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Cauliflower: A nutritious vegetable with incredible health benefits

by Olivia Cook

08/29/2024 – Cauliflower, also known as “flowering cabbage” and a member of the cruciferous vegetable family from the genus Brassica oleracea, has been gaining popularity recently thanks to its flexibility in recipes and impressive health benefits backed by science.

Listed below are some of the reasons why you should consider adding this fantastic vegetable to your family’s meals.

Packed with essential nutrients

Cauliflower is rich in almost every nutrient your body needs to stay healthy. It offers a wide range of vitamins, including A, C, D, E, K and a whole host of B vitamins.

Beyond vitamins, cauliflower is also loaded with essential minerals, such as calcium, copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium sodium, sulfur and zinc – all of which play crucial roles in maintaining optimal health. Just 100 grams of cauliflower can give you 25 percent of your daily vitamin K needs and all the vitamin C you require for the day.

Additionally, cauliflower is naturally free of cholesterol and fats and it is low in calories – making it a healthy swap for higher-carb foods, like potatoes and rice. (Related: Cauliflower’s range of nutritional benefits are numerous and long-lasting.)

A great source of choline

Cauliflower is also a great source of choline, a nutrient that many people lack because it is not abundant in most foods. A single cup of cauliflower contains about 45 milligrams of choline, which is approximately 11 percent of the daily recommended intake for women and eight percent for men. Choline is vital for several bodily functions, including maintaining cell structures, supporting the nervous system and aiding in DNA synthesis and fat metabolism.

Boosts your immune system

Cauliflower, like vegetables in the cruciferous family, is rich in sulfur, which plays a key role in promoting a healthy gut and enhancing the immune system. Sulfur helps produce glutathione, an important and powerful antioxidant that protects your cells from inflammation and supports the repair and regeneration of the gut lining. A healthy gut is essential for a strong immune system, making cauliflower a great choice for supporting optimal overall health.

Helps prevent cancer

Cauliflower is packed with sulforaphane, an extremely powerful antioxidant known for its potential to combat various types of cancer, such as bladder, breast cancer, cervical cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, melanomas, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer.

Promotes heart health

The sulforaphane in cauliflower can help lower blood pressure and improve the condition of your arteries–both of which are key factors in preventing heart disease.. Cauliflower’s vitamin K content plays a role in proper blood clotting – reducing the risk of excessive bleeding from injuries.

Moreover, cauliflower contains glucoraphanin, which is converted into isothiocyanates in the body. These compounds help reduce inflammation and prevent the buildup of lipids (fats) in the blood vessels – promoting smooth blood flow and reducing the risk of conditions, like atherosclerosis, which contributes to overall cardiovascular health

Supports digestive health

Cauliflower is a great source of fiber, with about two grams of fiber per 100 grams. It contains both soluble and insoluble fiber, which are key to maintaining a healthy digestive system. Insoluble fiber doesn’t dissolve in water; instead, it helps move food and waste smoothly through your digestive tract by adding bulk to your stool – promoting regular bowel movements. Meanwhile, soluble fiber dissolves in water and forms a gel-like substance which slows down digestion and keeps you feeling full longer.

Cauliflower also contains compounds like glucoraphanin, glucosinolate and sulforaphane that protect the lining of your stomach. These compounds help prevent the growth of Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which can harm your stomach and intestinal tissues – leading to inflammation, pain and, in some cases, peptic ulcers in the upper digestive tract.

Choosing and storing cauliflower

When buying cauliflower, choose heads with firm and tight curds (florets) and bright green leaves that are firmly attached. Avoid any heads that have brown spots or those that look loose and spread out.

You can buy whole heads of cauliflower and cut them into florets yourself at home or opt to buy pre-cut florets for convenience, Be aware that cauliflower wrapped in plastic can retain moisture, which can lead to faster spoilage. To keep cauliflower fresh longer, remove the wrapping and store them in loosely sealed bags with a paper towel to absorb moisture. Whole heads of cauliflower can last in the refrigerator for about four to seven days.

To add some variety to your meals, consider trying different colors of cauliflower, such as green, orange or purple, which can brighten up your salads, side dishes and snacks. Food.news.

