This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page North Carolina entered into eternal rest on March 2020 at her home surrounded by family and friends the daughter of the late Chester Field Watts and Mildred Stokes Watts She attended Macedonia Baptist Church and served as Sunday and Bible school teacher Bible study and anywhere she was asked to serve and had a wonderful smile that could light up a room She worked for many years at Taylor Togs in Taylorsville Chalma then found her choice employment that was built on passion and an adoration of working with children at First Baptist Church Daycare in Taylorsville She worked at FBDC devotedly until retirement everywhere she went she was still greeted with cheerfulness by her previous children from her classes and their parents she is united in Heaven with her husband of 51 years Those left to honor and cherish her memory include her godchildren NC; and Steve Watts and wife Sue of Taylorsville Etta Mae Miller; and a host of nieces and nephews A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. The family requests that we all follow the CDC and the Governor of North Carolina guidelines to refrain from shaking hands and hugging.  Condolences may be sent to: www.adamsfunerals.com Adams Funeral Home and cremation services is honored to be serving the Barker Family             Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net Can’t see the whole story? Sign in or subscribe New features in Detroit’s first auto assembly plant in nearly 30 years seek to make every Jeep Grand Cherokee coming off the line even more ready to tackle Michigan potholes and other road impediments with a little “more Chalma.” That's Stellantis NV engineer-speak for the new obstacle course-like test track installed at the Detroit Assembly Complex named for a road outside Mexico City with rough terrain The track and other measures taken are part of an effort across the transatlantic automaker’s North American brands to improve the quality of their vehicles and catch problems sooner before they hit dealer lots and customers' hands Stellantis’ head of quality in North America “The current Grand Cherokee is the most-awarded SUV ever,” he said “It’s a great base to start from we ask: What can we do to make the product better The automaker has invested $1.6 billion to convert the former Mack Avenue Engine Complex partially been idled on the east side of the Motor City into a manufacturing site the factory will churn out the next-generation Grand Cherokee which is Jeep's most popular vehicle. It also will produce the new three-row Grand Cherokee L The plant's Chalma track is part of improving the process of building those vehicles for a brand pushing to improve its quality. Chrysler engineers in the early 1950s identified the treacherous road made mostly of cobblestone as the inspiration for part of the testing conditions at the automaker's proving grounds in Chelsea The Chalma test is one of 17 meant to stretch the vehicles’ suspension and capabilities in their development Chalma Road was one of the most rugged roads we were looking for to help qualify and validate vehicles,” said Ray Durham Stellantis’ global head of proving grounds and engineering services organizations it has evolved and evolved and evolved.” the automaker is adopting Chalma again for a less-intensive end-of-the-line exam that every vehicle at the Mack Assembly Plant will undergo It includes some of the same elements as the Chalma portion of the proving grounds in addition to a rumble strip and bridge traverse “What these short tests do is validate they got it all right,” said Durham of the assembly of the vehicles It ensures “I don’t have something loose don’t hear a link or something that didn’t get tightened properly We’re able to make sure they don’t leave the plant with any type of defects.” That is critical for identifying problems on the assembly line as well as saving time for retail partners and customers There are quality checks at various stations throughout the building process but this one tests the final product as customers will use it The new larger Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs also will be tested on a similar obstacle course at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant when they launch in the second quarter speed is critical — speed of issue identification and speed of issue resolution,” Champine said “What more Chalma gives us is a 100% road test the ability to identify issues quickly and to fix them quickly.” The automaker installed a Chalma test track at its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant for the launch of the redesigned Ram 1500 pickup truck in 2018 Champine points to Ram’s third-place tie last year with Chevrolet on J.D Power’s Initial Quality Study behind Dodge and Kia as evidence of results increasing to 11th place from 17th the year prior but Champine says there is room for improvement It may have a more difficult time moving up the rankings compared to its more narrowly focused sister brands Power’s automotive division and previously an executive at Jeep's parent company “Ram is just trucks and then Dodge is just muscle cars so one of the issues for Jeep is it is covering a broader section of the market,” Betts said. “You do have the Wrangler which is selling to people who have one place to go for that in the market and are big fans of the product.” Jeep across the board also outperformed the industry average in self-driving technology including safety features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance and in infotainment with its Uconnect system Both have been historically tough categories but will be important features especially as Jeep enters the larger and more up-scale segments with the Grand Cherokee L and Grand Wagoneer The adventure brand also outscored the industry average on exterior and interior quality and the current-generation Grand Cherokee outscored the industry average in every category except seating Champine said even the smaller components like fasteners were reevaluated for the Grand Cherokee Engineers made changes to 350 connectors to make it easier for line workers to attach the electric wiring Problems with those can be some of the most frustrating for customers and difficult for dealers to diagnose unique to the Mack plant is new gap-and-flush technology that measures gaps between panels for consistency The cameras usually are used in the body shop but the tool will examine every vehicle at the end of the line at Mack as an additional measure of verification These cameras also use lasers for even more precise measurements “Quality has got a lot of different meanings to different people,” Champine said “Some people think of quality as reliability and durability Some people look at quality as what we talked about with gap and flush — when you look and sit inside this vehicle and the interior improvements give you an appreciation for quality and craftmanship "What we want to communicate is that the Grand Cherokee started at a great spot and we fully intend to build from that with an even better customer experience with all of the improvements this vehicle is going to offer.” Connect with our staff on topics that matter to you via email or request a reprint Place classified and announcement notices or grow your business with advertising and marketing solutions I first heard about Chalmita (little Chalma) in the State of Mexico when I ran across Tacos Quetzalcoatl for tacos and delicious lamb barbacoa, from