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Ethnic studies was supposed to start in California schools. What happened?

by Carolyn Jones September 18, 2025

The ethnic studies class was meant to focus on the cultures and histories of African-Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans and Latinos. The state’s curriculum also encourages schools to add additional lessons based on their student populations, such as Hmong or Armenian

This fall, every high school in California was supposed to offer ethnic studies — a one-semester class focused on the struggles and triumphs of marginalized communities.

But the class appears stalled, at least for now, after the state budget omitted funding for it and the increasingly polarized political climate dampened some districts’ appetite for anything that hints at controversy.

“Right now, it’s a mixed bag. Some school districts have already implemented the course, and some school districts are using the current circumstances as a rationale not to move forward,” said Albert Camarillo, a Stanford history professor and founder of the university’s Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity. “But I’m hopeful. This fight has been going on for a long time.”

California passed the ethnic studies mandate in 2021, following years of debate and fine-tuning of curriculum. The class was meant to focus on the cultures and histories of African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans and Latinos, all of whom have faced oppression in California. The state’s curriculum also encourages schools to add additional lessons based on their student populations, such as Hmong or Armenian.

The course would have been required for high school graduation, beginning with the Class of 2030.

But the state never allotted money for the course, which meant the mandate hasn’t gone into effect. The Senate Appropriations Committee estimated that the cost to hire and train teachers and purchase textbooks and other materials would be $276 million. Some school districts have used their own money to train teachers and have started offering the class anyway.

Accusations of antisemitism

Meanwhile, fights have erupted across the state over who and who isn’t included in the curriculum. Some ethnic studies teachers incorporated lessons on the Gaza conflict and made other changes put forth by a group of educators and activists called the Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Consortium. That’s led to accusations of antisemitism in dozens of school districts.

Antisemitism has been on the rise generally in California, not just in schools. Statewide, anti-Jewish hate crime rose 7.3% last year, according to the California Department of Justice. In Los Angeles County, hate crimes — including slurs— against Jewish people rose 91% last year, to the highest number ever recorded, according to the county’s Commission on Human Relations.

Those numbers in part prompted a pair of legislators to propose a bill addressing antisemitism in California public schools. Assembly Bill 715, which is now headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom, would beef up the discrimination complaint process in schools and create a statewide antisemitism coordinator to ensure schools comply. Another bill, which died, would have directly addressed antisemitism in ethnic studies classes by placing restrictions on curriculum.

‘On life support’

But the delays and public controversies have taken a toll. No one has tracked how many schools offer ethnic studies, or how many require it, but some say the momentum is lost.

“It’s already on life support and this could be one more arrow,” said Tab Berg, a political consultant based in the Sacramento area.

Berg has been a critic of ethnic studies, saying it’s divisive. A better way to encourage cultural understanding is to eliminate segregation in schools and ensure the existing social studies curriculum is comprehensive and accurate, he said. “We should absolutely find ways to help students appreciate and understand other cultures. But not in a way that leads to further polarization of the school community.”

Carol Kocivar, former head of the state PTA and a San Francisco-based education writer, also thinks the class may be stalled indefinitely.

“I think the people who supported ethnic studies didn’t realize they were opening a can of worms,” Kocivar said. “Until there’s an agreement on the ideological guardrails, I just don’t see it moving forward on a broad scale.”

Kocivar supports the ethnic studies curriculum generally, but thinks it should be woven into existing classes like English, history and foreign language. That would leave room in students’ schedules for electives while still ensuring they learn the histories of marginalized communities.

Schools moving ahead 

In Orange County, nearly all high schools are offering ethnic studies as a stand-alone elective course or paired with a required class like English or history. Teachers use curriculum written by their districts with public input, drawn from the state’s recommended curriculum. They also have the option of adding lessons on Vietnamese, Hmong or Cambodian culture, reflecting the county’s ethnic makeup.

“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Marika Manos, manager of history and social science for the Orange County Department of Education. “Students see themselves in the curriculum and in the broader story of America. … It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to get some joy in their day.”

A handful of districts are waiting to see if the state authorizes funding, but the rest have found their own money to hire and train teachers and purchase materials. There was some pushback against Santa Ana Unified when two Jewish civil rights groups sued, claiming the district’s ethnic studies courses contained antisemetic material. The district settled earlier this year and changed the course curriculum.

Polarized political climate

Camarillo, the Stanford professor, said the national political climate “no question” has had a significant effect on the ethnic studies rollout. Parents might have genuine concerns about what’s being taught, “but we’re also seeing the impact of extremist groups that are fomenting distrust in our schools.”

