Though the spike in crime has primarily affected the central region of the state, tourism leaders say it threatens the reputation of Baja California Sur's biggest money-makers: La Paz and Los Cabos. (Constanza Mora/Unsplash)
Following recent violent episodes in Baja California Sur, the La Paz Hotel and Tourism Association (Emprhotur) said the prevailing perception of insecurity in some regions of the state could negatively impact visitor arrivals and tourism investment.
Although the capital city of La Paz has not registered any direct impact on its hotel sector so far, the Emprhotur is concerned that violence events in other municipalities, such as Comondú and Loreto, are influencing the general perception of the state.
“Any hint of violence, crime, or risk can cause an immediate drop in visitor arrivals,” Agustín Olachea Nogueda, head of the Emprhotour, told local media, adding that these types of situations “directly affect the destination’s image.”
From January to July this year, at least 63 intentional homicides were recorded, up 85.3% compared to the same period last year. Many of the incidents are linked to internal disputes between cells associated with the Sinaloa Cartel. Violence peaked in June with 24 murders reported, primarily concentrated in the municipalities of Comondú and Loreto.
In light of the conflict, Olachea urged government agencies to take action to avoid further damage to Baja California’s tourism reputation.
Agustín Olachea Nogueda, director of the La Paz Hotel and Tourism Association (at right), called on authorities to take action before the ongoing spike in crime hurts the state’s tourism industry. (Emprhotur)
“We demand that the current situations be addressed, that criminals be prosecuted, that arrests be made, and that we can return to the climate of tranquility we once experienced in Baja California Sur and La Paz,” Olachea said. “We’re living a climate of insecurity that we Southern Californians don’t deserve,” he stressed, adding that if the perception of risk isn’t controlled, tourism promotion efforts in source markets could be hampered.
Yet, this week, the United States updated its travel advisory for all 32 Mexican states and placed Baja California Sur at Level 2, which calls for increased caution when visiting due to events of organized crime and delinquency. The advisory states that there are no specific travel restrictions for U.S. government employees in that area.
Authorities in Baja California have stated that the U.S. advisory will not affect the state’s tourist destinations. The Tourism Minister of Baja California Sur Maribel Collins Sánchez explained that the state has been rated at Level 2 for several years and has not experienced any negative impacts. She added that despite the violence reported in the state, tourism indicators have in fact increased compared to last year.
“The tourist influx in the state is maintained and growing,” Collins said, adding that the state government is conducting a permanent observatory in collaboration with the private sector through the security roundtable. She said they’ve already held meetings with business leaders in Los Cabos and will soon do so in La Paz.
The Rarámuri have survived for centuries thanks to their almost unequalled ability to run long distances, something that has become a part of every day life in their mountain villages. (Prudencio Ramos and Mariano Ontiveros/Broetje Family Trust)
Growing up in Durango, not far from the southern Chihuahua border, I often heard passing mentions of the Indigenous Tarahumara. People would reference the mountains or “those Indigenous runners” with awe but never much depth. It wasn’t until adulthood, after moving away and returning with more curiosity, that I began to understand who they are — and why their story matters.
Known as the Rarámuri (their own name for themselves, translated as “those who run fast” or sometimes as “light-footed”), they are among the world’s greatest endurance runners. They live deep in the Sierra Tarahumara, a dramatic and rugged stretch of northern Mexico’s Copper Canyon, an area four times the size of the Grand Canyon.
The Raramuri live in northern Mexico’s Copper Canyon, one of the most inhospitable regions in the country. (Jens Uhlenbrock/Wikimedia Commons)
Yes, they are incredibly fast. But what makes the Rarámuri’s running so remarkable isn’t just physical ability — it’s that running is a reflection of how they live, what they believe and how they’ve stayed connected to their traditions in spite of everything history has thrown at them.
A lifetime of movement
The Rarámuri have lived in Chihuahua for centuries, long before colonization pushed them into the high sierras. Those who retreated deeper into the canyons were never fully conquered, preserving a way of life that still resists full assimilation.
Today, estimates vary, but anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 Rarámuri live across the Alta and Baja Sierra, continuing traditions passed down for generations.
One of those traditions is running. Rarámuri children don’t train for races — they run because it’s how they get around. The terrain where they live is steep and wild. Villages can be hours apart on foot. Over time, their bodies adapt: wide feet, strong joints, incredible stamina.
They often run in huaraches, handmade sandals fashioned from leather straps and the rubber from old car tires. Their feet are wide from a lifetime of movement, and modern sneakers can feel constricting. Studies suggest their minimalist footwear helps promote a more natural, injury-resistant stride.
A Raramuri woman photographed around 1940. (Casasola Archives/INAH)
Their diet also supports endurance. Take pinole, a simple but powerful mix of roasted ground maize and water. It’s nutrient-dense, slow-burning and provides sustained energy over long distances.
Their movement is woven into their lifestyle, their food and their connection to the land.
The Rarámuri have traditional footraces still practiced today. Rarajípare is a game where men kick a wooden ball ahead while chasing it over long distances. Ariwete, played by women, involves a hoop and stick. These events can go on for hours, or even days, especially when played between villages.
The spirit behind them isn’t just competition — it’s something deeper. Races are often preceded by a yúmari, a spiritual ceremony where runners are reminded to run with unity and for a purpose. Winning matters but so does how the race is run. As one phrase captures it: Iwériga — “send the power of your soul to another.”