entertaining Mexican chef Max Rodriguez The State of Mexico has some of the greatest traditions in Mexico: barbacoa from Texcoco; chorizos and other sausages in Toluca; highly skilled cooks and chefs many street food vendors serving tlayudas hail from the bordering State of Mexico where Chalma is located Chalma is a sacred destination to pilgrims for its Sanctuary of the Señor de Chalma So it's appropriate that on Sundays in Los Angeles devotees to delicious blue-corn tlacoyos and quesadillas seek out Lucy of Sabores de Chalma a stand just outside the chaotic shopping center that is the Alameda Swap Meet On weekends, the traffic snarls around the perimeter of the dueling markets, the Alameda Swap Meet and the El Faro Plaza It’s a full-blown Mexican fair with live music and congested lines for a variety of Mexican foods from the stands mostly affiliated with El Diablo a franchise that services the entire flea market Lucy and her family offer a much-needed break from the madness Lucy’s tlacoyos are filled with your choice of refried beans and then she grabs a ball of fresh blue-corn masa and forms the diamond-shaped tlacoyo by hand The thick elongated stuffed masa gets its signature brown scars from slow-cooking on the griddle giving you time to plan your finishing touches of salsa but don't forget why you're here--to savor the enraptured joys of blue corn Staunton Avenue just south of East Vernon Ave Thelma Golden will celebrate Lauren Halsey and U.K.-based singer Griff will take the stage featured A-list designers and Otis College standouts who earned scholarships for innovation in Fashion Design lawyers say Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe showed injuries consistent with a dog attack and plan to present a case against Chloe a German Shepherd who was re-homed by the owner's of the house where the cop's body was found in a snowbank Magazine’s takeaways on five notable topics from President Donald Trump’s first 100 days of his second term consumers are stocking up on household items and bites from THEBlvd and Hinoki & the Bird Santiago was talking to me about the pilgrimage to Chalma when he became adamant about one thing and my family didn’t have many opportunities for horseback riding I was working on a book chronicling a year in San Gregorio Atlapulco is the second-most-important pilgrimage site in Mexico after the Villa Guadalupe “The pilgrimage is Catholic,” said Javier Márquez Juárez The origin of the pilgrimage is this: one of the gods worshipped by the Mexicas was Tezcatlipoca There was a life-sized statue of the god in a cave in Chalma and this didn’t sit well with the Augustinian friars who arrived around 1537 determined to convert indigenous communities to Christianity they went to the cave to destroy it themselves they found the idol in pieces on the ground replaced by a figure of a crucified black Christ “The largest pilgrimages are on New Year’s Ash Wednesday and Good Friday,” said Márquez Those months are when indigenous groups petitioned for rain.” “Sometimes the trails are difficult even for us,” he said But when I mentioned this to Javier he said Most from San Gregorio walk or ride horses to Chalma a challenging two and a half days covering about 45 miles There are steep climbs on narrow mountain paths there are often severe storms to contend with “I go to show the faith I have in the Lord of Chalma,” said Juan Manzanares who has gone on the pilgrimage for 26 years “To feel the peace and spirituality of the sanctuary also … to conserve the traditions of our country.” the pilgrimage is a chance to give thanks for a perceived miracle and the doctor did not know if I would live,” he said “My grandfather carried me all the way to Chalma He bathed me in the river there … and I did recover So I go to Chalma every year to give thanks to God.” Underlying beliefs in indigenous religions and traditions also compel people to go “We go to ask for rain so that we have a good harvest,” said Márquez “When we walk through the mountains — mountains represent water — it is to ensure rain.” thousands of people streamed out of San Gregorio on their way to Chalma I was relieved that I didn’t ride the horse from the very beginning But I became less sanguine when the flat road we were on turned into steep mountain paths As we climbed one particularly challenging stretch Santiago turned to me several times worriedly I decided to take some photos before resting I eventually rode the horse for a mostly uneventful hour deciding I’d had enough when we stopped for a break and whoa” (I don’t know the Spanish equivalent) The second day was a six-hour walking marathon during which I’d gotten separated from the group and walked the last hour alone in a punishing downpour Whoever had petitioned the gods for rain had had their prayers answered About 60 of us slept in tents that were set up under a second very large tent so the ground was muddy and it was hard to stay dry going to the church every day and often at night Masses were held continuously inside the church The return trip was arguably even more difficult I rode the horse for four hours on the second day and blocked in parts by boulders and fallen trees I wish I could say it was due to my superior skills but it was due to my clinging to the saddle as if my life depended on it A huge storm also hit at the end of that day; I’m talking about a storm where you start thinking about building an ark and selecting animals three of us reached an intersection where water was so deep and moving so rapidly We had to detour and jump over a narrow stream We bedded down the final night in a rodeo arena We finally made it back to San Gregorio in the early afternoon and were greeted at the entrance to the pueblo with bottle rockets toritos (makeshift structures filled with fireworks and carried above a person’s shoulders) We crossed mountains and fields under a hot sun We suffered — but that’s part of the point “Suffering in the Catholic religion is payment for sins,” says Márquez there are two visions: Catholic and pre-Hispanic.” But with the pilgrimage canceled this year because of the coronavirus Joseph Sorrentino is a regular contributor to Mexico News Daily ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC Rituals of faith and family  In the morning calm a carpet of decorative sand is strewn along a street in Milpa Alta to celebrate La Rejunta one in a yearlong series of events leading up to a January pilgrimage This borough of Mexico City has more than 700 religious fiestas every year Every year for many years the people of Milpa Alta the magnitude of which would seem to require a miracle Sixty thousand tamales and 5,000 gallons of hot chocolate are made from scratch in less than a week not too much and not too little for the thousands who show up for the feast The feeding of this multitude is no simple matter “There is an infinity of things to do,” Virginia Meza Torres says firmly She looks crisp and unruffled in a white piqué blouse neatly dressed in a white polo shirt and gray vest handpicked to organize activities for the annual pilgrimage to the Chalma sanctuary They have waited 14 years to receive this sacred duty which translates as “the roundup,” and it’s a way to build anticipation for the pilgrimage and children from Milpa Alta walk through the mountains to the ancient place of the holy cave Before the Spanish conquest indigenous deities with magical powers were worshipped here and Chalma became a religious site for Roman Catholics from all around Mexico Pilgrims