Thursday, September 4, 2025

What’s news in Puerto Vallarta?

By
Meagan Drillinger
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A view from high up over a beach of Puerto Vallarta's coastline and the various hotels and other buildings that ring the coast.
A wide range of ongoing infrastructure and digital improvements aim to make Puerto Vallarta more widely accessible and more modern for tourists from younger demographics. (Miguel Naranjo/Unsplash)

Puerto Vallarta is undergoing a series of infrastructure upgrades aimed at improving mobility, connectivity and public safety for residents and visitors, with the latest news from the city all centered around these upgrades. In 2024, the state government allocated more than 178 million pesos for tourism-related public works, including expanded sidewalks, new bike lanes and road improvements. A new fleet of ecofriendly buses is scheduled to launch in the second half of 2025.

Major projects include the construction of the Las Juntas road node to ease traffic north of the airport and the expansion of Puerto Vallarta International Airport with a new terminal. Maritime infrastructure is also expanding with new docks and digital access is increasing through the Red Jalisco program. 

Jalisco's Governor Enrique Alfaro riding a bike on a new bike lane in Puerto Vallarta. He's in the lead wearing a white button down cotton shirt and black pants and white sneakers on a black mountain bike. Behind him at varying distances, are other bicyclists. In the background, a man in a dress shirt and black pants takes footage of him with a camera.
Gov. Enrique Alfaro, center, inaugurated Puerto Vallarta’s latest bike lanes — part of a new initiative to add more green mobility options in the city — in October. (Gov of Jalisco)

New bike lanes and ecofriendly buses

Puerto Vallarta is embracing a more sustainable future with major improvements to its urban mobility, including the introduction of new bike lanes and a fleet of ecofriendly buses in 2025. Following a $178-million-peso investment in 2024, Jalisco is looking to improve its infrastructure to positively impact tourism.

Among the notable enhancements is the comprehensive rehabilitation of the city’s entrance boulevard, which now includes wider sidewalks and bicycle lanes.

To complement these pedestrian-friendly improvements, Puerto Vallarta is also rolling out a fleet of air-conditioned, eco-friendly buses in the second half of 2025. The updated buses are designed to reduce emissions while providing a more comfortable ride. 

Las Juntas road node to transform traffic flow north of airport

A major infrastructure project is underway in Puerto Vallarta to improve traffic conditions and support the city’s growth. The Las Juntas road node, located north of the international airport, is poised to become a key piece of the city’s transportation puzzle.

Construction workers unrolling large tubes of cable in a long dirt area surrounded by palm trees in Puerto Vallarta
The Las Juntas road node will enhance access between Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and inland destinations like San Sebastián del Oeste and Mascota. (Yussara Canales/Instagram)

Once completed, the Las Juntas interchange will help alleviate congestion for up to 116,000 people per day. The project includes “urban rehabilitation, improvements to vehicular traffic, the addition of sidewalks and upgrades to lighting,” according to Luis Villaseñor, director of the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board.

The project is more than just a road upgrade. By improving access between Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and inland destinations like San Sebastián del Oeste and Mascota, Las Juntas will become a gateway for tourists and residents. The new infrastructure will also benefit residential neighborhoods like Fluvial, Ixtapa and 5 de Diciembre.

Terminal 2 at PVR to enhance international air connectivity by 2026

Puerto Vallarta’s Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport is undergoing a significant transformation with the construction of Terminal 2, a major expansion expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The new terminal is designed to accommodate more international flights and enhance the overall passenger experience. With travelers now arriving from North America, Europe and South America, enhanced air access is key to supporting both tourism and business growth.

The airport project is part of a broader push to modernize Puerto Vallarta’s tourism infrastructure. As the city attracts new demographics, including digital nomads, Gen Z entrepreneur and luxury travelers, upgrading facilities is a necessary move. 

New docks in Mismaloya and El Centro boost bay connectivity

Maritime connectivity is getting a major upgrade in Puerto Vallarta with the construction of new docks in Mismaloya and El Centro, part of a broader plan to improve transportation around the Bay of Banderas. These additions will link key points of interest and make travel between coastal destinations more efficient.

Mismaloya is getting a brand new dock. (Viajes Boreales)

“A strong push will be given to maritime connectivity with the construction of new docks in Mismaloya and the Las Peñas dock in El Centro being carried out,” said Villasenor.

The goal is to enable efficient transportation of people and cargo by sea by connecting these new structures with existing docks in Los Metros, Boca de Tomatlan, Quimixto and Yelapa, he said.

This maritime network hopes to alleviate road traffic, as well as offer tourists a new way to explore Puerto Vallarta’s coastline and beach villages.

Digital access and safety get a boost with free wi-fi and emergency response system

Puerto Vallarta is investing not only in physical infrastructure but also in digital connectivity and public safety. The Red Jalisco Network will add more than 300 free Wi-Fi connection points across the city, which will improve digital access for both residents and visitors. The initiative includes complimentary internet in schools, plazas, public buildings and major tourist zones like the Malecon. 

In tandem with improved digital access, the city has also rolled out a Street Emergency Button System at 120 strategic locations. These rapid-response devices are part of a public safety program designed to offer reassurance in the busier urban zones. 

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.