Traditionally, the Rarámuri also hunted by chasing prey to the point of exhaustion. Running was — and still is — survival. But it’s also a form of gratitude and prayer deeply embedded in their cultural and spiritual life.
What the world gets wrong
The Rarámuri long ago had to adapt to the world outside their communities, but they’ve retained many of their traditions. (Graciela López Herrera/Cuartoscuro)
The global spotlight found the Rarámuri after the 2009 release of “Born to Run,” a best-selling book that chronicled their ultradistance abilities. But even well-meaning stories often drift into caricature — calling them superhuman, mystical, or natural-born athletes with supernatural pain tolerance.
This kind of praise flattens the truth: The Rarámuri are not magical anomalies. They’re people who have maintained an active, community-centered way of life for centuries. They’ve adapted to extreme terrain, preserved ancient practices and endured repeated waves of violence and environmental destruction.
Despite staying largely out of the spotlight, many Rarámuri have earned national and international recognition in competitive races. One of the most famous is Lorena Ramírez, who made headlines in 2017 when she won the 50-kilometer UltraTrail Cerro Rojo in Puebla. She did so wearing a traditional dress and huaraches, finishing in just over seven hours.
Lorena Ramírez at the Hong Kong 100 ultramarathon in January. She finished it in just over 24 hours despite being treated for foot injuries. (Fundación Lorena Ramírez A.C./Facebook)
Her story was captured in the short documentary “Lorena, Light-Footed Woman,” which highlights not just her strength but the quiet pride and cultural grounding that fuel her.
Their names — Verónica Palma, Ulisa Fuentes, Isadora Rodríguez, Lucía Nava, Rosa Para and Argelia Orpinel — now join a growing list of Rarámuri runners who’ve quietly reshaped the global narrative about endurance and strength.
Rocio is a Mexican-American writer based in Mexico City. She was born and raised in a small village in Durango and moved to Chicago at age 12, a bicultural experience that shapes her lens on life in Mexico. She’s the founder of CDMX IYKYK, a newsletter for expats, digital nomads, and the Mexican diaspora, and Life of Leisure, a women’s wellness and spiritual community.
When asked about the United States' decision to declare a risk of terrorism across Mexico, the president responded: "Close to a million estadounidenses live here [in Mexico] because they like living here better." (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about two “Ts” at her Wednesday morning press conference — not tacos and tortas, but rather the far less appetizing terrorism and taxes.
She also spoke about her own salary and her past and present living arrangements.
Here is a recap of the president’s Aug. 13 mañanera.
Sheinbaum responds to US terrorism warning for Mexico
A reporter highlighted that the United States Department of State updated its travel advisory for Mexico, and is now warning of the risk of “terrorism” in 30 of 32 federal entities.
Yucatán and Campeche are the only states where the State Department advises U.S. citizens to “exercise normal precautions.”
It now warns of the risk of “terrorism” in all the “Level 4 Do Not Travel” states (Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas) as well as the “Level 3 Reconsider Travel” states and the “Level 2 Exercise Increased Caution” states.
The State Department advisory also states: “Exercise increased caution in Mexico due to terrorism, crime and kidnapping. … There is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity, in Mexico.”
In its updated map of Mexico, Yucatán and Campeche are the only states where the State Department advises U.S. citizens to “exercise normal precautions.” (U.S. Department of State)
“Now they use this word [terrorists] because they designated the cartels as such,” she said, referring to designations that occurred in February.
“But look, the main tourism destination for estadounidenses [U.S. Americans] is Mexico. Close to a million estadounidenses live here [in Mexico] because they like living here better, because they decided to live here,” Sheinbaum said.
Asked whether the U.S. government is wrong to warn of the risk of “terrorism” in Mexico, the president responded:
She responded that her net monthly salary is 133,000 pesos (US $7,140), slightly lower than the amount mentioned in 2025 budget documents.
The reporter asked the president whether she lives in the justa medianía, a term that can be translated as “the middle ground,” or “the fair (or exact) middle ground,” or “just moderation.”
On Wednesday morning, the president initially tried to evade the question about whether she lives modestly (or moderately), saying, “we already spoke about that.”
“But you haven’t told us your story,” the reporter countered.
“Before I lived in a rented apartment in the Toriello Guerra neighborhood in [the Mexico City borough of] Tlalpan and before that I lived in a house where my children grew up, in San Andrés Totoltepec, in Tlalpan,” Sheinbaum said.
“As mayor [of Mexico City] I earned 86,000 pesos per month,” she added.
Sheinbaum didn’t explicitly respond to the question about whether she lives in the justa medianía, but certainly acknowledged that she is paid far more than the majority of Mexican workers.
Sheinbaum thanks taxpayers as collection increases
A reporter noted that Mexico’s tax collection increased 7.2% annually in the first seven months of the year to 3.27 trillion pesos (US $175.5 billion).
He asked the president how the increase was achieved.
“Firstly, thank you to everyone who pays their taxes and fees,” Sheinbaum said.
“There is good [tax] collection thanks to the fact that people are paying their taxes. And they know that we are using them well, that no one is stealing the money,” she said.
“Rather, it is being invested in welfare programs, in education, in healthcare, in housing programs and in public works, such as trains, water projects, and the highways we are building, and also in research and technological development,” Sheinbaum said.
