Wednesday, October 14, 2026
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Macla presents exhibition “From their hands to ours”

En esta fecha revive las tradiciones navideñas de México. -- Relive Mexican Christmas traditions this holiday season. (Photo Courtesy of www.eventbrite.com)

By Magdy Zara

Since December 5th, the Latin American Art and Culture Movement (MACLA), in collaboration with the Montalvo Arts Center, has presented “From Their Hands to Ours,” a new exhibition that highlights how ancestral wisdom and childhood experiences shape identity.

If you are looking for a different activity to do with your family during this holiday season, this is a perfect opportunity.

With the premiere of this work by Estefanía Ajcip, Miguel Arzabe, Rafa Esparza, Edra Soto, and Arleene Correa Valencia, the exhibition intertwines stories of tradition, trauma, and growth through painting, sculpture, textile art, and video.

The exhibition will be open to the public until March 8, 2026, from 12 PM to 5 PM, at the Macla gallery located at 510 South 1st Street, San Jose.

Christmas in Mexico Returns to the Bay Area

Christmas is one of the most heartwarming times of the year and ideal for sharing with family. That’s why you’re invited to enjoy “Christmas in Mexico,” the most original production in the Bay Area, featuring more than 65 dancers, singers, and a full mariachi band.

You’ll experience the excitement of an authentic Latin market with traditional food, drinks, and delicacies.

The Carlos Moreno Mexican Folkloric Ballet, through “Christmas in Mexico,” will show you how Christmas is celebrated in Mexico and take you to different regions to share the fun and excitement of its folklore through music, song, and dance.

The performance is on December 21st, starting at 3 PM, at the Calvin Simmons Theater, located on 10th Street, Oakland. Tickets are $56.

A Christmas Carol with Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the whole Peanuts gang return to Davies Symphony Hall to revive this television classic. Featuring live actors, an animated backdrop, and the timeless music of Vince Guaraldi performed live by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, this is a heartwarming holiday performance you won’t want to miss.

The first part of the concert includes selections from Vince Guaraldi’s complete Peanuts catalog, celebrating 60 years of his music for Charlie Brown and the 75th anniversary of Peanuts.

Performances are scheduled for December 21 and 22, with two shows daily at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at Davies Symphony Hall, located at 201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco.

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More and more young people support restrictions on access to pornography

The number of young people between ages 18-24 who think porn access should be curtailed has grown in four years from 43% to 63% among men and from 63% to 72% among women

by Jonathon Van Maren

Gen Z is turning against porn.

According to the Survey Center on American Life, young men are now more in favor of restrictions than middle-aged men. In 2021, 43 percent of young men and 58 percent of young women between the ages of 18 and 24 thought that access to porn should be restricted. In 2025, that had risen to a staggering 63 percent of young men and 72 percent of young women. Having spent the last 15 years talking to young people about pornography, those numbers do not surprise me.

In the 1970s and ’80s, porn was “cool” – at least Hugh Hefner, smut-peddler and self-proclaimed Playboy philosopher, tried to make it so. He tucked his porn centerfolds between interviews with civil rights leaders and short stories by feminist Margaret Atwood; appeared on talk shows with a pipe and smoking jacket; and made his Playboy Mansion the stuff of lascivious legend. It wasn’t until after he died that the full extent of his vile predation became known.

In the 1990s, the porn industry began to conquer the culture. Restrictions on porn melted away in the face of the internet, which arrived with desktop computers. Porn models exploded off the front covers of slimy magazines to become cultural figures in their own right. Major music stars used porn performers as backup dancers in their videos. Compulsive porn use became a constant punchline in era-defining TV shows such as Friends and Seinfeld. Porn wasn’t just cool – it was normal.

In the 2000s, it all fell apart. The porn industry didn’t just conquer the culture – it conquered our homes. Almost all of them. The internet ensured that every device with a Wi-Fi connection was the equivalent of a bottomless closet filled with the most depraved forms of pornography the human imagination could conjure – and the closets were unlocked. Millions of children, adolescents, and teens opened the doors and spent years inside. Porn addiction was rampant at the high school I attended. It probably was at yours, too.

