her hair, Rashel Zamorez rode her horse Bombón up to the starting line.She was preparing to compete in a friendly, untimed carrera con giros — an event in which riders guide their horses at top speed around a circular arena while completing three rotations at designated intervals.The race was the last act of her team’s performances, meant to show off their new skills to a small crowd of relativ...
Los Angeles Times •

After decades in prison, he transformed himself into the Inland Empire's homeboy news anchor

In prison and seemingly unable to escape a destructive cycle that began when he was a child, Ahmed Bellozo spent hours watching investigative journalism shows, educational documentaries and Huell Howser’s homespun travelogue, “California’s Gold.” It was a way, he said, to distract from his pain.Years later, out of prison and wanting a drastic change in his life, Bellozo turned to those shows for inspiration as he reinvented himself on social media as the star of “On the Tira” — a video series th...
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,...
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
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
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.
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

All Articles

Los Angeles Times •

In the Coachella Valley, a team of middle school girls is helping keep escaramuza alive 

COACHELLA, Calif. — Donning a bright red Adelita dress, a large beige sombrero and a silky bow tied to her hair, Rashel Zamorez rode her horse Bombón up to the starting line.She was preparing to compete in a friendly, untimed carrera con giros — an event in which riders guide their horses at top speed around a circular arena while completing three rotations at designated intervals.The race was the last act of her team’s performances, meant to show off their new skills to a small crowd of relativ...
The Riverside Record •

Dispatches From Riverside County: The Riverside Airport Cafe

As the buzz of customers and the drone of airplane engines filled the air, Leimamo Taylor sat in her restaurant’s office feeling overwhelmed. She’s felt this way since opening her cafe in 2019. 


“There were all these things coming at me in my first year, it was kind of like a spiral,” Taylor said. “It’s a lot, going from a restaurant that only held 90 people and now holds a couple hundred people.”


Taylor is the proud owner of the Riverside Airport Cafe, previously known for 30 years as the...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Council Adopts Ordinance In Response To New Fire Maps

The Riverside City Council April 8 voted unanimously to adopt a new local ordinance requiring property owners within high-risk fire hazard zones to comply with new safety measures, like removing dead vegetation around their homes and undergoing annual inspections. 


“The idea is that we can reduce wildfire risk before the fire season starts,” Riverside Fire Department Deputy Chief Brian Guzzetta told the council. “It also provides firefighters [with a] safeguard when they are defending homes.”...
The Riverside Record •

New Fire Maps Show Increased Hazard Zones In Riverside County

In the next few weeks, city officials across Riverside County will begin adopting new maps highlighting the region’s increased vulnerability to wildfires.


The new recommended Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps, released last month by the California Forestry and Fire Department (Cal Fire), designate thousands of acres as “moderate,” “high” and “very high” hazard zones, with some areas doubling or tripling in wildfire-prone spaces since 2011 when the last maps were released.“The main purpose of the...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside County Farmers Concerned After USDA Ends Programs Aimed At Supporting Small Farms

Mariela Buenrostro’s family, which owns and operates Raul and Family Farms in Riverside, has sold produce to food banks and hubs throughout Southern California over the past few years.The organizations were able to consistently purchase between 700 to 3,000 food items from her family’s farm, according to Buenrostro, because of a federal program called the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).“It’s, honestly, impossible for...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Breaks Ground On Northside Agriculture Innovation Center

After a decade of planning and fundraising — and two storm delays this year — the city of Riverside held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday to mark the start of construction on the state-of-the-art Northside Agriculture Innovation Center.


About 100 people gathered under a large canopy in the middle of an empty dirt lot where local politicians and community organizers highlighted the importance of the soon-to-be-built center as climate change continues to impact the Inland Empire’s food product...
Los Angeles Times •

After decades in prison, he transformed himself into the Inland Empire's homeboy news anchor

In prison and seemingly unable to escape a destructive cycle that began when he was a child, Ahmed Bellozo spent hours watching investigative journalism shows, educational documentaries and Huell Howser’s homespun travelogue, “California’s Gold.” It was a way, he said, to distract from his pain.Years later, out of prison and wanting a drastic change in his life, Bellozo turned to those shows for inspiration as he reinvented himself on social media as the star of “On the Tira” — a video series th...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside Councilmember Sean Mill Hopes To Curb Copper Wire Theft With New Ordinance

After receiving complaints of unlit streets and broken lights, Riverside Councilmember Sean Mill is now championing an ordinance that, if passed, he said could deter copper wire theft throughout the city.

“It actually goes back to before I got in office,” Mill said. “That’s when I found out the reason that the lights weren’t working is because someone had stolen the copper wiring out of them.”

The proposed ordinance would create new restrictions on scrap metal businesses within the city, i...
The Riverside Record •

Riverside MLK Day Event Marks 30 Years With Hundreds Of Marchers

Antoine Phillips, a first-time participant of the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Walk-A-Thon, marched through the downtown Riverside streets as a way to reconnect with his old community.

“I graduated in ’99 and left here when I was 24 years old. So now at 44, it feels like I’m starting all over again,” said Phillips who recently resettled in Southern California after working in New York for 17 years. “These are all new people that I’m meeting and I’m just excited to be back here.” 

Phil...
Los Angeles Times •

'SalviSoul' author Karla Tatiana Vasquez shares her 5 favorite Latino-owned businesses in L.A.

Chef Karla Tatiana Vasquez has made a career out of highlighting the complexities of Central American cooking.“It’s a fusion cuisine because we have influences that tie us back to the Silk Road,” she said. “We use spices that did not originate from the Americas, but we also use tomatoes, chiles, frijoles, ayote — all of that came from our part of the world.”The longtime L.A. resident and author of “The SalviSoul Cookbook” was born in El Salvador, and arrived to the Southland with her family as...
The Riverside Record •

Demonstrators Gather At Riverside City Hall As Part Of Nationwide Movement To Protest Trump Administration

More than 100 Inland Empire residents waved signs, held U.S. flags and yelled rally chants Monday near Riverside City Hall in protest of President Donald Trump and his administration’s actions since the start of his second term.

The demonstrators said they were alarmed by the many executive orders the president had signed in recent weeks, especially those they believed were targeting women’s rights, birthright citizenship and diversity in the workplace. 

“Democracy is in danger,” said Glad...
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
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...
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 •

'SalviSoul' author Karla Tatiana Vasquez shares her 5 favorite Latino-owned businesses in L.A.

Chef Karla Tatiana Vasquez has made a career out of highlighting the complexities of Central American cooking.“It’s a fusion cuisine because we have influences that tie us back to the Silk Road,” she said. “We use spices that did not originate from the Americas, but we also use tomatoes, chiles, frijoles, ayote — all of that came from our part of the world.”The longtime L.A. resident and author of “The SalviSoul Cookbook” was born in El Salvador, and arrived to the Southland with her family as...
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 •

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 •

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...
Load More