Some residents of Fresnillo, Zacatecas, looked up in alarm while others dashed for their cellphones as an earth-colored tornado spun through the area on Tuesday, but without leaving much evidence of its passage.
State Civil Protection officials said the low-density tornado touched down at 1:00pm between the communities of Saucito del Poleo and Valdecañas and generated winds of between 60 and 117 kilometers per hour, qualifying it as an EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale — the lowest rating for tornado intensity.
Although many residents were alarmed, authorities reported neither property damage nor injuries. Videos and photos of the phenomenon have been widely shared on social media.
According to Manuel de Jesús Macías Patiño, an environmental expert and researcher at the Autonomous University of Zacatecas, climate change was to blame for the event. He added that while whirlwinds and small tornados are not uncommon in Zacatecas during other seasons, a long dry spell caused by changing climate conditions facilitated the formation of the twister.
Macías Patiño advised residents to be prepared to see more unusual and out-of-season weather patterns and phenomenon as climate change accelerates. He also said that since storms and tornados were likely to become both more frequent and stronger, the state government should invest in special radar technology capable of detecting conditions under which tornados form.
Police in Mexico City have arrested a 60-year-old man for animal abuse and rescued 50 dogs that had been crowded inside a small area of his home.
According to the man’s neighbors in the borough of Gustavo A. Madero, the dogs had been abandoned on a small patio since July 2018. A video shared widely on social media shows the dogs crammed together, standing in their own feces and desperately ripping the flesh off the carcass of one of their canine companions out of hunger.
Police used a crowbar to force open the door to the home while animal control personnel from the Secretariat of Public Safety entered the residence with carriers and extracted the dogs one by one.
From there, some of the dogs were transported to the agency’s facilities, while others were taken to the Culhuacán Canine Center, where they will be seen by a veterinarian and their future decided.
Magdalena Ríos, who lives adjacent to the house where the dogs were rescued, said that neighbors had brought the animals’ conditions to the attention of authorities long ago, but their complaints went unanswered until they recorded a video.
“We didn’t get any response until a video that we published went viral on social media. The dogs are not OK; they eat one another, and it is not all right for that man to have kept them in these conditions. Wherever they send them, they will be better off than how they were here . . . We live behind [that house], and we cannot even open the windows because of the intolerable smell and the flies.”
A fertilizer protest in Guerrero: one of more than 100.
Guerrero Governor Héctor Astudillo has criticized the implementation of a federal program to distribute free fertilizer, calling it “a failure.”
Astudillo told a press conference that 70,000 farmers are still waiting to receive fertilizer they had been promised, and blamed the delays on bad planning and politicization.
He estimated that “a significant number of farmers decided not to plant.”
The governor noted that compared with 2018 there was a reduction of 16% in the area of land where free fertilizer was applied, that the volume of fertilizer distributed was 56% lower, and that there were 69% fewer beneficiaries.
Astudillo blamed the federal civil servants in charge of the program, saying they used it for political purposes.
“They failed to follow the instructions of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, that fertilizer should be free for all producers in Guerrero,” he said.
In total, over 400,000 Guerrero farmers signed up to receive fertilizer through the program. But subsequent delays in distribution pushed farmers to engage in 130 protest actions as the need for fertilizer became more and more urgent.
Because corn is an important subsistence crop in Guerrero, Astudillo called on the federal government to create an emergency food program to make sure the state does not go hungry in the months ahead.
The free fertilizer program has existed for 27 years, but 2019 is the first year that it has been administered by the federal government. In previous years, the fertilizer was distributed in May, which is the planting season for important subsistence crops like corn, beans and rice.
Deputy Rubén Cayetano, who represents Guerrero for the Morena party, told La Razón that he agrees with Astudillo’s assessment that the program was a failure.
“My perception is that the promises were not fulfilled, because that’s what people in the communities are telling us,” he said.
Cayetano said he hopes to bring Agriculture Secretary Víctor Villalobos to testify before the Chamber of Deputies about the program.
This tortillería closed because its owner and two staff were shot dead.
Organized crime has left several neighborhoods in Celaya, Guanajuato, without tortillas for the last four days.
