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California voters passed a $6.4 billion mental health bond. Now, see where that money is going

Edificio del Centro Médico Regional Comunitario en el centro de Fresno el 11 de junio de 2025. Foto de Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local.

by Marisa Kendall, Jocelyn Wiener and Erica Yee

With contribution by El Reportero

It can take a long time to build anything in California. But the governor’s office is moving fast on mental health projects funded by a new bond.

Just over a year after voters approved the Proposition 1 mental health bond by a razor-thin margin—50.2 percent to 49.8 percent—the state has started distributing the first major wave of funds.

Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced $3.3 billion in grants for more than 140 projects. According to his office, the funds will support 5,000 new treatment beds and 21,800 outpatient slots for Californians struggling with mental illness or addiction. That covers roughly 74 percent of the promised beds and 82 percent of outpatient services outlined in the original plan.

“It’s the issue of our time, and we’re not taking our time,” Newsom said at a news conference. “We’re addressing this crisis with that sense of urgency that you deserve.”

Advocates and local officials praise the rapid rollout, noting the broader geographic reach compared to past funding rounds. However, others worry that the state is rushing a once-in-a-generation opportunity without fully assessing the kinds of treatment most needed.

Michelle Cabrera, executive director of the County Behavioral Health Directors Association, said California’s recent policy changes—including expanded powers to place people in treatment involuntarily—require planning and targeted investment. “I think we were surprised by the drive to go so hard right now when there’s still a lot that needs to be worked out,” she said.

Where the money is going

Los Angeles County received the largest share—$1 billion for 35 projects. The Bay Area’s nine counties were awarded nearly $500 million for 19 initiatives. Fresno County, often overlooked, secured funding for four separate projects.

Most grants target adult residential substance use treatment, followed by outpatient programs and mental health clinics. Other funded services include sobering centers, peer-led respite programs, and specialized services for youth.

Proposition 1 allocated $4.4 billion of its $6.4 billion total for treatment infrastructure and $2 billion for permanent supportive housing. These investments support Newsom’s broader goal of reshaping California’s mental health system—expanding treatment access while addressing homelessness linked to untreated illness and addiction.

San Francisco gets $65 million for crisis care

In San Francisco, the state awarded about $65 million to bolster mental health services. Key projects include expanding psychiatric emergency care at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and increasing stabilization beds for people with co-occurring disorders.

The Behavioral Health Access Center at the hospital will double its capacity, helping reduce wait times for those in crisis.

One of the more prominent proposals is a 40-bed transitional housing facility in the Tenderloin, which will include onsite addiction recovery and mental health services. An additional $12 million will fund peer-run respite centers in the Mission and Bayview, offering safe spaces staffed by people with lived experience.

“For too long, San Francisco’s mental health infrastructure has been reactive, not preventative,” said Dr. Lisa Pratt, the city’s director of mental health services. “These funds allow us to shift that paradigm.”

However, building delays and city bureaucracy could limit short-term results. “Money is coming in fast, but buildings rise slowly here,” said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, a longtime advocate for mental health reform.

Projects must break ground within 18 months, per state requirements.

Bay Area builds for prevention

Other Bay Area counties are also moving forward. In Alameda County, funds will expand youth outpatient services and deploy mobile addiction recovery teams that respond to encampments and emergency calls.

Santa Clara County received tens of millions to support residential beds and community-based clinics. In Oakland, a new downtown sobering and treatment center near BART aims to relieve pressure on jails and ERs that often serve as default crisis centers.

Public health leaders say the scale of the funding is unmatched. But they warn that the system will only succeed if it shifts from crisis response to early and community-based care.

“This is a test,” said Cabrera. “New policy plus new funding has to equal long-term systems change.”

Fresno and rural counties receive rare boosts

Fresno County’s four awards represent a major turnaround in state funding for the region. One major grant will support a new crisis stabilization unit at the Community Regional Medical Center, easing pressure on local ERs.

Other Fresno projects include a rural outpatient expansion and a residential addiction treatment center serving women and families.

Farther north, Del Norte County, one of the most underserved in the state, received funding to build its first-ever crisis stabilization center, filling a longstanding gap in local services.

“These are the types of communities we haven’t historically supported well,” said a California Health and Human Services official. “That’s starting to change.”

 

What’s next?

Despite the early momentum, challenges remain. Mental health providers are still facing workforce shortages, rising construction costs, and uncertainty over future federal funding. Meanwhile, new state laws expanding treatment mandates will require careful implementation to avoid overreach or service gaps.

“There’s a lot of pressure to deliver results fast,” said Sarah Arnquist, a mental health policy analyst based in the Bay Area. “But transformation takes time.”

Still, many local leaders see this as a rare opportunity.

“This is our shot,” said Dr. Pratt. “We finally have the resources to make a difference. Now we need to use them wisely.”

Learn more:

This article was produced in collaboration between CalMatters and El Reportero. Local reporting by Marvin Ramírez.

 

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Mass deportations disrupt U.S. businesses and burden Latin America

by El Reportero‘s wire services

Thousands of undocumented immigrants are being deported from the United States to Latin America in a wave of enforcement actions that experts say is harming both the U.S. economy and straining social systems in recipient countries.

Since January 2025, both the Biden and Trump camps—under bipartisan pressure to “restore border security”—have escalated removal flights, many operated by military aircraft. Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry reports 1,828 citizens repatriated between January and March aboard 18 flights. Mexico, by mid-February, had received 13,455 deportees, including nearly 3,000 from other nations.

Guatemala, Panama, and Venezuela have also received deportees, often under pressure. “We have tools—economic and political—to ensure compliance,” a senior U.S. official said, referencing threats of tariffs and canal fees aimed at Panama and Costa Rica.