 

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The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) calling for RFQ for Bond Program Management Services (Measure G)

Request for Qualifications/Proposals

The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) is calling for sealed qualification /proposal packages from qualified firms to provide Bond Program Management Services (Measure G) – (RFQ-P No. 24-25/02) to be delivered to the Purchasing Department by October 11, 2024 at 12PM, at PCCD Current Solicitations – Vendor Registry

The RFQ/P process is designed to select a qualified firm to assist in establishing the overall organizational structure of the Bond program, developing appropriate delivery methods for each project, procuring one or more design, project and construction management firms to manage the design and on-site construction activity of each project.  The firm will also help in coordination and communication with each of the campuses, assisting the District with the procurement of appropriate consultants and contractors, and otherwise generally perform the scope of basic services outlined in this RFQ/P.

Copies of the pre-proposal documents may be obtained by clicking on the following link: PCCD Current Solicitations – Vendor Registry or, by contacting the Peralta Community College District, Purchasing Department, 501 5th Avenue, Oakland, California, 94606, Phone (510) 466-7225, Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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PUBLIC NOTICE: CITY OF REDWOOD CITY CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE

CITY OF REDWOOD CITY
CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the following persons have been nominated for the offices appointed to be filled at the General Municipal Election to be held in the City of Redwood City on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

List of nominees in order of appearance on the ballot according to the random alphabetical drawing by the Secretary of State (E.C. 13112).

City Council Member, District 1
1 seat for a 4-year term:
Jeff Gee

City Council Member, District 3
1 seat for a 4-year term:
Lissette Espinoza Garnica
Isabella Chu

City Council Member, District 4
1 seat for a 4-year term:
Elmer Martinez Saballos

City Council Member, District 7
1 seat for a 4-year term:
Diana Reddy
Marcella Padilla

NOTICE OF MEASURES TO BE BALLOTTED
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the following measure will be voted on at the General Municipal Election to be held in the City of Redwood City on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
MEASURE BB
City of Redwood City Business License Tax Measure: Shall the measure maintain local city services, such as: maintaining the 911 emergency response/neighborhood police patrols; fixing potholes, repairing streets and sidewalks, keeping firefighters and paramedics on duty and storm drains to prevent flooding; modernizing the City of Redwood City business license tax base and per-employee fees between $10 and $250, with the higher fee for larger businesses, for general government use, as outlined in the ordinance, providing approximately $7,000,000 annually, until finalized by voters, will it be adopted?
Yes ________ No _________
Yessika Castro, CMC, CPMC City Clerk/Elections Officer Posted: September 20, 2024 – The Reporter

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San Francisco Open Studios Celebrates 50th Anniversary

ArtSpan Artist Durba Sen.

by Magdy Zara

Sponsored by ArtSpan, this year’s annual production of San Francisco Open Studios celebrates its 50th consecutive edition, bringing art to the entire Bay Area community.

For years, ArtSpan’s SF Open Studios has connected local artists with San Francisco residents and visitors, giving testimony to the enduring power of art to unite communities and to the spirit of the artists who have been at the forefront of shaping San Francisco’s cultural identity.

The opening toast was held on Sept. 19 and the exhibitions will be open to the public through October 13 of this year.

For the past five decades, ArtSpan’s SF Open Studios (SFOS) has invited the public to visit the creative spaces of local artists to see where their magic happens and to purchase works directly from the creators.

SFOS’s expansive exhibition features hundreds of works in a variety of media, encouraging art lovers to plan their studio visits on weekends.

Immerse yourself in the creativity of the San Francisco Bay Area and purchase pieces knowing that your patronage directly supports the region’s art ecosystem.

SF Open Studios is completely free to attend.

SOMArts Cultural Center gallery hours are: Thursdays 3-7 p.m.; Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays 12 noon-7 p.m., 934 Brannan St. (between 8th and 9th Streets) San Francisco.

For more information on programming and exhibition guides, visit www.artspan.org info@artspan.org https://sfosguide.com/weekends

Jenny y los Mexicanos Showcase Their Talent

The Jenny y los Mexicanos group, known for masterfully combining jazz, flamenco, acoustic folk, and rockabilly, will be performing in concert soon to provide their audience with a unique musical adventure.