She said that large companies, with some “exceptions,” are also paying their taxes, and highlighted that taxes and fees collected by Customs in the first seven months of the year increased significantly.
“It’s 180 billion additional pesos that they’ve collected in customs between January and July,” Sheinbaum said. “That’s also part of the tax [revenue].”
The Finance Ministry said earlier this year that the growth in tax revenue in 2025 “was mainly driven” by increases in the collection of Mexico’s value-added tax, income tax and taxes collected by customs.
It also said that the increase in tax revenue reflected “both the strength of the internal market and greater tax collection efficiency.”
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
Among university-educated Mexicans who were polled, almost four in 10 — 39% — said they disagreed with the statement, "In Mexico, freedom of speech can be fully exercised." (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
Almost three in 10 Mexicans believe that the right to freedom of speech cannot be fully exercised in Mexico, according to the results of a recent poll.
In late July, the newspaper El Financiero asked 500 Mexican adults whether they agreed or disagreed with the following statement:
“In Mexico, freedom of speech can be fully exercised.”
According to the results published by El Financiero on Wednesday, 70% of respondents said they agreed with the statement, while 27% said they disagreed. The remaining 3% said they didn’t know whether they agreed or not.
Among university-educated Mexicans who were polled, almost four in 10 — 39% — said they disagreed with the statement.
Among poll respondents who identified themselves as supporters of the ruling Morena party, just 13% said they disagreed with the statement, while 84% said they believed that freedom of speech can be fully exercised in Mexico.
Among supporters of opposition parties, 38% said they disagreed with the statement, while 51% said they agreed with it.
Among respondents who identified themselves as non-partisan, 53% said they disagreed with the statement that freedom of speech can be fully exercised in Mexico. Such people were the only cohort who had that view in their majority.
El Financiero also found that:
70% of men agreed with the statement, while 29% disagreed.
70% of women agreed with the statement, while 26% disagreed.
67% of people aged 18-29 agreed with the statement, while 30% disagreed.
72% of people aged 30-49 agreed with the statement, while 26% disagreed.
71% of people aged 50 and older agreed with the statement, while 25% disagreed.
73% of people with an education up to middle school level agreed with the statement, while 24% disagreed.
74% of people with an education up to high school level agreed with the statement, while 25% disagreed.
Freedom of speech is protected by the Mexican Constitution, but…
El Financiero didn’t ask poll respondents why they agreed or disagreed with the statement, “In Mexico, freedom of speech can be fully exercised.”
According to the Mexican Constitution, “free speech shall be restricted neither judicially, not administratively,” except when “it represents an attack to public morality, life or individual rights” or “when it produces a criminal offense or disturbs the public order.”
Still, a sizable portion of the El Financiero poll respondents believe that free speech cannot be exercised “fully” in Mexico.
Earlier this year, the submission to Congress of a telecommunications reform bill triggered a range of free speech concerns, including that its approval could open the door to government censorship of media and content on digital platforms.
Despite the modifications, free speech concerns persisted. Such concerns could be part of the reason why some respondents to the El Financiero poll believe that free speech can’t be fully exercised in Mexico.
In 2019, press freedom advocacy organization Article 19 asserted that then-president Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s “stigmatizing discourse” against the media “has a direct impact in terms of the … risk it can generate for the work of the press because [his remarks] permeate in the discourse of the rest of society and can even generate attacks.”
Sheinbaum has also been critical of the press, although not to the same extent as her predecessor.
Another possible reason why some Mexicans believe that free speech cannot be exercised fully is that there are bans in some states on the performance of narcocorridos — songs that tell the stories of drug traffickers and organized crime more broadly.
Should citizens publicly apologize if they criticize politicians?
For its recent poll, El Financiero also asked respondents whether they agreed or disagreed with the following statement:
“A citizen who criticizes a politician should be obliged to publicly apologize.”
More than three-quarters of the respondents — 77% — said they disagreed with the statement, but a not insignificant 20% said they agreed with it.
Twenty-six per cent of surveyed men said they agreed with the statement, while just 14% of women said the same.
“Te pido una
disculpa, DATO PROTEGIDO, por el mensaje que estuvo cargado de
violencia simbólica, psicológica, por interpósita persona, digital, mediática y análoga, así como de discriminación, basado en
estereotipos de género. Esto perjudicó tus derechos político-
electorales…
Estrella was found to have committed an act of political gender violence against Deputy Diana Karina Barreras, a lawmaker with the Labor Party, an ally of Morena.
She issued her final apology to Barreras this week,” although she wasn’t permitted to refer to the deputy by her name. Instead, Estrella had to use the term “DATO PROTEGIDO” (PROTECTED DATA).
“I apologize to you, PROTECTED DATA, for the message that was loaded with symbolic and psychological violence … and with discrimination based on gender stereotypes. This harmed your political-electoral rights because it minimized your abilities and political career,” she wrote on social media every day for 30 days.
Despite its coastline and colonial architecture that graces even the state government building, Colima has been mostly under the radar as a destination. The major expansion of its airport could change things. (Shutterstock)
Work has begun on a 327-million-peso (US $17.5 million) improvement of Colima state’s Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado National Airport, aimed at transforming the facility into an international travel hub for Mexico’s North-Central Pacific Coast states.