In Colombia, deportation flights triggered a diplomatic standoff. President Gustavo Petro rejected flights lacking due process. Washington retaliated with visa sanctions and suspended agricultural import waivers, leading to a compromise.

Essential workers abruptly removed

In the U.S., businesses report losing key workers in agriculture, construction, eldercare, food service, and manufacturing—industries long dependent on immigrant labor.

“Undocumented workers are the backbone of our supply chain,” said a spokesperson for a coalition of meatpacking and farming firms. “Without them, the system collapses.”

Undocumented immigrants make up nearly half of the U.S. agricultural workforce. The Los Angeles Times noted, “If the dairy industry lost its immigrant workforce, the cost of a gallon of milk would double.”

Construction—where up to 25 percent of the workforce may be undocumented—faces labor shortages that could worsen the housing crisis. Arizona’s previous crackdown caused a 2 percent drop in state GDP.

In Seattle, restaurateur Eric Tanaka said: “We’re fully dependent on our immigrant coworkers… There’s no way we could do what we do without them.”

Eldercare is also impacted. “Immigrants… are much more likely to work in the types of jobs where we’re seeing prices go up,” said Chloe East of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Economic ripples

The Peterson Institute for International Economics estimates that deporting 1.3 million undocumented immigrants could shrink GDP by up to 1.5 percent within three years. Moody’s Analytics predicts a possible GDP hit between 2.6 percent and 6.2 percent.

Labor shortages, already worsened by an aging U.S. population, are now compounded by stepped-up enforcement. Many small businesses—particularly in Latino communities—report closures or reduced hours due to lack of staff.

“There’s going to be supply chain issues. There’s going to be increases in prices, decreases in services,” said David J. Bier, an analyst at the Cato Institute.

Tax contributions are also at stake. In 2022, undocumented immigrants paid $59.4 billion in federal taxes and $13.6 billion to state and local governments. They also contributed more than $12 billion to Social Security and Medicare despite being ineligible for benefits.

According to Wired, over 40 U.S. companies, including firms in food and construction, warned in 2025 SEC filings that immigration enforcement poses serious operational and financial risks.

Strain on Latin America

Latin American countries receiving deportees face rising economic and social pressures. In El Salvador, 137 Venezuelan migrants were recently jailed under emergency laws—despite most having no criminal records.

“These are not criminals—they’re victims of political bargaining,” said a Salvadoran human rights attorney. “They’re held in maximum-security jails with no trial.”

Caribbean nations including Jamaica, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent have called for slower deportations and more financial aid. Many health systems, housing agencies, and schools lack the capacity to absorb the influx.

Remittances—a key economic pillar in many Latin American nations—are in jeopardy. The World Bank warns that even a 10 percent drop could plunge thousands of families into poverty.

In Panama and Costa Rica, deportation flights are delivering non-citizen deportees—including Haitians and Venezuelans—to remote detention centers. These “proxy deportations,” facilitated by U.S. agreements, have drawn criticism.

Policy at a crossroads

Despite the surge in deportations, industry leaders and economists are urging lawmakers to adopt a more balanced approach. Several groups have proposed targeted legalization for long-term workers in essential sectors.

The National Restaurant Association and American Farm Bureau Federation have sent letters to Congress advocating for temporary work permits for undocumented workers. Without such measures, they warn, inflation will rise and businesses will close.

A 2024 Gallup poll found that 72 percent of Americans support legal status for undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. more than five years and have no criminal record.

So far, lawmakers have focused on enforcement.

“Deportation policy is being used as a tool of political theater,” said immigration law professor María Cristina García. “But the real costs—economic and human—are becoming impossible to ignore.”

Human toll and global implications

Beyond economics, the deportation wave is tearing apart families and destabilizing communities. From California farms to Central American villages, the effects are felt on both ends of the journey.

While immigration remains politically divisive in the U.S., the consequences of deporting those who quietly sustain major industries are increasingly visible.

As the U.S. enforces stricter immigration control, one question grows louder: Can the economy afford the cost?

With reports from The Washington Post, Wired, El Espectador, Human Rights Watch, and the Los Angeles Times.

 

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During Women’s Health Month, experts highlight alcohol abuse

Reported by Suzanne Potter

As Women’s Health Month concludes, experts are raising concerns over a significant increase in binge drinking among women. A recent Journal of the American Medical Association study reveals that, for the first time in history, women are binge drinking more than men. Joanne Hawes, clinical operations director at the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California, noted that alcohol affects women differently, leading to quicker health complications.

“Alcohol impacts women more rapidly, leading to issues like liver damage, brain atrophy, and heart disease earlier than in men,” Hawes explained. Alcoholics Anonymous reports that 38% of its clients are now women, a proportion that has been steadily increasing.

National Institutes of Health data indicates that nearly one in three women aged 18 to 25 binge drinks regularly. Hawes linked the rise in alcohol use to stress from balancing work and childcare during the COVID lockdowns.

Dr. Lisa Saul, chief medical officer for women’s health at UnitedHealthcare, said heavy drinking among women has risen by 41% since the pandemic, raising cancer risks. “Alcohol is a carcinogen linked to at least six cancers, including breast and colorectal,” Saul noted.

Help is available through employee assistance programs and resources from the National Institutes of Health website, Rethinking Drinking.

In other non-related news:

New CA bill would make birth centers available to more low-income families

California lawmakers are reviewing Assembly Bill 55, which aims to expand access to birth centers by easing the licensure process—particularly for centers that accept Medi-Cal. This move comes as many maternity wards close across the state.