Those who grew up with computers at home were often exposed to porn. Those who were handed smartphones, which first arrived in 2007, almost all did. Childhood exposure to pornography ended up defining the growing up years for countless young people, and they carried the scars and the struggles into their relationships, their careers, and their lives. The social costs of pornography have been staggering, and over the past 10 years, more people are willing to say so out loud. Gen Z grew up with pornography everywhere.

“Neel Dhar was 7 years old when he first clicked on an online ad that led to pornography,” Mariya Manzhos wrote in a recent report by Deseret titled “Gen Z grew up with pornography. Now they’re leading the charge against it.” “Even though he didn’t understand what he saw, his curiosity took him down a rabbit hole of the internet and its darker corners. Over time, he found himself spending more and more hours there. ‘The only thing I wanted was hard dopamine and nothing else,’ he said.” I have heard similar stories more times than I can count. For millions of children, pornography was their first exposure to sex.

“Dhar, who is now 19 and lives in San Diego, is part of a generation that grew up with the internet, and pornography, in their back pockets,” Manzhos writes. “Much of what Dhar and his peers learned about intimacy and relationships during his high school years came from the sexualized content he encountered online … But it’s also the digital natives of Gen Z – who encountered pornography before they knew what it was – who are at the forefront of fighting it.” Dhar decided to quit porn.

“Relay, the app that Dhar joined, was started by 27-year-old Chandler Rogers, who similarly struggled with a pornography habit and wanted to help men combat the addictive patterns,” Mazhos notes. Rogers isn’t the only one. “Earlier this year, Joshua Haskell, a 23-year-old graduate of the University of Notre Dame, founded Ethos National that also focuses on accountability and is based on Catholic teachings.” Other major apps include Covenant Eyes and Matt Fradd’s Strive 21 program, a 21-day porn detox.

Gen Z’s biggest stars hate pornography, too. Theo Von, the popular comedian and podcaster, has talked about his struggle with porn over a dozen times at length, from describing his exposure to porn to fighting the addiction and its impact on relationships. Rock star Billie Eilish has said pornography “destroyed my brain” after she first got addicted at age 11. Comedian Nikki Glaser opened up about her own porn addiction to Joe Rogan in graphic and despairing terms. Even the comedians no longer find porn a joke.

Gen Z doesn’t hate porn because they are prudish. They hate porn because they were exposed to it from a young age and it shaped their lives in ways completely beyond their control. I have heard their stories, hundreds of them, over the past decade and a half. The story is always the same: Porn did not bring liberation. Porn brought, and brings, despair. The porn industry is no longer viewed as cool; it is seen as the enemy. It always was. But now, most people know it – and the young have learned by bitter experience.

Perhaps they will do what the adults refused to do, for decades: ban this poison, and begin to build a better world.

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Five defining political moments for California Latinos in 2025

The biggest political moments for Latinos in California, from protests to new laws. -- Los principales momentos políticos para los latinos en California, desde protestas hasta nuevas leyes.

by the El Reportero staff writer

For Latino communities in California, 2025 was a year shaped by heightened political activity, legal battles, and civic engagement. Immigration enforcement, voting power, and legislative responses dominated headlines, while community organizations and elected officials worked to address uncertainty and change. As the year closes, several moments stand out for their lasting political and social impact on Latinos across the state.

  1. Immigration enforcement intensifies across California

Immigration policy returned to the forefront of national debate in 2025, following the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. The administration renewed its focus on immigration enforcement, pledging to increase deportations and tighten border controls. While federal officials reported more than 500,000 removals nationwide, independent estimates from the Migration Policy Institute placed the number closer to 340,000 by September.

California, home to the nation’s largest Latino population, saw increased enforcement activity in several regions. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations were reported in urban and rural areas alike, including Los Angeles, the Central Valley, and parts of the Bay Area. Agents conducted arrests near workplaces, public facilities, and residential neighborhoods, prompting concern among immigrant families.

