A candidate in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections responds to a question about the lack of civility in contemporary political discourse. (This image was generated using AI tools)
WASHINGTON, District of Columbia — A joint campaign event held on Capitol Hill descended into hostile shouting Monday after a reporter dared to ask whether candidates running in the upcoming midterm elections might consider adopting a slightly milder tone on the trail.
The campaign event, held ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, became heated when a journalist pointed out that describing political rivals in TV ads as “communist saboteurs plotting to steal your groundwater” might be hindering civil discourse.
President Donald Trump’s ad hominem attacks on political rivals are often cited as contributing to the breakdown of civility in American political discourse. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)
“How dare you question my absolute, unyielding commitment to respect and decorum, you total hack?” shouted one incumbent senator, pounding a podium while gesturing aggressively toward the press pool. “I have dedicated my entire midterm campaign to promoting mutual understanding, and anyone who claims otherwise is a radical traitor who deserves to be stripped of their credentials, horse-whipped and deported.”
According to witnesses, the campaign atmosphere further deteriorated when a visiting Mexican diplomat politely noted that political leaders in her country routinely manage to address policy disputes and host elections without accusing their opponents of being existential threats to human progress. The suggestion that public servants could run for office without resorting to daily character assassination was immediately denounced by candidates from both parties as an unprovoked attack on American democratic tradition.
“Civility is the bedrock of our republic, and I will personally ruin the career of anyone who implies our campaign strategy lacks it,” added a congressional candidate, adjusting his tie while glaring directly into the camera. “We are running to lead by example, and if the press refuses to report on how overwhelmingly polite and constructive our attack ads are, then the media is the enemy of harmony.”
By the conclusion of the half-hour briefing, three separate political campaigns had issued formal press releases condemning the concept of polite dialogue as an aggressive partisan maneuver, even as several campaign aides handed out informational brochures detailing their candidates’ lifelong passion for peaceful consensus.
At press time, midterm organizers were reportedly drafting a bipartisan resolution that would officially classify any future questions regarding campaign tone, candidate manners or basic decency as deliberate acts of war.
The wave of infant deaths began as far back as March in an IMSS hospital in Jalisco. Similar cases of possible hospital-acquired infections have more recently been detected at another facility in Durango. (Solen Feyissa / Unsplash)
Investigations into the deaths of newborns treated at public hospitals in the states of Jalisco and Durango have expanded as more families demand answers about their children’s deaths.
At least eight and perhaps as many as 18 newborn deaths have occurred since March in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente in Guadalajara, Jalisco.
#Estados | Padres de tres bebés fallecidos entre julio y agosto de 2026 en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales del Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente denunciaron ante la FGR al IMSS Jalisco por presunta negligencia médica y falta de higiene. MP.
And last month, five newborns died in the neonatal intensive care unit of General Hospital Zone No. 1 in Durango city, Durango.
Both hospitals are government-funded public institutions under the auspices of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS).
Earlier this week, IMSS Director General Zoé Robledo ordered an independent clinical audit to review the records of newborns who died in Jalisco, which he said “is not intended to point the finger at medical personnel,” as its “priority is to know the truth, support the families and prevent similar events from happening again.”
At least eight of the deaths in Guadalajara have been linked to hospital-acquired infections involving the bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae and the fungus Candida albicans.
In Durango, health authorities confirmed that four of the five infants who died between Sept. 15 and Sept. 19 tested positive for the same bacteria.
The clinical audit is being conducted independently of the complaints filed with the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) by relatives of some of the newborns.
Forensic investigations, including necropsies, are ongoing to establish legal responsibilities.
Robledo insisted he will fully cooperate with the FGR and any other competent authority in the investigations, but suggested it remained to be determined that the infections detected had a direct relationship with the deaths.
The IMSS audit is being conducted by a committee comprising neonatologists, infectious disease specialists, and epidemiologists, who will analyze each case individually to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Robledo said the audit’s findings will be communicated first to the families, adding that if any errors or liabilities are found, the IMSS will act accordingly, “regardless of the level at which they occur.”