from Milpa Alta begin the walk to Chalma on January 3 and the Rejunta meal is a sumptuous quid pro quo for everyone who has donated money Virginia is heading to the local offices to get a permit for the procession of icons that will arrive at their house on Sunday Fermín is driving his black pickup into the countryside in search of dried Indian corn to be ground for atole and vanilla that’s nostalgia in a cup for Mexicans One year before the event the men go to the forest and collect wood that they pile high near the home of the majordomo so that it will be properly cured before it’s used for open-air cooking No instant mixes or other culinary shortcuts are allowed Food is so central to life in Milpa Alta that it’s the currency of exchange for work done In this town during the days devoted to La Rejunta and whatever hurt or insult life has dealt is forgotten in a world of bounty and the majordomos leave their daughter Monserrat Lara Meza in charge She is a 24-year-old graduate student in biology but she has put aside her studies to help her parents for the week She shucks the dried ears of corn and tosses them in a wheelbarrow By midmorning she has covered the patio wall with carefully arranged stacks “My parents have been in a state of nerves” since their term began she says while dropping kernels in a basin Monserrat explains that her parents kicked off their year as majordomos in May 2013 with a big feast under the huge tarpaulin that still hangs over their patio Tarps and tents go up all the time across Milpa Alta Every year more than 700 religious fiestas are held in the borough of Milpa Alta which encompasses 12 villages and towns in the rural southeastern corner of Mexico City The tarps and booming music let everyone know where to find the action Fermín and Virginia will pass the mantle to new majordomos Monserrat isn’t interested in becoming a majordomo herself and all the majordomos have been named through 2046 She wanders down the hill to a shed with a corrugated metal roof to see how the toasting of the corn is going A prayer before feasting On the day he succeeds Fermín Lara Jiménez as majordomo Ernesto Alvarado Salazar prays amid the cauldrons of food prepared for a town celebration wafts from a special brazier used in religious rituals Video: Group Effort  Stuffing tamales and celebrating community are all part of the fun of a Mexican fiesta Milpa Alta means “high cornfield,” and its identity has been connected to agriculture since pre-Hispanic times Corn was a primary crop here until the 1930s when farmers switched to the more drought-resistant nopal the prickly pear cactus that is a staple of Mexican cuisine Today the region is one of Mexico’s top nopal producers Another business is the production of barbacoa by placing an entire lamb or sheep in a pit of earthen tiles lined with spiky maguey (agave cactus) leaves Since the town is located about 17 miles from the center of Mexico City producers can sell to urban dwellers willing to pay top price The borough of Milpa Alta is the poorest in Mexico City with nearly half the local population living below the poverty line question the significance of the statistic can count on a meal every day as well as other forms of support What is poverty when the town hosts a giddy number of festivities over the course of a year an academic with a specialty in rural studies has looked at his community from both a personal and a scholarly vantage point and views its social cohesion as remarkably strong “People in Milpa Alta have their own perspective That sentiment is borne out by the low level of migration to the United States that comes from the time together at the table,” says Josefina García Jiménez She often cooks for her nieces and nephews and says “It feels like I am passing down a tradition time to think just what ingredients are needed time to show your kids through cooking that you love them.” Josefina is a fan of the sobremesa—a stretch of time after the meal when the entire family It can be the time for shamefaced confessions Loza soaked up stories at the dinner table about witches known as nahuales; his uncles described the nahual’s ability to change shape into a donkey At sobremesa came testimony of miracles and omens when men carried supplies to Chalma on horseback The table is the place where the history of Milpa Alta is passed on The drama of the final meal During Holy Week volunteers reenact the Last Supper in the Church of the Assumption of Maria in Milpa Alta the table features simply prepared meat instead of more elaborate traditional dishes María Eleazar Labastida Rosas has bright red braids threaded with dark lavender ribbons She’s stirring a large pot of tamale batter under the watchful attunes her senses to the smell of a sauce and makes her corrections with the confidence of a general She won’t brook any horsing around where cooking is involved but she cooks day and night during the final preparations “I feel love when I cook,” she says I ask God for help and for the well-being of all my people.” She raised four children as an unmarried mother a status that can be harshly judged in small-town Mexico Until the pain in her legs forced her to quit Now she lives off the money she makes preparing food for parties But whatever her social position in the outside world and continues chatting with the other women laughing about how Mexican women share recipes with their daughters and daughters-in-law but otherwise jealously guard their culinary secrets The women trade stories about catastrophes in the kitchen “Cooking must be done with love,” says María “There are women who cook without love and it really doesn’t turn out well food has also been a bridge to the divine power When white-haired Domitila Laguna Ortega spilled a pot of mole sauce that oozed boiling hot over her legs and onto the kitchen floor But the firemen who came were startled: Why were there no red marks on her body there was a mysterious multiplication of her shrimp soup served to the pilgrims at Chalma She made large quantities but was convinced she hadn’t made enough I gave it with all my soul and all my heart I believe that it could have been a miracle.” FAMILY FIRST A multigenerational clan gathered for strawberry atole and cake on the birthday of family patriarch Armando Laurrabaquio Olvera (gray jacket) Miguel Laurrabaquio Rodríguez (not seen) makes barbacoa which he sells with the help of wife Cleotilde (foreground) and his two daughters (far left) Fermín has cinched his waist with a thick leather belt to support his aching back The fires are burning; hundreds of volunteers are fast at work One of the miracles of this effort is that everyone seems to know his or her part without supervision They move in a choreography of ease—no one bumps into anyone else One of Doña Cata’s culinary lieutenants gravely announces to the women making tamales that chili sauce is leaking out of them María of the purple ribbons digs her paddle into the thick cornmeal mixture and the mixture is transformed into batter It’s as if each new teaspoonful is part of a ritual that adds a measure of grace The women swaddle the mixture in corn husks and carry the tamales in bins down the hill to the men who will cook them in old oil drums A straw talisman shaped like a stick man is placed in each drum The men douse the tamales with tequila or other spirits to ensure good results At dawn on Sunday the cooks have crumpled faces In fact they boast that faith gave them energy to stay up all night Majordomo Virginia insists