Reporting by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by David Alire Garcia and Ed Osmond Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Mexican congressman Benito Aguas Atlahua and an engineer were killed in a violent attack in Veracruz on Monday Atlahua, a member of the ruling coalition, died from gunshot wounds. Linares' body was also found at the scene of the attack in Zongolica municipality. Authorities have not revealed how he died or provided details about the attackers or the circumstances of the incident, CBS News reported This marks another case of violence targeting politicians in the country Atlahua was taken to the hospital in serious condition after the shooting He was a member of the Ecologist Green Party of Mexico (PVEM) which was part of the ruling coalition in Congress along with the Labor Party and President Claudia Sheinbaum's Morena party The PVEM condemned the attack in a statement shared on X Condenamos enérgicamente el ataque contra nuestro compañero y amigo, Dip. Benito Aguas.Exhortamos a las autoridades a realizar las acciones pertinentes para que este acto infame no quede impune. La seguridad y el respeto deben ser pilares fundamentales en la política… https://t.co/h9JN6trR8O "We urge the authorities to take appropriate action to ensure that this heinous act does not go unpunished Security and respect must be fundamental pillars in Mexican politics," the party posted A tribute to Atlahua on his Facebook page described him as a hardworking and dedicated individual committed to improving the lives of citizens It highlighted his legacy of service and his deep love for his country which left a lasting impression on those who knew and worked with him hoy nos despedimos de nuestro diputado Benito Aguas Atlahua un hombre comprometido con su comunidad y con los intereses de Veracruz often become targets of violence linked to corruption and the drug trade Recent incidents include the murder and decapitation of a mayor in Guerrero in October followed by the arrest of a former prosecutor connected to the crime two mayors and a local councilwoman were killed in separate attacks in regions affected by cartel violence Another mayor and her bodyguard were also gunned down the same month shortly after Sheinbaum's election victory highlighting the dangers faced by public officials in Mexico Veracruz state has seen violent clashes between criminal gangs due to its strategic location on a drug and migrant transit route to the United States when Mexico deployed the army to combat cartels the country has recorded over 450,000 killings It might not seem logical for a group of women specializing in the same kind of handcraft to promote and sell together The Nahua women of the Sierra de Zongolica live only 100 kilometers from Xalapa but it takes several hours by car to get there over winding mountain roads This isolation has allowed the people of this area to conserve much of their language and way of life Veracruz is associated with the oppressive heat and humidity of its long coastline but the Zongolica region is part of an equally long chain of high mountains that separate the state from Puebla and Oaxaca and humidity from the gulf frequently transforms into fog and cold rain The Nahua people here have raised sheep since the colonial period Zongolica women combine this wool with weaving techniques from time immemorial Much of their dyeing is still done using local plant and mineral pigments but one hallmark of local garments here is the color gray the natural color of a breed of sheep rarely raised in other parts of Mexico They make traditional clothing such as rebozos They also weave cotton for garments such as the frilly just about all weaving was done for local use but despite the values placed on tradition here the making and wearing of traditional clothing had been dying out a group of women decided to work together to conserve and revive textile skills in order to produce goods to sell Although the people here grow and raise what they need to survive they still need to earn some money for things such as school supplies and electricity Banding together was not an easy undertaking Most of the women who still had the requisite skills live in almost inaccessible villages away from the “main” town of Zongolica But perhaps even more problematic was one downside to traditional life: the low social status of women Women are traditionally shut out of decisions related to economics it is not unusual to find women who speak little or no Spanish and who have little to no schooling according to anthropologist Miguel Ángel Sosme Campos The women’s initial efforts to commercialize their handcrafts were opposed by husbands and authorities especially since it meant women leaving their homes to travel to markets But some persevered with the support of family members willing to think outside the box Their weavings began to sell farther afield who arrived as a student to research the region working with a program of Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) His work was published in the book Tejedoras de esperanza Empoderamiento de los grupos artesanales de la sierra de Zongolica (Weavers of Hope: Empowering Artisan Groups in the Sierra de Zongolica) the first academic documentation of these Nahua women and their lives It was followed by the minidocumentary Tlakimilolli: voces del telar (Tlakimilolli: Voices Of The Loom) which has been screened in the United States he has been the weavers’ main interlocutor He has even brought their work to the attention of international organizations such as the Los Amigos de Arte Popular in the United States This success prompted local and state authorities to establish the Regional Festival and Competition of Zongolica Textile Arts The success of the past eight years can be seen in both the handcrafts and the women who make them Weaving and dyeing techniques have been rescued documented and taught to younger generations but contact with the wider world has meant new products as well such as scarves The income from the weaving means higher social status for Nahua women often bringing more money than can be earned from crops It also means that they become the faces of their communities as they travel to Xalapa Like so many other artisans, their sales have dropped because of the loss of cultural events. But their collaboration with institutions has allowed them to set up and run a Facebook page allowing the women to survive the pandemic even though their physical isolation from the rest of