He pointed to book bans, attacks on “woke” curriculum and other so-called culture war issues playing out in schools nationwide.

But the fight over ethnic studies has been going on for decades, since the first student activists pushed for the course at San Francisco State in the 1960s, and he’s hopeful that the current obstacles, especially the fights over antisemitism, will eventually resolve.

“I hate to see what’s happening but I think there’s hope for a resolution,” he said. “Ethnic studies can help us understand and appreciate each other, communicate, make connections. I’ve seen it play out in the classroom and it’s a beautiful thing.”

‘A really special class’

In Oakland, Summer Johnson has been teaching ethnic studies for three years at Arise High School, a charter school in the Fruitvale district. She uses a combination of liberated ethnic studies and other curricula and her own lesson plans.

She covers topics like identity, stereotypes and bias; oppression and resistance; and cultural assets, or “the beautiful things in your community,” she said. They also learn the origins of the class itself, starting with the fight for ethnic studies at San Francisco State.

Students read articles and write papers, conduct research, do art projects and give oral presentations, discuss issues and take field trips. She pushes the students to “ask questions, be curious, have the tough conversations. This is the place for that.”

She’s had no complaints from parents, but sometimes at the beginning of the semester, students question the value of the class.

“When that happens, we have a discussion,” Johnson said. “By the end of the class, students learn about themselves and their classmates and learn to express their opinions. Overall students respond really well.”

Johnson, who has a social studies teaching credential, sought out training to teach ethnic studies and feels that’s critical for the course to be successful. Teachers need to know the material, but they also need to know how to facilitate sensitive conversations and encourage students to open up to their peers.

“It’s a really special class. I’d love to see it expand to all schools,” Johnson said. “The purpose is for students to have empathy for each other and knowledge of themselves and their communities. And that’s important.”

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A young woman dies from excessive energy drinks: A wake-up call for government responsibility

Marvin Ramírez, editor

by Marvin Ramírez

The tragic death of a young woman due to excessive consumption of energy drinks is more than just another headline—it is a public health alarm that exposes a profound weakness in our regulatory system. While the government routinely intervenes in food, tobacco, alcohol, and even in the labeling of nutritional supplements, energy drinks remain an oddly underregulated product, widely accessible to anyone, including minors, as though they were harmless refreshments.

But they are not harmless. A growing body of medical evidence warns us about the dangers of caffeine overdoses, particularly when combined with sugar and other stimulants commonly found in energy drinks. Physicians report heart palpitations, seizures, strokes, and in some cases, sudden death associated with excessive consumption. The fact that a young life has now been lost in such a preventable way is not only a personal tragedy but also a social indictment.

Why do governments exist if not to protect the life and well-being of their citizens? This is where my theory about the purpose of regulation speaks clearly: the legitimacy of government regulation lies not in its ability to expand bureaucracies but in its capacity to safeguard the public from preventable harm. A government that fails to regulate dangerous substances—whether disguised as “lifestyle products” or marketed as harmless refreshments—fails in its most basic duty.

The irony is hard to ignore. Cigarettes come with graphic warnings. Alcohol has age restrictions and strict distribution rules. Pharmaceutical drugs require prescriptions and careful monitoring. Even over-the-counter medications are capped at how many tablets a consumer can purchase in a given period. Yet energy drinks, which may contain caffeine levels equivalent to several cups of coffee packed into a single can, are sold casually at gas stations, supermarkets, and vending machines, often next to sodas or bottled water.

We are told that the solution is “personal responsibility.” Consumers, the industry argues, should read labels and moderate their intake. But this argument collapses under scrutiny. Labels are often confusing, printed in fine print, and fail to communicate the real risks. How many parents know that their child, after drinking just two or three cans in a short period, could face a potentially lethal caffeine overdose? Responsibility must not be shifted entirely onto individuals when the state itself allows a dangerous product to circulate without meaningful safeguards.

Energy drinks are aggressively marketed to young people, athletes, and workers needing a boost for long shifts. The advertisements are flashy, promising vitality, focus, and strength. But the dark reality is that these drinks often exploit vulnerable populations: students burning the midnight oil, workers juggling two jobs, or teenagers looking for quick energy without awareness of the risks. Allowing this predatory marketing to flourish unchecked is, in itself, a form of negligence.