In June, enforcement activity in Los Angeles coincided with large public demonstrations. Thousands gathered downtown to protest federal actions, leading to heightened security measures and crowd control by law enforcement. President Trump described some demonstrations as disorderly and authorized the deployment of National Guard units to assist with security operations, a move that state officials disputed and later challenged in court.

Supporters of the administration argued that enforcement efforts were necessary to uphold federal law, while critics raised concerns about civil liberties and community trust. Regardless of perspective, the increased visibility of immigration enforcement had a significant impact on daily life in many Latino neighborhoods.

  1. Latino voters play decisive role in Proposition 50

Despite concerns surrounding immigration enforcement, Latino voters demonstrated their political influence at the ballot box. Proposition 50, a redistricting measure placed on the statewide ballot, passed with strong Latino support. Exit polling showed that approximately 71 percent of Latino voters supported the initiative.

The measure was promoted by supporters as a safeguard against partisan gerrymandering and a way to preserve competitive districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Both Democratic and Republican campaigns invested heavily in outreach to Latino voters, recognizing their growing share of the electorate, which now approaches one-third of California voters.

High-profile figures appeared in campaign advertising, and Spanish-language media played a central role in voter education. Following the election, California Republicans filed a lawsuit challenging the new district maps, arguing they improperly considered race in drawing boundaries. The case is expected to move through the courts in 2026.

The vote reinforced a broader national trend: Latino voters are increasingly pivotal in shaping electoral outcomes, not only in California but across several battleground states.

  1. State and local governments pass law enforcement transparency measures

In response to concerns about immigration enforcement practices, California lawmakers passed two notable bills in 2025: Senate Bill 627 and Senate Bill 805. Together, the measures aim to increase transparency among law enforcement officers operating within the state.

SB 627, known as the No Secret Police Act, prohibits officers from covering their faces while performing official duties. SB 805, the No Vigilantes Act, requires visible identification for law enforcement personnel. Supporters argued that the measures were designed to reduce confusion, prevent impersonation, and strengthen public trust.

The U.S. Department of Justice challenged both laws, asserting that they interfere with federal authority and violate the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. Legal proceedings are ongoing.

At the local level, the Los Angeles City Council approved a similar ordinance in December, set to take effect in January 2026. While the measure passed, some officials expressed concerns about its legal standing and potential conflicts with federal operations.

  1. Family Preparedness Act expands protections for immigrant households

California lawmakers also focused on policies aimed at reducing disruption to families affected by detention or deportation. Assembly Bill 495, the Family Preparedness Act, was introduced by Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez and signed into law in October.

The legislation expands the list of relatives eligible to serve as temporary guardians for children if parents are detained. It also requires schools and child care providers to offer guidance to families on emergency preparedness related to family separation.

Advocates said the law offers families greater stability during uncertain times, while critics questioned whether the state was overstepping its role. Nonetheless, the bill reflects California’s continued effort to address the social consequences of federal immigration enforcement.

  1. DHS confrontation involving Sen. Alex Padilla draws national attention

One of the most widely covered incidents of the year occurred during a Department of Homeland Security press conference in Los Angeles. Sen. Alex Padilla, who was present at the Wilshire Federal Building, attempted to question DHS Secretary Kristi Noem regarding enforcement policies.

Federal agents escorted Padilla out of the room, and a physical confrontation followed in a hallway, where the senator was briefly restrained. Video of the incident circulated widely, prompting responses from lawmakers across the political spectrum.

Padilla later said the incident raised broader concerns about transparency and accountability. DHS officials stated that security protocols were followed. The episode sparked debate about access, authority, and conduct during high-profile federal events.

As California looks toward 2026, these moments illustrate the evolving political landscape for Latino communities. From voting booths to legislative chambers, Latinos continue to play a central role in shaping policy debates that extend well beyond the state’s borders. – With reports by Andrea Valadez

 

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Conservative wins Chile presidential election

The Frank staff

Chile has elected its most Right-wing president since the Pinochet dictatorship fell, with the conservative Jose Antonio Kast defeating his communist rival.

Kast won 58.2 per cent of the vote in a victory that harnessed voter anger over crime and migration to drive the country into its most dramatic Rightward shift in decades.