Mexico means that almost no one has gotten ill They accept orders from Mexico and abroad with payments through Mexican bank deposits This is the first in a series of stories highlighting Mexican artisans by Mexico News Daily culture writer Leigh Thelmadatter ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC Mara Sanchez Renero looks to break with the stereotypical depictions of the Sierra de Zongolica in Veracruz documenting instead staged scenes that together reinterpret the inhabitants and the territory Iluikak meaning “in the sky” in Nuahatl - known historically as Aztec a language or group of languages in the Uto-Aztecan language family - is a photographic project that reveals a natural and cultural beauty protected by the Sierra de Zongolica in Veracruz Far removed from conventional forms of anthropological photography of indigenous Mexican communities and the stereotypes of representation the images produced manifest a new existence through a new photographic treatment in which the portrait is constructed as allegorical scenes of the current Nahua identity you have mentioned that you are interested in seeking places that allow you to create settings where you can explore the instability of the human condition Could you elaborate how this concept relates to your project the culture that shelters the Sierra of Zongolica in Veracruz due to the geographical conditions of the region Although the landscape has contributed to scarce economic development it has protected its cultural wealth in close relationship and veneration towards nature something that was part of the worldview of the original communities of Mexico I am interested in making visible the link between the past and the present that still remains in the area; searching for those meanings that are disintegrating due to the passage of time and the socio-political conditions of the country When mentioning the instability of the human condition not as a negative aspect but as a state that is constantly moving and transforming I am interested in talking about those conditions through photographic construction Why do you think it is relevant to remove your subject from their daily surroundings in order to portray their identity my starting point is from the objects and activities that are part of the daily life of this community - I extract those elements from their usual context to be able to see them from a new place I wanted to get away from the conventional forms of the anthropological portrait of rural communities in Mexico and the stereotypes of representation the act of redirecting and creating new connections that I can generate a timeless space through which I can focus on specific aspects of identity In this way the images are closer to an imaginary state where the elements are read in an iconographical way You have deliberately focused on the state of Veracruz Mexico in order to talk about the country's current socio-political issues you described in your statement that you have chosen to situate yourself within your project - why so and how can we locate you in your images When I see my photos I see all my references and influences on them I see the route and the research that I have carried out with the medium and the visual language in addition to the previous documentary and ethnographic research processes that I carried out in relation to the place and people that I am going to photograph In Iluikak I have decided to incorporate different light sources to generate a connection between the subject and the support an aesthetic exercise in which light is a fundamental core player Light is the indispensable technical condition that enables me to not only compose the image but also render visible everyday elements drawn from the identity of lives led in the Sierra of Zongolica It’s the formal resource to unify all these themes that enclose the mountains Iluikak means In the Sky in the local dialect Could you elaborate on how this concept has influenced the way you have produced your images contain concepts that speak beyond the proper meaning of the word and that describe their worldview The Sierra de Zongolica is located in the northern part of the Sierra Madre del Sur in Mexico it is an area that is characterised by having very steep mountains peaks that are constantly hidden among the clouds It is these boundaries between territory and sky that led me to name the project Iluikak It is the mountain as a description of the mystical; the sky as the empire of the clouds These are metaphors and associations that led me to travel the mountains in their different altitudes and customs I find that the way you have photographed this indigenous community almost challenges how natives groups have been portrayed in the past There are many questions around the topic about the forms of representation in Mexico that impel me to seek new points of view in this project I was interested in working with the environment which is part of my research on the territory Zongolica mountains constantly change because of the weather is quite difficult to move through the sierra the routes can be long on dirt roads in very bad condition and with many curves The work is slow and many things are not possible to control There are times when conditions do not allow me to take a photo and other times the image ends up being something that was not planned Verónica Sanchis Bencomo is a Venezuelan photographer and curator based in Hong Kong. In 2014, she founded Foto Féminas, a platform that promotes the works of female Latin American and Caribbean photographers. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram This article is part of In Focus: Latin American Female Photographers a monthly series curated by Verónica Sanchis Bencomo focusing on the works of female visual storytellers working and living in Latin America Stay informed on the latest in credit union news and community Sign in to save articles for later and to follow authors and companies It is the credit union creed that propels us to better serve members—no matter who We must acknowledge that credit unions would not exist without its employees’ persistent passion to help others many of whom achieved success because they embraced ‘improving lives through credit unions’ as more than a career whose careers stemmed from a natural desire to help In 1994, Dolores Rivera Ramírez started the first credit union in Zongolica, Mexico, to meet the needs of poor residents in her rural community. Under her leadership, Caja Zongolica has grown to 67,000 members Zongolica is an indigenous region—one of Mexico’s poorest and most marginalized—that is best known for coffee production and its remote mountainous terrain The credit union built its success by establishing members’ trust With 13 branches located within the region Dolores only hires locals that can speak the indigenous language of the communities they serve the mountain will come to Mohammed,” Dolores said about the credit union’s philosophy to bring financial services wherever people need them Since 2003, Caja Zongolica has participated in World Council’s Rural Microfinance Technical Assistance Program (PATMIR) which links rural residents to credit unions using an innovative rural finance methodology coined Semilla Cooperativa [cooperative seed] Dolores was among the first to pilot handheld transaction technology to deliver financial education services and products to remote community groups This outreach model has since expanded throughout Mexico and into other countries Caja Zongolica belongs to a strategic alliance network with World Council the Mexican government's development bank and other development organizations to facilitate broader rural development across Mexico Financial education and savings mobilization are major objectives at Caja Zongolica this credit union is the first financial institution to ever serve them In addition to events and workshops throughout the area the headquarters features an education center that teaches financial skills Staff also lead craft making workshops to provide members with a source of livelihood and encourage early habits of money management and savings at the credit union connections and success keep reaching new heights she has been able to extend her leadership beyond the community a financial services company that is leading national efforts to expand credit union payments services government bodies and state banks all seek advice from Dolores and offer their support on efforts to advance financial inclusion and digital payments Anne Cochran—a native of Ireland—has dedicated her past 15 years to credit unions "My passion for the entire credit union movement knows no bounds," said Anne during her inauguration as World Council of Credit Unions’ first ever female chair last July "I pledge to you to continue to grow that passion in my new role." Anne has continuously put credit unions first, at work and in her free time. She led the Louisiana Credit Union League to attain a record high affiliation ratio while uniting 26 credit unions to create a shared-branching network that became one of the state’s most successful cooperatives Anne also developed the Louisiana Credit Union Foundation to provide financial assistance for statewide disaster relief efforts and provide educational opportunities for credit union employees and volunteers Anne has tirelessly volunteered to help credit unions and associations worldwide grow and prosper From serving on several boards and committees to hosting developing credit unions from Africa and Russia to traveling internationally to speak at events and trainings she finds happiness in spreading financial inclusion through credit unions where she met with Dolores Rivera Ramírez at Caja Zongolica Together they met with remote community groups to watch and learn how the credit union processes financial transactions via tablets and mobile printers They visited with credit union staff and members of all ages to better understand Caja Zongolica’s extensive impact on the region Anne expressed her support and gained insights she can share with the global movement volunteering and home life has been a challenge over the years but she “makes it work.” Her experiences have contributed to her wide understanding and sensitivity to the diverse needs of credit unions to help more people Anne Cochran presents Dolores Rivera Ramírez with a gift to recognize Caja Zongolica’s success in Mexico’s financial sector As two strong female leaders from different worlds, Dolores and Anne share a compassion for others and an eagerness to constantly seek new ways to better serve members. As long-time participants in World Council’s development activities, World Credit Union Conference and Global Women’s Leadership Network they take advantage of opportunities to learn and share best practices with credit unions throughout Mexico and worldwide Both women help improve our global credit union community State police in Veracruz took control of two municipalities on Wednesday disarming and relieving from duty at least 40 municipal police officers Law enforcement from Papantla and Zongolica will be sent to the state capital Xalapa for reevaluation Veracruz authorities have intervened in at least nine municipal police forces this year Papantla and Zongolica are both locally governed by the Democratic Revolutionary Party believes the Morena state government’s intervention was tied to politics “This is clearly an intimidating and desperate act that seeks to try to suppress the spirit of citizen participation … It’s a cowardly government and takes advantage of institutions,” he said Zongolica has one of the largest community police forces in the country Sources: El Universal (sp), El Sol de Orizaba (sp), El Mundo de Orizaba (sp) Benito Aguas from president Claudia Sheinbaum’s Morena party is latest victim of spate of political violence A Mexican federal congressman has been assassinated in the latest killing in an outbreak of political violence in the country The Veracruz attorney general’s office confirmed the death of Benito Aguas a member of the leftist government’s ruling coalition in the 500-member lower house of congress Another man was also found dead at the scene according to the attorney general’s office adding that an investigation into the suspected murders was ongoing Local media reported that Aguas was shot multiple times in the mountainous municipality of Zongolica in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz and died later from his wounds “We trust that the relevant investigations will be carried out so that justice prevails,” the lower house leader Aguas was a member of Mexico’s Green party, part of the ruling coalition led by the Morena party of President Claudia Sheinbaum with hundreds killed in intra-cartel warfare in western Sinaloa state and frequent episodes of violence elsewhere in the country where gangs fight over lucrative smuggling routes and other criminal rackets Politicians have frequently been targeted, with 30 candidates killed ahead of last