I believe the role of regulation urges us to see this issue not as a matter of consumer choice alone but as a moral duty of governance. When the government permits toxic substances to be sold under the guise of energy, it abdicates its responsibility. Regulation, in this sense, is not about limiting freedom but about expanding the real freedom of citizens—the freedom to live, to grow, to thrive without falling victim to preventable harms disguised as consumer products.

We must ask ourselves: how many more tragedies will it take before meaningful legislation arrives? Should energy drinks not require clearer labeling, age restrictions, or even caps on caffeine levels per serving? Should advertising to minors not be prohibited? These are not radical questions; they are the very basics of responsible governance.

The sad case of this young woman must not be dismissed as an isolated incident. It is a reminder that markets, when left unchecked, will always prioritize profit over safety. And when profit rules without boundaries, lives are inevitably lost. That is why regulation exists: not to burden but to protect, not to control but to ensure fairness and safety in a society where power and information are unevenly distributed.

The government, with all its vast machinery of laws, agencies, and oversight, should be the shield of its people. Yet when it comes to energy drinks, that shield is glaringly absent. If this death does not move legislators, if it does not inspire public outrage and action, then the silence of inaction will echo with complicity.

The memory of a life lost should inspire more than mourning—it should inspire reform. Because to do nothing in the face of such danger is to declare that profit matters more than life. And no society, no government, can claim legitimacy under such a principle.

 

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Why California voters should reject Prop. 50 and stay out of the redistricting wars

Mark Wright, California Republican Party Northern Region vice chair and Placer County chairman, holds a "No on Proposition 50" sign at the California Republican Party's 2025 Fall Convention and Leadership Summit in Garden Grove, Orange County, September 6, 2025. Photo by Jules Hotz for CalMatters. -- Mark Wright, vicepresidente de la Región Norte del Partido Republicano de California y presidente del Condado de Placer, sostiene un cartel de "No a la Propuesta 50" en la Convención y Cumbre de Liderazgo de Otoño de 2025 del Partido Republicano de California en Garden Grove, Condado de Orange. 6 de septiembre de 2025. Foto de Jules Hotz para CalMatters.

 

On Nov. 4, California voters will decide whether the state should temporarily adopt a Democratic gerrymander of its congressional maps to combat similar efforts in red states, or choose to stand down. Below, a former redistricting commissioner says Proposition 50 is not the model of responsible government Californians deserve. The opposing view: A member of the latest redistricting commission argues it is shortsighted for Californians to think only about California right now

by Jeanne Raya

CalMatters

September 19, 2025 – In 2008, the Voters First Act created California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission, an independent body consisting of people who reflected the state’s diversity. Good government groups pushed the ballot measure forward, seeking to make sure voters were — as the law’s name declared — put first. I served on the first commission two years later.

Voter approval of an independent commission effectively ended the backroom partisan gerrymandering that characterized redistricting in California for decades.

Commission members spent nearly a year drawing new maps, giving citizens access to more than 100 public meetings and different ways to submit written comments. Voters could describe their communities, their environment, their infrastructure and their economy. This gave the commission a picture of the whole of California and helped it create districts that gave voters a fair chance at electing accountable representatives.

California’s commission is now considered the gold standard for U.S. redistricting, free of partisan self-interest and conducted fully in public view.

If only Texas could learn from California. There, lawmakers adopted new maps in August in an attempt to rig the 2026 election in favor of Republicans — at the behest of President Donald Trump. Their actions represent the basest motivations of politicians so fearful of losing power, all they can think to do is cheat.

Their determination to stack the congressional deck prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to pursue retaliatory mid-cycle redistricting in California to elect more Democrats. It’s now in the hands of voters in a special election on Nov. 4. Proposition 50 would replace the maps drawn by the state’s independent commission with districts drawn by legislators solely to gain or protect Democratic seats. And that protection will extend through three election cycles.

That is hardly a temporary change.

As a registered Democrat, I would celebrate replacing members of Congress who have forgotten their oath to serve constituents and protect the Constitution. But it can’t be at the expense of California’s Constitution — nor its voters who mandated fair, nonpartisan redistricting.

Newsom said the move by Texas Republicans justifies a retaliatory strike. But we witness daily the chaos and mistrust created by revenge politics in Washington. That is not the model of responsible government Californians deserve. Nor do Californians want to spend millions of taxpayer dollars to gamble that different congressional districts will produce the sought-after change, while real problems remain unaddressed.