Protests by the grieving families last month prompted intense public scrutiny, leading the IMSS to dismiss its state delegate in Durango and the neonatal unit was temporarily closed to contain any potential outbreak.
In Jalisco where the tragedies stretched from March 14 through Sept. 28, the director of the Guadalajara hospital and the head of the neonatal unit were temporarily removed from their posts.
President Sheinbaum announced a presidential order to limit minors' exposure to harmful social media content. The decree is expected to be published early next week. (Camila Ayala Benabib / Cuartoscuro.com)
Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds
🌀 Hurricane Simon forecast to make landfall near Jalisco and Colima this weekend: Citing the National Meteorological Service, Civil Protection chief Laura Velázquez said Simon, a Category 1 hurricane on Friday morning, could hit Mexico’s Pacific coast as a Category 3 or 4. She said the area of impact could be one of five Jalisco municipalities (Cihuatlán, La Huerta, Tomatlán, Cabo Corrientes or Puerto Vallarta) or Manzanillo, Colima. She urged residents to stay informed through official channels.
📱 Government presents decree on “safe digital environments” for minors: Presidential legal adviser Luisa María Alcalde said the decree bars social media sites and other online platforms from displaying or recommending content to minors that generates or promotes hate speech, violent extremism, sexual exploitation or violence, suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, cyber-bullying and illegal conduct. The government announced the decree last Friday, a day after a fatal machete attack at a school in Torreón, Coahuila. Sheinbaum said the decree will be published in the official gazette next Tuesday or Wednesday after further legal review to ensure it doesn’t exceed the executive branch’s authority.
🚨 Multiple inmates and a 2-year-old boy killed in Mazatlán prison fight: Sheinbaum said she was informed about Thursday’s shooting at El Castillo prison at Friday’s Security Cabinet meeting. Sixteen prisoners were injured, and two firearms were seized.
Why today’s mañanera matters
Federal officials spoke about a range of significant issues at President Sheinbaum’s Friday morning press conference, including a hurricane headed for Mexico’s Pacific coast and a new decree aimed at keeping kids safe online and decreasing the probability of young people perpetrating acts of violence.
Another significant development that was discussed at today’s mañanera was the death of nine inmates and a two-year-old boy at a prison in the coastal city of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, on Thursday. They were all shot during a fight at the El Castillo prison, located about 14 kilometers east of the center of Mazatlán.
Hurricane Simon set to make landfall in Mexico this weekend
Citing information from the National Meteorological Service, National Civil Protection chief Laura Velázquez said that Hurricane Simon — a Category 1 hurricane on Friday morning — is forecast to make landfall this weekend on Mexico’s Pacific coast “in the vicinity of Jalisco and Colima.”
She said that Simon could make landfall as a Category 3 or Category 4 hurricane.
Velázquez said that “the area of impact” could be in one of five municipalities in Jalisco — Cihuatlán, La Huerta, Tomatlán, Cabo Corrientes or Puerto Vallarta — or in Manzanillo, Colima.
⚠️ Simon presenta vientos máximos sostenidos de 155 km/h, rachas de 195 km/h y desplazamiento hacia el noroeste a 6 km/h.
📍 A las 09:00 h, se localiza a 335 km al sur de Manzanillo, #Colima, y a 500 km al sur-sureste de Cabo Corrientes, #Jalisco.
— Coordinación Nacional de Protección Civil (@CNPC_MX) October 9, 2026
“It’s still too early to determine the [exact] category [of the hurricane] and the exact point of entry. But in the course of the day today, we may be able to obtain precise information,” she said.
Velázquez urged residents of Jalisco and Colima to keep themselves “very well informed” about the hurricane by remaining attentive to official information disseminated by state and federal authorities.
Government presents ‘safe digital environments’ decree
Luisa María Alcalde, President Sheinbaum’s top legal adviser, presented a “decree to guarantee safe digital environments for girls, boys and adolescents.”