Dozens of tortilla makers in the southwest of the city shut down their businesses on Saturday and have remained closed to protest against the presence of violent criminal gangs that charge extortion payments known as cobro de piso, and to demand government action.
“Due to intimidation and the possibility of retaliation, those affected haven’t in all cases reported the extortioners but [instead] chose to close because their incomes are not sufficient to cover the fees that criminals demand from them,” a local tortilla makers’ association said in a statement.
Among the neighborhoods where tortillerías were closed yesterday were Lagos, Las Flores, Santa Isabel, Jacarandas, El Ejidal and Monte Blanco, the newspaper El Universal reported.
“People have been walking around looking for a place to buy [tortillas]. A lot of businesses are closed. It’s very unfortunate, very sad, never before have we reached such extremes,” said Fernando Arellano, a priest at a church in Las Flores.
“All the tortillerías are closed,” said 65-year-old Mariana, who walked seven blocks searching for tortillas. “What are we going to do now? Well, go to [the supermarket] Mega, surely there are tortillas there.”
One store that was closed yesterday was tortillería La Indita, a 57-year-old family business in the neighborhood of Lagos.
However, the shop’s owner didn’t close as part of the protest against violence and extortion.
Virginia “N” and two female employees were shot dead by a suspected extortion gang on Monday as they worked, an attack that has left other tortilla shop workers fearful for their own lives.
“Of course, we’re afraid,” said a young woman working yesterday at one of only two tortilla shops that were open in Celaya’s southwest.
These youths were among at least 1,000 in 21 states that Coca-Cola hired under the employment program.
A youth employment program that is a central part of the social policy of President López Obrador has reached its goal of giving scholarships to a million young people.
The “Youth Building the Future” program, which is managed by the Labor and Social Welfare Secretariat (STPS), gives scholarships of 3,600 pesos (US $182) a month to young people between the ages of 18 and 29 to work at government agencies, nonprofits and private enterprise. According to an STPS press release, the program was able to meet its goal for 2019 in just eight months.
“Thanks to the participation of the private sector, of public institutions and civil society, the ‘Youth Building the Future’ program has been able to connect 900,000 young people to various employers around the country, as well as 100,000 young indigenous people in rural areas,” the STPS said.
The STPS statement added that the program will search for ways to improve for 2020.
“We are grateful to all the young people and their teachers, who have made it possible for the program to achieve its goal of giving young Mexicans the possibility of reaching their professional goals, and giving them the tools they need to have a better future,” the STPS said.
Although the program was a success on the national level, it failed to meet its goals in the state of Baja California Sur. Federal super-delegate Víctor Castro Cosío recognized that the program’s rollout in the state “can be considered a failure.”
“The program did not meet the goal we set,” he said. “More than 3,000 young people signed up in Baja California Sur, which is a good number, and it was a good program for them. However, there were many others who did not trust us, many people did not sign up, and we were unable to fill our capacity of 11,000. We didn’t reach our goal, we think, because many young people here preferred to look for work elsewhere, as the 3,600 pesos a month didn’t seem like a lot.”
The Formula 1 Grand Prix auto race is on again in Mexico City after an agreement was reached for another three years that won’t require any additional investment by the government.
Mayor Claudia Shienbaum had said that the 800 million pesos (US $42 million) necessary to keep Mexico in the Formula 1 races over the next five years would go instead to the Maya Train project, although talks over alternative funding for the event continued.
After months of uncertainty, Sheinbaum announced with a Twitter video today that Formula 1 president Jean Todt will visit the capital tomorrow to sign an agreement ensuring the continuation of the auto races in Mexico City through 2022.
She said that a group of business owners had agreed to take on the financial responsibility, relieving the city government of the burden.
“I would like to let you know that this was made possible thanks to a group of entrepreneurs, because on this occasion the city [government] is not investing any public funds. This is good news for the city and for the country; [the races] bring tourism and economic benefits.”
According to statistics provided by the previous administration, the Grand Prix was the country’s most economically significant sporting event in 2017: that year, the race generated a total of 14.8 billion pesos (US $778.2 million) in economic spillover.