No one knows the magic number of blue seats needed to win this electoral war, especially as more red states jump in beside Texas. Is the governor willing to risk losing incumbents in more competitive California districts? Will he accept failure if Democrats fall short nationwide?

This is not an unprecedented moment. We’ve seen for decades how partisan gerrymandering suppresses voters’ choice, undermining trust and feeding cynicism. We know that once given power, politicians will fight to retain it with the confidence that a declaration of crisis is all the cover they need.

Newsom should look for a different response to redistricting warfare.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, for example, proposed legislation to ban mid-decade redistricting nationwide. I don’t know what brought Kiley, a Placer County Republican, to this moment. Perhaps it’s self-preservation under the threat of being gerrymandered out of his seat. But considering a national solution to a national problem would be a welcome undertaking.

Newsom says Democrats can take back Congress if the American people are given a fair chance, a voice and a choice. In California, the people already have that chance, and it’s the independent redistricting commission.

Californians can send a clear message to Newsom and legislative leaders on Nov. 4 to respect the will of the people and not sacrifice the independent redistricting commission, nor the state’s limited financial resources, for short-term political gain.

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How to pay when buying from someone you don’t know: Keep these tips in mind to help avoid scams

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

Credit cards, debit cards, cash, checks, wires or sending money to others using a P2P (person-to-person) payment app are examples of the many ways consumers can pay for everyday transactions. To help protect their money from scammers, it’s important for people to understand that how they pay matters, especially when buying something from someone they don’t know or trust.

We sat down with Chase Bank where they outlined some examples of common scams impacting payment types:

Checks:

Although declining in usage, many people still regularly use checks, particularly for business transactions. Check fraud can happen in various ways, such as writing bad checks, stealing and altering someone else’s check, forging a check, or depositing the same check twice (once through a mobile app and again at a branch).

  • Here’s What You Can Do: Never make checks out to “cash.” Use permanent ink, and write the amount in numbers and Don’t leave a check book unattended and always send a check directly from the post office or through secured mailboxes; don’t leave them for pickup in your mailbox at home. When possible, opt for electronic payment methods instead of checks.

Person-to-Person Payments:

Person-to-person payments through services like Zelle® can be quick and convenient ways to send money to others you know and trust (e.g., friends and family or your dogwalker). Don’t use Zelle to buy things online, especially through social media marketplaces or messaging apps. If you send money for something that turns out to be a scam, it’s very unlikely you’ll be able to get it back.

  • Here’s What You Can Do: If you are purchasing goods or merchandise, including things like concert tickets, a credit or debit card that offers purchase protection may be a better option. If at any time you feel pressured, the deal seems too good to be true, or you otherwise suspect it’s a scam, don’t proceed with the purchase.

Credit and Debit Cards:

When you pay with a credit or debit card, you are not responsible for unauthorized charges if your card is lost, stolen or fraudulently used, as long as you report unauthorized charges promptly. Use your card’s security features to help keep it safe.

  • Here’s What You Can Do: Two-factor authentication can help block anyone who gets your banking information from using it, and setting up credit monitoring helps you know if your card is used fraudulently. Keep your card safe. If you misplace it or think it is lost or stolen, contact your bank immediately, and lock your card from additional charges.

Scammers may try to get you to send a payment to them to pay for something (like concert tickets) that you then never receive. Credit and debit cards may offer some protections that can help you get your money back for purchases you make if you don’t receive what you paid for. If you pay with a credit card, your bank will likely reimburse you for your payment if you don’t receive the goods. If you paid with a debit card, your bank will try to get your money back from the scammer’s bank, but if the scammer has disappeared with your money, they won’t be able to get the funds back, and your bank is not required to reimburse you.

  • Here’s What You Can Do: Watch out for sellers who require forms of payment that do not provide purchase protection. Before you pay, always ask yourself: “Am I sure this is not a scam?” Always remember: If you’re unsure, walk away.

Wire Transfers:

Wire transfers are convenient and secure, and they work like cash. Only send a wire when you know the details of the recipient and never feel pressured or urged to send one. Wire transfers are a target for scammers because they are often used for high dollar transactions—like homes or cars—and once sent, they cannot be reversed. Scammers can impersonate companies, banks, and government agencies to quickly receive your hard-earned money, move it to another account and disappear.

  • Here’s What You Can Do: Never provide your bank account details to unfamiliar or suspicious individuals and avoid wiring money to people or businesses you are unfamiliar with, especially if prompted by suspicious phone calls or emails.

In a world of growing payment options, it’s important that people make informed choices about how to pay for purchases, especially when buying from a person or business you aren’t familiar with, to help keep their money safe.