that she too feels fine but it’s clear she’s been run ragged her face tense and drawn as she throws logs on the fires under the tamales the male cooks stand like sentries and count out a specific number of tamales calculated to correspond to the amount of money each donor has given which Doña Cata has stirred all night to avoid any lumps No amount of fatigue would get her to relinquish the job of feeding the crowds that file through all day “Why would I let someone else take credit for what I have done?” As she ladles the drink and children cry out in delight Doña Cata allows herself a smile that spreads into a grin But she quickly returns to sober-faced focus There are thousands more cups of atole to serve And in only a few days the piñatas must be filled with candy for Las Posadas the nine-day celebration leading up to Christmas Eve and the people of Milpa Alta will again yield to the power of food Food on every corner Many in Milpa Alta work in the food business growing nopal (prickly pear cactus) or selling barbecued meat or mole sauce The Triangulo Bakery (above) sells sweet bread known as concha (shell) because of the pattern etched into the loaves Victoria Pope is a former deputy editor of the magazine Carolyn Drake has photographed groups such as China’s Uygurs for National Geographic The magazine thanks The Rockefeller Foundation and members of the National Geographic Society for their generous support of this series of articles were forced to leave their homes in the villages of Coamila and Rancho Nuevo on April 26 Mexico (BP) – About 150 Baptists forcibly displaced from their homes in Hidalgo since April have sought refuge in a neighboring state after Catholic village leaders reneged on an agreement that would have welcomed the Protestants home According to a Nov. 21 report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide, the members of Great Commission Fundamental Baptist Church began moving to Chalma, Veracruz, after it became clear that the Sept. 27 agreement would not be upheld Instead of being granted the religious liberty guaranteed in Mexico’s constitution the indigenous Baptists in the majority Catholic community would be required to pay financial contributions and fees to the Catholic church and would be banned from speaking about their religious beliefs travel and communication within their residential villages of Coamila and Rancho Nuevo would be monitored and limited and the Baptists would be withheld from official residency rolls for a year Baptists would have returned home over a period of time and enjoyed religious freedom Utilities to their homes would have been reconnected and members of the church would have paid to a beneficial community fund which they had been blocked from contributing to since 2015 But as village leaders refused to adhere to the terms of the agreement city and state officials refused to intervene or secure the Baptists’ safety expressed disappointment at what she called the Mexican government’s neglect at every level to uphold the nation’s constitutionally guaranteed freedom of religion or belief The Mexican government “has placed the responsibility to resolve the egregious violation of their fundamental rights on the victims This group’s resettlement in Veracruz was wholly preventable and affirms the criminal actions of village authorities in Coamila and Rancho Nuevo in their insistence that religious minority groups will not be tolerated,” Strangl said in a press release Nov “While we welcomed the municipal and state governments’ proactiveness in brokering (the) agreement,” Strangl said “this means little in the absence of enforcement and accountability measures for village leaders who continue to openly break Mexican law.” CSW continued to urge the Mexican government to protect religious freedoms for all and to prosecute those who criminally violate such freedoms the indigenous Nahuatl-speaking communities in Hidalgo were forced to flee their homes after village leaders cut off their electricity vandalized and blocked access to some of their homes and the Great Commission Fundamental Baptist Church Despite the guarantee of religious freedom in Mexico’s constitution a dual legal system allows local indigenous communities to govern under the Law on Uses and Customs are often exploited against religious minorities several religious freedom watchdog groups have reported The violations have intensified in the villages since 2015 with local authorities repeatedly attempting to force the Baptists to participate in Roman Catholic religious festivals Local authorities have tried to force the church members to monetarily support Catholic events and actively participate in acts of worship Protestants in several Hidalgo villages have also faced severe beatings employment discrimination and confiscation of property Children of religious minorities have been blocked since 2018 from attending the local school Hidalgo has one of the highest numbers of such cases in Mexico and the local government refuses to cite the actions as religious freedom violations the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and persecution watchdog Open Doors have all reported that customs and use laws have led to the persecution of religious minorities in Mexico Open Doors ranked Mexico as 37 on its list of the 50 countries where Christians suffer the most persecution Diana Chandler is Baptist Press’ senior writer © 2025 Southern Baptist Convention. Site by Mere MEXICO CITY (AP) — Across the main entrance of a former Jesuit college in the heart of Mexico City a bright-colored mural depicting Our Lady of Guadalupe represents both the Indigenous religiosity and the Christianity that shaped the culture of post-colonial Mexico The mural was created by Mexican artist Fermín Revueltas between 1922 and 1923 when the walls of Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso became the canvases for the country’s emerging muralist movement who among others led the artistic movement a century ago the baroque building that currently serves as a museum hosts an exhibition that reflects on the significance of their monumental art recently welcomed a contemporary mural created by Mexican craftsmen who were inspired by the old masters and will run through June 12 called “La Muerte de las Culturas” (“The Death of Cultures”) depicts how Mexicans of African descent struggled for freedom and equality and how the community’s identity was forged from that said that muralism arose in a highly politicized context Many of the wall paintings criticize political leaders inequality or the Catholic Church because the young muralists were influenced by revolutionary nationalism and academic scholarship that transformed their ideas about the Indigenous population Some artists expressed their social and political views by painting divine figures or religious references A 1924 fresco that José Clemente Orozco titled “La Alcancía” (“The Piggy Bank”) shows two slender hands depositing coins into a box that is open at the bottom and drops the money into another hand that looks more powerful and represents the Catholic Church For a few other muralists – such as Revueltas and Fernando Leal – the goal was to find new ways to portray what the military and spiritual conquest led by the Spaniards meant “San Ildefonso has that reminiscence where the religious is present because it is part of the cultural identity of the people,” Chávez said It is no coincidence that muralism was born in this place this was the place where the Jesuits