The results showed that readers feel somewhat safer than respondents to the first survey – 57% said they felt unsafe traveling on the nation’s highways, while 32% said they didn’t. Another 10% of respondents were undecided.
In the poll’s comments section, some readers elaborated on their experiences driving on Mexico’s roads and/or shared their advice: Here’s what they said (responses lightly edited for clarity).
“If the federales don’t hit you up for bribes at a roadblock, the bandits might,” wrote Ken Terrill before warning motorists to not travel on Mexico’s highways at night “under any circumstances.”
Similarly, Brock Huffman, an American who operates a birdwatching company in Chiapas, said that he never travels at night and tries to avoid secondary roads.
He also said he checks in with contacts in towns toward which he is traveling in order to be informed of any imminent dangers.
“So far, we have had no problems in the nine years we have been in business,” Huffman wrote.
Diego Valdez said that he has traveled all over Mexico for 40 years and never had a bad experience.
“However, I always use common sense like not driving at night or on secondary roads. I am aware that crime and corruption have increased dramatically and thus I also increase my caution. I am hopeful that the new National Guard will . . . reduce crime and violence,” he wrote.
Doug H. said that he has traveled over 200,000 kilometers on motorcycle through 28 Mexican states using mainly secondary roads over the past 20 years and “only ever had a few bad experiences, a couple of times in Mexico City and in Cuernavaca.”
“. . . The highways are safe if you drive sensibly,” he wrote.
Major highways seen as safer than secondary ones.
Other readers were more forthcoming in describing the negative experiences they or their family members have had on Mexico’s highways.
“Our niece and her husband were carjacked at 9:30am on a highway in Puebla,” wrote a reader who identified himself only as Eric.
“Thank God only their car and jewelry were taken, not their lives . . .” he added.
“After many vacations in Mexico without incident day or night, other than twice being rousted by local cops, my wife and I retired to Mexico three years ago. We have learned, however, to adhere to unwritten rules about traveling on highways and toll roads during the day only . . .”
A reader who identified himself as George recalled being in “bumper-to-bumper traffic” in Nuevo Laredo while heading for Texas when he was pulled over for “speeding” and issued an on-the-spot fine for 1,500 pesos.
“That worked out to 500 pesos each for the three transit cops so they could soon head to the cantina and have a good time,” he wrote tongue-in-cheek.
Richard Roussin said he feels unsafe on Mexico’s highways “because our country is blatantly being robbed by caseta [toll booth] owners.”
“. . . I’ve been robbed repeatedly . . . while trying to pay for my one-axle trailer and being forced to pay as a two-axle trailer. Thieves with a permission to abuse,” he wrote.
Finally, an almost decade-long resident of Mexico charged that “one of the stupidest things a gringo can do is drive through anywhere in Guerrero or Michoacán at night in an expensive car.”
“Also, I’ve learned that you must stop at any kind of roadblock and be ready with a smile . . . as you hand over 20 pesos if they are not police or military. Twenty pesos . . . is cheap security when traveling through any part of Mexico . . . The safest thing any gringo can do . . . is look very poor and humble, not rich and arrogant . . .” Rusty Hill wrote.
Ernesto 'N' is believed to be a crime gang leader in Playa del Carmen.
A joint operation by the National Guard and Quintana Roo police has led to the arrest of the suspected leader of the Playa del Carmen cell of the Los Pelones crime gang.
Ernesto “N,” also known as “El Pantera” (The Panther), was detained at 11:00pm Monday on Azulejos avenue in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo Public Security Secretary Alberto Capella told a press conference.
The 43-year-old native of Acapulco, Guerrero, was armed at the time of his arrest and in possession of drugs, Capella said.
The vehicle in which he was traveling was seized and an 18-year-old woman with him was also taken into custody.
Capella said the arrest is a significant blow to organized crime, explaining that “El Pantera” has been identified by both federal and state authorities as the principal instigator of homicides and extortion in Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos and Tulum.
The eight most wanted in Playa del Carmen. Recognize anyone? Call 911, police ask.
The security chief also presented images of eight suspects with links to organized crime who are believed to be involved in a range of criminal activities in the municipality of Solidaridad (Playa del Carmen), including homicides, extortion and drug trafficking.