Sandra Poole of the Western Center on Law and Poverty said the bill removes the requirement for birth centers to be within 30 minutes of a hospital, instead mandating a transfer plan in case of emergencies. “Twelve California counties currently have no labor and delivery wards at all,” she noted.

Birth centers serve low-risk pregnancies in homelike settings. Since 2020, over 40% of the state’s birth centers have shut down, and only four of the 37 remaining are fully licensed. A study from the Western Center on Law and Poverty attributes this to overly complex licensing.

Holly Drayton, a former doula, emphasized the value of choice in birthing environments. “It allows families to labor in a space where they feel supported,” she said. Sarah Archer added that birth centers lower pre-term birth rates and offer safe, serene alternatives to hospitals.

The bill has passed the State Assembly and now awaits review by the Senate Health Committee.

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Where is our “Life Day”? A society gone mad in its embrace of death

by the El Reportero staff

With reports by LifeSiteNews

Imagine a world where Earth Day is widely observed but Life Day doesn’t exist. We take time to reflect on environmental well-being, but not on the intrinsic value of human life. We organize summits to reduce carbon footprints, but not to reduce suicide or promote hope. As noble as it is to care for our planet, what does it say about us that we fail to pause, even one day a year, to honor and protect the miracle of human life?

Canada, once hailed as a beacon of civil rights and progressive values, is now spiraling into a moral abyss where death is not only accepted—it’s promoted, subsidized, and normalized under the banner of “compassion.” What began in 2016 as the legalization of euthanasia for terminally ill patients has morphed into something chilling: a rapidly expanding medical killing regime that offers death not just as a choice, but increasingly as a solution.

This isn’t alarmism. This is reality. In 2022 alone, Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program was responsible for 13,241 deaths—making euthanasia the sixth-leading cause of death in the country. That’s 4.1 percent of all deaths nationwide, and the number keeps rising. What’s more disturbing? A 31.2 percent increase from just the year before, fueled largely by 2021’s Bill C-7, which broadened eligibility to include people who were not terminally ill.

It gets worse. In 2027, the expansion of MAiD is set to include those suffering solely from mental illness. We live in a time when mental health campaigns flood our screens with the message that “you’re not alone,” and that “help is available.” But in Canada, help will soon include a government-assisted death.

Where is the outrage? Where are the candlelight vigils for these souls lost not to disease, but to despair sanctioned by law? Instead of investing in mental health services, addiction treatment, or support for people with disabilities, Canada is preparing to make euthanasia available to “mature minors” and possibly even children with severe autism, according to internal government research.

Yes, you read that right. As reported by LifeSiteNews, government-funded studies are exploring youth perspectives on euthanasia and considering whether children with autism should be eligible for state-assisted death. How is this not a dystopian nightmare? In what rational world does the government even entertain the thought of offering lethal injections to vulnerable children?

Meanwhile, courts are grappling with questions of conscience and religious freedom. A recent ruling determined that Quebec’s so-called “Loi sur la Laïcité de l’État”—which bans public servants from wearing religious symbols—does not grant unlimited authority to restrict activities like those of Le Groupe Jaspe, a pro-life organization offering outreach and suicide prevention services.

Think about the irony here: the state imposes strict secularist rules to prevent faith-based groups from promoting hope and life, all while expanding laws that facilitate death. The court’s limited recognition of the rights of groups like Le Groupe Jaspe is a rare win, but in a broader landscape, these voices are under siege.

Instead of championing a culture of life, modern Canada has become a nation of sterile “choice” —a buzzword that loses its meaning when the only options offered are despair and death. It’s as if the value of a life is now measured solely by productivity, independence, or a government-sanctioned sense of “quality.” If you’re old, sick, disabled, or mentally ill, the message is clear: your death is more convenient than your care.

Where is our Life Day?

We should be gathering in parks and public squares to celebrate every heartbeat, every struggle overcome, every life saved from the brink. We should honor not just newborns but the elderly, not just the healthy but the vulnerable. If we have Earth Day, why not Life Day? A time to recommit to protecting the most sacred and irreplaceable resource we have: human beings.

Canada’s descent into this euthanasia abyss is not just a Canadian problem. It’s a cautionary tale for the world. When a society loses its moral compass, when expediency and ideology replace empathy and ethics, it opens the door to dehumanization at a bureaucratic level. What starts as a “right to die” soon becomes a pressure to die, particularly for the weak, the poor, or those with no advocates.

We cannot let this trend spread unchecked. It’s time for a global awakening—a cultural, spiritual, and moral revival that affirms life at every stage. Religious communities, healthcare professionals, civil rights activists, and ordinary citizens must come together not just to oppose euthanasia, but to reclaim the narrative around suffering and support.

Suffering is part of the human experience, but it does not strip a person of their dignity. In fact, it can bring out profound compassion, resilience, and connection. Instead of medicalizing despair, let us humanize care. Instead of legalizing the end, let us invest in new beginnings.

To do nothing is to concede. It is to let our culture slip further into the abyss where a child might one day be offered a needle instead of a hug, a grave instead of guidance.

It’s not too late.

Start by asking your lawmakers why there isn’t a Life Day. Start by demanding more mental health services, more hospice support, more disability resources—not more ways to die. Start by reminding your communities, your churches, your schools, and your governments that life is not a burden. It’s a gift.

The Earth can’t flourish if its people don’t. Let’s not wait until it’s too late to realize how insane it has become to promote death as progress.

Let us dare to be sane. Let us dare to live.