led their educational work The Jesuits arrived in the capital half a century after the Spanish conquest and a few years later they founded San Ildefonso Their objective was to educate the descendants of Spaniards – the “criollo” – who were born in the colony Before they were expelled from the Spanish Empire in 1767 these priests visited remote towns and sought to understand the worldview of the “criollo” people whose Indigenous spiritual practices intertwined with new Christian customs and beliefs “They went beyond these branches of spiritual identity or the diffusion of faith,” Chávez said This dynamic allowed the Jesuits to teach the “criollo” arts and crafts but it also strengthened the concept of “criollo” identity throughout the territory a theme that muralists portrayed in the 20th century “Alegoría de la Virgen de Guadalupe” (“Allegory of the Virgin of Guadalupe”) is an example the Catholic image of Virgin Mary is in the top center and her children – men and women with different skin tones – pray around her The painting is not meant to inspire devotion but to portray how Our Lady of Guadalupe unifies people of different races and origins two murals are in dialogue with each other and share a common theme On the right side of the main stairs of San Ildefonso a piece by Jean Charlot illustrates the massacre that the Spaniards led in the most sacred site of the Aztec empire – Templo Mayor – in 1521 Leal portrays what came after the conquest and the imported Christianity of the Spanish: religious festivities where sacred and profane symbols blend In a recent article published in a digital magazine from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México art historians Rita Eder and Renato González explain that these murals praise the country’s ancient cultures while strongly rejecting the violence brought by the Spanish conquest “identify the Conquest as the most significant process in the history of Mexico and its characterization as a struggle between civilization and barbarism (the latter represented by the armored attackers).” these murals will never lose relevance because they are a way to understand how history triggers a constant redefinition of spaces “Our past is important because it speaks of our present,” he said “These murals tell a lot about who we are and what we are made of.” STATE COLLEGE — South Hills School of Business & Technology is excited to present this year’s edition of .. NEW YORK (AP) — One of Broadway’s more impressive performances this season is by Andrew Durand RENOVO — The Renovo Area Community Choir will be presenting their Spring Concert “Put a Little Love in Your .. Copyright © 2025 Ogden Publications of Pennsylvania Two North Korean militia units are fighting in Syria in support of Bashar Al-Assad’s government in that country’s civil war, Russian news agency TASS reported Tuesday head delegate of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) of the Syrian opposition reported the presence of North Korean militia units in Syria while attending peace talks at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva and click on the confirmation message in it to get subscribed to our Daily News Update Grisafi is an analyst and Korean linguist from Philadelphia Having previously worked as an analyst for the United States Army in South Korea and studied Korean at the Defense Language Institute he is now majoring in East Asian Languages & Civilization and History at the University of Pennsylvania Internet Explorer is not compatible with this website Microsoft ceased supporting IE 10 and older in 2016 Microsoft cyber-security chief Chris Jackson has been urging users to stop using the browser since February 2019 Join the influential community of members who rely on NK News original news and in-depth reporting Don't have an account? SIGN UP For more pricing options, click here. Already have an account? SIGN IN Please enter your username or email address You will receive a link to create a new password via email Don't have an account? SIGN UP The main threats are large hail, damaging wind gusts, and heavy rains with an isolated tornado also possible. FORECASTSHARE PHOTOS & VIDEOAt least 19 dead in Mexico after bus crashes into a houseby CNN Newsource / TV Azteca At least 19 are dead and 31 are injured after a bus crashed into a house in the state of Mexico The passenger vehicle crashed into a house while transporting pilgrims from the town of Sahuayo to the Chalma Sanctuary in the state of Mexico the spokesperson for the Red Cross of the State of Mexico told CNNE the injured were transferred to different hospitals in the area Authorities reported at least 5 people in serious condition who were taken by helicopter to hospitals in Toluca The cause of the accident is still unknown The head of the Syrian opposition’s delegation in Geneva said that two North Korean army battalions had recently been seen fighting alongside Assad regime troops In an interview with Anadolu Agency in Geneva al-Zubi said there were two North Korean Special Forces battalions fighting for the regime He identified the two battalions are North Korea’s "Chalma 1 and Chalma 7" battalions "The first was seen fighting alongside the regime in Jobar," a neighborhood of Damascus "When we asked regime sources that we trust they said they were Koreans… they were identified as Asians; they came to support the regime," al-Zubi added "We know there are thousands of North Korean military experts working with the regime in the field of missile-defense and communications," he said there’s a battalion in Jabal Qassioun [on the outskirts of Damascus] which is called the ‘Korean Battalion’ Every civilian there knows of it; it has existed for more than 10 years," al-Zubi added "Coordination… between the [Assad] regime and North Korea during which the regime summoned well-trained and special elements from the infantry," he said were "highly trained; they are known as killers and terrorists.. We recently discovered that they number more than 300 And I can confirm that the number of [North Korean] experts is more than 2,000 or 3,000 These so-called ‘experts’ are specialized in terrorism and murdering civilians." "Those in the ‘Chalma 1’ battalion were seen in Jobar conducting combat missions," he said With regard to the ongoing Geneva talks and a document recently presented by UN envoy Staffan de Mistura al-Zubi said: "The document contains some of the points that we as Syrians don’t disagree with -- including the assertion that Syria is a sovereign nation." He went on to voice hope that the next round of talks "was a theoretical round that lacked effective mechanisms He added: "We have come here [to Geneva] to find a political solution because we believe in and insist on direct negotiations -- negotiations from which the regime hopes to escape." "The regime delegation has returned to Syria to buy time under the pretext of elections We insist that the second round of talks start at the beginning of April -- there is no need to delay," he asserted "The regime is trying to avoid negotiations; it’s running away from a political solution," al-Zubi said "That was clear from statements made by its spokesmen He added: "We remain optimistic because the revolution belongs to the Syrian people in our people and in the ability of our fighters and politicians -- all of whom seek a political solution." talks in Geneva wrapped up with de Mistura presenting a list of principles that should be embraced by all parties The paper was presented to both delegations