She said that the decree will apply to “digital platforms” that enable communication between users and the sharing of content — i.e. social media sites and other online forums.
Alcalde said that the decree bars digital platforms from displaying or recommending content to minors that “generates or promotes” hate speech, violent extremism, sexual exploitation or violence, suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, cyber-bullying and illegal conduct in general.
Sheinbaum said that the decree is “based on” the Mexican Constitution, which “establishes the protection of girls, boys and adolescents.”
Presidential legal counsel Luisa María Alcalde shared a proposed decree to bar social media sites from showing minors harmful content including hate speech, violent extremism, sexual exploitation, cyber-bullying and more. (Presidencia)
She said that the government’s legal department and the Digital Transformation Agency will continue to work on the decree in the coming days to ensure that it doesn’t exceed the authority of the executive branch of government.
“They might also speak to the [digital] platforms,” Sheinbaum said, adding that the decree will be published in the government’s official gazette next Tuesday or Wednesday.
Mazatlán prison fight leaves 10 people dead
A reporter asked the president whether she was informed at her Friday morning security briefing about the “riña” (fight or brawl) at a prison in Mazatlán on Thursday.
Sheinbaum said she received information about the case at the Friday morning Security Cabinet meeting. She said that Security Cabinet officials are working with interim Sinaloa Governor Graciela Domínguez to “strengthen the penitentiary system in Sinaloa.”
“I expect that the governor will be able to provide information,” Sheinbaum said.
Asked whether authorities would contact the deceased inmates’ relatives, the president said prison authorities always do so. She said that the cause of the prison dispute would be investigated and that the Security Cabinet would provide more information on the case.
Leave it to Mexicans to turn a broken heart into a party ... the seeds of the Sala de Despecho phenomenon. (Sala de Despecho)
It’s 10:15 a.m. on a Friday in a cantina in Valladolid. I’ve spent the last 10 minutes trying to figure out what I’ve walked into, but my only real lead is a table of a dozen 50-somethings singing and dancing to Timbiriche’s “Con Todos Menos Conmigo” over 2-for-1 cantaritos.
As one caterwauls, the others use their straws like wands, stirring around tequila, grapefruit juice and years of suffering in an earthenware jar while nibbling at salted rims and cooling themselves with hand fans. They’ve held the karaoke playlist hostage for as long as I’ve been in the bar — passing the mic around their table like a talking stick at a powwow — and judging by their energy levels, there’s a lot more where that came from.
Leave it to Mexicans to turn a broken heart into a party.
Between songs, the bar’s hostess welcomes newcomers to their weekly Noche de Despecho, literally “Night of Spite,” figuratively, a nocturnal AA meeting for people struggling with a breakup, if AA meetings were musicals. She invites others to request songs — let it all hang out for three minutes — but at this rate, they’ll have to come back next week before their song gets played, and I’m still learning the words to “Mi Historia Entre Tus Dedos,” so regrettably, I can’t.
Somewhere in Guadalajara, Pepe Rodríguez is smiling. He’s the architect, the reason these “Salas de Despecho” are popping up all over the country, from Mexico City to Mazatlán. Word is, he used to come home drunk and sing heartbreak songs in the early hours with his friends. Now their misery is ours.
Part of me wonders what it says about a culture and its views on romance that bars like these have become all the rage. The other part marvels at how adept that culture is at purging pain.
I don’t need to say a word to these women, and I can guess how their relationships ended. The setlist gives it away.
One in a red blouse and knee-length white skirt belts out “Un Millón de Primaveras” by Vicente Fernández. She’s taking way longer than her ex to move on and makes no apologies for this. Another in a black dress swaggers through “Se Me Olvidó Otra Vez” by the incomparable Juan Gabriel. I suspect she’s what her compatriots would call a migajera: she knows it’s over but has left the door open in case the old flame decides to walk back in.
Still another sings “La Puerta Negra” by Los Tigres del Norte. She never had a chance, and now laments the role of puertas negras, or invisible societal barriers imposed by families that prevent lovers from being together.