Kast is a son of a Nazi party member who fled to Chile after the Second World War.

The father-of-nine ran for his self-founded Republican Party of Chile, defeating communist candidate Jeannette Jara, who took 41.8 per cent of the vote.

Speaking on Monday, the president-elect promised to build a government of “national unity” and to “safeguard institutions.”

“We all share concerns about security, health, education, and housing,” he said. “This is not one person’s or one party’s government. It will be broader to achieve consensus on fundamental issues.”

His success makes Chile the latest nation in Latin ‍America to tilt Right after Bolivia’s election in August and Javier Milei’s success in Argentina’s midterm vote in October.

Inspired by Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration, Kast has vowed to build border walls and form a specialized police force modelled on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to track down and deport migrants in the country illegally.

He has pledged to build a trench on the northern border to help stem migration from countries such as Venezuela.

Last year he visited the mega-prison system built by El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, and said he would copy the model. He has also visited other Right-wing leaders, including Giorgia Meloni in Italy and Hungary’s Viktor Orban.

After winning all 16 regions of Chile, Kast will take office on March 11, vowing an “emergency government” to crack down swiftly on irregular migration and cut taxes and public spending.

While Chile remains one of the safest countries in Latin America, an influx of organised crime has led to a rising murder rate and hurt economic growth, with a recent spike in high-profile incidents such as kidnappings and assassinations.

“Changes will start immediately,” said Kast in his victory speech at his Santiago headquarters. But he warned that “it will require perseverance”.

The Trump administration was quick to praise the election winner. Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, said: “Under his leadership, we are confident Chile will advance shared priorities to include strengthening public security, ending illegal immigration and revitalising our commercial relationship.

Kast’s father was a Nazi party member and army lieutenant who fled to South America after the Second World War, where he eventually founded a lucrative sausage business south of Santiago. Kast has said his father was a forced Nazi conscript.

His eldest brother, Miguel Kast, ‍was a government minister and central bank president in the early 1980s under the Pinochet dictatorship, during which more than 40,000 people were executed, detained and disappeared, or tortured.

As a law student, Kast campaigned for the “yes” vote in a referendum ‍on whether Pinochet should remain in power in 1988 – a vote that Pinochet lost.

After serving as a congressman for the Right-wing Independent Democratic Union party for more than a decade, Kast stepped down in 2016 to pursue ⁠the presidency as an independent but ended up winning less than 10 per cent of the vote. He gained more traction in 2021, running under the banner of his self-founded Republican Party.

His style is quite different to that of Milei ‌or Bukele, Nicholas Watson, the Latin America managing director at Teneo, told Reuters.

He said: “He is⁠ much less flamboyant and more reserved. He is also more of a political insider; he has ‍not burst onto the political scene in the way that Milei did.”

David Altman, a political scientist at Chile’s Pontifical Catholic University, added that Kast had benefited from a growing rejection of the incumbent government led by Gabriel Boric, the Leftist president.

Altman said: “It’s not that people became more fascist in the space of four years. People abandoned the Left and, as there essentially was not a political centre, they went Right. It was the only place where they could land.”

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Chocolate’s fountain of youth? a cocoa compound linked to younger cells

By Willow Tohi

A large European study has found an association between higher blood levels of theobromine, a naturally occurring compound in cocoa, and markers of a younger biological age. The link appeared to be specific to theobromine and remained even after accounting for caffeine and other related dietary compounds. Researchers used two DNA-based aging clocks, including one that predicts mortality risk, to estimate biological aging. Because the research is observational, it cannot prove that eating chocolate or consuming theobromine slows aging. Therefore, scientists caution against modifying chocolate consumption based solely on these findings and emphasize the need for controlled intervention trials.

In a result that seems to combine folklore with modern molecular science, the research suggests that a modest component of dark chocolate may be linked to a slower rate of biological aging. The study, led by scientists at King’s College London and published in the journal Aging on December 10, 2025, analyzed data from more than 1,600 adults across various European countries. The researchers discovered that people with higher levels of circulating theobromine showed DNA patterns associated with a younger biological age than their chronological age suggested. These findings add a new dimension to efforts to understand how everyday foods can influence long-term health at the cellular level.