for approval while it was also announced that the next round of talks would be held from April 9 to 11 At a press conference held Friday at UN headquarters de Mistura said his team had included 12 points on its list of principles after hearing from the different parties involved in the talks México state authorities confirmed that a bus accident on the Capulín-Chalma highway early Sunday morning resulted in the death of 18 passengers The news agency Aristegui Noticias reported that the bus driver lost control after two tires blew out Photos from the crash site clearly show the bus on its side and two tires missing Although México state authorities were still investigating the cause of the accident, the newspaper La Jornada reported on Monday that the bus had been speeding adding that there were visible skid marks extending about 50 meters from the scene of the accident The passengers were from the city of San Luis de la Paz in the northeastern part of the state of Guanajuato. The bus was reportedly en route to the Sanctuary of Chalma, the second-most visited religious shrine in Mexico The sanctuary houses a Black Christ figure that is venerated year-round because of the many miracles attributed to it local authorities said more than 30,000 pilgrims visited the sanctuary Paramedics and emergency personnel from the México state municipalities of Tenancingo Tenango del Valle and Toluca arrived to give attention to the victims Several of the badly injured victims were transported to hospital by helicopter The Red Cross of Toluca announced on social media that it had sent two ambulances to the crash site, and posted information on which hospital each victim had been sent to Civil Protection authorities in San Luis de la Paz were coordinating with México state officials to keep the victims’ families informed Fourteen people were pronounced dead at the scene and another four died at area hospitals The 27 survivors were being treated at hospitals in Toluca A bulletin issued by the state police said the accident occurred near the town of El Guarda de Guerrero which is just outside the city limits of Santa Cruz Tezontepec about 10 kilomters north of Malinalco and 24 kilometers (15 miles) from Chalma With reports from Aristegui Noticias and Infobae Tlatelolco’s Plaza de Tres Culturas in Mexico City fills with the smell of incense the pounding of drums and singing as thousands of concheros from across central Mexico gather for their pilgrimage to Villa Guadalupe “It is one of four pilgrimages that we are required to make every year,” says Miguel Antonio Zamora Solís La Virgen de los Remidios and El Señor del Sacromonte.” Concheros are traditional musicians and dancers who are only found in Mexico’s central states where the Aztec and Chichimeca civilizations had flourished Although this pilgrimage is called The Pilgrimage of the Concheros Concheros play stringed instruments called conchas wear colorful skirts and capes that have an image of the Virgin Mary or an indigenous god on the back Danzas Aztecas is probably the most easily recognized of these traditional dance groups since they can be seen dancing in Mexico City’s zócalo The dancers wear large feathered headdresses have seeds from the ayoyote tree strapped to their ankles and dance to the pounding of the huehuétl Other groups of dancers include the Danzas Guerreros whose dress is like that of the Plains Indians from the United States The pilgrimage to Villa Guadalupe commemorates a miracle attributed to the Virgin of Guadalupe This was where Aztecs had once worshipped Tonantzin flowers appeared on a hill — despite it being winter — and Diego reverently gathered them in his cloak as the sign of a miracle When he opened his cloak to show the flowers to the Catholic bishop in Tlatelolco Mary’s now-famous image had appeared on the cloak The bishop kept the cloak in his private chapel for a time until a procession was formed to carry it to Tepeyac an indigenous man was accidentally shot with an arrow and was expected to die Others in the procession prayed to the Virgin and located in the Cuauhtémoc borough in the northern part of Mexico City was the second most important city after Tenotichtlán during the Aztecs’ reign It was founded in 1337 and had the largest tianguis (market) in the Aztec empire It also had a temple dedicated to Huitzilopochtli Ruins are still visible in the Plaza de Tres Culturas directly in front of the Church of Santiago Tlateloco built by the Spaniards in 1521 atop destroyed Aztec temples The pilgrimage begins with groups performing cleansing ceremonies — participants and their instruments are cleansed with smoke billowing from incense pots the incense pot is moved in four directions invoking both the Christian cross and the four cardinal directions important to many indigenous religions groups gather in circles where they dance and sing only warriors and priests danced,” says Javier Marquéz Juárez who has studied and written about conchero history the Spanish tried to suppress all indigenous ceremonies and when they couldn’t they incorporated Catholic symbolism and ceremonies people dressed in indigenous clothing can be seen performing cleansing ceremonies and dancing in front of Catholic altars while conch shells are sounded nearby “This is a Catholic celebration,” conchero Gregorio Paéz Paéz says The singing and drumming reach a fever pitch; the dancing becomes more frenetic “The words to the songs are Catholic,” Marquéz says The songs honor the Virgin of Guadalupe and Tonatzin.” And the dances aren’t just for performance or pleasure it is a union of the two religions — Catholic and indigenous,” said Zamora we believe there always exists selfishness Villa Guadalupe is located in the place the Aztecs called Tepeyac It’s only about four miles from Tlatelolco but it will take three or four hours for the entire procession to reach it it’s possible to see the huge variety of groups that participate In addition to the concheros and other groups there are men dressed like Roman centurions pulling a cart carrying a figure of the Virgin Mary Others perform mock sword fights depicting the struggle between Christians and Muslims There is at least one person dressed as a monster The scene at Villa Guadalupe is a repeat of what was happening in Tlateloloco: thousands of concheros forming circles While most participants enter the church where a mass is being performed “Some groups don’t enter the church because they don’t recognize the Christian god,” said Marquéz “These are the Danzas Aztecas and Guerreros [groups].” Zamora added Those who venerate indigenous culture go to honor the land.” The dancing and chanting continue long into the night Joseph Sorrentino is a regular contributor to Mexico News Daily are among primary issues in this year’s race for three of the five Wilkes County commissioner seats Voters will see five candidates on the ballot two listed as Democrats and three as Republicans 67 of the Roaring River community; and Casey Joe Johnson Settle and Elmore are incumbents and Watkin Johnson and Hunt are running for elected office for the first time Elmore is seeking his fifth four-year term and Settle JEROME WATKINS grew up in a small town in southern Mississippi He is married and has two grown children and three grandchildren Watkins is a business systems consultant for information and cyber security and security infrastructure engineering for Wells Fargo his military occupational specialty was avionics Watkins was a gunnery sergeant at the time of his