The project, led by the Grupo Aeroportuario de la Marina under the Naval Ministry (Semar), will greatly expand the airport’s capacity and is expected to boost regional connectivity, tourism and Colima’s economy.
— Grupo Aeroportuario Marina (@aeropuertos_GAM) July 22, 2025
Colima Governor Indira Vizcaíno Silva, who attended the launch ceremony on Monday along with General Director of Grupo Aeroportuario Marina Juan José Padilla Olmos, welcomed the commencement of the work.
“This will be an airport as beautiful and functional as those other railway or airport terminals developed by the armed forces,” Vizcaíno said. “And it will remain in optimal condition for many years to come, thanks to the work carried out by Semar personnel.”
Padilla said, “With these works, we not only strengthen the existing infrastructure and improve the experience of every traveler who passes through this terminal, but we also generate jobs, attract more visitors and open up new opportunities for trade and investment.”
The project will expand the airport terminal by 243%, including a fivefold increase of its airport arrivals capacity and a sevenfold capacity expansion of its waiting area. It also includes runway and taxiway renovation.
The transformation is part of the Mexican government’s strategy of promoting regional development by enhancing air connectivity.
On August 6, President Claudia Sheinbaum prepared a draft agreement to designate Miguel de la Madrid as an international airport, to be managed by Semar.
The agreement will come into effect following its publication in Mexico’s Official Gazette of the Federation. It will then join the ranks of the country’s other international airports under Semar control: Ciudad del Carmen, Ciudad Obregón, Guaymas, Loreto, Matamoros and Mexico City International Airport (AICM).
At present, the Colima airport serves only two routes, one operated by Volaris to Tijuana and another by Aeroméxico to Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), outside Mexico City.
An estimated 117,483 travelers passed through the airport between January and June of this year, around 14% more than the same period of 2024, according to Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency.
Although Colima is one of Mexico’s lesser-known states in terms of tourism, its Pacific coast location, untouched nature and historic sites make it attractive for visitors.
The modernization of the terminal and its new international status are expected to generate new routes, increase the number of domestic and international visitors and position Colima as a strategic hub for tourism, trade and investment in Mexico’s West.
Since 1956, the Aquino family has engaged in the artisanal production of huaraches, the traditional footwear made of cowhide leather in Villa Hidalgo Yalálag. (Carolina Jiménez/Cuartoscuro.com)
In a landmark move to safeguard the legacy of Indigenous artisans, the state government of Oaxaca has launched a process to register and protect the huarache (sandal) designs of Villa Hidalgo Yalálag, following allegations of appropriation by sportswear giant Adidas.
Governor Salomón Jara Cruz convened municipal leaders, artisans and representatives from Mexico’s National Copyright Institute (Indautor) on Monday at the government palace in Oaxaca city.
The governor of Oaxaca and residents of Villa Hidalgo Yalálag displayed these huaraches at recent press conferences as examples of Indigenous handiwork on which Adidas based its design of a new commerical shoe. (Carolina Jiménez Mariscal/Cuartoscuro)
The objective: Start a formal registration process for the designers and brands of Yalálag’s traditional footwear — a craft with a heritage dating back more than a century — and then provide legal support as needed.
“We will always support, preserve and defend our culture,” the governor, who is nearly halfway through his six-year term, said in a Oaxaca state press release. “The people have the final say; state and federal authorities are here to support them.”
During the assembly, the Morena party governor emphasized his administration’s respect for the community’s autonomy and the role these crafts play as both ancestral heritage and a source of livelihood for families.
Prompted by outrage over the newly released Adidas Oaxaca Slip-On shoe, which replicated traditional Zapotec huarache patterns, local artisans and authorities demanded dialogue and accountability from the brand.
“This craft is a livelihood for those who make it,” said Yalálag Mayor Eric Ignacio Fabián. “It’s not for sale. It’s for inheritance, which is why people have raised their voices.”
After last week’s reactions, Adidas and the shoe’s designer, Willy Chavarria, issued public apologies, and Karen Vianey González Vargas, legal and compliance director for Adidas Mexico, agreed to meet with Jara to discuss the issue and repair the damage.
Handcrafted footwear is not just a cultural tradition in Villa Hidalgo Yalálag but also an economic mainstay for the community located in Oaxaca’s Sierra Norte some 117 kms (73 miles) from the state capital. (Carolina Jiménez/Cuartoscuro.com)
“At Adidas, we deeply value the cultural richness of Mexico’s Indigenous peoples and recognize the relevance of the statement made by your institution,” she said in a statement. “Therefore, with full commitment to engaging in a constructive and respectful process, we respectfully request a virtual meeting with your office … that will allow us to move forward toward repairing the damage to the Zapotec community of Villa Hidalgo Yalálag.”
The artisan community, meanwhile, is calling for a national registry to protect cultural heritage and prevent future misappropriation.
For his part, Jara announced plans to create just such a registry, dubbed the State Registry of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples and Communities, to curb the plagiarism of Oaxacan crafts and products. He urged federal action to bolster these protections.
Guillermo Camarena brought color TV to the world, and with it, Mexican pride. (Reportajestv/X)
In Mexico, television remains king. Despite the global digital revolution, the glow of a TV screen still dominates Mexican living rooms. According to the country’s Federal Institute of Telecommunications, 91 percent of Mexican households own at least one television. YouTube, streaming platforms, and smartphones may nibble at its audience, but television has held its throne for more than seven decades.