The science of aging has moved far beyond counting candles on a cake. Today, researchers employ epigenetic clocks, which track chemical modifications to DNA that change predictably as the body ages. This study used two such measures: GrimAge, associated with mortality risk, and DNAmTL, an estimator of telomere length. The blood samples came from 509 participants in the British TwinsUK registry and 1,160 participants in the German KORA cohort. Scientists compared these epigenetic aging markers with measured levels of dietary metabolites present in the blood.

A consistent association emerged in both populations. Higher concentrations of theobromine were linked to a slower acceleration of GrimAge and a longer estimated telomere length. In practical terms, people with more theobromine in their blood tended to show biological profiles that appeared younger than expected. Importantly, the association remained statistically significant even after adjusting for caffeine and other chemically related compounds, suggesting that theobromine may play a distinct role in cellular processes linked to aging.

Theobromine is the bitter alkaloid responsible for much of the characteristic flavor of dark chocolate. Despite its presence in widely consumed foods, theobromine has long been overshadowed by caffeine and cocoa polyphenols, which are often credited with chocolate’s potential cardiovascular benefits. Previous laboratory experiments in worms and rodents had suggested that theobromine might influence lifespan or parameters related to heart health, but large-scale human studies examining aging had been limited.

“This study identifies another molecular mechanism through which natural compounds in cocoa may contribute to health,” said Dr. Ricardo Costeira, a postdoctoral researcher at King’s College London and co-author of the paper. Lead author Professor Jordana Bell noted that the findings contribute to a broader effort to understand how common foods might offer clues to healthier aging. Taken together, their work suggests that the biological effects of cocoa may extend beyond its best-known antioxidants.

The results come amid decades of scientific and cultural interest in cocoa. Historically, cacao was valued in Mesoamerican societies as a sacred and restorative food. Modern research has explored its potential benefits, with studies indicating that cacao flavonoids may improve endothelial function and that chocolate consumption may be associated with certain cardiovascular risk factors.

Despite the observed association, the authors emphasize that the study does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship. Blood theobromine was measured at a single point in time, which does not allow for the assessment of dietary habits.

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Rural California gets a lifeline in school funding as Congress restores money it cut

Students in a classroom at Achieve Charter School of Paradise in Paradise on May 21, 2025. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters- Estudiantes en un aula de la Achieve Charter School of Paradise, en Paradise, el 21 de mayo de 2025.

by Carolyn Jones

Rural schools and communities are poised to receive millions in funding after Congress resurrected a program left for dead a few months ago.

The Secure Rural Schools Act, which Congress passed overwhelmingly this week, is headed to President Donald Trump for final approval. It would bring $471 million for schools, roads, fire prevention, public safety and other critical needs. In California, 39 counties would share more than $40 million.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” said Jaime Green, superintendent of Trinity Alps Unified in Trinity County, which is set to receive almost $4 million from the bill. “A lot of people worked very hard to make this happen. I’ve never been more proud of our country than I am right now.”

Secure Rural Schools was created a century ago to reimburse communities that have large tracts of untaxable federal land. The program had been funded almost continuously until this year, when it apparently fell victim to the so-called Department of Government Efficiency’s push to eliminate programs it deemed wasteful.

But relentless bipartisan badgering by rural politicians and school officials apparently worked. Green, for example, visited Washington D.C. more than a dozen times to push for the bill. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a Republican who represents much of northeastern California, hounded Speaker Mike Johnson for months until he placed it on the House calendar for a vote. A bipartisan group of more than 80 senators and representatives sent a letter to Johnson last week asking for the bill to be fast-tracked.

Public pressure, spurred in part by CalMatters coverage, also made a difference, Green and others said.

Razor-thin budgets

The money is especially important to rural communities because overall funding is so low to begin with. Rural school districts often operate on razor-thin budgets, with very little extra money to make up for swings in revenue. Trinity County, where 70% of the land is owned by the federal government, was anticipating layoffs, program cuts, deferral of costly repairs and other money-saving measures to make up for the loss of Secure Rural Schools funds.