retirement He volunteers as a motivational speaker for the Gastonia/Monroe Recruiter Sub Station Wilkes At Risk Youth and the Eckerd Connects boys residential program in Boomer CASEY JOE JOHNSON grew up in Hays and is a lifelong Wilkes resident Johnson graduated from North Wilkes High School Wilkes Community College and Appalachian State University with a bachelor of art’s degree in special education with an add-on licensure in elementary education Johnson teaches at Mountain View Elementary He was the school’s Teacher of the Year in 2018-19 and was among the top six finalists for county teacher of the year He is a member of Bethel Baptist Church in North Wilkesboro assists in the family/children’s ministry and is the assistant vacation Bible school director KEITH ELMORE has lived most of his life in Wilkes studied electronics at Forsyth Tech and has an associate degree in business from WCC He worked 30 years in technology and human resources for Lowe’s Companies Inc. and other companies and now manages Foothills Auto Spa in Wilkesboro Elmore has represented the commissioners on numerous local boards including the Wilkes Social Services and Wilkes Economic Development Corp He served on the Roaring River Fire Department board and is a member of Arbor Grove Baptist Church area for 20 years and moved to Wilkesboro in 2015 Hunt graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a bachelor of arts degree in sociology and is assistant manager of Chick-fil-A in Wilkesboro she has been a volunteer guardian ad litem for the 23rd Judicial District and youth director at Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Roaring River At First Baptist Church of Glenarden near Washington she was assistant director of the Aviation Ministry (2001-15) director of the Employment Ministry (2013-14) and taught in the Children’s Institute (2001-12) EDDIE SETTLE is a lifelong Wilkes resident He graduated from East Wilkes High and attended WCC He has owned and operated a business for 30 years and has seven cattle farms in Wilkes Settle has served on numerous boards as a commissioner Brotherhood member and has served in various committees at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Agriculture Steering Committee chairman since 2014 Cattleman’s Association and is on the Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital Foundation board He co-founded East Wilkes Youth Football and is on the Blue Ridge Youth Football board Settle was Wilkes County GOP vice chairman from 2008-2012 TOP GOALSHousing in Wilkes drew additional attention with the Sept 22 release of a report on a five-month-long study of housing needs and opportunities in the county by Ohio-based Bowen National Research The report documented pent up demand for rental and for-sale housing in Wilkes County and said this stymieing economic development The five candidates discussed some of the goals they would have EDDIE SETTLE said Wilkes had its best retail sales month ever in January and county officials expected the rest of the year to go well before COVID-19 hit in March He said that due to low debt and a strong balance Wilkes County government has weathered the pandemic well Settle said that while maintaining strong financial reserves county officials need to consider what county government can do to help the towns address water and sewer needs “There are a lot of opportunities” with housing adding that county officials will look to the Wilkes Economic Development Corp Settle said seeking the reopening of the North Wilkesboro Speedway by working with the Smith family “Wilkes County is a wonderful place to live but I believe we are currently challenged by a lack of employment opportunities with attractive salaries fun and safe extracurricular options for our teens and young adults services and activities for seniors and a broader variety of retail and shopping venues.” Hunt added “Improvements in these areas would not only serve the needs of our current residents and boost our economy but has the potential to attract new residents to Wilkes County Though change tends to be met with resistance it must be considered to help us stay competitive and prepare next generations for success in a diverse and ever evolving world.” KEITH ELMORE said Wilkes County government is strong financially despite the COVID-19 pandemic and that he supports using county funds to help establish a pad ready site for economic development the experience with the pandemic showed the importance of maintaining a strong county fund balance He said it also demonstrated the importance of many of local low-paying jobs in keeping the economy moving He said that as a member of the WCC trustees he plans to do more to help increase trade skills training opportunities and student participation in them “Part of the problem with housing is high construction costs due to a shortage of skilled labor” for building homes CASEY JOE JOHNSON said his top goals are working with the Wilkes school board to strengthen the Wilkes schools and supporting local families and businesses by helping the county get more amenities He cited needs identified in the recent housing study and said he supports working for extension of water and sewer lines seeking grants for improving existing housing and encouraging development of pad ready sites for housing and other economic development Johnson said he supports encouraging local young people to further their education through a university certificate licensing or trades and then c come back to Wilkes to live and work support our families with recreation and amenities I believe that we will be able to supply jobs in Wilkes County,” he said JEROME WATKINS said his top concerns are jobs and housing He said housing includes better addressing the needs of the homeless in Wilkes He said the county commissioners should form a commission with public and private sector representation to address housing assisting small businesses and promoting alternative public transportation as well as seeking employment opportunities to help keep retain young people “I have met with several voters since January and their concerns are wide The conventional means have not been working and we will need to look to alternative methods to help bring jobs back to Wilkes County,” said Watkins Stay Informed: Sign up for our newsletter so you can receive news updates every publication day Sign up today to have our e-edition delivered to your inbox there are no recent results for popular videos there are no recent results for popular commented articles House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug 26 and end no later than the Friday clo… Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: FOURTEEN people have died and 31 others are injured following a tragic bus crash in Mexico The bus overturned on the El Capulín-Chalma highway on the outskirts of the capital on Sunday Horror images from the scene showed a large white bus laying on its side Injured people were reportedly taken to the hospital in "code red" The passengers on the bus were travelling from Guanajuato to the sanctuary of Chalma for religious reasons Road accidents are common and have been on the rise in Mexico since 2020. There were more than 377,200 related claims made in 2022, according to the National Statistics Institute. The tragedy comes after 10 people, including four minors, died in a crash in the north-central state of San Luis Potosi on February 24. On Saturday, three migrants were killed after a truck ran over them as they walked in