And then there’s Miss Machiavelli, biding her time coolly as she interprets Oscar D’León’s “Llorarás,” promising her ex, wherever they are, that they’ll be the ones crying when all is said and done.
This isn’t a ceremony of sadness; it’s equal parts group therapy and public shaming.
Mounted on the wall behind the table where the women sit is the head of a donkey, which, I have to imagine, isn’t entirely without symbolism. In lieu of the spurners not in attendance, those singing have another perfectly suitable jackass to whom they can direct their discontent.
Science says that’s the magic behind these spots.
Each full-throated note, a trigger releasing feel-good endorphins and oxytocin; each sustained falsetto, a cue to the body to lower cortisol levels; each heartbreaking lyric, a step toward processing pain; and each neighbor who joins in, a small confirmation that whoever’s singing isn’t suffering alone.
It’s Friday night in the Sala de Despecho, and misery loves company.
Ethan Jacobs is a freelance writer and writing coach based in Playa del Carmen. He has written extensively in narrative and short fiction formats, and his work has received recognition both domestically and internationally in microfiction, short fiction and narrative essay formats.
A diagnosis of endometriosis was a major plot point in the Mexican play "Milagros," reflecting a daily reality for many women in Mexico. (Moisés Pablo Nava/Cuartoscuro)
Juliana had no idea she had endometriosis. True, at age 23, she had undergone surgery for polycystic ovaries. But none of her doctors in Colombia — her native country — linked the presence of a cyst almost the size of her left ovary to any other condition.
“Keep in mind, this is something you just have,” they told her at the time. “You just need to keep an eye on it.”
Five years ago, Juliana moved to Mexico City and met her current husband. After years together, they decided they wanted to have a baby. She became pregnant last summer. Given her history of polycystic ovaries, they consulted their gynecologist about their options for carrying the pregnancy to term.
During a general examination of her reproductive system, the doctor identified some “unusual spots” that required further evaluation. That was when her gynecologist suggested she have some ultrasounds done by a colleague who specialized in endometriosis.
“Since we were trying to have a baby, we did get a bit scared,” Juliana tells me.
Juliana is not the only woman in Mexico who discovered she had endometriosis while trying to conceive. Leticia experienced something similar during her annual checkup appointment. “I didn’t know anything was wrong,” she says in an interview, “and it turned out to be an endometrioma of nearly 7 centimeters.”
That was how she found out she had the disease — and needed surgery.
Both women are currently in their 30s, lead active lives, work independently — and share a desire to become mothers.
Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women worldwide and makes carrying pregnancies to term complicated, although not impossible. (Shutterstock)
Dr. Anaïs Reyes Navarro defines endometriosis as a “chronic disease where endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, in other parts of the body.” According to her clinical experience, this makes carrying a pregnancy to term complicated. “Not impossible, but complicated,” she said in an interview. For its part, the Mayo Clinic in the U.S. notes that it can be a very painful disease.
Some common symptoms include heavy bleeding and periods that are irregular and painfully debilitating, along with chronic fatigue. However, Juliana shares that “her period was always regular, without too much pain.”
Diagnostic hurdles and high private costs
In addition to the physical discomfort, endometriosis is difficult to diagnose. The Revista Mexicana de Medicina de la Reproducción estimates that 35% of women with infertility issues in the country suffer from this condition.
In Mexico, the tests required to confirm a diagnosis of endometriosis are lengthy, uncomfortable and very expensive. A single ultrasound scan can cost 6,000 Mexican pesos, while a specialized MRI can cost nearly 11,000 Mexican pesos. Roughly speaking, this amounts to around US $1,000 in initial diagnostic costs, depending on whether the tests are performed in the private sector.
Government facilities, such as the Family Medicine Unit (UMF), can take between two and four months just to schedule the tests. Furthermore, this timeframe can vary significantly based on the patient load at your local clinic or the secondary-level hospital to which you are referred, which is why many women prefer to go to private laboratories — when they can afford it.