Survey: Half of Mexicans unaware that judicial elections are this Sunday

By
MND Staff
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Mexican man putting a ballot into a voting box at a polling station
With hundreds of obscure candidates to choose from, voting knowledgeably in Sunday's elections requires a significant effort on the part of voters. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)

The polling company Buendía & Márquez interviewed 1,000 Mexicans about Mexico’s first-ever judicial elections, which will be held this Sunday June 1.

Here are four takeaways from the survey, conducted between May 15 and 20 for the El Universal newspaper.

Only 50% of Mexicans know the elections are taking place this Sunday

Only half of the 1,000 people surveyed knew that the elections will take place in June.

An additional 2% of those polled said they knew the elections would be held this year, but they didn’t know when.

Around four in ten of those polled (42%) didn’t know when the elections would take place. The remaining 6% cited a date other than this year.

A lack of promotion of the judicial elections and a lack of interest in them are among the possible reasons why awareness of the date they will take place is low.

Budget cuts at Mexico’s National Electoral Institute (INE) meant less funds available to promote participation in the election. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

A poll conducted by Buendía & Márquez around the same time last year found that 78% of Mexicans knew that the presidential election (won by Claudia Sheinbaum) would take place in June 2024.

President Sheinbaum argues that a renewal of Mexico’s judiciary via elections is necessary to rid the nation’s courts of ills such as corruption and nepotism. She has been urging citizens to get out and vote this Sunday, and is predicting a solid turnout.

Fewer than 4 in 10 Mexicans are certain they will vote 

Only 37% of those polled said they were sure they will vote in the judicial elections, at which Mexicans will elect almost 900 federal judges, including nine Supreme Court justices.

An additional 24% said it was “probable” they would vote on Sunday.

Almost two in 10 people (18%) said they didn’t yet know whether they would vote or not, while 10% of respondents said it was unlikely they would vote.

An additional 10% of respondents said they were certain they wouldn’t vote.

An electoral example ballot for the Mexican Supreme Court
More than 3,000 candidates seek to be elected to judgeships on June 1, including 64 candidates to the Supreme Court. (@caguirrearias/X)

El Universal noted that poll respondents tend to “overestimate” their own turnout at elections.

Among people who identified themselves as supporters of the ruling Morena party, 47% of respondents said they were certain they would vote. Only 31% of opposition party supporters said they were sure they would vote.

A higher turnout of Morena supporters (a majority of Mexicans, according to polls) would likely assist candidates seen as close to the ruling party, such as Supreme Court justices Lenia Batres Guadarrama and Bertha María Alcalde Luján, who are aiming to remain in their positions after the elections. Both women became Supreme Court justices during former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s six-year term.

A quarter of Mexicans have no interest in the judicial elections 

One-quarter of those polled said they have no interest at all in the judicial elections, which are taking place as a result of the Mexican Congress’ approval last year of a controversial judicial reform put forward by López Obrador.

A similar percentage of respondents (23%) said they are only a little bit, or mildly, interested in the elections.

Just one in five respondents (21%) said they are very interested in the elections, while 29% said they are somewhat interested.

Most Mexicans disagree with ex-president’s claim that Mexico could become a tyranny  

Only 29% of respondents said they had heard former president Ernesto Zedillo’s criticism of the 2024 judicial reform and the upcoming judicial elections.

As Mexico News Daily reported earlier this month, the ex-president wrote in an article for the magazine Letras Libres that “no truly democratic country elects its judges this way.”

A portrait of Ernesto Zedillo
Most Mexicans disagreed with former President Ernesto Zedillo’s warnings of impending tyranny. (Andrea Murcia Monsivais/Cuartoscuro)

“That’s something dictators only invent to control the judiciary,” Zedillo stated, adding that Morena is seeking to impose a “regime” to make “arbitrary and abusive” decisions according to its own political interests.

Buendía & Márquez asked the poll respondents to offer an opinion on Zedillo’s claim that “Mexico could cease being a democracy and become a tyranny.”

Six in 10 respondents said they disagreed with the assertion. Within that cohort, 37% said they very much disagreed with the claim while 23% said they somewhat disagreed with it.

Only 7% of those polled said they very much agreed with Zedillo’s assertion, while 20% said they “somewhat” agreed with it.

Among opposition party supporters, 47% said they very much or somewhat agreed with the former president’s statement, but a slightly higher percentage (49%) said they disagreed with it.

With reports from El Universal

Mexican auto exports adjust to a new trade landscape: Tuesday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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President Sheinbaum at her press conference podium
Sheinbaum and cabinet members addressed Mexican exports, Gaza and childhood obesity at Tuesday's presidential press conference. (Hazel Cárdenas/Presidencia)

President Claudia Sheinbaum discussed the latest data on Mexican auto exports and the situation in Gaza at her Tuesday morning press conference.

Health Minister David Kershenobich Stalnikowitz spoke about childhood obesity and diabetes, but failed to present his information as clearly as he would have liked.

Here is a recap of Sheinbaum’s May 27 mañanera.

Sheinbaum responds to data showing decline in auto exports in April

A reporter brought up the latest trade data published by national statistics agency INEGI, which showed that the value of Mexican exports increased 5.8% annually in April to US $54.29 billion, but auto sector export revenue fell 7.1% to $15.3 billion.