June’s general election while hundreds more dropped out or asked for protection The violence has continued since the election, with more than half a dozen elected officials killed. Read moreThe brutal murders of a mayor in Mexico’s southern Guerrero state and his second in command just days after they took office in October sparked outrage and doubts over Sheinbaum’s security policies All political parties have been affected by violence – but local authorities have been hit hardest According to Data Cívica, a research group, political violence is steadily increasing in Mexico, with 2024 the most violent year since it began documenting in 2018 Scientists have described a strikingly colored new species of snake from the mountains of east-central Mexico with a vivid orange and black banding pattern on its body a group that is commonly referred to as earth snakes Researchers have named the new species Geophis lorancai in honor of biologist Miguel Ángel de la Torre Loranca who collected most of the specimens of the new species from the the mountains of the Sierra Zongolica in west-central Veracruz in Mexico With the description of G. lorancai, the number of species in this genus increases to 50, the researchers write in a new study published in ZooKeys making this the most species-rich genus of snake in the Western Hemisphere Snakes of the Geophis group are usually elusive and poorly understood these burrowing reptiles have restricted distribution “Most of these snakes have notably small geographic ranges and sometimes are only found in one type of vegetation,” the scientists note in a statement “This makes them particularly vulnerable to the destruction of their habitat It is important to know them before it gets too late.” The authors add that the mountains of east-central Puebla and west-central Veracruz is yet to be thoroughly explored and could yield many more previously undescribed species of earth snakes “Our analyses suggest that this group is more diverse than previously thought,” the authors write “They have proven to be an exciting model to understand the patterns of biological richness in the Mexican mountains.” The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] no stranger to controversial statements and actions is urging people to make love as a way of keeping healthy during the coronavirus pandemic In a video he posted to his Facebook page on June 21 and later deleted Mayor Juan Carlos Mezhua told viewers “it is very important these days that we have healthy food and play sports so everyone has to get into that at least once in a while,” he said with a chuckle before apologizing but I think that it did not come out so well.” The video was captured before he removed it and went viral on social media where he was criticized for his comments which viewers felt lacked gravity in the face of a deadly pandemic that has infected at least 10 of Mezhua’s constituents Veracruz as a whole is marked orange on the federal “stoplight” coronavirus map meaning that it is at high risk for the virus but 79 of the state’s 212 municipalities remain at red is seeking reelection but has been involved in a string of recent controversies that may make for a difficult campaign in another example of comments that did not come out so well Mezhua praised the work of a government official who resigned after allegedly commenting that a woman who was critical of city government should be bathed in acid Mezhua stated he would install parking meters in the downtown area to generate income As of 2017 only 785 households in the municipality had a vehicle and the area has just 148 kilometers of paved roads the mayor announced he would raffle off a dancing Friesian horse he had “borrowed” from a friend Mezhua is issuing 2,000 tickets at a cost of 500 pesos each hoping to raise 1 million pesos in the September 15 draw from which he would deduct taxes and the value of the horse and use the balance to pave streets The average worker spends 1,819 pesos a month to buy basic food products thus a resident of Zongolica would have to invest 30% of the monthly budget to purchase a raffle ticket for the horse Source: La Silla Rota (sp), El Sol de México (sp) Almost a decade after he took an 11-year-old Keizer girl who he claimed was his "girlfriend," to Mexico a 28-year-old man was sentenced to 22 years and 11 months in prison The crime took Xalamihua-Espindola and his victim across the United States down to Mexico and eventually back to Oregon Xalamihua-Espindola pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree rape and appeared for sentencing before Marion County Circuit Court Judge David Leith on Monday Xalamihua-Espindola spoke through two translators — one translating English to Spanish and the other translating Spanish to Nahuatl a Central Mexican language also known as Aztec The victim and her family declined to attend the sentencing but Deputy District Attorney Tobias Tingleaf said they were satisfied with the resolution reached Tingleaf recommended three consecutive sentences Members of the Keizer Police Department sat in the courtroom finally witnessing a resolution to the years-long investigation "The detectives involved were relentless and did not give up," said Tingleaf who was a law clerk in Marion County at the time of the girl's disappearance "We are here today because of their work." Keizer police began their investigation after the girl left a note for her parents saying she ran away with her boyfriend The note said not to worry about the girl's well-being according to an affidavit filed in August 2007 The girl's friends told police she had a boyfriend named "Raul." Police determined a man of that name lived in the same apartment complex as the victim and identified him as Xalamihua-Espindola The girl was rescued and returned home a few months later, but Xalamihua-Espindola eluded capture until two years ago. He was eventually captured and held in a Mexican jail. In December 2015, he was extradited back to the United States It is often difficult to bring criminals back to the United States to face prosecution Keizer Police Deputy Chief Jeffrey Kuhns attended the trial along with several investigators involved in the case extradition back to the United States and being sentenced to prison for the crimes he committed over nine years ago in 2007 is a great example of the investigators' resolve to hold this criminal accountable for his actions and bad choices," Kuhns said "Not once did the Keizer Police Department or the many law enforcement partners