Learn more about protecting your finances at chase.com/digital/resources/privacy-security

For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content.

Deposit products provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.

 © 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

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Maccla celebrates Latino Heritage Month 2025

by Magdy Zara

With the theme “Here We Are and We Will Not Leave, Sustained by Our Roots,” the Mission Cultural Center for the Latino Arts’ art exhibition is being held in honor of Latino Heritage Month.

Maccla proudly displays this year’s exhibition, which features the powerful work of more than 30 local visual and performing artists whose creativity and voices embody resilience and culture. “The invitation is open to celebrate our culture, honor our roots, and elevate the artists who keep our traditions alive,” stated one of the organizers.

The exhibition opened on September 12 and concludes on October 11, with a closing reception from 6 to 8 p.m.

Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 2:00 to 8:00 PM, and Saturdays, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts is located at 2868 Mission St., San Francisco.

Viva Nicaragua 2025 Festival Celebrates Its 10th Annual

The largest Nicaraguan festival in the United States celebrates its 10th annual event, offering all attendees an afternoon of tradition, culture, and music.

The Viva Nicaragua Festival will feature La Cuneta, Carlos Mejía Godoy, Banda Blanca, and Marimba Flor de Pino.

The invitation is extended to the entire Nicaraguan community of Northern California in the San Francisco Bay Area. This will be a family-friendly event, taking place this Sunday, September 28th, from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Swiss Park, 5911 Mowry Ave.

Tickets range from $30 to $100. For more information, please call 415-424-8809.

Third Annual Lowrider Exhibit at the Montalvo Art Center

Due to popular demand for the last exhibit, this year the third annual Lowrider Art Exhibit was organized in conjunction with the United Lowrider Council of San Jose (ULCSJ) and Local Color SJ.

This event will utilize the historic grounds of Montalvo and the trails of Santa Clara County Park to offer a fun afternoon for the whole family. It will feature a fleet of impressive lowrider vehicles on the Great Lawn. as well as art-making and painting demonstrations in the gardens, local artists and vendors, a DJ and dancing, and delicious options from local food vendors.

This exhibit will take place next Sunday, October 5th, starting at 1 PM, at the Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo. Free admission.

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Corn husk dolls: Mexican crafts that preserve tradition and memory

Corn husk dolls are a Mexican craft steeped in symbolism. Discover their origin, production, and cultural value

by Mexico Desconocido

Corn husk dolls are a clear example of how the simplest elements of nature can be transformed into pieces filled with symbolism and beauty.

This Mexican craft, which survives in various communities across the country, is a reminder of popular creativity and how corn remains present not only in the kitchen but also in Mexico’s cultural life.

Origin and Symbolism of Corn Husk Dolls

The use of corn husks to make handicrafts dates back to pre-Hispanic times. Native peoples took advantage of this flexible and abundant material to make both utensils and figures with a ritualistic character.

Over time, the tradition merged with the creation of simple toys for girls and boys, who found in these dolls a form of play and companionship.

Beyond their playful nature, these pieces evoke fertility, life, and a connection to the earth. Like the ears of corn hanging in kitchens, the dolls are also a symbol of cultural continuity.

How are corn husk dolls made?

The production process begins with the collection of dried corn husks, known as totomoxtle. These husks are moistened to make them more manageable and then folded, braided, and tied to shape the dolls’ bodies.

The artisans often use natural fibers or colored threads to tie the pieces and mark details such as the waist, arms, or head. Some dolls are adorned with small dresses also made of dyed corn husks, while others maintain the natural tone of the totomoxtle, highlighting the simplicity of the material.

Each piece can take between one and several hours of work, depending on the level of detail and the decorative finishes added.

Regions where they are preserved

Corn husk dolls are made mainly in rural communities in central and southern Mexico, in states such as:

  • Puebla and Tlaxcala, where they are sold at craft fairs and markets.
  • The State of Mexico, especially in municipalities with a strong agricultural tradition.
  • Oaxaca, where artisans combine them with other plant fibers and natural dyes.
  • Michoacán, as part of the artisanal production linked to corn and local festivities.

In all these regions, the dolls are not only tourist souvenirs but also part of community celebrations and traditional offerings.

Dolls with Cultural Value

Today, these crafts have transcended their role as children’s toys to become decorative and collectible pieces. Many families place them on Day of the Dead altars, at corn markets, or as souvenirs from weddings and other festivities.