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A Father’s Day with History and Love

José Santos calero
Marvin Ramírez, editor

by Marvin Ramírez

When I write, when I publish El Reportero, and you, my readers, see it, read it, savor the articles we present in the newspaper, know that all of this requires talent, feeling, and inspiration. But, above all, it was all born—yes—from an inspiration.

And that inspiration was my father, journalist José Santos Ramírez Calero. Since I was a child, I clearly remember walking hand in hand with him through the streets and seeing how people admired him. That quiet, yet deeply respected figure, shaped my life without saying many words.

My grandmother, Juana María Calero Espinoza, used to tell me that at ten years old, my father was already playing at being a journalist. With a toy printing press she gave him, he would print his friends’ jokes in a homemade newsletter. Of course, his friends sometimes got so angry they wanted to hit him, but he kept printing. And thus, his vocation was born.

Years later, he worked at the newspaper La Noticia—one of the most credible newspapers in Nicaragua’s history—where he worked as an editor for 45 years. At the same time, he founded El Nuevo Demócrata, an independent, critical, and courageous newspaper with a format similar to that of this very Reportero.

In 1945, he emigrated to the United States and, without abandoning his vocation, continued publishing his newspaper in San Francisco, selling it on the famous Market Street for just 10 cents. Today I still have copies of those editions, true treasures that bear witness to his legacy.

Yes, I can say that journalism runs in my blood. My father’s father, José Santos Ramírez Estrada, was also a journalist. He founded the magazine El Field, through which he promoted the professionalization of baseball in Nicaragua. Thanks to his idea of ​​closing open fields and charging admission, the first professional league was organized between the Boer and the US Marines during the American occupation of the 1920s. This event was recorded in La Prensa Literaria, and I have a copy of the article that confirms it.

The day my father went to the bosom of the Lord was one of the hardest of my life. Seeing him in his coffin was like facing true loss. I had never wept so deeply as I did in that funeral home, nor felt so empty as when I saw him descend to his final resting place.

He didn’t speak much, but when he did, he did so with the wisdom of someone who knows that words are not wasted. His short sentences were profound, and many of them continue to guide me today. He was a man who loved with his actions, who inspired with his example, and whose legacy drives me every day I write these pages. This Father’s Day, beyond the usual gifts, barbecues, or hugs, I invite you to celebrate it with history. Because Father’s Day isn’t just a commercial holiday: it’s an opportunity to recognize that man who left his mark on us, for better or worse.

The celebration of Father’s Day in the U.S. has its roots in 1910, when Sonora Smart Dodd, the daughter of a Civil War veteran raising her six children alone, proposed dedicating a special day to fathers. In 1972, President Richard Nixon officially made it a national holiday.

In Latin America, Father’s Day was slowly adopted, with variations depending on the country. In Mexico, for example, it is celebrated on the third Sunday of June, as in the U.S., while in other countries like Nicaragua and Honduras, it is celebrated on June 23. Although the dates differ, the purpose is the same: to honor the father, the one who was there, the one who tried, the one who perhaps failed, but who can be transformed with love.

Because we all have a story with our father. Some of gratitude, others of pain, others of redemption. Not all fathers are perfect. There are absent fathers, harsh fathers, fathers who didn’t know how to love. But there are also fathers who learned, who grew with us, who shaped their character over time. And if anything can change a man, it’s the love of his children.

That’s why I say: all fathers deserve love. Because love is a transformative force. And it’s by loving those who least deserve it that it is sown most deeply in the soul. No father is impossible to redeem when he is looked upon with compassion.

Today I want to honor mine. But I also invite you, the reader, to think about your father. Write your story. And if you can, share it. Perhaps, as happened to me, that story will become your greatest inspiration.

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Trump’s trade war prompts this business strategy in Latin America

An aerial view of containers and cargo ships at the Port of Los Angeles on January 19, 2022, in California. Qian Weizhong/VCG/Gettyimages.ru -- Vista aérea de contenedores y buques de carga en el Puerto de Los Ángeles el 19 de enero de 2022 en California.Qian Weizhong / VCG / Gettyimages.ru

Companies in the Region Develop Express Tactics While the Tariff Extension Lasts

by the El Reportero wire services

The 90-day tariff pause ordered by US President Donald Trump is being taken advantage of by companies in major Latin American economies trying to build up inventories to weather the impact of the trade war. The partial truce has provided them with a critical window to readjust their operations.

“Companies are rushing to import everything they can,” said Alejandro Arroyo Welbers, director of Programs in International Trade and Regional Economies at Argentina’s Universidad Austral, as quoted by Bloomberg on Tuesday. He even stated that the ports of Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, and Qingdao in China are “totally congested,” as was observed in 2021, when they were overflowing with products to overcome the disruptions to supply chains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This accelerated growth reflects the urgency of importers to take advantage of the 90 days in which Trump reduced tariffs on Chinese imports, as well as the Asian giant’s counter-response. This dynamic not only impacts large corporations but also medium- and small-sized Latin American businesses that depend on imported technological inputs, machinery, and intermediate products to sustain their production chains.

For example, Mexican companies not covered by the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) have opted to import strategic inputs and also to advance exports before they are subject to tariffs. This behavior not only demonstrates business agility, but also a structural concern about possible future restrictions, which could translate into high costs and a loss of international competitiveness.

Furthermore, Brazilian, Chilean, and Colombian companies have begun to review their bilateral agreements with Asia, and several have resumed previously paused trade negotiations, given the possibility of the trade war escalating further.

Looking to Europe?

The 8th Ibero-American Congress of the Business Council Alliance for Ibero-America (Ceapi) was recently held in Seville, Spain. It was agreed that, amid the dispute between the US and China, a window of opportunity has opened to strengthen ties between Latin America and Europe.