who assisted stop the investigation or our pursuit of justice." Xalamihua-Espindola, who initially pleaded not guilty pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree rape in May One count of rape and one count of first-degree custodial interference were dismissed as part of a plea agreement he said he did not know what he was doing was a crime young girls marrying older men is a common custom taking an 11-year-old from her home without her parents permission to have sex with her is acceptable?" Leith asked him all of that is acceptable," Xalamihua-Espindola replied He dropped to his knees and pleaded for forgiveness from Leith "It's not my role to dispense forgiveness," Leith said after hearing the defendant's appeal for mercy "That would be for the victims of the crimes to decide." concurrent sentence of eight years and four months citing his client's lack of criminal history cultural differences and the two years he spent held in a Mexican jail Leith said he wanted the sentence to match the enormity of the crime these are among the most serious crimes that can be committed," he said kidnapping and raping children would be acceptable in any culture Leith sentenced Xalamihua-Espindola to eight years and four months for each of the first-degree rape counts All but two years of the sentence will run consecutively he is required to register as a sex offender First-degree rape is a Measure 11 offense and carries a mandatory minimum sentence of eight years and four months call 503-399-6884 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth Credit: Miguel &Aacute;ngel de la Torre Loranca A new gem has been added to the vast treasure of Mexican reptiles Mexican scientists recently described a new and strikingly colored species of earth snake from the mountains of Puebla and Veracruz in east-central Mexico These burrowing reptiles are seldom encountered and, consequently, have been poorly studied. Furthermore, several species have restricted distribution, making them particularly vulnerable to extinction. The description of the new species was published in the open access journal ZooKeys Looking to shed light on the evolutionary history and diversity of earth snakes, Luis Canseco-Márquez and Adrián Nieto-Montes de Oca, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México started to collect samples of these rarely seen critters "Most of these snakes have notably small geographic ranges and sometimes are only found in one type of vegetation This makes them particularly vulnerable to the destruction of their habitat It is important to know them before it gets too late," note the scientists Genetic data and careful anatomical examination have been vital to understand the real diversity within the group "These snakes are remarkably similar to each other and it has been only through molecular analyses and rigorous specimen examination that we have come close to understand how diverse they are," explain the authors The region in which the species is found has not been thoroughly explored yet it seems likely that it could yield future discoveries the work made by the researchers suggests the existence of other undescribed species of earth snake "Our analyses suggest that this group is more diverse than previously thought They have proven to be an exciting model to understand the patterns of biological richness in the Mexican mountains," conclude the authors Canseco-Márquez L, Pavón-Vázquez CJ, López-Luna MA, Nieto-Montes de Oca A (2016) A new species of earth snake (Dipsadidae, Geophis) from Mexico. ZooKeys 610: 131-145. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.610.8605 are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system Copyright © 2025 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Puentes/Bridges has helped farming communities in west central Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota bridge the cultural and language gaps between Mexican workers A lot of that work is done via immersion trips which were the subject of an April 17 presentation in Preston said the organization got its start in the late '90s when she said there were a lot of Midwest dairy farmers struggling to find employees "And there were a lot of folks from Mexico that were coming up here from rural areas looking for work," Falk said "And they started to find a lot of commonalities with dairy farms because they came from an agricultural society and were used to working with animals and working on farms and they kind of linked up with each other." a University of Wisconsin Extension agent from the county a local high school Spanish teacher at the time started to closely connect local farmers and their workers from Mexico "(Duvall) started working with farmers and also was teaching English to employees from Mexico and as they started to learn a little bit more of the language she quickly learned that so much more was needed that there were some cultural differences," Falk said Duvall led a two-week trip to Mexico with 15 farmers in which they immersed themselves in Spanish language classes cultural immersion experiences and visits with employees’ families said it was life-changing for him and upon returning home he and Duvall incorporated Puentes/Bridges as a non-profit "The trips kind of started with wanting to learn the language there are a lot of connections that can be made just when you have the desire to want to understand another person," Falk said the annual trips have turned into full-on immersion experiences that focus on visiting the families of employees working on dairy farms in Wisconsin and Minnesota "Our trips have evolved into getting to know families getting to see the villages where the employees come from and the houses that they have built for their families "We get the chance to share meals around a table with each other and learn about culture." A group of four farmers including Michael Johnson of Fountain traveled to the mountainous regions around Zongolica and Cuatepec de Hinojosa Johnson said they traveled around the small villages and rural communities in Zongolica which Johnson said was located on a dead end in a mountainous area they were greeted by a family who shared with them that it was a special day "They said this is our traditional day when we plant our first corn," Johnson said Their reasoning for this was to have their corn harvested and dried by January of the next year when they would be celebrating Three Kings Day so they would just plant a few kernels to mark the date He said it was much