Counties received their last Secure Rural Schools payment in March. The current bill will reimburse counties for the past nine months and cover the next two years, as well. The first checks will arrive 45 days after Trump signs the bill.

“When the program lapsed, rural schools and counties were cut short of the funding they rely on to provide basic services,” LaMalfa said. “This bill restores that funding and keeps future payments on schedule.”

He added that a long-term solution would be for the government to help rural communities re-establish their timber economy, so programs like Secure Rural Schools aren’t necessary.

Another long-term solution would be to extend Secure Rural Schools from a 3-year bill to a 5- or 10-year bill, said Allan Carver, superintendent of Siskiyou County, which will receive more than $4 million through the bill.

That would allow schools to make more permanent funding decisions — such as hiring classroom aides — and not have to continually lobby for the bill’s passage. A longer-term bill, spanning at least one presidential term, would also avoid some political skirmishes in Washington D.C., he said.

“We’re all celebrating today. This was truly an all-hands-on-deck effort,” Carver said. “But we’d love to see a permanent solution to this, so we’re not right back out there advocating a year from now.”

Other cuts on the horizon

James Gore, a Sonoma County supervisor and former president of the National Association of Counties, agreed that Secure Rural Schools should be exempt from the shifting political winds in Washington. Not only does it have strong bipartisan support, but the money is absolutely necessary for rural schools, he said.

“This is an unequivocal lifeline for kids in rural communities,” he said. “We’ll take the win, but it’s a shame that something so important was used as a negotiating tool.”

The fight is far from over, he added. Rural communities, which are disproportionately low-income compared to their urban and suburban counterparts, are facing federal cuts in Medicaid, food assistance, education and other programs which will have a far greater impact on residents’ day-to-day lives, he said.

“We all know that reform is needed,” Gore said, citing social services cuts in the Republican spending bill also called the One Big Beautiful Bill. “There’s going to be so many more fights in the next few years. Secure Rural Schools is only the first of 10 or more.”

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What Are Your Financial Goals for 2026? Here’s How to Stay on Track

A happy young couple has just received the package they ordered through online shopping

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As we approach the end of 2025, you might already be mapping out financial goals for the new year—to save more, spend smarter, or stick to a budget. Whether you make New Year’s resolutions, paste images on a vision board or crunch numbers on a balance sheet, you’re likely already looking to start next year with high hopes and big plans.

So as you celebrate the holidays this month and start thinking about stepping into 2026, now is the perfect time to solidify your plans and take steps to help you achieve those goals. Starting early and strong can set the tone for the entire year.

We sat down with JPMorganChase, and they offer six dos and don’ts about financial planning and management that can help you achieve a fresh start in 2026 and get closer to reaching your goals.

  • DO create a budget

One common financial mistake is not having a budget at all. Remaining in the dark about your spending can limit your ability to save for important goals like a car, a home or your retirement. If you don’t know what you’re spending, there’s a good chance you may be spending too much.   

  • DON’T leave your budget up to chance 

Using guesswork when trying to allocate your monthly budget can lead to overestimating or underestimating how much to allot toward each budgeting category. This may set you up for failure. Taking a month to assess and identify your spending patterns may help to establish a baseline as you’re setting your budget.

  • DO track your spending
    Get to know your spending by creating a monthly budget tracker. You can then review your spending and track it in a monthly budget worksheet. Over time, you can adjust which budgeting categories to cut back spending on. Expenses can fluctuate month to month, so be prepared to shift gears whenever necessary.
  • DON’T put wants and needs in the same category

A common error beginner budgeters can make is mistaking “wants” for “needs.” Needs are essential items like utility bills, rent or mortgage payments, and groceries. These are things you need to live. Wants, on the other hand, are non-essential expenses like dining out or entertainment. It may still be possible to find room in your budget to accommodate a few luxuries, but being honest with yourself about what’s truly necessary may help you avoid this budgeting mishap.