The examination must be rigorous, as cases of endometriosis have been recorded in which the lesions are also located in the intestines. “That’s why (when I had these tests done), the doctor asked me to take laxatives. My intestines had to be completely empty,” Juliana told MND. In extreme and isolated cases, fragments of endometrium have been found in the lungs and even in the brain of certain patients.
How does the disease impact fertility in Mexico?
Endometriosis affects 7 million women in Mexico and has played a part in the country’s falling fertility figures. (Victoria Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)
After Leticia’s endometrioma was removed, her gynecologist suggested removing one of her ovaries. Since she wanted to get pregnant, she decided to do her own research and consult a doctor specializing in endometriosis, which spared her unnecessary surgery.
Thanks to the recommendation of this new gynecologist, she was able to preserve her ovary and successfully conceive her first daughter.
Given that 1 in 10 women in the country has reported suffering from the disease — translating to at least 7 million patients — diagnosis often takes between 7 and 10 years. Many patients remain unaware of the condition because severe pain is frequently dismissed as ordinary menstrual cramps.
Although it affects about 10% of women of reproductive age worldwide — according to World Health Organization figures — the origin of the disease is still unknown.
Following rigorous examinations, specialists determined that Juliana had Stage 2 endometriosis, with lesions on the fallopian tubes and in key areas that obstruct the passage of the eggs.
Her gynecologist suggested a “protein-based dietary protocol low in sugars and ultra-processed foods,” as well as some supplements. Reyes, for her part, suggests strength training and regular exercise during pregnancy.
Doctors told her at the time that it was common for “the lesions to disappear” during pregnancy due to the hormones the body produces. However, at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, Juliana unfortunately lost the baby.
Endometriosis could be impacting the slowdown in population growth in Mexico. According to the latest figures from INEGI, Mexico’s national statistics agency, growth has slowed: The average annual growth rate fell from 1% from 2015–2020 to 0.7% in 2020–2025.
This is coupled, of course, with the fact that women are choosing to have babies (if they opt for motherhood at all) later in life, in order to pursue professional and personal growth before committing to supporting a family of their own. Today, per INEGI, Mexico City had the lowest state-level rate, at 0.8 children per woman in 2024.
In contrast, Leticia now has a baby girl under 6 months old. After her pregnancy, she is sticking to a dietary regimen that has alleviated the symptoms. Therefore, she does not consider that “the illness has changed her daily life or future plans.”
The psychological impact
For Juliana, however, the psychological impact of the loss has been considerable. “I didn’t think this would happen to me,” she said. So far, she hasn’t tried to get pregnant again.
Both women agree that they are now more mindful of their diet during their cycle, following the regimens suggested by their respective specialists. As a preventive measure and drawing on her own experience, Leticia strongly suggests “not skipping annual checkups, even if you don’t have symptoms.”
For her, the illness served as motivation to be healthier: “In many ways, I am grateful to have this illness because it changed my habits. I have felt much healthier, and I know my body better now,” she said.
Fruit and vegetable prices spiked 8.78% annually in September. (Graciela López / Cuartoscuro.com)
Mexico’s annual headline inflation rate increased for a second consecutive month in September, rising to 3.45%, the national statistics agency INEGI reported Thursday.
The annual core inflation rate, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, fell to 3.75% in September from 3.88% in August. INEGI reported that month-over-month inflation was 0.42% in September.
The annual headline rate reached its highest level since May in September. However, the rate was still well below the 2026 peak, which was 4.59% in March.
The publication of the inflation data for September comes two weeks after the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) board voted in favor of maintaining the central bank’s benchmark interest rate at 6.50%. Banxico targets annual inflation of 3% but tolerates a 2%-4% range. The central bank’s board will hold its next monetary policy meeting on Nov. 5.
Fruit and vegetable prices rise almost 9% annually
Fruit and vegetable prices rose 8.78% in the 12 months to September, the largest increase among the categories of goods and services tracked by INEGI. In contrast, meat prices fell 4.46% annually.