different than the planting they were used to "We told them we want to see where you're planting — we're farmers want to touch it and smell it and understand what you're doing," he said steeper than the hills along the Mississippi but it's all planted by hand and harvested by hand." Johnson explained how some of the younger farmers were attending classes to learn how to improve planting conditions and the fertilizer they use but it's just a whole different world than I've ever experienced," Johnson said and the better kernels and ears they were getting." Both Johnson and Hoscheit said their biggest takeaway from the trip was how family in Mexico was the core of their culture and they're all about family," Hoscheit said I think the better employees you can have to grow your business and continue the business on." please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot Get the most important global markets news at your fingertips with a Bloomberg.com subscription She’d buy Costco-size stashes of the stuff and take them to work with her to sip and slurp in the teacher’s lounge at lunchtime I didn’t share her taste for them—I could never cook the noodles or the tiny pieces of dehydrated vegetables to a texture that seemed right to me I think it ruined the dish for me because I’ve never had a desire to go out for ramen.But when I was invited to attend a media preview of the new Ramen Nagi prior to its South Coast Plaza opening back in March I figured this would be my chance to taste a high-quality traditional bowl of ramen And it was delightful—noodles prepared fresh daily in-house and cooked to perfection a pork-bone broth that’s rich and flavorful because it’s cooked for more than 20 hours and various goodies that you can add to the mix and seaweed.This is the newest spot among some three dozen Ramen Nagi restaurants—all of them uber-popular and now Costa Mesa). Although ramen originated in China it has become a popular comfort food in Japan since its introduction to the culture in the late 1800s. <\/p><\/div>As the story goes has been making the soup since he was a teenager working in the ramen shops that made the Hakata district in Japan’s Fukuoka City famous His big break came when he won a ramen contest and was awarded a coveted spot in Tokyo’s Tachikawa Ramen Square And he takes his craft very seriously: “I’m getting close to my 30th year in the ramen world,” he told his media guests handcrafted bowl by bowl” with the world.Ordering here is fun Guests are given an omotenashi sheet with an invitation for wagamama Omotenashi is a Japanese word for hospitality and wagamama in this context means to be picky or self-indulgent. <\/p>You can customize your bowl as much or as little as you want Play it safe and check the “chef’s recommendation” box or make your own blend with a variety of options beginning with the flavor of the broth—original tonkotsu pork The toppings come next: pork or pork belly You can choose to have a splash of spicy Nagi sauce added to the mix or go without (My advice: Have them give your bowl a splash—it adds complexity and a little kick choose between thin (containing egg) or thick and decide whether you want them cooked extra soft Then comes the choice of extras— extra noodles On each table is placed a condiment tray containing marinated bean sprouts and sesame seeds in case you want to fancy up your ramen even further There’s also a menu of appetizers— edamame But you come here for ramen.Being a novice I went with the chef’s recommendation and was delivered a sizeable bowl of carefully constructed ramen Noodles (I chose thin) made up the first layer with thin slices of chashu (pork loin) lining the sides A few dashes of the Nagi sauce hid beneath the surface of the broth which was topped by a cluster of sliced tree mushrooms and a generous helping of chopped green onion My husband ordered the soft-boiled egg (tomago) the yolk adding even more richness to the broth I was pleased with how balanced all of the flavors were I loved the little bit of heat from the Nagi sauce The thin slices of pork imparted a sweetness from the seasonings and preparation And the noodles were perfect to the bite.<\/p><\/div>As for the setting it’s modest and small—with long tables occupying a narrow strip of the 1,250-square-foot space and an outdoor dining area that brings total seating to 70 A series of red and black banners hang over the tables each with traditional Japanese characters sharing what the chef described as “phrases and bits of philosophy that are always on my mind while I’m making ramen”: cherish each bowl of ramen A large display kitchen takes center stage inviting guests to take a moment to watch the chefs in action among steaming pots of broth.“Having come to America and being exposed to all of the great cuisine from the different cultures here I’m always impressed and at the same time think it’s to take a piece of Japan—something that represents where I’m from and that I feel is delicious.” It certainly is.<\/p><\/iframe>\" tml-embed-width=\"100%\" tml-embed-height=\"320\" tml-render-layout=\"inline\"><\/div>","metaDescription":"Popular throughout Asia Marathon Legacy Runner Vikki Richardson Isn’t Slowing Down","primarySectionIds":["ci02be3fbae049252d"],"editedByPrincipalId":"up02c5f21a6000277b","isSyndicatedToGoogleAmp":false,"madeWith":["ci02be3fbae049252d","ci02fa7a8530002417","ci02fa7a8160002417","ci02be3fbd00132732"],"ownerId":"up02c5f21a6000277b","bodyTml":"<\/div>You’ve participated in the OC Marathon since its inception I’m helping (the charitable causes) in any way (and) that those funds go to help them The marathon and (race director) Gary (Kutscher) are wonderful people do you plan on completing the full or half marathon?<\/strong>I’m doing the half At the first OC Marathon Running Festival in 2004 I plan to continue running the 13.2 miles at least to age 100.<\/p>Why did you decide to begin participating in marathons <\/strong>I started running to celebrate turning 50 I had a friend who wanted to do the LA Marathon to celebrate I ran and haven’t missed a beat since.What inspires you to continue?<\/strong>I love running My inspiration comes from the ladies who are 100 years or older and running My hero just passed away a couple years ago—(Julia) “Hurricane” Hawkins I’ll just keep toddling along.