  • DO keep it simple

The idea of listing every single expenditure for a month might seem daunting, but you don’t have to go that far. It can be helpful to create a budget that works for you, which includes making it manageable enough to take on in the first place. If you’re just starting out, create just a handful of budgeting categories to help keep things simple.

  • DON’T skip the emergency fund
    Life is unpredictable and having an emergency fund to pay for unplanned expenses may help you during that time. Without it, you may have to dip into long-term savings or use a credit card if the unexpected arises. Creating an emergency funddoesn’t have to be   When you’re making your budget, include a monthly line item for emergency fund contributions. This can help build up your reserves over time. Many bank accounts even let you automate these emergency fund deposits.

The bottom line
Starting the new year with a clear plan can set you up for success, and budgeting is a powerful tool to help you achieve your financial goals.

Start tracking your spending now to set up your budget for the year and be aware of common budgeting mistakes. It’s never too early – or too late – to get back on the road to financial freedom.

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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Deportation should not mean humiliation

Marvin Ramírez, editor

by Marvin Ramírez

In recent weeks, images circulating on social media and television news have deeply unsettled many communities across the country, particularly Latino communities. These images show immigration arrests carried out with visible force and humiliation—people taken from their workplaces, from sidewalks, sometimes in front of their families—without regard for age, social standing, or years of productive life in the United States.

This editorial is not an argument against enforcing immigration laws. Every nation has the right to control its borders and apply its laws. The question is not whether the law should be enforced, but how it is being enforced.

The current approach, marked by aggressive tactics and public displays of force, risks confusing firmness with cruelty. Many of those being arrested are not violent criminals. They are workers—men and women who show up daily to construction sites, farms, restaurants, and cleaning jobs. They pay rent, raise children, contribute to the economy, and live quietly within their communities. Their only violation, in many cases, is lacking proper documentation.

The new administration has promised large-scale deportations as part of its immigration agenda. That promise may resonate with voters who want order restored to the system. But order does not require humiliation, and enforcement does not have to come at the expense of human dignity.

For many legal residents and U.S. citizens, these scenes provoke fear and anguish. Latino communities, in particular, are deeply interconnected. Many citizens today are former immigrants themselves—or the children of immigrants—who once arrived under difficult circumstances and later legalized their status. That journey is a familiar story in this country.

Offering shelter, food, or temporary help to a relative who arrives in need is not an act of criminal intent; for many, it is a moral obligation. In faith-based traditions and family-centered cultures, helping a loved one survive is seen as a duty, not a crime. Treating that solidarity as suspicious or immoral further erodes trust between communities and the government.

It is also important to acknowledge a difficult truth: many immigrants, including Latinos, agree that individuals who commit serious crimes should be removed from the country. No one wants to relive the violence that forced so many to flee their homelands in the first place. Communities understand the need to remove dangerous individuals.

But there is a profound difference between targeting violent offenders and sweeping up workers and parents using the same tactics. When arrests appear indiscriminate and excessively forceful, they create resentment, fear, and social fragmentation.

The manner in which these deportations are being carried out is damaging the government’s image and undermining public confidence. Children who are U.S. citizens watch their parents taken away. Families are left without explanations, without time to prepare, without the chance to say goodbye. Communities become afraid to go to work, attend school meetings, or seek medical care.

There is another way.

If an individual is subject to deportation, the process can still allow for dignity. People should be notified, given time to contact their families, retrieve personal belongings, and prepare emotionally. They should be allowed to say goodbye to their children, to their spouses, to their loved ones. Deportation does not need to be a public spectacle.

The collateral damage of violent enforcement is not abstract. It is measured in trauma, fear, and long-lasting emotional wounds—especially among children. That kind of harm weakens the social fabric and does nothing to solve the underlying immigration crisis.

This editorial does not call for open borders or blanket amnesty. It calls for restraint, humanity, and proportionality. A strong nation can enforce its laws without abandoning compassion.

Deportation may be a legal action, but it should never be an act of degradation. A country built by immigrants should be capable of enforcing its laws without losing its soul.