In a manifesto entitled “More Ibero-America, a global strategy in a multipolar world,” they proposed integrating into global value chains and strengthening legal security to attract investment, develop their own technology, and reduce dependence on unstable trading powers.

“Latin America has all the potential to be a protagonist in the new global order,” concluded the VIII Congress of the CEAPI, encouraging the public and private sectors to adopt a more strategic vision.

These measures are being taken amid the uncertainty caused by Trump, who is using the “carrot and stick” approach. Meanwhile, companies are analyzing possible scenarios, seeking alternative suppliers, and adapting their logistics models to withstand unexpected economic shocks, trusting that agility and diversification will be their best defenses.

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Walnut oil: One of the best nut oils for your heart and brain

by Laura Harris

  • Walnut oil is packed with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and antioxidants like vitamin E and polyphenols — nutrients that allow it to support heart, brain and skin health.
  • Most commercial walnut oils are heavily refined or hydrogenated and are thus stripped of most of their nutritional benefits. Cold-pressed, organic options retain maximum health value.
  • Conventional walnuts are heavily contaminated with pesticides and can absorb heavy metals. Choosing organic walnut oil minimizes exposure to these toxic elements and ensures purity.
  • Walnut oil is best used for dressings, drizzling or dips. Avoid high-heat cooking to preserve nutrients and flavor.
  • Used since ancient times for food and medicine, walnut oil adds a nutty depth to salads, roasted veggies, pesto and desserts.

Walnut oil is a hidden gem in the world of culinary oils. Extracted from English walnuts (Juglans regia), this amber-colored oil boasts a rich, nutty flavor that enhances dishes while delivering nutrients. Its abundance of healthy fats, antioxidants and vitamins has made it a prized ingredient in both gourmet cooking and traditional medicine. However, not all walnut oils are created equal – processing methods and sourcing dramatically impact its health benefits.

Brief history of walnut oil

Walnuts have been cultivated for thousands of years. Evidence of their use for various purposes can be traced back to ancient Persia, Rome and China. Historically, walnuts were pressed for their oil, which was not only consumed as food but also used in lamps, cosmetics and medicinal remedies.

In medieval Europe, walnut oil was a staple in French cuisine and was used especially in dressings and sauces. It gained wider recognition in the 19th century as cold-pressing methods improved, making high-quality walnut oil more accessible. Today, France remains one of the largest producers of premium walnut oil, though it is also widely produced in California, China and other walnut-growing regions.

Nutritional benefits of walnut oil

Walnut oil is celebrated for its exceptional fatty acid and antioxidant composition:

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids

  • Contains alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid that’s crucial for brain health and reducing inflammation.
  • Has a balanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 (about 4:1), which is healthier than many refined vegetable oils.

Vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols)

  • A powerful antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative damage.
  • Promotes skin health and may slow aging.

Polyphenols and phytosterols

  • Polyphenols reduce inflammation and support cardiovascular health.
  • Phytosterols help lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.

Minerals

  • Traces of magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and potassium contribute to optimal metabolic function.

Is walnut oil healthy or harmful?

Walnut oil is undoubtedly nutritious, offering an abundance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and natural antioxidants especially when cold-pressed, as this method best preserves its beneficial properties. (Related: Research consistently finds walnut oil effective against Type 2 diabetes.)

However, its health impact largely depends on quality and processing.

Many commercial walnut oils undergo high-heat extraction and chemical refining, which strip away vital nutrients. Additionally, some brands hydrogenate the oil to prolong shelf life, potentially creating unhealthy trans fats, while others dilute it with cheaper vegetable oils, reducing its nutritional value.

For those seeking maximum health benefits, choosing cold-pressed, organic walnut oil, preferably stored in dark glass bottles to prevent oxidation, is ideal.

Walnuts are among the most pesticide-heavy tree nuts, frequently treated with fungicides and insecticides such as chlorpyrifos and bifenthrin. Opting for organic walnut oil helps minimize exposure to these harmful pesticide residues.

Additionally, walnuts can absorb toxic heavy metals like cadmium and lead from contaminated soil, further underscoring the importance of choosing organic and lab-tested brands that carry certifications for purity and safety.

By selecting organic walnut oil, you not only reduce chemical exposure but also support farming practices that prioritize environmental and long-term health benefits.

Culinary uses of walnut oil

Walnut oil’s delicate flavor makes it ideal for finishing dishes rather than high-heat cooking (smoke point is ~320 F or 160 C).

Best used in:

  • Salad dressings – Paired with balsamic vinegar, mustard and honey.
  • Drizzled over roasted vegetables – Especially squash, beets or Brussels sprouts.
  • Dipping oil – Mixed with herbs and bread.
  • Pesto alternative – Combined with basil, garlic and Parmesan.
  • Desserts – Adds depth to chocolate mousse or ice cream toppings.

Recipe ideas

  • Walnut oil vinaigrette – Whisk with lemon juice, Dijon and sea salt.
  • Herb-infused walnut oil – Warm gently with rosemary and thyme (store for later use).
  • Walnut-crusted salmon – Brush fish with walnut oil before baking.

This story is not medical advice and is not intended to treat or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified naturopathic physician for personalized advice about your specific health situation or concern. Food.news.

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Is it sex education or porn? Huntington Beach comes to blows over library books

Opponents of Measures A and B display book titles they want removed from the children’s section of the library during an event at Lake Park in Huntington Beach on May 31, 2025. Photo by Mette Lampcov for CalMatters -- Opositores a las Medidas A y B exhiben los títulos de libros que desean retirar de la sección infantil de la biblioteca durante un evento en Lake Park, Huntington Beach, el 31 de mayo de 2025. Foto de Mette Lampcov para CalMatters.