<\/p><\/iframe>\" tml-embed-width=\"100%\" tml-embed-height=\"320\" tml-render-layout=\"inline\"><\/div>","metaDescription":"At the age of 85 Orange County Marathon Legacy Runner Vikki Richardson celebrates her 21st year competing in the race on May 4 which is how I was first introduced to him But he is also a Sinatra-style crooner and the author of a memoir “Bittersweet Treasures: A Father’s Journey Through Loss & Healing,” in which he shares the heartbreaking story of his wife who tragically died in the same helicopter crash that took the lives of Kobe Bryant and seven others All proceeds from his book go towards The Christina Mauser Foundation which supports women and girls in sports through scholarships and financial aid he talks about growing up in Huntington Beach and working as a lifeguard He also shares how he holds the unofficial record for swimming the backstroke around the pier Mauser wrote his first song at 8 years old and became skilled at the guitar at 15 He discusses what ignited his passion for music and how the Tijuana Dogs came to be a staple in the local music scene The name came from a trip to Mexico where he noticed dogs running around in Tijuana.<\/p><\/div>Mauser talks about how The Matt Mauser Big Band came to be teaching Spanish at Harbor Day school and meeting Kobe Bryant he shares what the writing process was like and how listeners can get involved with The Christina Mauser Foundation.<\/p> Listen and watch every Thursday here.<\/a><\/p>","metaDescription":"Today’s guest is Matt Mauser who you may recognize as the lead singer of Orange County-based band Tijuana Dogs He’s also produced podcast shows for comedian Adam Carolla including “The Adam Carolla Show” and “The Adam & Dr Drew Show,” as well as Rob Riggle’s “Riggle’s Picks,” which has featured guests including Jake Johnson He is also the producer and co-host of “Reasonable Doubt” with criminal defense lawyer and Engine Vision Media co-founder Mark Geragos.<\/p><\/div> In today’s episode Smith talks about moving to Orange County when he was growing up and attending University of Arizona where he majored in majored in political science but after some advice from his father’s friend he decided to intern at a law firm and ultimately chose to not pursue that career he started listening to Adam Corolla’s podcast and learned that he was doing a live taping at the Irvine Improv He brought his resume to the show and gave it to one of the staff members After eventually landing an internship with Adam Corolla’s team Smith went on to become a producer of various shows in the network and became good friends with Dr Smith came to work at Engine Vision Media to continue “Reasonable Doubt,” which is how he became connected with Orange Coast<\/em> magazine and how “The Zest” started he talks about working on “Riggle’s Picks,” advice he has for someone who wants to work in the podcasting field and more.Listen and watch every Thursday here.<\/a><\/p><\/iframe>\" tml-embed-width=\"100%\" tml-embed-height=\"320\" tml-render-layout=\"inline\" tml-embed-viewport-heights=\"{"A":320,"B":320}\"><\/div>","metaDescription":"Gary Smith is the producer of The Zest He’s also produced podcast shows for comedian Adam Carolla including “The Adam Carolla Show” and “The Adam & Dr which offers the brand’s fragrance and beauty products The storefront reflects Dior couture with marble Indulge in the fragrances designed by Dior Perfume Creation Director Francis Kurkdjian that are inspired by the designer’s perfume atelier The focal point is La Collection Privée Christian Dior—distinctive scent designs that blend fragrance and fashion There are also customizable accessories such as fragrance trunks and Mitzah scarves to round out the collection.Browse through Dior’s Exceptional Pieces which are fresh takes on the brand’s iconic designs Cannage Trinité Nacré Coffret by Nada Debs and L’Or de Vie by Aristide Najean are also available here and are exclusive to the U.S If Dior’s iconic fragrances including Miss Dior and Dior Homme are also available to purchase.<\/p><\/div>Don’t miss the chance to experience Dior Skincare and Dior Science with products including L’Or de Vie you can also immerse yourself in the world of Dior Makeup which is located in a space that celebrates Peter Philips’ color expertise and Dior’s bold The boutique still honors its fashion background with a bar and screen that displays Dior’s runway shows and what it’s like to be backstage.Customers can also make an appointment for a one-on-one consultation with Dior Moments to Your Measure Head to dior.com<\/a> for more information.<\/p> <\/div><\/iframe>\" tml-embed-width=\"100%\" tml-embed-height=\"320\" tml-render-layout=\"inline\"><\/div>","metaDescription":"Customers can now shop at Dior Beauty’s South Coast Plaza boutique I attended a screening in Los Angeles of the Amazon Prime Video film An Emperor’s Jewel — The Making of the Bvlgari Hotel Roma<\/em> took audiences behind the scenes of the craftsmanship that went into building this architectural and design stunner as a clock counting down to the opening on June 9 2023 — a glitzy rooftop affair for 600 VIPs who wore a mesmerizing star jewelry piece from Bvlgari’s Monete collection comprised of over 600 carats of emeralds I wanted to see the splendor and artistry of this new landmark in person.Fast forward a month I took an hour-long train with a friend to Rome — a city I hadn’t visited for two decades Stepping off the train there felt like going back in time and on the cab ride over to the Campo Marzio district I marveled at the classic Roman architecture the cobblestone streets and the small bustling shops.Directly opposite the Mausoleum of Augustus is the towering Bvlgari Hotel Roma (bulgarihotels.com<\/a><\/em>) which occupies a historic address at 10 Piazza Augusto Imperatore While Roma is the ninth hotel in Bvlgari’s luxury hospitality portfolio this property is the first in the brand’s birthplace — and its grandiosity is immediately apparent A light-colored façade and glass doors welcome guests into a grand lobby where a mammoth antique sculpture of Emperor Augustus sits atop a Bvlgari star and underneath dangling lights The lobby is filled with rich materials and vibrant artwork — as well as framed cases of Bvlgari jewels A rich wooden library with mustard-colored drapes further references the Roman jeweler’s history and contains shelves of books dedicated to the city.