En septiembre 2026, el Índice Nacional de Precios al Consumidor #INPC se ubicó en 146.075 y representó un aumento de 0.42% respecto al mes anterior. Con este resultado, la inflación general anual fue de 3.45%.
Por componente, la inflación anual fue la siguiente:
▪️3.75% subyacente
▪️2.45% no subyacente
📄 Consulta el boletín de indicador: https://t.co/4a4Xjvvnt8
Prices in the broader agricultural goods category — which includes fruit, vegetables and meat — rose 0.79% in the year to September.
In the same month, annual inflation was 4.57% for processed food, beverages and tobacco; 2.03% for non-food goods; 4.27% for services; and 3.81% for energy, including electricity and gasoline.
Other need-to-know economic data
The Bank of Mexico reported an end-of-day USD:MXN exchange rate of 18.20 on Thursday. The peso has depreciated 1.1% against the US dollar so far in 2026.
The disappointment of double-digit declines in both production and exports of assembled vehicles in September was at least partially offset by the release of figures showing that auto parts output in July reached record highs. (Rob Dean / Unsplash)
Mexico’s auto parts production registered record figures in July, while the country’s automotive industry experienced double-digit declines in both vehicle production and exports in September.
The National Auto Parts Industry (INA) released the July figures this week, reporting that production grew 7.15% in July compared to a year earlier, reaching a value of US $10.85 billion.
Mexico remains the largest supplier of auto parts to the United States, even as that country is buying fewer components worldwide due to its own auto industry problems. (Engin Akyurt /Unsplash)
As the main supplier of auto parts to the United States, Mexico accounted for 43.6% of total U.S. imports of parts and components in July.
INA’s monthly report for July 2026 showed that between January and July, cumulative auto parts production reached US $74.68 billion, an 8.8% increase compared to the first seven months of 2025.
The increase occurred even as the United States reduced purchases of auto parts from around the world this year (reflecting its own 1.5% drop in car production).
The auto parts sector recorded exports of US $64.96 billion and imports of US $43.315 billion during the first seven months of the year, generating a trade surplus of US $21.643 billion.
Meanwhile, Mexico’s auto production registered its worst drop in nearly five years as vehicle assembly fell 15.1% year-on-year in September. At the same time, shipments abroad decreased 11.8%, the biggest drop since December of last year.
According to national statistics agency INEGI, automakers based in Mexico manufactured 301,803 light vehicles last month, 15.1% less than the 355,589 units assembled in September 2025.
This decline is the steepest for a month since November 2021, when auto production contracted 17.3%, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and a global shortage of semiconductors.
The decline also impacted the year-to-date balance, as production reached 2,946,943 vehicles through September, 2.42% less than the 3,020,006 assembled in the same period of 2025.
Meanwhile, exports totaled 277,369 units in September, a drop of 11.85%, the largest decrease since December 2025, when shipments fell 14.5%.
In terms of export volume, this represented the lowest level for a September since 2021 (during the pandemic), when shipments abroad registered a drop of 24%.
Despite this, Mexico maintains its position as the leading supplier of vehicles to the United States, even as its exports face a tariff disadvantage (Mexican vehicles pay a tariff of up to 25%, while those from Japan and South Korea face a rate of just 15%).
Authorities located the site on Saturday thanks to an anonymous tip. Accompanied by search collectives, they began processing forensic evidence the same day. (Cofaunnay)
State and federal authorities are examining a property in Nayarit that was described by the state attorney general as an “extermination center” and “another version of the Izaguirre Ranch” — a site in Jalisco where the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) allegedly killed and/or cremated a significant number of people.
The property in Nayarit, located in the municipality of Xalisco south of state capital Tepic, was located by the Nayarit Attorney General’s Office on Saturday. An anonymous tip-off led authorities to the site in the community of La Curva where a “makeshift burner” and a pit containing the remains of recently cremated bodies were found, according to Nayarit Attorney General Elvia Ludmila Heredia Verdugo.
“Since October 3, we have been processing an incineration-based extermination center,” Heredia told a press conference on Monday.