Huntington Beach will decide next week on whether to repeal a community review board for library material. It’s a test of the conservative city council’s growing clout and the national movement to restrict access to sexual content in children’s books

by Alexei Koseff

The simmering battle over the public library in Huntington Beach erupted again this spring when provocative signs cropped up around town overnight.

“Protect our kids from porn,” the placards warned in bold red letters. Funded by a city councilmember’s political action committee, they urged people to vote against a pair of ballot measures in an upcoming special election, including one that would abolish a controversial new community review board for library books.

As parents dropping off their children spotted the blunt message near elementary schools that April morning, outrage began to spread online over the delicate explanations it required for kids who were far too young to understand. One man declared on social media that he cut the word “porn” out of 12 signs and delivered the pieces to city hall.

“Frankly, it reads more like a tactic to provoke than a message grounded in conservative values, and that’s something I believe we should rise above,” the man said in a video posted to a popular Facebook forum.

Los opositores a las Medidas A y B muestran los títulos de libros que quieren que se retiren de la sección infantil de la biblioteca durante un evento en Lake Park en Huntington Beach el 31 de mayo de 2025. Foto de Mette Lampcov para CalMatters.

Now, with only a week remaining before election day, proponents of the ballot measures to roll back library restrictions are hoping enough of those frustrated, weary parents in this Orange County beach community show up to carry them to victory.

The election — the culmination of nearly two years of tense clashes over sexual content in children’s books, parental rights and censorship — carries the weight of more than just the future of the local library.

An ascendant political movement, led by the self-proclaimed “MAGA-nificent 7” members of the city council, has in recent years turned Huntington Beach into the bulwark of conservative resistance to California’s progressive governance and a hotbed of nationally resonant culture wars, including on vaccines, Pride flags and voter ID.

As complaints about obscene material being available to young readers dragged even the once-beloved library into the fray, the increasingly marginalized liberal residents of Huntington Beach have mobilized — and floundered. Not unlike the national Democratic Party, which has grappled with how to counteract the full-throttle early months of President Donald Trump’s second term, their struggle to curb the breakneck transformation of their city’s identity have left many wondering how far the council can push its revolution.

“It’s just a war being waged on the community by people in an attempt to gain power,” said Natalie Moser, a former member of a liberal council minority who was ousted in November. She has criticized the Huntington Beach conservatives for reframing all of city politics as a partisan fight. “People are easier to manipulate when they’re divided, when they don’t see each other as people but just another side.”

The most optimistic believe the “protect our kids from porn” signs could be a turning point, waking up apolitical voters and swaying moderates in this Republican-leaning community to reject the restrictions on library material. If the ballot measures pass next week, they hope it will send a signal that residents want the city council to refocus on the fundamentals of municipal governance — public safety, road maintenance and economic development.

“It’s just so disheartening to see our city council turn this city against itself,” said Erin Spivey, one of several Huntington Beach librarians who quit in the past two years because of city interventions that they considered repressive. “People are getting really sick and tired of the city council overstepping what they are supposed to be doing. They’re supposed to be making our community better.”

‘Let the community decide’ on kids books

Amid a surging national book banning movement, the debate arrived in Huntington Beach two summers ago, when then-new Councilmember Gracey Van Der Mark — a locally notorious activist who made it her cause célèbre to get what she deems sexual content out of the children’s section — first proposed reviewing and restricting access to certain library material.

Van Der Mark is alarmed by a contemporary wave of picture books and sex education manuals that she feels goes far beyond what is appropriate for young readers and could damage kids who accidentally encounter the material before they are ready.

Titles she has frequently cited include “Grandad’s Pride,” which features a drawing of a Pride parade where two men in leather are kissing in the crowd, and “It’s Perfectly Normal,” which the Huntington Beach library moved to a restricted section last year because it includes illustrations of naked people alongside its explanations of puberty.

“The last thing you want is a child to pick up a book and have a big picture of penises or instructions for how to masturbate,” she said in an interview.

The city council eventually adopted an ordinance establishing a 21-member community board to review library books for “textual or graphic references to sex, sexual organs, sex acts, relationships of sexual nature, or sexual relations in any form.” The board would have the authority to move the material to the adult section or prevent the library from purchasing it in the first place, though it has yet to be seated, in part because of a subsequent state law prohibiting these types of committees.

Van Der Mark compares the concept to the movie ratings system, arguing that it would empower parents by giving them more say in what their children read. She complained that librarians who reject the community input because they believe they know better are elitist.

“Librarians are human. They are human. They are not perfect, just like you and I are not perfect. Mistakes are going to be made,” she said. “Let the community decide. Let the community give their input on whether they think those books meet their community standards.”

But the opposition to library book restrictions has been fierce and sustained, frequently spilling into long, rancorous public comment sessions at city council meetings. Free speech advocacy groups have joined, including the ACLU, which filed a lawsuit earlier this year.

Critics say they fear the book review committee would allow the city council to assert more control over the library and eventually ban material that doesn’t align with its conservative views.

They are especially concerned that many of the books Van Der Mark and her allies have singled out are LGBTQ-themed. Some see warning signs in the recent cancellation of a library book club for gay novel “The Guncle” and a Facebook post by another city councilmember tying the “dramatic alarming rise” in LGBTQ identification among young people to the “explosion of LGBTQ+ literature.”

“What they’re trying to do is exert their moral standards on others — and that’s unacceptable in society,” said Gina Clayton-Tarvin, a member of a local school district board that endorsed the ballot measures. “This is almost like attacking what is American.”