the southern state of Oaxaca. Almost 50 people were said to have been on board when disaster struck on a highway in the township of Elota, near the port city of Mazatland in northern Mexico The bus had been travelling from the city of Guadalajara The lorry reportedly overturned when the bus drove into it Last year, at least 29 people were killed in Mexico when a passenger bus careered off a road and plummeted 80 feet into a ravine An investigation was launched into the cause of the accident but early indications suggested it was the result of mechanical failure Passengers on the bus were travelling from Mexico City to tiny remote mountain villages in the impoverished Mixteca region In 1969, Graciela Iturbide was enrolled in the prestigious University Center for Film Studies at the National Autonomous University of Mexico with the dream of becoming a film director — until she began studying with Manuel Álvarez Bravo heightened by tragedy that befell Iturbide just one year later when her daughter Claudia died at the age of six Iturbide turned to photography as a form of therapy using the camera as a means to cope with profound grief allowing it to guide her in the process of recovery — and in doing so discovered her power to pen poetry using nothing but light Iturbide became Álvarez Bravo’s assistant and taking it all in as one who learns from observing the world in which we live Iturbide is recognized as the greatest living Latinx photographer whose work has come to define the visual identity of Mexico at home and abroad In Graciela Iturbide’s Mexico, currently on view at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston through May 12, 2019, we enter into Iturbide’s realm — a world that is rich with raw, intense, visceral sensations of life and death that are beautifully detailed in the eponymous MFA Publications catalogue Featuring some 125 photographs spanning her five-decade career the exhibition is organized chronologically allowing Iturbide’s elegiac odyssey to unfold as she captures the majesty of Mexico’s indigenous cultures in three key series of work: Juchitán captures the essential role of women in Zapotec culture; Los que viven en la arena (Those Who Live in the Sand) concentrates on the Seri people living in the Sonoran Desert; and La Mixteca documents elaborate goat-slaughtering rituals in Oaxaca that provide critical commentary on the exploitation of workers Iturbide’s intimate relationship with photography dates back to her childhood years she was fascinated by her father’s camera and considered the box of family photos to be their greatest treasure Her early dreams of being a poet found form after her studies with Álvarez Bravo honed her passion for the medium into a practice she would come to master at the outset of her career while drawing inspiration from Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Frank “My photographs are neither political or feminist but I am when I need to be,” she told Ricardo Lopez for the Associated Press in 2015 one guided by the principle of looking upon seemingly change encounters that are both metaphor and reality at the same time They are paths to truth of the sacred and the profane Iturbide’s photographs are portals into another plane one that exists in the very air we breathe the invisible is revealed — an understanding that speaks without words silently guiding us to the effusive ethereal flow of day into night death into life so that we may know the feeling of peace in our heart Museum purchase with funds donated by John and Cynthia Reed HOT: » What kind of news would you like to see more of? who went missing in Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountain in July the US Embassy in Sofia told Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) He has already left Bulgaria safe and sound The authorities in the southern Bulgarian District of Smolyan were searching for the missing US tourist who went to visit an uninhabited local village The 25-year-old tourist is of African-American origin but his name has not been revealed the US tourist had sent an email to his telling them he was going to the uninhabited village of Chamla near the village of Mugla in the Rhodope Mountains The village of Chamla is located 5 km away from Bulgaria’s border with Greece It used to be the highest-located inhabited place in Bulgaria (1850 m above sea level) The last inhabitants of the ghost village left or died in the 1980s Around 2000 the place became known as a hippie commune called “Kralstvo Champla” The walls of the houses in the ghost village are said to be covered in drawings The name "Kingdom of Chamla" was given to the village in 2002 by a foundation called "Destination Bulgaria" that was hoping to turn it into a place for writers and artists a Frenchman named Olivie Luc spent a year living on his own in Chamla A Spaniard named Oscar Corea did the same thing the following year the Bulgarian press reported that the village and the adjacent lands were bought by a company owned by the richest Bulgarian Vasil Bozhkov in order to turn it into a base for the development of rural tourism The road to Champla disappears at certain spots in the rough terrain The village has no electricity and no water and sewerage system The best way to access the village is to use a GPS device The coordinates of the village are 41° 37' 19.04" N We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria Six Russian tourists lost their lives on Thursday when a submarine carrying passengers on an underwater excursion near Hurghada Israeli Ambassador to Bulgaria Yossi Levi-Sfari expects an increase in Israeli tourists to Bulgaria following the recent Gaza ceasefire A tourist ship sank off the coast of Marsa Alam in the Red Sea reflecting a 9% increase compared to the same period last year Sofia experienced a 12% increase in tourist arrivals compared to the same period last year as reported by the Unified Tourist Information System of the Ministry of Tourism Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev held a phone conversation with U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio on April 29 Bulgaria’s Ambassador to the United States has formally submitted a request to terminate his mandate ahead of schedule and is expected to return to Bulgaria by the end of the month The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Bulgaria’s Ministry of the Interior on April 22 The South African Embassy in Sofia has officially discontinued its consular services as of March 17 The Fourth Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2025) will be held under the auspices of H.E Bulgaria’s first F-16 landed on Tuesday afternoon at the Third Fighter Air Base at Graf Ignatievo Google Street View Cars Return to Bulgaria for Major Mapping Update Housing Prices Soar in Bulgaria’s Major Cities as Demand and Supply Strain Increase MEXICO CITY: At least 14 people died and 31 were injured when the bus they were travelling in while on pilgrimage overturned near Malinalco in central Mexico The accident occurred on Sunday morning on the Capulin-Chalma highway and state police have attended to it the local Mexican security secretariat said in a statement Medical units also rushed to the scene to transport the injured to hospitals How the driver had come to lose control remained unclear the pilgrims from Guanajuato state were travelling to Chalma the site of a Christian sanctuary to the south-west of Mexico City The sanctuary is one of the most important destinations for pilgrims in Mexico.