Sheinbaum said that due to United States’ tariffs and tariff threats, “a lot of companies, including automotive ones, decided to export more in March than they normally export [that month]” and as a result auto sector exports declined in April.

In March, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff “on all cars that are not made in the United States,” although U.S. content in vehicles assembled in Mexico is exempt from the duty, reducing the effective tariff to 15% on average, according to Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard. The U.S. tariff on foreign cars took effect on April 3.

A line of Audi cars at a Mexican auto manufacturing plant
The threat of Trump tariffs caused an unusual bump in auto exports in March before import duties were instituted, Sheinbaum said. (Audi México)

Mexican auto parts that comply with USMCA rules are exempt from the 25% U.S. tariff on parts that took effect earlier this month.

Sheinbaum told reporters that companies that operate in Mexico “took advantage” of pauses on (fentanyl-related) tariffs that Mexico achieved thanks to agreements she struck with Trump in February and March.

They used this period to export more goods, she said.

For that reason, exports of vehicles increased in February and March, Sheinbaum said, adding that “we believe” the reduction in auto sector exports in April “has to do with that.”

“Speaking with the automakers, that’s essentially what they’re telling us,” she said.

“… The important thing … is that beyond the automotive sector a lot of other manufacturing companies increased exports to the United States and other countries [in April],” Sheinbaum said.

Sheinbaum condemns situation in Gaza 

A reporter put it to the president that “we’re watching in real time a genocide that Israel is committing in the Gaza Strip.”

Nancy Flores, an investigative journalist with Contralínea, cited reports on “the murder of babies, boys, girls, women and the elderly” and asked Sheinbaum whether she was considering breaking off diplomatic relations with Israel as to do so “could be a way to show that we’re against this cruel, inhumane genocide.”

A close-up portrait of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum
Sheinbaum has previously voiced her support for a two-state solution. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)

“First of all we condemn this situation,” said Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president and also the country’s first president with a Jewish background.

“Secondly, what we’re seeking is peace and that is the foreign policy of our country,” she said.

Sheinbaum said that Foreign Affairs Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente is actively engaged in “looking for all means” through which peace can be reached in Gaza.

“That is the foreign policy of Mexico and the one we’re following every day,” she said.

Sheinbaum, a supporter of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, didn’t directly respond to the question about whether her government would consider ending diplomatic relations with Israel.

In March, the president officially recognized Nadya Rasheed as the Palestinian Ambassador to Mexico when the ambassador presented her letter of credence at the National Palace.

Sheinbaum welcomes Palestinian Ambassador Nadya Rasheed

On Oct. 11, just 10 days after she was sworn in as president, Sheinbaum remarked:

“We condemn the aggression being endured by the Palestinian people, and we firmly believe that Palestine, like Israel, must be recognized in its full sovereignty. This has been Mexico’s longstanding position, and it remains unchanged.”

Health minister presents alarming — but inaccurate — data on childhood obesity and diabetes 

Health Minister David Kershenobich Stalnikowitz told reporters that among children who have undertaken health checks in schools 39% suffer from obesity and 38% have diabetes.

He didn’t say how many children have undertaken health checks in schools, in which junk food can no longer be sold due to a ban that took effect earlier this year.

Kershenobich’s remarks were reported by numerous Mexican media outlets in articles with headlines such as “Health Ministry: Almost 40% of girls and boys in Mexico have diabetes or obesity.”

Later on Tuesday morning, the federal Health Ministry issued a correction.

Health Minister David Kershenobich Stalnikowitz flub spurred alarm over the state of children’s health — until the Health Ministry issued a correction. (Hazel Cárdenas/Presidencia)

“The health minister clarifies that the correct data indicates that 39% of children assessed in public schools are overweight and obese,” said the Health Ministry statement.

In other words, 39% of assessed children are either overweight or obese.

Kershenobich also clarified that 38% of the assessed children have “visual weakness,” but don’t necessarily have diabetes.

In the statement, he offered an apology for the “confusion” his remarks “may have created.”

The 82-year-old health minister (born on the same day in 1942 as former U.S. president Joe Biden) also spoke about the negative impact excessive consumption of sugar can have on children’s health.

His presentation at Sheinbaum’s press conference came after the president said that some children have asked her why candy and other sweet things have disappeared from schools.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])

Health Ministry confirms 6 cases of human screwworm infestations in Chiapas and Campeche

By
MND Staff
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2
Close up of screwworm larvae.
The screwworm parasite can be fatal for livestock and cause serious infections in humans. (Animalia)

Mexico’s Health Ministry officially confirmed six cases of parasitic infestation caused by screwworm in southern Mexico. Five patients have been treated and released, while one remains hospitalized.

Five of the cases — which include myiasis (embedded larvae) in the heads of four patients — are located in the state of Chiapas; the sixth is in Campeche. 

Screwworm larvae can enter animals and humans through open wounds and feed on living tissue. The disease can be fatal for livestock, and while cases in humans are rare, they can be serious if left untreated.

More than 800 cases of screwworm have been detected in animals in southern and southeastern Mexico since November, prompting the U.S. Agriculture Department to suspend imports of livestock from Mexico on May 11.

The Health Ministry reported the first of these six cases in Chiapas in mid-April. A local doctor made the diagnosis in a 77-year-old woman and contacted the Health Ministry., An epidemiological alert was issued a week later.