The story of how television became so central to Mexican life begins with a young man who decided that black-and-white was simply not enough. In the 1940s, a self-taught engineer from Guadalajara would create a device that changed not just Mexico, but the way the entire world sees itself.
Camarena (right) demonstrating his new invention. (archive)
Mexico at the dawn of the television age
Picture Mexico in 1940: just three decades removed from the Revolution, eager to project an image of modernity. Mexico City’s population had barely reached 1.7 million; electric streetcars were replacing mule-drawn trams, and the Federal Electricity Company (IFE) — created only three years earlier — was bringing power to more and more homes.
Refrigerators, radios, washing machines, status symbols as much as conveniences, were finding their way into the country’s wealthiest households. Yet the medium that would transform Mexican culture was still a curiosity: television.
Entrepreneurs at radio giant XEW-AM were already leading broadcasters in Mexico, as the government envisioned a BBC-style channel run by the National Institute of Fine Arts, mixing culture with the occasional political message. Mexican engineers had been experimenting with television since 1928, and by 1931, they imported the first sets and cameras for the nation’s inaugural broadcast.
Among them was a teenage apprentice who would become a national icon: Guillermo González Camarena.
The boy genius
Born in 1917 to a middle-class family, Camarena displayed an irrepressible curiosity from childhood. By eight, he was dismantling and improving any electrical gadget he could get his hands on. At seventeen, combing through the markets of Tepito and La Lagunilla for discarded components, he built an entirely electronic television camera from scratch. He also began producing experimental programming, broadcasting to an almost non-existent audience.
Made in Mexico: Color T.V.
His work caught the attention of then-President Lázaro Cárdenas, who in 1935 granted him access to government radio studios to further his research. Television at the time was a luxury, its sets bulky and expensive. But Camarena’s ambitions reached beyond wider access. He wanted to add something the world’s television pioneers had not yet perfected: color.
Bringing color to a black and white world
In the 1930s, moviegoers had already marveled at Technicolor films, so the idea of color television was not science fiction — it was an inevitability. What was missing was the technology to make it affordable and compatible with existing systems.
In 1939, Camarena invented it: the “Trichromatic Sequential Field System” (STSC). Using synchronized spinning discs in both cameras and TV sets, his method captured and displayed red, green, and blue fields in quick succession. The eye blended these fields into full-color images — vivid and sharp — without changing the existing broadcasting infrastructure.
It was brilliant in its simplicity, and revolutionary in its implications. In 1940, he patented the system in Mexico; two years later, in the United States. He was just 23 years old, holding the world’s first patent for a color television system, having beaten Hungarian-American rival Peter Goldmark to the patent office by 19 days.
American companies tried to buy the invention, but Camarena refused. He wanted Mexico to be a technology exporter, not merely a consumer.
The color television wars
An early color TV set. (Techpicko)
In 1950, CBS in the United States adopted Camarena’s system for its color broadcasts. But RCA — having sold more than ten million black-and-white sets incompatible with the technology — fought back. Legal and market pressures kept the system from taking root in the U.S., but in Mexico, Camarena thrived.
By 1946, he was transmitting experimental broadcasts from his home. Knowing few could afford a set, he installed closed-circuit televisions in department stores so customers could see themselves on screen — a clever preview of what was to come.
Building a television industry
On August 31, 1950, Camarena and media magnate Rómulo O’Farrill launched Channel 4. Its first broadcast was dedicated to President Miguel Alemán’s State of the Union address, followed by Mexico’s first televised newscast.
A year later, Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta received the concession for Channel 2, which would grow into Televisa, the country’s most influential network. These early broadcasts were still in black and white, however.
In 1950, Camarena began operation of Channel 5, dedicated to educational and cultural programming. When Azcárraga acquired the channel in 1955, it pivoted to children’s content, reflecting Camarena’s lifelong belief that television should inspire young viewers into education and culture.
By 1960, he was celebrated as the father of Mexican television. But his true breakthrough came on February 8, 1963, when Channel 5 aired “Paraíso Infantil” (Children’s Paradise) in full color. Nearly 24 years after inventing the STSC, Camarena had made Mexico the fourth country in the world to broadcast regularly in color.
Camarena shows off one of his color cameras. (Blog.mx)
A life cut short
On April 18, 1965, Camarena died in a car accident while returning from inspecting a transmitter in Veracruz. He was 48. At the time of his death, he was still working on projects that would have shaped Mexico’s role in global broadcasting, including preparations for the 1968 Olympics.
His loss was felt not only in Mexico but across the international scientific community. Yet his influence was far from over.
The enduring color revolution
From the 1950s onward, television transformed Mexican life. It changed domestic architecture, redefined leisure, and created a shared visual culture.
His invention traveled far beyond Mexican living rooms. In the late 1970s, NASA adapted his STSC system for the Voyager missions, which returned humanity’s first color images of Jupiter. The same principle that lit up Mexican children’s shows in 1963 was sophisticated enough to capture the planet’s massive, swirling storms from millions of miles away.
A Digital Legacy
In a way, if you are reading this on a screen, watching Netflix tonight, or video-calling a loved one, you are benefiting from a chain of invention that began with a teenager rummaging through flea market stalls in 1930s Mexico City, searching for the parts to build something no one had imagined.