Lindsay Klick, a Huntington Beach parent and a longtime librarian in Orange County, said library collections should be expansive, so that everyone can find books that interest them and decide for themselves what they want to read.

“The library is not a winner-take-all thing like an election,” she said.

She criticized the city council for manufacturing outrage over sexual content in the library by selectively highlighting small excerpts from books out of their context, as if cropping the crotch from a picture of the statue of David.

It’s an effective strategy for politicians looking to raise their profiles as they seek higher office; Van Der Mark, who launched a bid for state Assembly last month, is the latest.

But it’s not a true reflection of how library patrons feel, Klick said, like at the small Orange County branch where she works near the Air Force base in Los Alamitos, which has the same books that the Huntington Beach city council has objected to.

“No one complains. It’s not a problem,” she said. “Why? Because we don’t have Gracey Van Der Mark.”

Ground zero in the national book battle

A special election in Huntington Beach carries high stakes for the national battle over children’s library books.

Library supporters collected thousands of signatures last fall for the pair of ballot measures; the second would limit the city’s ability to outsource library services, after the city council briefly explored privatizing the library last year. The council called a special election for June 10, rather than adopting the proposals outright or placing them on the ballot in 2026.

The outcome has become deeply important for the conservatives backing the city council as well. The two sides collectively spent more than $230,000 on the campaign by late May.

National activist Karen England, whose organization pushes to remove “pornographic books” from schools, has been speaking at city council meetings and church services in recent weeks to help raise awareness for the ‘no’ campaign. She said this is the first ballot measure that she is aware of challenging a book removal policy at a public library and she worries that, if successful, it could become a model for librarians across the country to cut parents out of deciding what their children read.

“That’s what I’m fighting against. They don’t know best,” she said. “I do feel like this is ground zero.”

The campaign has gotten extremely heated, with each side accusing the other of using emotion and misinformation to whip residents into a confused frenzy about what they’re actually voting on. Proponents of the ballot measures mock the conservative city council for injecting more government into peoples’ lives. Opponents complain that they are hamstrung in making their case to voters, because the offending library material is so obscene that they cannot even show it on social media or the news.

But the tension reached a zenith with the “protect our kids from porn” signs, which furious library supporters say unfairly portrayed it as a place run by groomers and pedophiles.

“If they feel like there is porn in the library, they should come and arrest me. Because I personally handed ‘It’s Perfectly Normal’ to patrons,” the former librarian Spivey said. “I wish they would, because it would show the community that what they’re doing is a lie.”

Van Der Mark, the architect of the library book review committee, said critics are simply trying to distract from the pornographic nature of the challenged books.

“You’re offended by the word (porn) but not the actual material,” she said.

Yet despite the heightened significance that both sides place on the special election, neither seems ready to stand down if they lose. The ACLU lawsuit is still in court, and many Huntington Beach conservatives say they could never accept the challenged books being available in the children’s section of the library.

Casey McKeon, another city councilmember heavily involved in the library debate, said he is frustrated by how vehemently some people have pushed back against the book review board, even though the council “did this the right way” — through its policymaking process, because local parents were upset about the material.

“So we’re not supposed to fix an issue if it’s quote-unquote social or cultural?” he said.

The conservative city council members are leading Huntington Beach exactly the way that voters elected them to, McKeon said, and while the pace of the changes may upset some people, the council cannot wait to fix what it sees is wrong with the city.

“You only get four years,” he said. “You don’t know if you’re going to get re-elected. You don’t have forever.”

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Transit woes ahead for San Francisco: Muni cuts service amid budget crunch

by the| El Reportero staff

San Francisco’s public transit system is bracing for some bumpy rides this summer, as the city’s looming budget constraints now officially extend to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). Starting June 21, Muni riders will see notable service reductions and route changes—adjustments that city officials say are necessary to plug a $50 million shortfall in the coming fiscal year.

While these service trims may rattle daily commuters, especially those dependent on key lines, there’s a sigh of relief for residents in the Mission District, Bernal Heights, and the Excelsior. Most routes serving these neighborhoods will remain intact—for now. The same can’t be said for other parts of the city, where reroutes, stop eliminations, and reduced hours are on the horizon.

According to city transit officials, the changes aim to align service with available resources while trying to preserve reliability and safety. “Nobody likes cuts,” one Muni planner stated during a recent community forum. “But this is about preventing even deeper service slashes next year.”

What’s Changing Starting June 21

Several of Muni’s most familiar bus lines will undergo major changes, particularly those that extend past Market Street. Among them:

  • The 5 Fulton, 9 San Bruno, and 31 Balboa routes will now turn back at Market Street during weekdays, no longer continuing through downtown. Riders must transfer at Market Street to reach the city’s core. Muni promises connections every 2–4 minutes on Market, thanks to combined bus and Muni Metro services.
  • The 5R Fulton Rapid and 9R San Bruno Rapid routes will still operate outside of early mornings and late evenings. When those rapid lines are offline, the standard routes will temporarily continue through Market as usual.
  • The 31 Balboa will stop short at 5th & Market both weekdays and weekends. Passengers heading south of Market can hop on the 30 Stockton, 45 Union/Stockton, or the T Third light rail line.
  • Two beloved routes, the 6 Haight-Parnassus and 21 Hayes, will be merged into a new hybrid: the 6 Hayes-Parnassus. This route will operate from 5 a.m. to midnight daily, running every 20 minutes. The new line will turn around at Civic Center Station and serve different legs of the former 6 and 21 routes, depending on where riders are boarding.

To support these modifications, Muni has updated transfer maps on its website for all affected lines.