Shortly after, similar symptoms were identified in a 50-year-old Chiapas man after he had been bitten by a dog. 

Just over a week ago, three more Chiapas residents were diagnosed with parasitic infections, including a 74-year-old man who remains hospitalized. At the same time, an 86-year-old Campeche resident was treated for screwworm infestation.

El Universal newspaper reported a possible seventh case of parasitic infection in Chiapas that had not been registered by the Health Ministry. 

Though the risk of human infection is low, myiasis is more likely in rural areas where people might come into contact with infected animals. Myiasis is not spread from human to human.

Public health officials urge rural residents to maintain personal and animal hygiene, avoid contact with animals with open wounds or signs of infection. If you suffer a wound or a cut, officials recommend treating it immediately to prevent the Cochliomyia hominivorax, or screwworm, fly from laying its eggs.

President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday that the U.S. and Mexico are continuing their joint efforts to eradicate screwworm infestations, an agreement that was announced in April.

A day earlier, Sheinbaum said Mexico’s Agriculture Minister Julio Berdegué is engaged in “permanent talks” with United States officials in hopes of convincing the U.S. to reopen its southern border to Mexican livestock.

The screwworm infestation and the suspension of imports have been a disaster for Mexico’s livestock industry. Exports from January through April this year are down 60% compared to the same period last year, La Jornada reported.

While the border was open during the first quarter of the year, Mexico exported 202,000 head of cattle, whereas Mexico had shipped 504,000 head across the border during Q1 2024.

With reports from El Universal, El País and La Jornada

Regional Mexican music takes over NPR’s Tiny Desk

By
MND Staff
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Latin Grammy winners Carín León (pictured) and Grupo Frontera both recently took the "stage" at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C. (NPR)

Regional Mexican music’s global resurgence took center stage when stars Carín León and Grupo Frontera delivered standout performances on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series in recent weeks, highlighting the genre’s emotional depth and cross-cultural appeal.

León, backed by a 16-piece band, performed May 16 in the NPR Music office in Washington, D.C. — severely testing the cramped spaces of the celebrated venue. A video of the performance on YouTube has garnered 3.8 million views in under two weeks.

Carín León: Tiny Desk Concert

Grupo Frontera, a Texas-formed band deeply rooted in Mexican genres and cumbia, performed there April 24. A video of that session has over 2 million views.

Both artists were winners at the 2024 Latin Grammy Awards six months ago.

The singer-songwriter León — who hails from Hermosillo, Sonora — won for best contemporary Mexican music album (“Boca Chueca, Vol. 1”).

Grupo Frontera — whose members have roots tracing back to Mexican states like Tamaulipas and Nuevo León — won for best regional Mexican song (“El Amor de Su Vida”) and best norteño album (“El Comienzo”).

Grupo Frontera: Tiny Desk Concert

Like all Tiny Desk concerts, both performances took place behind a real working desk — originally that of now-retired NPR music host Bob Boilen — surrounded by shelves cluttered with books, memorabilia and office supplies.

The intimate, authentic series has become a viral gateway for artists like T-Pain and Dua Lipa, with 138 million views for Lipa’s 2020 session — although hers was recorded in a London studio as a “home concert,” a Tiny Desk format adopted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For Mexican acts such as the soul-stirring Natalie Lafourcade — whose 2017 Tiny Desk Concert is the 13th most-watched of all-time, with 35 million views — and the poetic Silvana Estrada —  whose 2021 Tiny Desk (Home) Concert was performed in her childhood home in Coatepec, Veracruz — it’s a platform to transcend stereotypes.

“We’re in a moment where you can be who you are, without U.S. labels dictating terms,” said NPR producer Anamaría Sayre, who champions Latin music.

Blending norteño, banda and pop influences, León played a 15-minute set that included “Ese Vato No Te Queda,” “Lado Frágil” and the then-unreleased ballad “Por La Suave” from his new album, Palabra De To’s (Seca).

“Thank you for having us here. Que viva la música mexicana,” León told the audience, which usually totals about 20 to 30 NPR staffers and guests. “Representing Mexico with our sound is a pride beyond words.”

A portrait of Mexican singer Natalia Lafourcade
Mexican singer-songwriter Natalia Lafourcade gave one of Tiny Desk’s all-time most-watched concerts in 2017. (Sony Music)

The performance featured charchetas (brass alto horns that are staples in Mexican music) and a tololoche (a traditional Mexican four-stringed instrument, similar to a small upright bass), plus other instruments emblematic of regional Mexican music’s rich sound.

Three weeks earlier, Grupo Frontera’s seven musicians (two more than usual), one lead singer and three specially added female backup singers brought the band’s “cumbia norteña” fusion to the space.

Playing a month after joining Shakira on-stage in Mexico City, Grupo Frontera performed a 20-minute set that included hits like “Un x100to” and “El Amor de Su Vida” reworked with R&B and reggae twists.

“We rehearsed for days to perfect this acoustic set,” the band noted. Many Tiny Desk invitees opt to play acoustically to match the setting. “The intimate atmosphere made us nervous, but it was truly beautiful.”

The performances also countered criticism of regional Mexican music’s ties to narcocorridos, banned in parts of Mexico for glorifying drug cartels.

“This is about heartbreak, love and pride — not controversy,” NPR’s Sayre emphasized.