Camarena’s story is more than his technical achievements. It’s about the belief that innovation can — and should — emerge from anywhere. His refusal to sell out his invention to foreign corporations was not just patriotism; it was a declaration that Mexico could lead, not follow, in the technological future.
María Meléndez is a Mexico City food blogger and influencer.
All but one of the 26 prisoners transferred to the United States face sentences of up to life imprisonment if convicted, according to the Department of Justice of the United States. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Mexican and United States authorities announced on Tuesday that 26 organized crime figures had been sent to the U.S., marking the second large transfer of Mexican prisoners to the U.S. this year.
Federal Security Minister Omar García Harfuch announced on social media that Mexico’s Security Cabinet, in an act of “bilateral coordination” and “with full respect for our sovereignty, transferred to the United States 26 people linked to criminal organizations who represented a risk for the security of Mexico.”
“The action was carried out in strict adherence to the National Security Law and at the request of the U.S. Department of Justice, which committed to not seek the death penalty,” García Harfuch wrote.
The U.S. Justice Department said in a statement that it had taken into custody “26 fugitives from Mexico facing a range of federal and state criminal charges…, including charges relating to drug-trafficking, hostage-taking, kidnapping, illegal use of firearms, human smuggling, money laundering, the murder of a sheriffs’ deputy, and other crimes.”
It said that “leaders and managers of dangerous drug cartels,” including the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Northeast Cartel, are among the fugitives sent to the United States.
“These fugitives are collectively alleged to have imported into the United States tonnage quantities of dangerous drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin,” the Justice Department said.
Desde la “Base militar aérea No. 1”, 26 generadores de violencia fueron trasladados a Estados Unidos en un operativo conjunto del @GabSeguridadMX, con once aeronaves de la @Defensamx1 y una de la @SEMAR_mx. Conoce el mapa para saber en qué estados enfrentarán cargos: pic.twitter.com/b5CUimA81G
— Gabinete de Seguridad de México (@GabSeguridadMX) August 13, 2025
The transfer of the 26 people who were wanted in the U.S. came almost six months after Mexico sent 29 cartel figures, including notorious drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, to the United States.
President Claudia Sheinbaum and her government have come under intense pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration to do more to combat Mexican cartels and their illicit activities, including the trafficking of large quantities of drugs to the U.S.
The latest transfer of people came just a few days after it was revealed that Trump had signed a directive to the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American drug cartels that the U.S. government has designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
The New York Times reported that the transfer was an “apparent bid” by Mexico “to alleviate the intense pressure from President Trump to do more to combat the powerful groups smuggling fentanyl across the border.”
But Sheinbaum said on Wednesday morning that the decisions to send 26 prisoners to the United States this month and 29 in February were made “for the security of our country.”
“They are sovereign decisions,” she said.
Sheinbaum has repeatedly said that Mexico is willing to cooperate and collaborate with the United States on security issues, but will never accept subordination or any violation of its sovereignty. She said on Monday that Mexico “would never allow the United States Army or any other institution of the United States to set foot on Mexican territory.”
Mexico’s president said on Wednesday morning that the decisions to send 26 prisoners to the United States this month and 29 in February were made “for the security of our country.” (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
García Harfuch told a press conference on Wednesday that there was a risk that some of the prisoners sent to the United States could have been released from — or escaped from — jail.
“Many of them had obtained injunctions to remain in low-security prisons, and it was even anticipated that others currently held in federal penitentiaries would receive similar rulings that would facilitate their transfer to less-guarded state prisons, increasing the risk of continuing their criminal operations or even the risk of escape,” he said.
“There were also lawsuits and legal appeals seeking their early release, which, if achieved, would have meant a setback in the fight against crime and an affront to the victims.”
The most prominent name on the list is that of Abigael González Valencia, who had been considered the top leader of Los Cuinis, a crime organization affiliated with the CJNG.
González, known as “El Cuini,” is the brother-in-law of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the CJNG. González was arrested in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, in 2015.
The DOJ said that Los Cuinis is “a major Mexican drug cartel responsible for trafficking multiple tons of cocaine from South America, through Mexico, into the United States.”
Several of the 26 prisoners sent by Mexico to the United States ran the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of six cartels designated by the United States as foreign terrorist organizations earlier this year. (Cuartoscuro)
In 2025, González’s brother, José González Valencia was sentenced to 30 years in prison in the United States “for his role in a major drug trafficking conspiracy,” according to the DOJ.
In addition to “El Cuini” González, the DOJ provided brief profiles of eight other prisoners who were transferred to the United States. Those people are:
Kevin Gil Acosta and Martín Zazueta Pérez, identified in court documents as “leaders of the security apparatus for the Chapitos,” a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel led by sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. “Both men have led sicarios armed with military-style weapons … in attacks on Mexican government and military officials,” the DOJ said.
Abdul Karim Conteh, a national of Sierra Leone, who the DOJ said “allegedly led a human smuggling organization that smuggled thousands of migrants to the United States through Mexico.”
Leobardo García Corrales, who the DOJ said “is believed to be an important figure in the Sinaloa Cartel who has trafficked kilogram quantities of fentanyl into the United States.”
Luis Raúl Castro Valenzuela, “a member of the Sinaloa Cartel, has been charged with kidnapping and holding hostage a U.S. citizen.”
Juan Carlos Felix Gastelum, “a major Sinaloa Cartel cell leader and son-in-law to former Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada.” The DOJ said he is “alleged to be a principal operator of the Sinaloa Cartel’s clandestine methamphetamine manufacturing laboratories located in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Sinaloa and Durango.”