Jenny y los Mexicanos will give a demonstration of a fantastic fusion of rhythms, ranging from danceable and comforting songs to sensitive moments of timeless musical expression.

The event will be this Sunday, Sept. 22, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Freight & Salvage, located at 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley.

The play Riding the Currents of the Wild Wind

The Latin American Art and Culture Movement (MACLA) presents the play Riding the Currents of the Wild Wind, which is a theatrical concert that combines narration and live music, based directly on stories and songs from the epic novel Their Dogs Came with Them, by Helena María Viramontes.

Jenny y Los Mexicanos.

The adaptation of this play was led by musical director Martha González (of the GRAMMY Award-winning band Quetzal) together with Alpert Award-winning artist Virginia Grise and directed by Kendra Ware.

The performance showcases an eclectic mix of Mexican and Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz, funk, rock and gospel, performed by Martha González.

Riding the Currents of the Wild Wind delves into themes of gentrification, identity and the search for one’s place in the world.

This is a unique opportunity to witness the fusion of literature and music.

The performances will take place on Sept. 27, 28 and 29 of this year, on Fridays and Saturdays starting at 7:30 p.m., while on Sunday the 29th it will be after 2:30 p.m., in the MACLA theater at 510 South 1st Street, San José. Tickets range from $10 to $45.

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Central Americans and Mexicans celebrated their independence on September 15 with patriotic fervor

by Zurellys Villegas

September 15 is a date of great importance for Central Americans, and the 16th for Mexicans, who celebrated the 203rd and 209th anniversaries of their independence from Spain. This historic event, which took place over almost a decade, marked the beginning of a new era for Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and Mexico.

The Central American independence process began with several failed attempts, such as the conspiracy of the Salvadoran priests José Matías Delgado and Nicolás Aguilar in 1811. However, it was in 1821 when independence was achieved, thanks to the signing of the Act of Independence of Central America. This document, signed by representatives of the provinces of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, put an end to Spanish rule in the region.

Mexico celebrates another year of its independence with the traditional Grito de Dolores, which marked the beginning of the war of independence from the Spanish colony 214 years ago.

The Grito de Dolores occurred in Dolores, Mexico, on September 16, 1810, when the Roman Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the bell of his church and gave the call to arms that triggered the Mexican War of Independence.

With patriotic fervor, Central Americans celebrate their Independence

Every year, Central Americans celebrate their independence with patriotic fervor. Parades, concerts, fairs and cultural activities fill the streets of the main cities. National colors, traditional music and typical cuisine are the protagonists of these festivities. Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua join together to celebrate the date with public concerts, beauty contests and parades with floats, military displays and dancers in traditional dress, among other traditions and customs.

The independence of Central America was only the first step in a long road towards the consolidation of sovereign nations. Throughout their history, Central American countries have faced numerous challenges, such as internal conflicts, foreign interventions and social inequalities. However, the spirit of independence remains alive in the hearts of Central Americans, who continue to fight to build more just and equitable societies.

For these people, commemorating the independence of Central America and Mexico is essential to strengthen national identity and transmit to new generations the values ​​of freedom, democracy and solidarity. By remembering the past, Central Americans and Mexicans are inspired to build a better future for their countries.

The Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco held the official commemorative ceremony for the 214th Anniversary of Mexico’s Independence on September 15 at the Civic Center Plaza in the city of San Francisco, where Mexican Consul Ana Luisa Vallejo Barba, accompanied by San Francisco Mayor London Breed, celebrated the culture and history of Mexico in style.

Vallejo Barba gave the traditional “Grito de Independencia” with the mayor of San Francisco as guest of honor. The “Grito” ceremony took place on Sunday, September 15 at 8 p.m. sharp, however, there was a street party that started at 4 p.m. in the Civic Center plaza.

Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to reflect on your past, celebrate your roots and build a more inclusive and equitable future for all.