Grupo Frontera’s session faced added scrutiny due to what has been perceived as past praise for U.S. President Donald Trump. Their Tiny Desk show was decorated with a Mexican flag and sombreros.

With reports from El País, Billboard and Marca

Teachers in Mexico just got a raise. Why are they protesting?

By
MND Staff
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Protestors with the CNTE teachers' union march in CDMX.
Teachers and allies marched through the capital of Oaxaca on Friday, in support of the striking CNTE teachers. (Carolina Jiménez/Cuartoscuro)

The National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE), one of Mexico’s most powerful teachers’ unions, has maintained a series of protests in Mexico City since May 15 as part of a national strike to demand changes in working and educational conditions. 

Demonstrations have included toll booth takeovers, embassy protests, sit-ins at the capital’s Zócalo, blockades at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) and main roads such as Chapultepec, Cuauhtémoc, Paseo de la Reforma and Blvd. Adolfo López Mateos, significantly affecting traffic and daily life in the capital.

CNTE union protestors block entrance to Benito Juarez terminal 2.
Travelers faced delays and long lines at Mexico City International Airport on May 23, as CNTE teachers’ protests blocked access and disrupted flights. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

The CNTE protests have also resulted in school closures, affecting some 1.2 million children who are unable to attend classes. The Education Ministry (SEP) reported that most of the affected schools are located in the southern states of Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Guerrero. 

What are the teachers’ demands?

The teacher’s main demand is the repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE Law, approved during President Felipe Calderón’s term, which President Claudia Sheinbaum promised to repeal during her campaign. 

CNTE members say the law affects their pension system by requiring pensions to be based on individual savings funds. The amount is calculated using the current UMA (Unit of Measurement and Update), instead of the minimum wage, as the teachers demand. 

CNTE members also accuse the government of benefiting private pension fund administrators (Afores), pointing out that their operation is backed by international commitments such as the USMCA. Teachers say the current model indebts the state and chains workers’ resources to financial markets and large corporations.

Protesters have camped out in the Mexico City Zócalo for more than a week, seeking to pressure the government to improve salaries and retirement benefits for teachers. (Victoria Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)

Teachers are additionally advocating for a retirement system based on years of service, not age. They demand that women be able to retire after 28 years of service and men after 30 years, as was the case before the 2007 ISSSTE Law. The current law sets the minimum retirement age at 56 for women and 58 for men, regardless of years worked, which CNTE considers unfair.

They also demand that salaries be doubled for teachers across the country.

What has the government offered?

On May 15, Teacher’s Day, Claudia Sheinbaum announced an initial  9% salary increase retroactive to January, with an additional 1% increase starting in September, as well as an extra week of leave for teaching staff.

Sheinbaum also issued a decree forgiving debts, reducing loan amounts and freezing interest on Fovissste (publicly subsidized) loans, benefiting over 24,000 teachers. The move will cost the government more than 19 billion pesos (US $989 million).

Sheimbaum also issued a decree freezing the minimum retirement age, but did not modify the age criteria as requested by teachers.

What is the status of the negotiations?

CNTE has rejected Sheinbaum’s proposals, saying they do not address the teachers’ core demands. 

“This does not address the demand for the repeal and creation of a new ISSSTE Law, which would return us to a solidarity-based pension system,” CNTE members told newspaper La Jornada. “As for more leave time, we’ve never demanded that. No, what we’re asking for is the repeal of these two central reforms that undermine workers’ rights.”

So far, CNTE representatives have met with high-ranking Mexican officials but not with Sheinbaum herself. She has refused to meet with them, claiming they broke off dialogue by attacking a cameraman on May 21, as they blocked the entrance to her morning news conference.

The teachers have threatened to continue protesting through June 1, the day of Mexico’s first judicial election, unless they receive a “concrete response” from the government.

“Of course, we don’t want to wait until June 1st. If they gave us a concrete answer today or tomorrow, then we wouldn’t be crazy enough to continue suffering what we’re going through,” said Pedro Hernández, of Section 9 of the CNTE, at a press conference outside the National Electoral Institute. 

With reports from Animal Político, El País, Crónica, El Economista, Infobae and EFE

Kia Mexico to expand Nuevo León operations

By
MND Staff
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Kia factory in Nuevo León.
Kia Mexico production remains a cornerstone of the company’s North American strategy.(Secretaría de Economía de Nuevo León/X)

South Korean automaker Kia says it will not be deterred by U.S. import tariffs and will maintain its production operations in Mexico.

Horacio Chávez, managing director of Kia México, said the company plans to produce 280,000 of its popular K3 and K4 models at its plant in the state of Nuevo León, while also investing in its training facility.

The K4, which is exported from Mexico to 66 countries, including Canada and the U.S., is produced exclusively at Kia’s plant in Pesquería, Nuevo León.. The company invested US $150 million in the plant last year to expand K4 production, which came on the market in March 2024.

“The K4 will comprise 60% of this year’s production,” Chávez said, adding that the company plans to broaden K4 exports but will continue to export to the U.S.

“Despite the trade tensions caused by the U.S. president, Kia will maintain its operations in Mexico,” Chávez told Milenio newspaper. “We recognize that [the Mexican government] is doing everything it can and, it seems to me, is doing it well.”