“On Saturday, [searching] mothers joined the work. We’ve already found clothing and a makeshift burner. A drum is … filled with diesel, gasoline and soap. … Bodies are burned, bones are reduced to ashes, and they’re thrown into a [nearby] stream,” she said.
“… We’re also processing a grave where we’re collecting charred bones. … It turns out that we now have another version of the Izaguirre Ranch,” Heredia said.
Authorities have not said how many people they believe were killed and/or cremated at the property, and have not linked any specific criminal group to the site. The El Universal newspaper reported that there are “unconfirmed” claims that the property was used by the CJNG.
CNB sends a ‘technical team’ to Nayarit to strengthen search efforts
The National Search Commission (CNB) announced on Wednesday that it had sent a “technical team” to Nayarit to “strengthen the search work” at the property and contribute to the “rigorous and expeditious processing” of the site, “in coordination with the appropriate authorities.”
In a statement, the CNB noted that the Nayarit Attorney General’s Office is in charge of the processing of the site, the collection of evidence and “expert work” aimed at identifying the number of victims and their identities.
The CNB expressed its commitment to “accompanying” the families of missing people and ensuring that they receive “verified, transparent and timely information” about the progress made in examining the site and the “results” obtained.
Félix Arturo Medina Padilla, deputy minister for human rights in the Interior Ministry, of which the CNB is part, shared the search commission’s statement on social media, writing in the same post that “the search for missing persons is a national priority for the Mexican government.”
https://t.co/5UGi1snxI9
— Comisión Nal. de Búsqueda Mx (@Busqueda_MX) October 7, 2026
‘We are still here, we are still searching,’ says Nayarit-based collective
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Families United for Nayarit Collective (Cofaunnay) said that its members remained at the “search area” in the community of La Curva.
It said they are “monitoring the forensic recovery work derived from the discovery of human remains … at the property called ‘El Dragón.'”
“… The families [of missing people] continue to work with responsibility, respect and sensitivity, striving at all times to preserve the evidence, respect the investigative processes, and protect the dignity of the individuals and their families,” Cofaunnay said.
“… We will continue to do what we know how to do: search, accompany [authorities], document, and demand truth and justice. We are still here, until we find them. WE ARE STILL HERE. WE ARE STILL SEARCHING,” the collective said.
Alma Ríos, a member of the collective, told the Associated Press that the discovery of the property in the municipality of Xalisco has given her hope that her husband, Alberto López, can be found. Ríos has been searching for him since he was abducted in September 2019.
A reminder of the Izaguirre Ranch case
As Heredia indicated, the recently-discovered property in Xalisco, Nayarit, has similarities to the Izaguirre Ranch, which was discovered in Teuchitlán, Jalisco, in early 2025 by a collective that searches for disappeared persons. In March 2025, the Warrior Searchers of Jalisco collective found more than 150 pairs of shoes and human remains at the ranch, leading various media outlets to dub the property an “extermination camp.”
Nevertheless, human remains — some of which showed signs of cremation — were found on the property. It is not yet been been determined how many people they correspond to.
Puerto Vallarta was not only voted the second-best small city in the world, but also finished among the top five beaches in the Americas. (Ondrej Bocek / Unsplash)
Readers of the highly regarded magazine Condé Nast Traveler have named two Mexican towns — Puerto Vallarta and San Miguel de Allende — as the second- and fourth-best small cities in the world.
The port and resort city of Puerto Vallarta on the state of Jalisco’s Pacific coast finished a close second behind only Canada’s Victoria, which was voted No. 1 for the fourth year in a row. The historic colonial town of San Miguel de Allende, in the state of Guanajuato, was edged out for the No.3 spot by Florence, Italy.
San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato state is widely recognized as one of the most attractive places to live or visit, and now Condé Nast Traveler readers have joined the chorus by voting it the fourth-best small city in the world. (Unsplash)
Condé Nast Traveler is part of the Condé Nast media empire that includes such high-end magazines as The New Yorker and Vanity Fair. Nearly 800,000 of its famously discerning readers participated in its annual Readers’ Choice Awards, with the two Mexican destinations in the poll’s top 10, joining such favorite sites as Venice (No. 9), Porto (7) and Lucerne ( 5).