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Feeding the unhoused in LA.: Searching for best practices

by Suzanne Potter, Producer

Wednesday, 9/18/24  – California is home to more than 181,000 people who are unhoused, with 75,000 in Los Angeles alone, so the Los Angeles Food Policy Council will host a panel discussion today on options for getting healthy food to the unhoused population.

The event will feature firsthand accounts from people experiencing homelessness, plus experts from local agencies and nonprofits.

Alba Velásquez, executive director of the council, said the discussion is aimed at finding solutions.

“We want to center our conversation around what sorts of policies need to be in place in order to make systemic change that would allow more, healthier food options to be easily accessible to some of our most vulnerable communities,” Velásquez explained.

She noted the panel will hear from community members with lived experience and will explore a more dignified approach to providing food, favoring healthier, more thoughtful choices, instead of defaulting to cheap, convenient options like instant noodles or pasta.

Velásquez suggested policymakers look for ways to increase acceptance of electronic benefits transfer at local restaurants for hot meals.

“How do we make hot meals easier to access for folks that don’t have refrigeration units to store, or don’t even have a secure place to stay, because they’re constantly moving?” Velásquez asked.

The panel, which is open to the public, will take place at 10 a.m. today at the Huffington Center in Koreatown. Speakers include the host of a podcast called “We the unhoused,” as well as representatives from the Los Angeles Community Action Network, the Los Angeles City Controller’s office, the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority and the Skid Row People’s Market.

Survey: Only 53 percent of high school students think voting is important

About 53 percent of high school students think voting is important, according to a survey out today from the nonprofit Youth Truth.

Researchers polled 115,000 American high school students, including Californians, on civic engagement and found 60 percent believe “helping others is important,” but only 44 percent feel confident in their ability to make a difference.

Jennifer de Forest, interim vice president of Youth Truth, said 30 percent of students translate their intentions into meaningful action.

“They say, ‘We don’t know where to start,'” de Forest explained. “And that’s the best-case scenario, because for many students, they’ve actually internalized the message that the system is broken, and that what they have to say doesn’t matter.”

Latino students report feeling the most disempowered. Only 26 percent have taken civic action and just 46 percent believe voting is important. Many students said they are more focused on academic success and college acceptance. But they say extracurriculars like scouting, band and sports do make them feel more civic-minded.

Kate Snow, coordinator of school climate for the Davis Joint Unified School District, which brought diverse student groups together for a youth empowerment workshop, said districts need to build young people’s confidence in the importance of their voices.

“There’s a link between how schools are engaging students and helping students see their own power and use their power, with how they see and use it in the public arena,” Snow pointed out.

The report encouraged schools to promote the importance of voting and students getting involved in their community.

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Petro attributes the attack on a military base to the ELN

Gustavo Petro

So far, the attack against a military installation in the Colombian department of Arauca has left a balance of two dead soldiers and 27 wounded

by the cable services of El Reportero

The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, announced this Tuesday what would be a drastic decision on the peace talks with the guerrilla of the National Liberation Army (ELN), after the attack on a military base located in Puerto Jordán, in the department of Arauca, El Tiempo reports.

During the inauguration of the magistrate of the Superior Council of the Judiciary, Claudia Expósito, the Colombian president blamed the ELN, with whom he assured that they were “talking about peace”, of perpetrating the attack against the military installation with a tractor-trailer loaded with explosives. So far, the attack left a balance of two dead soldiers and 27 wounded.

Petro also compared the recent attack with a similar one that took place in January 2019 at the Police Cadet School in Bogotá, which left 20 dead and 68 injured and caused the Colombian government to end the talks it was holding with the ELN.

For his part, the Minister of the Interior, Juan Fernando Cristo, said that this latest attack is an indication that the members of the guerrilla group “are definitely not interested in peace in Colombia.” “What the State has to do is pursue those authors of the attack and we are in a clear decision [to] fight against those violent people,” said Cristo, adding that “the ELN did not understand the message […] it has lost a historic opportunity to negotiate peace.”

Peace negotiations between Colombian authorities and the ELN have been at a standstill for around five months, while the ceasefire between the two sides ended on Aug. 3. According to local media, attacks by the ELN in the department of Arauca have increased in an attempt to force the Colombian government to accede to the guerrilla organization’s demands.