Chávez acknowledged that it is difficult to project how long the trade uncertainty will last. He admitted that “this could generate certain circumstances, but for the moment there are no changes [in our plans].

According to El Universal newspaper, Kia is paying part of the tariff levied on U.S. imports, but declined to say how much. Chávez said the automaker is analyzing how to increase North American content in its vehicles to reduce tariff impact.

To illustrate this commitment, Chávez said Kia will be expanding its training center “to increase its capacity by 400%.” Kia and its dealers will also spend US $15 million this year to remodel the company’s 100 Mexican dealerships.

Kia also has production facilities in Europe and India, so adjustments could be made if necessary. The North American market remains an important market for Kia, however, and since arriving in Mexico in 2016, the country has been a key part of its global strategy.

With reports from Milenio, El Universal and Telediario

What’s On in Los Cabos in June

By
Chris Sands
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Cook, two step or perhaps spot the gold stars of tomorrow in Los Cabos in June. (Acre)

June ushers in the start of fishing tournament season in Los Cabos, with the Triple Crown of Fishing sponsored by watersports apparel giant Pelagic being the first major event in 2025, where anglers compete to catch the biggest billfish and other sought-after species. However, that’s one of only several events in which fishing, or Los Cabos’ other major sport, golf, is featured.

Cooking Class at Acre

(Acre/Instagram)

Acre is one of the standouts of San José del Cabo’s acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant scene and received a coveted Green Star from the Michelin Guide for its superb, sustainable cuisine. Cooking classes here thus offer plenty of knowledge — participants learn how to make ceviche, cheese enmoladas, and a dessert dish from scratch — but are only part of the experience. Guests also receive a welcome cocktail and a tour of the farm.

Date: Weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: Acre Resort, C. Rincón de las Ánimas S/N, Ánimas Bajas

Cost: 2,100 pesos per person

Daline Jones and Diego Ramirez at Jazz on the Rocks

Here's To Life, performed live by Daline Jones, Diego Ramírez, Ivan Lee, Román Talavera

There is only one person in Los Cabos for whom the term chanteuse leaps to mind. That would be Daline Jones, the esteemed jazz vocalist who, along with long-time musical partner pianist Diego Ramirez, has been headlining local bars and clubs for two decades. The best place to see them live is at Jazz on the Rocks at Sunset Point, where they appear every Wednesday during dinner hours. 

Date: June 4, 11, 18, 25

Location: Jazz on the Rocks at Sunset Point, Carretera Transpeninsular Km. 6.5, Tourist Corridor

Cost: Restaurant purchases expected, with a US $12 cover to be seated in the picturesque Terrace Area

Ivan Guaderrama’s Interactive Living Art

(Visit Los Cabos)

Art Walk is the most important recurring weekly cultural to-do in Los Cabos, and acclaimed local artist Ivan Guaderrama’s interactive gallery space is among the best places to experience this beloved, long-running event. Art Walk is seasonal, beginning each year in November and ending the following June, meaning the final four weekly Art Walks of the 2024–2025 season happen on Thursdays this month. Times for interactive exhibitions at Guaderrama’s gallery are 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Dates: June 5, 12, 19, 26

Location: Gallery District in San José del Cabo

Cost: Free admission

Big Cabo Fest

(Big Cabo Fest)

Yes, country music in Cabo is a thing, and has been for decades. The 2025 Big Cabo Fest is proof, with Texas-style country music talent headlining four days of vacation fun at the RIU Palace Baja California. In addition to scheduled activities like the fishing rodeo, there’ll be live performances from singer-songwriters Roger Creager, Kevin Fowler, Jake Worthington, Django Walker, Matt Skinner, Wynn Williams, and more.

Dates: June 8 to 12

Location: Hotel RIU Palace Baja California, El Médano, Cabo San Lucas

Cost: Accommodation packages started at US $1,139 but are already sold out

World’s 50 Best Bartender Kevin Tocino at Viceroy Los Cabos

(Viceroy Los Cabos)

I love the bar at Viceroy Los Cabos, which I helped populate as an extra in the 2022 Alejandro Iñárritu film “Bardo, falsa crónica de unas cuantas verdades.” The beautifully designed outdoor watering hole remains spectacular under any circumstances, cinematic or otherwise. However, the cocktails will reach new heights when bartender Kevin Tocino from Aruba Day Drink Bar in Tijuana, ranked among The World’s 50 Best Bars, visits for a stint behind the bar in June.  

Dates: June 12 to 15

Location: Viceroy Los Cabos, Zona Hotelera, San José del Cabo

Cost: Open to guests of the resort, rates start at US $500 per night

FCG Cabo World Series Golf Championship at Palmilla Golf Club

Junior Golf Tournaments

The Future Champions Golf (FCG) series of Callaway-sponsored junior tournaments aims to produce the next generation of superstars. Four events will be held in Mexico this year, all providing qualifying spots to the 2025 World Junior Golf Championship. Last year, over 700 players from 36 countries competed in the series. Boys and girls ages 7 to 18 will play in age divisions on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course at Palmilla Golf Club, hoping to advance. 