Their permanence demonstrates that the corn husk, beyond wrapping tamales or protecting grains, also envelops stories, traditions, and memories. In this sense, the dolls are a living testament to Mexican folk ingenuity.

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Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre believes canelo has two to four fights left, starting with Jermall Charlo

by Jeepers Isaac

Trainer Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre says he doesn’t want to see Canelo Alvarez retire after his loss to Terence Crawford last Saturday night.

BoMac’s Path for Canelo

‘BoMac’ states that Canelo (63-3-2, 39 KOs) “has earned the fight” to do what he wants. He’d like to see him fight Jermall Charlo next, and stay around in the sport for another two to four contests before retiring. However, if Canelo loses to the 35-year-old Jermall, he might need to consider retiring.

Canelo fighting Jermall (34-0, 23 KOs) would interest older fans who remembered when Charlo was one of the dominant fighters at 154 and 160. He captured world titles at junior middleweight and middleweight in 2015 and 2019.

Jermall abruptly stopped fighting in 2021 and didn’t return to the ring until November 2023, when he beat Jose Benavidez Jr. by a 10-round unanimous decision. Charlo recently knocked out Thomas LaManna in the sixth round earlier this year on May 25. Before that, Jermall had been inactive for 18 months. He’s currently ranked #2 WBA, #3 WBC at super middleweight.

“I’d love to see Canelo fight again. If he wants to continue two or three more fights, just let him go ahead and do it. He’s earned the right to do what he wants to do. He fought some of the best fighters of his era, and when you get to that stage, it’s in his blood,” said trainer Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre to Fight Hub TV when asked if Canelo Alvarez should continue fighting following his loss to Terence Crawford.

The Retirement Question

Canelo doesn’t need ‘BoMac’ to tell him what to do. He’s got two fights left on his contract with Turki Alalshikh. Alvarez is unlikely to want to retire and walk away with the money he has left on his multi-fight contract. Whether Canelo continues fighting after his contract ends will depend a lot on how well he performs in those last two fights. If he wins both and looks good, it’s possible that he’d continue. He’s only 35.

McIntyre’s Recommendation

“Go ahead, Canelo. Fight again. Two times, three times, four times, however many times you want. I think Charlo just put something out there, something about, ‘My division. I’m on my way back.’ So, fight Charlo,” said ‘BoMac’ when asked who Canelo should fight next. “Then, he might have to consider retirement,” said Brian on what happens if Alvarez loses to Jermall Charlo.

Canelo has a big decision to make in determining who he should fight next. While Jermall would be a good choice to interest older fans, it would do nothing for the younger ones who have never seen him fight before. Jermall has been too inactive in the last four years for the younger fans to know of him.

Alvarez would be better off choosing someone fans have heard of and care about. These would be good options for Canelo: Hamzah Sheeraz, Chris Eubank Jr., and Conor Benn.

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National Hispanic Heritage Month: 2025

by Marvin Ramírez

National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the contributions of people in the United States with roots in Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Spanish-speaking countries of the Caribbean. In 1968, Congress designated a week for this celebration, and two decades later expanded it to a full month: from September 15 to October 15.

The choice of these dates is not coincidental. September 15 marks the anniversary of independence for five Central American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence on September 16 and 18, respectively, reinforcing the symbolism of this period for Hispanic communities across the continent.

According to official estimates, the Hispanic population in the United States reached 68 million as of July 1, 2024, representing 20% of the nation’s total population. In addition, 15 states have one million or more Hispanic residents, including California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Arizona. In California, the impact of the Hispanic community is particularly visible, in everyday life as well as in politics, the economy, education, and culture.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to highlight the cultural richness of a diverse community that has been an essential part of the region’s social and cultural fabric. Over the coming weeks, various cities and community organizations will host events, workshops, and festivals that honor the traditions, histories, and achievements of Latino communities.

In San Francisco, the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts will host a series of art exhibitions, film screenings, and musical performances focused on the Indigenous and Afro-Latino roots of Latin America. In Oakland, the Latino Heritage Month Festival returns to the Civic Center on Saturday, September 28, with live music, folkloric dance, traditional food stands, and activities for the whole family.

Meanwhile, the city of San José will hold its traditional Hispanic Heritage Parade on Sunday, October 6, followed by a community festival at Plaza de César Chávez Park. There will also be bilingual readings, storytelling, and art workshops in public libraries throughout Santa Clara County.