Neighborhood Impact: Relief for Some, Frustration for Others

Mission District commuters can breathe easy. Their regular routes, such as the 14 Mission and 49 Van Ness-Mission, are left untouched by this service reduction—likely a decision influenced by high ridership numbers and vocal community feedback. The Excelsior and Bernal Heights areas also came out relatively unscathed, with minimal changes to local routes like the 52 Excelsior and 67 Bernal Heights, save for minor stop relocations designed to improve safety and visibility.

Still, the ripple effect of the changes could be felt citywide, especially downtown, where more transfers and more waiting might now be part of the daily grind.

For riders like Theresa López, a home healthcare worker who lives near Outer Richmond, the re-routing of the 5 Fulton is more than a nuisance. “This is going to make my trip to Civic Center take longer,” she said. “I already work two jobs. I can’t afford delays.”

Why the Cuts Are Happening

The city’s transportation budget is under immense pressure, and Muni is not immune. The agency projects a $322 million budget gap in the near future as COVID-era federal and state relief funds dry up. Officials say the current 2 percent service cut is a preemptive move to save $7 million, in hopes of avoiding steeper reductions down the line.

Funding sources like fare revenue, parking fees, and contributions from the city’s General Fund are all trending downward—some due to changing commuter habits, others because of a still-recovering local economy. Despite previous cost-saving moves like slower hiring and stricter fare enforcement, the budget still comes up short.

According to an SFMTA spokesperson, the cuts were the least damaging among three plans floated earlier this year. Community input helped scale down the proposed cuts from 4 percent to 2 percent, sparing many high-ridership routes and avoiding more aggressive system-wide rollbacks.

Not All Changes Are About the Budget

While budget constraints dominate the headlines, not every modification is money-related. Several stop relocations and route refinements are aimed at improving safety, traffic flow, and accessibility. For example:

-The 9 San Bruno’s outbound stop at 228 Bayshore is being shifted away from a dangerous traffic merge zone.

-New stops are being added to the 15 Bayview-Hunters Point Express to better serve local housing areas.

-The 28R 19th Avenue Rapid gains a new stop at Lincoln Way to ease crowding.

-The 67 Bernal Heights will avoid tight turns by rerouting along Folsom instead of Ripley.

These upgrades are part of an ongoing effort to modernize the transit system and make it safer for everyone—especially in areas with steep hills and narrow intersections that have historically caused issues for large buses.

Fare Hikes? Yes, But Not Too Painful

Along with service changes, Muni is nudging fares upward. While the increases weren’t detailed in the public memo, sources suggest that most single rides will increase by 25 to 50 cents. Monthly passes may also see a slight bump. City officials argue that the hikes are “modest” and won’t interfere with “everyday necessities”—like, as one city staffer joked, “your weekly burrito budget.”

Discount programs for seniors, youth, and low-income riders will remain in place.

How to Stay Informed or Get Help

SFMTA is offering several ways for residents to stay informed or ask for assistance:

-Email: MuniCuts@SFMTA.com
-Phone: 415-646-2005 – at 311 if you’re at a location and don’t know what bus will take you to a particular location.
-Website: SFMTA.com/ServiceChanges

Additional resources include multilingual presentations, online maps, and an upcoming podcast episode explaining the changes.

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The Street Culture Festival is here

by Magdy Zara

The Street Culture Festival is a celebration of Latin American arts and culture. This week is a week of vibrant events and performances.

You can’t miss the Street Culture Festival, as it’s the perfect opportunity to share with family, with music and dance from the diverse cultures of Latin America, completely free of charge.

This festival is organized by the Lesher Center and the Diablo Regional Arts Association as part of their Cultural Festival program.

It begins this Saturday, June 14, at 7 p.m., at the Lesher Center for the Arts, located at 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, California.

La Gente SF kicks off its US tour

LA GENTE SF kicks off its 2025 summer tour across the United States, with two performances in San Francisco.

As you may recall, the group La Gente SF was born in San Francisco and currently resides in Madrid, Spain. This time, they’re back to delight their audiences with their unique music, combining cumbia, reggae, salsa, and reggaeton.

The event is this Saturday, June 14th, in Mountainview at the Cuesta Park Festival, starting at 6 p.m. The suggested donation is $10-$20. Attendees are welcome to bring their own drinks and food.

There will also be a performance on Friday, June 20th at the Music On The Square Festival in Redwood City at 6 p.m.

Give Smiles to Children This Summer 2025

The toy drive for the farmworker caravan for this summer 2025 has already begun.

Farmworker caravans in San Francisco are social or humanitarian events held by organized groups seeking to improve working conditions or the rights of farmworkers. Caravans sometimes include live music and giveaways.

The toy drive concludes this Sunday, June 15, and the collection centers are:

*CATHOLIC CHARITIES (GILROY)

South County Annex c/o Farmworker Caravan

9300 Wren Avenue, Gilroy.

*SACRED HEART PARISH (SARATOGA)

13716 Saratoga Ave, Saratoga.

*WASHINGTON UNITED YOUTH CENTER (SAN JOSE)

921 South First Street, Suite B, San Jose, CA

Behind the Latin American Library.

Pacific Commons Summer Concerts Return

The Pacific Commons shopping center offers the Fremont community an excellent shopping and dining experience in an outdoor setting. In addition, there is a free summer concert series scheduled starting this June.

The first will be this June 27th, featuring The Cheeseballs (Funk, Soul, and R&B).

July 25th, Fleetwood Macrame (Fleetwood Mac tribute band).

August 22nd, Patrón Ritmos Latinos (Latin Rock Fusion).

September 26th, Foreverland (Michael Jackson Tribute).

Location: Block Plaza near Koja Kitchen, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

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