Capella urged the public to report their location to authorities should they see any of the eight men, one of whom is the brother and alleged right-hand man of Ernesto “N.”
“The party is over for these guys,” Capella declared.
Capella said the takeover coincided with the launch of “Operation Solidaridad,” which will aim to improve security across the municipality with special attention to the high-crime neighborhoods of Villas del Sol, Centro, Luis Donaldo Colosio, Misión del Carmen and Misión de las Flores.
According to elcri.men, a crime monitoring website, Solidaridad was the 11th most violent municipality in Mexico in the first half of the year.
Capella said that there were 135 homicides in Solidaridad to the end of July but expressed confidence that authorities will be able to reduce the murder rate by year’s end.
He charged that the crime and violence problem in Playa del Carmen was “inherited” from past municipal and state governments that allowed local, national and international crime groups to operate with total impunity.
Since state police assumed security responsibility for the resort city under Quintana Roo’s single command policing system, several suspected members of criminal groups have been arrested.
Six thieves made off with a haul of tens of millions of pesos worth of commemorative coins and watches in a broad daylight robbery of the Mexican mint in downtown Mexico City on Tuesday morning.
It started at 9:30am when at least three armed men separately entered the mint, located just blocks from the Angel of Independence on Reforma avenue. Two of the robbers, who were dressed as office workers in dress shirts and sweaters, subdued and disarmed a 35-year-old guard. Meanwhile, the other robber went to the vault, which was already open, and began to fill a backpack with commemorative coins and watches.
Five minutes after they had entered the building, the three calmly walked out to meet their accomplices who were waiting with getaway vehicles on Reforma.
Mint employees activated security alarms at 9:35am. Mexico City police arrived to interview witnesses but were unable to catch the thieves before they fled.
An inventory check after the robbery showed that the thieves had stolen 1,567 commemorative coins as well as an unknown number of watches, with a total value of around 55 million pesos (US $2.8 million).
According to preliminary investigations by police, mint employees did not follow security protocols during the robbery. Police Chief Jesús Orta said that one line of investigation is focusing on the failure of the protocols, and that a guard and eight other employees are being investigated.
“It’s curious the way they went directly to the vault, and that they so easily removed the coins and watches,” he said.
This is the second time that the mint has been robbed in recent years. On July 17, 2018, four people beat guards and broke glass cases during a robbery that netted 10 million pesos worth of coins and watches.
There’s no end to recipes for Mexican salsa, and there are endless varieties of chiles with which to make it. But most of the chiles used in Mexico come from China.
According to the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), 60% of green chiles consumed in Mexico are imported from China; the remainder are produced domestically.
On Monday, the WWF announced the start of the “Dale Chamba” campaign, which will promote the conservation of more than 1,500 varieties of green chile that are fundamental to Mexican cuisine, but have been in decline because of climate change and dependence on imports.
Silvia Cursain, a chef and gastronomy school teacher, told the news agency Efe that the quality of chiles depends not only on the variety, but where they are grown.
“If they don’t get the same nutrients, when you move them, the fruit changes,” she said. “Like how the dried serrano chiles that come from China, they don’t have flavor or aroma.”
Jorge Rickards, director of WWF México, said that diverse chile varieties are an important part of Mexican culture.
“We have a cultural wealth of over 350 languages, 350 sources of traditional knowledge that are translated into cuisines,” he said. “There are more than 1,500 species that still form part of the ingredients of the traditional diets in Mexico.”
Rickards said that “fast food diets” have put traditional crops like heirloom tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, ayocote and vaquita beans at risk, as well as chiles like chilhuacle, pasilla mixe and poblano.
Chef Ricardo Muñoz Zurita said the decline in traditional Mexican products is also related to the fact that they are mostly consumed in certain regions, because of a lack of knowledge of how to use them.
“In local markets in Oaxaca or Yucatán, we see certain products as strange,” he said. “We think that they have been brought from other places, and because we don’t know what they are, we don’t use them. We should revalue and rediscover our traditional cooking, our historical cooking, based on the foundation of corn.”