<\/p>Bvlgari Hotel Roma spa<\/em>\"><\/div>Milan-based architectural studio ACPV Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel designed the seven-floor property — originally built in the late 1930s by Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo — to blend the old with the new softening the ancient Roman stone and introducing earthy textures and elements like marble mosaics where guests enjoyed a late lunch on delicate floral plates at the greenery-filled indoor-outdoor Il Caffè on the ground level and a shop offered handcrafted chocolates and pastries created by chef Niko Romito Those seeking cocktails can look to the ground-level Bvlgari Lounge a chic Champagne bar and the Bvlgari Bar — featuring a black marble bar finished with 110 Murano glass twirls hand-blown with gold dust.One hundred and fourteen rooms — including many tiers of suites and one crowning Bvlgari Suite — channel the Mediterranean and the brand’s Roman heritage through light-toned décor beds with a red stripe labeled “Bvlgari” and private patios an opulent indoor spa evokes the Roman baths with colored glass designs and a 20-meter swimming pool flaunting marble columns The fifth floor houses Il Ristorante — Niko Romito an intimate space with mahogany walls and a large terrace guests can enjoy three-Michelin-starred chef Romito’s traditional recipes like cold handmade tagliolini with langoustines or spaghetti with his signature tomato sauce while overlooking the monumental tomb of Augustus.<\/p><\/div>But my favorite part of the extravagant hotel was the majestic rooftop — which offers sweeping views of Rome La Terrazza boasts plush couches with colorful Bvlgari pillows where we sipped cocktails like the signature Bulgari (gin orange juice and lemon) and tasted bites like aged Parmigiano and arancini veal ragout as the sun set with bursts of orange and a DJ spun tunes — and I couldn’t imagine a more picturesque backdrop for the Eternal City.<\/p>Bvlgari Hotel Roma’s luxurious marble bathtub<\/em>\"><\/div><\/iframe>\" tml-embed-width=\"100%\" tml-embed-height=\"320\" tml-render-layout=\"inline\"><\/div>","metaDescription":"The Bvlgari Hotel Roma Is an Architectural and Design Masterpiece in the Eternal City Here are some of our new favorites based on brews and the overall customer experience.","disqusId":"bb611da1-9937-11ee-b0dc-06ec25aef307","isCanvas":true,"metaDescription":"Explore Orange County's thriving coffee scene with our guide to 12 new The light and airy shop with a sweeping marble counter and long wood tables is known for its house-made syrups Specialty drinks include a coconut spice latte and espresso Bala-tonic ($6.50 each) The latter contains Fever-Tree tonic water The Honduran anaerobic pour-over tea boasts notes of candied watermelon The signature brown sugar Hojicha matcha latte uses house-made brown sugar syrup ($5.95) Pastries include an everything croissant ($5) and passionfruit kouign-amann (multi-layered cake) ($4.50) Photograph Courtesy of Smoking Tiger The elegant little shop is known for being one of the only places around where you can get an Einspänner ($5.95) The Viennese drink is traditionally made with hot espresso topped with lots of cold whipped cream Here the drink is elevated with decadent house-made hazelnut cream and can be ordered hot or iced Other specialties include an ube latte and a Biscoff cookie butter latte ($5.95 each) Mameya Coffee Roasters in Laguna Niguel makes getting a delicious bag of coffee as easy as 1 As in: 1) fresh coffee beans roasted to order and 3) take-home batches as small as 8 ounces Simply choose from the extensive light to dark menu options for what you’d like to take home Or order a drip coffee ($3.50) or pour-over ($6) to enjoy at the shop The Japan-based coffeehouse with locations in Tokyo is known for its excellent customer service A team of scientists has described a new strikingly-colored species in the snake genus Geophis from the mountains of the Sierra Zongolica in west-central Veracruz and the Sierra de Quimixtlán in central-east Puebla Image credit: Miguel Ángel de la Torre Loranca Geophis is a genus of colubrid snakes in the subfamily Xenodontinae it is one of the most diverse genera of snakes in the Western Hemisphere Its geographic range extends from southwestern Chihuahua and southern Tamaulipas south and east through central and southern Mexico (except for the Yucatán Peninsula) and Central America to northern and western Colombia These burrowing snakes are seldom encountered and several species have restricted distribution making them particularly vulnerable to extinction The description of the new species of Geophis, named G. lorancai, was published in the journal ZooKeys According to the authors, this species belongs to the G. dubius group “Most of these snakes have notably small geographic ranges and sometimes are only found in one type of vegetation,” they said Genetic data and careful anatomical examination have been vital to understand the real diversity within the G “These snakes are remarkably similar to each other and it has been only through molecular analyses and rigorous specimen examination that we have come close to understand how diverse they are,” the scientists said the work made by the team suggests the existence of other undescribed species of Geophis “Our analyses suggest that this group is more diverse than previously thought,” the authors said ZooKeys 610: 131-145; doi: 10.3897/zookeys.610.8605 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 insight and opinion from the world of restaurants 29-Jan-2024 Last updated on 29-Jan-2024 at 10:26 GMT Aguamiel is currently fitting out the former Siam Eatery site on Covent Garden’s Wellington Street and promises to deliver ‘the sweet side of Mexican cuisine' Churros will be served with a choice or either sugar or real cinnamon and sugar and one of three dips (dulce de leche An ice-cream stuffed churros will also be available portions of churros will be partnered with a drink The total cost for a drink and portion of churros will be around £8 The drinks offer will be focused on high quality coffee and specialist Mexican hot and cold drinks Aguamiel’s coffee will be supplied by Woman Power Zongolica a single-origin coffee cultivated and processed by a group of 20 women in Veracruz The business - which hopes to expand if its first 'flagship' dessert bar is a success - has been created by Sarah Mi and chef Bernardo Pro Pro has cooked in high-end restaurants in Southern California and Paris Whet your appetite with beers from the European UnionPaid for and content provided by European Union Staffing costs rising — how smart hiring solutions are helping UK restaurantsPaid for and content provided by YoungOnes Lost Revenue from Downtime: How It Cripples Your Delivery App Visibility and SalesPaid for and content provided by Deliverect