Why San Miguel is the world’s No. 4 small city
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Miguel de Allende has made Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards list seven years in a row, thanks to the city’s blend of colonial charm, modern amenities and cultural offerings
“A hub for expat artists, this highland city is known for its Spanish Colonial architecture and colorful façades,” the magazine said.
Condé Nast Traveler referred to the city’s vibrant art scene with attractions such as Fábrica La Aurora, a former textile factory that is now home to galleries and pop-up shops. It also mentioned the Rosewood San Miguel de Allende hotel, “a hidden oasis” in the middle of the city.
Why Puerto Vallarta is the world’s No. 2 small city
Puerto Vallarta reinforced its position as the second-best small city in the world for a second consecutive year, despite a prevalent stereotype that Condé Nast debunked
“Puerto Vallarta is often associated with cruise ships, crowded beaches, and bars hosting rowdy groups of spring breakers — but there’s so much more to this Pacific coast getaway,” the magazine said.
Highlighting the Old Town’s charm and its “winding cobblestone streets lined with bougainvillea,” the magazine invited travelers to explore lesser-known spots like Ocean Grill, an open-air restaurant set in a rocky cove, and Yelapa, a secluded beach that can only be reached by boat.
6 Mexican destinations made the Best Beaches list
The magazine also asked readers to name their favorite beaches, dividing the results by regions. For the Americas, Tulum was named second-best (behind only Hawaii’s Hanauma Bay), joining two other Quintana Roo beaches — Playa del Carmen (No. 11) and Playa de Akumal (13).
Puerto Vallarta claimed the No. 15 spot to go with its second-best small city honor. The two other Mexican beaches selected were Playa Balandra, Baja California (5) and Playa del Amor, Marieta Islands (16).
Municipal workers are fashioning materials recovered through local waste collection and recycling efforts into amenities for a public children's playground in the capital of México state. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar / Cuartoscuro.com)
Old tires and tree trunks are getting a second life in Toluca, where municipal workers are turning recovered materials into playground equipment, benches and tables for the city’s parks.
Workers and neighborhood residents installed the equipment at Vicente Guerrero Park last month, creating a test site for a program officials hope to expand to schools and other public spaces in the capital of México state.
The skilled work that Toluca city empoyees do to convert collected scrap into safe and useful playground amenities has the added benefit of keeping old tires and tree trimmings out of waterways and vacant lots. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar / Cuartoscuro.com)
The park’s new amenities were made by municipal public services employees using materials recovered through local waste collection and recycling efforts.
Public services director Gustavo Anaya Maya said the tires, discarded furniture and tree trunks were collected through events in Toluca’s 48 districts and at 12 collection centers.
From there, they went to a municipal workshop, where employees turn them into benches, tables and playground equipment.
The broader program began in the second quarter of 2026. By September, workers had produced 10 tables, 15 playground sets, 15 benches and a bamboo house, according to the news website Plana Mayor.
Materials include trunks, logs and trimmings from authorized tree pruning and removal; reclaimed wood; old tires; recycled plastics; and recovered metal.
Anaya Maya said expansion would depend on public response. If schools embrace the initiative, parents could receive training to build furniture and playground equipment, with the city supplying materials.
He said the effort also aims to keep discarded materials out of rivers and canals and reduce tire burning.
Toluca is not alone.
In San Pedro Mixtepec, Oaxaca, the recently opened La Tortuga playground features equipment containing 80% recovered plastic — an amount equivalent to about 60,000 bottles.
Built on a former landfill, Cuitláhuac Park’s redevelopment incorporated recycled construction debris and plastics into paths, ground stabilization and other infrastructure. The final phase opened in 2023, showing how recovered materials can support playground projects beyond equipment, benches and tables.