Dates: June 13 to 15

Location: Palmilla Golf Club, Carretera Transpeninsular Km 27.5, Tourist Corridor

Cost: US $365 entry fee

Boots on the Beach

A group of men and women drinking alcohol in a pool
(Tixr)

More country music is on tap in June courtesy of live performances from Texas country music artist Casey Donahew and Friends. The headliner will perform hits like He Ain’t a Cowboy and Drove Me to the Whiskey in a beachfront setting at a luxury resort on the Pacific Coast of Cabo San Lucas, with surprise guests (aka the “friends”) also performing during the five-day event.

Dates: June 15 to 19

Location: Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Resort & Spa, Cabo San Lucas

Cost: Accommodation packages begin at US $3,699

Cabo Triple Crown of Fishing

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Fishing Tournaments
(Pelagic)

This event starts the fishing season in style with a non-traditional points system for billfish. Because all billfish are caught and released, those catches captured on video are assigned points relative to their value: black and blue marlin 300 points, striped marlin 100, and sailfish and spearfish 50. The other categories — tuna, dorado, and wahoo — are judged more traditionally. The biggest fish caught earn the biggest payouts.

Dates: June 19 to 22

Location: Boats leave from the Cabo San Lucas Marina

Cost: US $4,000 per team (6 anglers maximum); 93,000 all-in to include daily jackpots

Stars and Stripes Tournament

Single-day fishing and golf tournaments, plus nightly live performances, are why participants return to Los Cabos yearly. However, raising money for youth charities is the goal (over 60 million has been raised and donated since 1996). Michael Franti & Spearhead, Little Big Town, and OneRepublic are all scheduled to perform for the 2025 edition of the long-running event.

Dates: June 26 to 28

Location: Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort, Carretera Transpeninsular 19.5, Tourist Corridor

Cost: US $13,750 for two guests, with upgrades available

Gin Condesa Takes Over Baja Beach By Mako

A selection of cocktail accessories
(Solaz)

Gin Condesa-based signature cocktails inspired by the themes of shamanism and tarot are in the cards when the artisanal Mexico City gin brand “takes over” Baja Beach by Mako at Solaz Resort Los Cabos. Music will be provided courtesy of a guest DJ, and a special menu will be available. Reservations are required for resort guests.

Date: June 27

Location: Solaz Resort Los Cabos, Carretera Transpeninsular Km 18.5, Tourist Corridor

Cost: Rates at the resort typically begin at around US $500 per night

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

Five-member norteña band reported missing in Reynosa

By
MND Staff
-
0
A norteño band of musicians in cowboy hats and colorful shirts take a selfie together
The young musicians, who aspire to someday perform in Texas, disappeared after a Sunday night gig. (Grupo Fugitivo/Facebook)

The five members of the Reynosa-based norteña band Grupo Fugitivo have been reported as missing after their families lost contact with them on Sunday.

The young men reportedly disappeared after a performance in the Riberas de Rancho Grande neighborhood of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, on Sunday night.

Relatives of the musicians subsequently reported their disappearance to the Specialized Missing Persons Unit in the northern border city, according to media reports.

There is scant information about what happened to the members of Grupo Fugitivo, which, according to the band’s Facebook page, is available to play at events in Reynosa and surrounding areas.

The newspaper La Jornada reported that the men disappeared along with their SUV, instruments and audio equipment.

The Tamaulipas Attorney General’s Office issued boletines de busqeuda, or search bulletins, for the five men.

They are:

  • Francisco Xavier Vásquez Osorio, 20.
  • Nemesio Antonio Durán Rodríguez, 40.
  • Livan Edyberto Solís de la Rosa, 27.
  • Víctor Manuel Garza Cervantes, 21.
  • José Francisco Morales Martínez, 23.

Each of the search bulletins states that the missing person “may be a victim of a crime” given that his whereabouts is unknown.

The group “Desaparecidos in Tamaulipas Colectivo Amor” (Missing in Tamaulipas Love Collective) posted a photo to Facebook that showed Grupo Fugitivo’s black SUV towing an enclosed trailer, which the band presumably used to transport instruments and audio equipment.

The Facebook post also included photos of the missing men and a plea for any information about their disappearance to be shared in a private message.

On Sunday night, Grupo Fugitivo was active on social media, posting a video to Facebook from the pedestrian section of the McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge.

In addition, the group appeared close to the bridge in a post to Instagram on Sunday night.

“See you in a while McAllen Texas. Pure Fugitive, crossing borders. (Don’t believe it, it’s just a photo on the Mexican side, but we hope to one day expand into the United States),” said the caption to the post

The band’s Facebook page has a link to another Instagram page with the handle @grupo_fugitivooffical. The account has zero posts, just 42 followers and was only created this month, according to Instagram.

A social media story posted to that account on Monday night states “Por favor ayúdanos” (Please help us).

A second story states: “Ru[m]bo a Nuevo León por favor” (On the way to Nuevo León please).

Mexico News Daily could not verify that the account is actually controlled by Grupo Fugitivo, and it is possible, or even probable, that someone outside the band created it after news of the disappearance of the five year young men broke.

Tamaulipas is known as a violent state, although less than 1% of Mexico’s total homicides in the first four months of the year occurred in the northern border state. The state is home to the notorious Gulf Cartel.

The United States advises U.S. citizens to not to travel to Tamaulipas “due to crime and kidnapping.”

Kidnappings occur frequently in Mexico, and many victims are never found. Almost 130,000 people are currently classified as “disappeared” or “unaccounted for,” according to the National Search Commission.