Roberto Salazar, a man the DOJ said is “wanted in connection with the murder of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Juan Escalante, who was killed in 2008 when he was leaving his home during the early morning hours.”
Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuno, who the DOJ said is “a violent Tijuana Plaza boss who has operated with impunity during the last 15 years” and is “alleged to have supplied thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to distributors and cells located throughout San Diego and Los Angeles.”
All but one of the 26 prisoners transferred to the United States face sentences of up to life imprisonment if convicted, according to the DOJ. The men face charges in a number of U.S. states, including California, Texas, New York, New Mexico, Virginia, Illinois, Arizona and Alaska.
The 26 men had been held in various prisons in Mexico before they were flown to the United States.
US Embassy commends ‘significant milestone’ in US-Mexico law enforcement collaboration
The United States Embassy in Mexico expressed its satisfaction with the decision to transfer the 26 organized crime figures to the U.S.
“We commend the Government of Mexico for its continued and courageous cooperation in transferring 26 additional high-profile fugitives to the United States,” the embassy said in a statement.
Reconocemos al @GabSeguridadMX por su dedicación y compromiso. Esta acción refleja la solidez de nuestra cooperación bilateral como aliados soberanos y nuestro compromiso compartido de garantizar la seguridad y el bienestar de nuestros pueblos. https://t.co/XbuqLNtmNK
“Building on the unprecedented action earlier this year involving 29 fugitives, this coordinated effort represents another significant milestone in U.S.-Mexico law enforcement collaboration and in the partnership between Presidents Trump and Sheinbaum,” it said.
United States Ambassador to Mexico Ron Johnson said that the transfer of the prisoners is “yet another example of what is possible when two governments stand united against violence and impunity.”
“These fugitives will now face justice in U.S. courts, and the citizens of both of our nations will be safer from these common enemies,” he said.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said that the transfer of the prisoners “is the latest example of the Trump administration’s historic efforts to dismantle cartels and foreign terrorist organizations.”
“These 26 men have all played a role in bringing violence and drugs to American shores. Under this Department of Justice, they will face severe consequences for their crimes against this country. We are grateful to Mexico’s national security team for their collaboration in this matter,” Bondi said.
Drug Enforcement Administration chief Terry Cole said that the transfer of the 26 prisoners is “a significant step in DEA’s ongoing effort to dismantle cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations.”
The United States designated the Sinaloa Cartel, the CJNG, the United Cartels, the Northeast Cartel, the Gulf Cartel and La Nueva Familia Michoacana as foreign terrorist organizations in February.
The honey will be collected primarily from small Yucatecan beekeepers, who face challenges due to low international prices and environmental problems. (Martín Zetina/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico’s nascent “Food for Well-Being” program, which supports the domestic production of native crops like coffee, chocolate and beans, has announced the addition of a new product to its inventory: Wellness Honey.
The Wellness Honey joins the Wellness Chocolate in an effort to prop up local producers and offer affordable, high-quality food to consumers.
During the product’s launch in Chocholá, Yucatán in April, President Claudia Sheinbaum explained that the Food for Well-Being program seeks to promote fair trade, directly benefiting farmers and avoiding intermediaries who reduce their profits. While the Wellness Chocolate supports producers in the southern states of Chiapas and Tabasco, the Wellness Honey will support producers in Yucatán.
According to Yucatán Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena, the state is the largest honey producer in the country and one of the largest exporters worldwide, with some 11,000 families depending on this industry. Official numbers estimate that Yucatán produces around 8,000 tonnes of honey per year.
“We are going to support all honey producers in Yucatán. Their honey will be purchased at a fair price, and from there we will deliver it to all Wellness Stores throughout the country,” Sheinbaum said.
With over 24,000 branches across Mexico, government Wellness Stores have replaced the previous Diconsa and Liconsa stores, which provide basic food basket items at affordable prices for Mexico’s lower class, mainly in rural and marginalized areas.
Wellbeing Honey is now in stores, three months after President Claudia launched the product in April. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
In addition to chocolate and now honey, products found in the Wellness Stores include coffee from Puebla and beans from Zacatecas, Durango and Nayarit. The honey will be collected primarily from small Yucatecan beekeepers, who face challenges due to low international prices and environmental problems.
According to Iván Rico López, Director General of Interinstitutional Liaison of the Ministry of Well-Being, in the initial phase, 30 tonnes of honey were collected in Chocholá for 70 pesos [US $3.78] per kilo.
Meanwhile, the head of the Yucatán Ministry of Rural Development (Seder), Edgardo Medina Rodríguez, explained that the Wellness Honey program includes building a modern honey processing plant in Valladolid sometime this year, to begin operations in 2026.
With an investment of 60 million pesos (US $3.24 million), the plant is expected to benefit 300 honey producers across 12 municipalities in the state. The move seeks to add value to the product, facilitate its marketing and generate new opportunities for local beekeepers. Furthermore, the plant will open job positions to young apicultures in the region to boost local talent.