 

 

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Las Posadas: A living Christmas tradition across Latin America

The Anza Trail, John Muir National Historic Site, and Saint Catherine of Siena Spanish Choir host a Posada connecting faith with Martinez. -- Las Posadas: una tradición navideña viva en toda América Latina

by the El Reportero staff

Las Posadas is one of the most enduring and meaningful Christmas traditions in Latin America, blending faith, community, music, and cultural expression. Celebrated each year from December 16 through December 24, Las Posadas is a novenario—a nine-day devotion—that reenacts the biblical journey of Mary and Joseph as they searched for shelter in Bethlehem before the birth of Jesus. While its roots trace back to colonial Mexico, the celebration has spread throughout Latin America and continues to thrive among Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States.

In Mexico, where Las Posadas originated in the 16th century, the celebration remains especially vibrant. Each evening, families and neighbors gather to form a procession, often led by children dressed as Mary and Joseph. Carrying candles, singing traditional verses, and sometimes accompanied by musicians, the group goes from house to house asking for lodging. The ritual call-and-response songs—where homeowners initially deny shelter before welcoming the travelers—are central to the experience. Once admitted, the night turns festive with prayers, food, warm drinks like atole or ponche, and the breaking of a colorful piñata.

In Central American countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, Las Posadas share similar religious elements but incorporate local customs. In Guatemala, elaborate street processions may include images of the Virgin Mary, floral decorations, and fireworks. In El Salvador, the celebrations are often more intimate, centered around family homes and parish communities, with an emphasis on prayer, music, and traditional foods like tamales.

South American countries celebrate Las Posadas in more varied forms. In Colombia and Venezuela, the novena tradition is closely tied to the “Novena de Aguinaldos,” which includes nightly prayers, carols, and family gatherings rather than processions. In Peru and Ecuador, Catholic parishes often organize reenactments of the Nativity story, blending Las Posadas themes with local folklore, dances, and regional music.

Among Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States, Las Posadas has become both a religious observance and a cultural statement. Churches, community centers, and neighborhoods organize processions that reflect life in the diaspora, sometimes highlighting themes of migration, hospitality, and social justice. While the setting may differ, the essence remains the same: opening doors, sharing food, and strengthening community bonds.

Across Latin America and beyond, Las Posadas continues to evolve while preserving its core message—hospitality, faith, and togetherness—making it a powerful and living tradition during the Christmas season.

 

 

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Dynamic Connections – BNI: energy, collaboration, and business growth

Miembros e invitados de la organización empresarial BNI. - Foto por Ruth Espinoza.

by the El Reportero‘s staff

More than 20 enthusiastic professionals gathered last Thursday for the latest meeting of Dynamic Connections – BNI, a business networking group that continues to strengthen its presence as a key space for collaboration, growth, and financial prosperity among its members.

From the very beginning, the meeting was marked by an atmosphere of high energy and enthusiasm, reflecting the strong commitment of its members to support one another and generate real business opportunities. Entrepreneurs and professionals from a wide range of industries shared ideas, experiences, and referrals in a dynamic environment focused not only on individual success, but on collective growth.

Dynamic Connections is part of Business Network International (BNI), a globally recognized organization known for its structured approach to networking, built on trust, high-quality referrals, and the philosophy of “Givers Gain” — the idea that by giving business, one receives business in return. This principle is clearly reflected in every meeting, where members actively look for ways to contribute to each other’s professional success.

During the session, each participant had the opportunity to present their business, explain their services, and share how they can add value to the group. Far from being a routine exercise, these presentations serve as a powerful tool to sharpen communication skills, strengthen professional messaging, and uncover new opportunities for collaboration.

The photographs taken during the meeting capture the true spirit of Dynamic Connections – BNI: attentive faces, genuine smiles, and a strong sense of camaraderie. They show that this group is much more than a networking circle — it is a community of professionals committed to continuous learning, business discipline, and sustainable growth.

In an economic climate filled with challenges, initiatives like Dynamic Connections are especially valuable. The group demonstrates that when professionalism, a positive mindset, and teamwork come together, opportunities multiply and results follow.

Dynamic Connections – BNI continues to establish itself as a model of effective networking, strengthening the local business community and proving that the right connections can make a meaningful difference on the path to financial success.

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