With reports from El Universal, Infobae, La Jornada, El Mañana and ABC Noticias

How to deal with hurricane season in Mexico

By
Andrea Fischer
-
5
A hurricane with its eye on Earth, seen from outer space.
Hurricane season officially began in Mexico's Pacific Ocean on May 15. (NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center)

It’s finally here! The first shower arrived in Mexico City on May 8, 2025, marking the unofficial start of the city’s long-awaited rainy season. After a very dry spring this year, temperatures are finally falling with the first downpours. 

Nothing brings capitalinos more joy than a cloudy CDMX. Yet, however excited we get when the rain comes — imagine anything worse than a dry season with pretty bad air quality? — we know that the rainy season in Mexico also brings hurricanes to folks in coastal areas.

Acapulco after Hurricane Otis. There is wreckage of buildings and signs and other debris on the ground everywhere.
Acapulco’s iconic hotel strip was completely devastated by the unexpected strength of Hurricane Otis in 2023.  (ProtoplasmaKid/Wikimedia Commons)

Due to the global climate crisis, when hurricanes arrive nowadays, they tend to be wilder, more dangerous and more unpredictable. A disturbing example of this occurred in 2023 in Acapulco with Hurricane Otis, which grew in strength so quickly, it took Mexican officials by surprise and caused over 50 deaths and overwhelming damage to the resort community. 

Though it is practically impossible to know how many hurricanes there will actually be, or how hazardous they might become, authorities have outlined best practices and contingency guidelines to go through a hurricane safely.

If you’re living in Mexico in an area prone to hurricanes, read on to learn more about them and how to stay safe if you run into the path of one.

When does Mexico’s hurricane season start?

Hurricane season in Mexico officially started in the Pacific Ocean on May 15. The Atlantic hurricane season in Mexico will begin on June 1. Both end on Nov. 30. This period also coincides with the rainy season throughout much of the country.

According to the National Meteorological Service (SMN), hurricanes are tropical cyclones that have gained great strength. Heavy rain and winds come with these natural phenomena. “When a storm’s maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph,” says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “it is called a hurricane.”

A gray graphic with a nearly transparent background showing a beach area with palm trees. Superimposed on the background is text saying in Spanish "Atlantic Names" and a list of the 21 names to be given to storms that form in the North Atlantic during the 2025 North Atlantic hurricane season.
The official names to be given to storms that form during the 2025 Pacific hurricane season, which started May 15. (Conagua)

Hurricanes are typically classified into five categories in the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, depending on wind strength and the danger they pose to the population:

  • Category 1: 74–95 mph
  • Category 2: 96–110 mph
  • Category 3: 111–130 mph
  • Category 4: 131–155 mph
  • Category 5: Winds greater than 155 mph

This year, the SMN is predicting up to 37 cyclones in the Atlantic and Pacific combined, the first of which will be named Andrea.

Hurricanes more aggressive and unpredictable

Hurricane Otis was a grim reminder that the global climate crisis is not a hoax. Rising ocean temperatures, a consequence of the planet’s warming, has resulted in cyclones, hurricanes and related events becoming even more intense and hard to predict. 

“This change is likely related to warming ocean temperatures and more moisture in the air,” said a recent NASA report, “both of which fuel hurricanes.”

After the disastrous effect Hurricane Otis had on the coast of Guerrero in 2023, particularly in Acapulco, being wary of hurricane season in Mexico is a must. How to be safe, then?

How to stay safe during hurricane season

The northwestern states in Mexico, such as Sinaloa and the southern part of the Baja California Peninsula, are particularly vulnerable to the Pacific hurricane season in Mexico. In the Atlantic, the Yucatán Peninsula is frequently hit, too, along with the Caribbean coast. If you’re living around these areas, the first thing to do is stay up-to-date with the news through official media.

The Water Ministry (@Conagua_clima on the social media platform X and Conagua Comisión Nacional del Agua-SMNmx on Facebook) shares information on its social media accounts, particularly on X, and posts updates about each storm’s trajectory and behavior. 

Man sheltering from rain on a beach
If official sources warn of danger, monitor the developing situation from inside, using only official information sources to make what could be a life-or-death decision. (Carlos Alberto Carbajal/Cuartoscuro)

Monitoring local news is key to knowing how each weather phenomenon is developing and what to do in case of an emergency. In case of a natural disaster, these outlets also typically publish where to get help or seek shelter. Local and state governments used to dealing with tropical storms and hurricanes year after year — such as in the Yucatán Peninsula — usually post important resident information on social media in the days before a dangerous storm makes landfall. Look also on social media for your state’s Civil Protection agency, which may have useful information posted. 

If your local or state government advises not to go out, or in an extreme case, to evacuate, by all means, listen to official instructions. Also, please, avoid misinformation at all costs: always try to verify your sources with reliable outlets. WhatsApp chains, unofficial individuals’ social media accounts or random Facebook posts are not reliable enough, and could even harbor a scam.

The following advice is always advisable, especially if you live in a risky area:

  • Stay indoors, even during brief periods of calm
  • Avoid flooded or affected areas
  • Follow government guidelines and keep up to date with official information
  • And, of course, if necessary, be prepared for any aftermath

Stay safe, folks!

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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