Regional infrastructure upgrades dominate our local news roundup this week, but there's news about protecting Vallarta's LGBTQ+ population as well. (Manuel Marin/Unsplash)
Puerto Vallarta is in the midst of a major infrastructure push. New projects are aimed at boosting connectivity, accessibility and quality of life across the region. From the new Amado Nervo Bridge linking Jalisco and Nayarit, to the free shuttle bus system in Marina Vallarta, to the long-awaited El Jorullo access road, these initiatives are transforming how residents and visitors move through the city and surrounding areas.
Puerto Vallarta approves its first municipal plan with actions for sexual and gender diversity
The Puerto Vallarta City Council has officially approved the Municipal Development and Governance Plan 2024-2027. This comprehensive roadmap is being hailed as a historic step toward a more inclusive, transparent and participatory government. For the first time in the city’s history, the plan includes explicit actions in favor of the LGBTQ+ community, aimed at guaranteeing rights and preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation, identity and gender expression.
The Puerto Vallarta City Council has guaranteed the rights of its LGBTQ+ community for the first time in its history. (Unsplash / Alonso Reyes)
Presented by Municipal President Luis Ernesto Munguía González and approved with 15 votes in favor, the plan will guide all public policy and resource allocation for the next three years, according to Vallarta Opina Oficial. It was shaped by thousands of voices across the municipality, from Tebelchia to Boca de Tomatlán, through assessments, surveys, neighborhood meetings, specialized forums and input from citizens, businesses and academic leaders.
Built on six strategic pillars, the plan addresses smart governance, community participation, sustainability, economic development, equality and public safety, reports Banderas News. Contributions from the Vallarta Diversity Network were incorporated into Axis 1 (Intelligent Port) and Axis 3 (Equality Port), including the creation of a Municipal Human Rights Program (Action 1.6.1) and measures to foster inclusion and prevent discrimination (Action 3.1.7).
Once published in the Municipal Gazette, the plan will be available online for public review.
New El Jorullo Road connects the mountain community to Puerto Vallarta
After decades of isolation, the mountain ejido of El Jorullo now has a reliable connection to Puerto Vallarta’s municipal road network with the inauguration of a new 4-kilometer access road.
According to Puerto Vallarta Daily News, the project, completed in just six months, replaces a rough and often impassable path with a mix of traditional cobblestone paving with cement treads and grooved concrete, designed to withstand the region’s intense rainy seasons. The improved route will ensure year-round access for residents, agricultural products and emergency services.
Founded in 1940, El Jorullo has long been a small agricultural settlement in the Sierra Madre foothills, known for its surrounding canyons, waterfalls and adventure attractions like its canopy and suspension bridge. The new road is expected to open the door for sustainable, low-impact tourism while improving safety, health care access and educational opportunities for residents.
A new road will connect Puerto Vallarta with the mountain community of El Jorullo. (Unsplash / Ondrej Bocek)
Mayor Luis Munguía led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, joined by neighbors, local authorities and ejidatarios. Community leader Miguel Pulido praised the government for delivering on its promise to serve not just the city center but also rural areas.
Officials say the road is a model for future infrastructure projects — one that unites communities, strengthens the local economy and preserves the region’s natural beauty.
Free shuttle bus service returns to Marina Vallarta
Marina Vallarta has reinstated its free urban bus service, becoming the only neighborhood in Puerto Vallarta to offer residents, workers and visitors a no-cost transportation option. The initiative aims to improve mobility, reduce traffic congestion and provide a practical, eco-friendly alternative to private vehicles.
The service is the result of a collaboration between the Marina Vallarta Residents Association and UNIBUS PV, according to Contralinea, following months of planning to reestablish internal transit along the neighborhood’s main thoroughfares. The route begins at 6:30 a.m. on Paseo de la Marina Avenue in front of Plaza Neptuno, looping along Paseo de la Marina Norte and Paseo de la Marina Sur in an 18-minute circuit. After a brief seven-minute wait, the bus departs again, offering 34 runs daily until shortly after 9 p.m.
The system eases commutes for local employees, and also benefits tourists visiting Marina Vallarta’s hotels, restaurants, shops and marina facilities.
Amado Nervo Bridge to link Puerto Vallarta and Bahía de Banderas by 2026
Construction has officially begun on the Amado Nervo Bridge, a 900-million-peso infrastructure project designed to improve mobility between Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit. Scheduled for completion in November 2026, the bridge will reduce travel time between the two tourist destinations by up to half an hour and will benefit more than 480,000 people, reports Noticias PV.
Inicia puente que une Nayarit y Jalisco, Puente vehicular Amado Nervo será gratuito
The project will also create approximately 2,700 direct and indirect jobs during its construction phase. Built from hydraulic concrete with a minimum lifespan of 30 years, the bridge will connect to a roadway in Puerto Vallarta that may be renamed “Amado Nervo Road” in honor of the Nayarit poet.
The design now includes a bicycle lane and pedestrian spaces, supporting the push for sustainable mobility.
“This bridge aligns with the work already being done on the Los Juntas road junction,” Major Luis Munguia noted during a press briefing. “We will have two ways to travel from one municipality and the other.”
Beyond easing vehicular congestion, the Amado Nervo Bridge aims to enhance economic and social integration across the interstate metropolitan area while promoting safer, more diverse transportation options for residents and visitors.
Meagan Drillinger is a New York native who has spent the past 15 years traveling around and writing about Mexico. While she’s on the road for assignments most of the time, Puerto Vallarta is her home base. Follow her travels on Instagram at @drillinjourneys or through her blog at drillinjourneys.com.