The median age of the Hispanic population in 2024 is 31.2 years, underscoring a young and vibrant community with a promising future. This month represents an opportunity to learn, connect, and recognize the many ways Hispanic culture has shaped national identity and continues contributing to the development of the country.

For more information on local events, visit your city’s website or check the social media pages of Latino cultural centers in your area.

 

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Threats of violence cancel ‘Grito’ celebrations in Sinaloa and Michoacán 

by the El Reportero‘s wire services

Mexico is gearing up for its traditional two-day celebration of Independence Day, in which this year, a woman president will deliver the traditional “Grito” in the capital for the first time ever.

However, while President Claudia Sheinbaum emulates Padre Miguel Hidalgo’s 1810 Cry for Independence on Monday night and presides over Tuesday’s military parade in the capital, several Mexican cities have decided to cancel local ceremonies.

For the second consecutive year, cartel violence has forced the cancellation of Independence Day celebrations in Sinaloa’s state capital.

On Sunday, Governor Rubén Rocha called off all public festivities — concerts, fireworks displays, the “Grito” — planned for Monday and Tuesday. In a social media post, Rocha did not specify the reasons for canceling the events, only saying that he was “exercising the responsibility [of his office] of safeguarding the security and well-being of the population.”

The announcement comes a week after residents of Culiacán, the state capital, staged a massive march calling for peace amid an unrelenting wave of increased cartel violence that has plagued the state since Sept. 9, 2024. The outbreak of the cartel fighting prompted Rocha to cancel last year’s celebrations.

Rocha said that, like last year, his office would instead observe Mexico’s Independence Day by hosting a simple private ceremony to which leaders of the state and local congresses and representatives of the armed forces would be invited.

The mayor of Iztapalapa, Mexico City’s sprawling eastern borough of more than 1.8 million residents, also canceled local Independence Day festivities in the aftermath of the gas tanker explosion that has claimed the lives of 14 people.

With 40 victims still hospitalized, Mayor Aleida Álvarez announced that the traditional celebrations would be replaced with “a respectful and reserved ceremony” during which protocol would be solemnly observed.

In the western state of Michoacán, three municipalities called off their celebrations citing security concerns.

Officials in Zinepécuaro canceled festivities after Saturday’s incident during which members of organized crime blockaded highways and set fire to vehicles to prevent the authorities from carrying out a drug bust.

The mayor of Periban called off the local Grito and parade after a criminal gang released a video in which they threatened to “stir things up.”

Residents of Uruapan will also be deprived of holiday celebrations after local officials canceled the festivities in response to Sunday’s attack on police headquarters that left one officer dead.

The Michoacán state capital of Morelia is also on high alert after a video threat made by a masked man calling himself “Comandante Arango,” who claimed to be a leader of the “Purépecha Army.”

Local officials increased security measures, including the institution of a “No-fly Zone” for drones, declaring that they are taking the threat seriously. On Sept. 15, 2008, eight people were killed and dozens were injured when two grenades were thrown into a crowd during Morelia’s Independence Day festivities.

On Friday, President Sheinbaum reiterated a warning issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, cautioning Mexican nationals in the U.S. to be careful when celebrating Independence Day due to the risk of immigration raids.

Earlier this month, organizers of “El Grito Chicago” canceled the city’s two-day Independence Day festival, citing fears of heightened immigration enforcement.

With reports from Milenio, Aristegui Noticias and El Sol de Morelia

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In first ‘Grito’ as president, Sheinbaum honors Mexico’s heroines of Independence

The flag Sheinbaum fervently waved was given to the highly-popular president "for the first time in history" by military women from Mexico's Heroic Military College, the president's office said in a statement. (@Claudiashein/X)

by Peter Davies

Mexico News Daily

President Claudia Sheinbaum made history on Monday night, becoming the first female president of Mexico to deliver the national Cry of Independence as she continued a long-running tradition on the eve of Mexico’s Independence Day.

With Mexico City’s central square, the Zócalo, filled to the brim, Sheinbaum appeared on the central balcony of the National Palace at 11 p.m. to pay homage to the original “Grito de Dolores” (Cry of Dolores), a call for revolt against Spanish rule issued by priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in Dolores, Guanajuato, on Sept. 16, 1810.

“Mexicanas, mexicanos,” she began, giving symbolic precedence to the female citizens of the country.

“Long live independence! Long live Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla!” Sheinbaum bellowed on the eve of the 215th anniversary of the start of the Mexican War of Independence.

With the presidential sash draped over her torso, the Mexican flag in her left hand and her husband and three female military cadets standing behind her, the president went on to wish long life to various other Mexican independence heroes, including four women.

Josefa Ortiz Téllez Girón (Sheinbaum used the maiden name of the woman more commonly known as Josefa Ortíz de Domínguez), Leona Vicario, Gertrudis Bocanegra and Manuela Molina were all included in the presidential Grito de Independencia, witnessed also by a small group of high-ranking officials gathered on another National Palace balcony.

In keeping with her oft-repeated “It’s time for women” message, Sheinbaum also wished long life to the “anonymous heroines” of Mexico, the heroines (and heroes) who “gave us a homeland” and the country’s “Indigenous women,” recognition that was especially fitting given that 2025 is the “Year of the Indigenous Woman” in Mexico.

The prominence of women in the inaugural Cry of Independence (Grito de Independencia) delivered by a female president was a historic and important milestone in a notoriously macho country, an act that no doubt inspired millions of Mexican women, and, perhaps even more importantly, the nation’s girls.

In additional nods to the current times, Sheinbaum also wished long life to “our migrant sisters and brothers” — amid an immigration crackdown in the United States — and to a “free, independent and sovereign Mexico.”

The emphasis on Mexico’s independence and sovereignty was particularly apt given the pressure the Mexican government has faced from the Trump administration and the ongoing speculation that the United States could take military action against Mexican drug cartels on Mexican soil, something that Sheinbaum is vehemently opposed to.

The “dignity of the people of Mexico” and freedom, equality, democracy and justice also got their due before the president’s Grito reached its crescendo with three passionate cries of “¡Viva México!”

An estimated 280,000 revelers responded in kind, roaring “Viva!” in unison to offer their full endorsement of the president’s message.

Sheinbaum subsequently rang the Campana de Dolores — the same bell that Hidalgo rang 215 years ago — waved the Mexican flag to the mass of patriots and joined in an especially patriotic rendition of Mexico’s national anthem.

An elaborate fireworks display followed, bringing yet more color, and noise, to the Zócalo — the beating heart of Mexico.

More history is made 

The flag Sheinbaum fervently waved was given to the highly-popular president “for the first time in history” by military women from Mexico’s Heroic Military College, the president’s office said in a statement.

The president, the statement noted, “resumed a tradition started by former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, by mounting an Honor Guard during her tour of the Gallery of Presidents at the National Palace,” which preceded the delivery of the Grito.

Walking through the National Palace, Sheinbaum and her husband, Jesús María Tarriba, paused in front of a portrait of Leona Vicario — an “historic event,” according to the president’s office, as the portrait of a woman had been placed in the main gallery of the National Palace for the first time.

Zócalo works up to fever pitch 

There was a jovial, but calm atmosphere in the Zócalo when Mexico News Daily arrived at around 7 p.m. The facade of the adjacent National Palace veritably glowed in the national colors of red, green and white.

Babies, toddlers, children and elderly citizens in wheelchairs were among the throng of people waiting patiently but eagerly to hear the Grito de Independencia of the first female president the nation has had in the more than two centuries since Mexico became an independent country.

Tacos de canasta, tamales, doraditas and impossibly-heaped chicarrones preparados were all on offer across the vast expanse of the Zócalo, sating the appetites of the citizens of one of the world’s great, and rightfully proud, food countries.

Roving vendors hawked patriotic penachos (headdresses) and sarapes, and cigarettes and candy as well.

The ambience gradually became more exuberant as time passed. The commencement of live music — i.e. the warm-up acts — turned things up another notch, or three. It soon became evident that a not insignificant number of revelers had smuggled their favorite festive beverages into Mexico’s premier national gathering place — beer, canned tequila cocktails, the odd flask of stronger stuff. Despite the family atmosphere, marijuana smoke lingered in the air, but overall the crowd was well-behaved.

When La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho — a band from Sinaloa — started playing, the energy in the Zócalo became palpable. Plenty of people knew all the words of the songs performed by the Latin Grammy award-winning regional music banda, and weren’t at all shy to show it. As 11 p.m. approached, the national party — in the Zócalo and across Mexico — was in full swing. Fever pitch had arrived.

As the vast crowd awaited the appearance of Sheinbaum and the delivery of the Grito, cries of “Claudia!” and “¡presidenta!” broke out and spread across the central square. When she finally appeared, the president was a distant figure on the National Palace balcony for many, but her voice was heard loud and clear:

“Viva México libre, independiente y soberano! ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México!”

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