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Australian woman fired, dragged before tribunal for saying only women can breastfeed

Jasmine Sussex

In yet another blow to free speech in Australia, Jasmine Sussex, a Victorian breastfeeding expert, is being taken to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal for saying that only females can breastfeed their babies

by David James

In yet another blow to free speech in Australia, Jasmine Sussex, a Victorian breastfeeding expert, is being taken to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal for saying that only females can breastfeed their babies.

Sussex argued that males who take drugs to lactate should not be experimenting on children, describing it is a “dangerous fetish.”

Her tweets about an Australian male breastfeeding his infant with a cocktail of lactose-inducing drugs was removed by X (formerly Twitter) for Australian users, although it remained visible to overseas users. The move came after requests from a “government entity or law enforcement agency”, according to Twitter. Sussex was told she had “broken the law” although it was not made clear what law that was.

Sussex was also sacked from the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) for refusing to use gender neutral language. She is one of seven counsellors to be formally investigated by the ABA leadership and one of five to be sacked.

The complaint against Sussex is being brought by Queenslander Jennifer Buckley in Queensland’s Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Buckley was born male and later identified as a woman and “transitioned.” Buckley acted after a transgender parent complained to the Queensland Human Rights Commission.

Buckley reportedly biologically fathered a baby through IVF and is raising the child with his wife. He posted on social media about taking hormones to grow breasts, explaining: “For the past six weeks I have been taking a drug called domperidone to increase prolactin in an attempt to be able to produce breast milk so that I can have the experience of breastfeeding.”

The case is not just about suppressing a person’s right to say what most would consider to be a statement of the obvious. It raises fundamental questions about how the law is to be crafted and applied.

A legal system depends on clear semantics, the definition of words. The potential confusion that can be created by not having a clear understanding of a person’s sex was exposed in the hearing for US Supreme Court applicant Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Asked to define what a “woman” is, Jackson replied: “I can’t,” adding that she was not a biologist.

The problem here is that, if you cannot define a word, then how can you use it properly in a court of law? For example, if you do not know what a “woman” is, then how can you be said to have transitioned from a man to a woman, as Buckley is claiming?

This definitional problem has been cynically fudged by mixing up the words “gender” and “sex.” It is claimed that there are 72 genders, by implication turning the question of physical sex into a matter of identity and personal psychology. There are presumably only two sexes.

That is the kind of rhetorical move made by Buckley, who said Sussex’s comments were “hurtful” because he was looking to have “the experience of breastfeeding.” This is analogous to saying that gender differences should be reduced to matters of personal perception, not observable physical characteristics.

In that sense, Sussex and Buckley are talking past each other; the words they use do not have the same meaning. Sussex is saying that objectively only “women” can lactate naturally. It is true that with drug assistance it is possible for “men” to mimic breast feeding to a limited degree. But that is artificial. It is not natural breast feeding. Sussex, who is an experienced consultant on breast feeding, also warns there may be medical issues with “male” breastfeeding that need further examination.

Buckley is arguing that her/his personal experience (of breastfeeding) is what matters and that anyone who questions that is infringing on his rights. He wants to be understood as a “woman” who was a “man”, although he reportedly still possesses male characteristics, such as being able to father a child. This is possible because he feels that way, it is how he “identifies”. But the fact that he has to undergo drug treatment indicates that in a physical sense he is a “man”.

In law, there is always a preference for physical evidence over what people say they are thinking or feeling. The latter is often changeable and difficult to demonstrate; it is poor quality evidence. There should also be an insistence on having an unambiguous understanding of the meaning of words.

On that basis Sussex, who is being represented by the Human Rights Law Alliance, should be able to defend herself effectively. But there is little reason to have confidence in the Australian legal system. It has shown itself to be highly susceptible to politics. The bullying of people who say things once thought to be self-evident may yet continue.

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Judicial reform takes effect after AMLO signs it into law

Claudia Sheinbaum has expressed full support for President López Obrador’s constitutional reforms. -- Claudia Sheinbaum has expressed full support for President López Obrador’s constitutional reforms. (Cuartoscuro)

by Mexico News Daily

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Sunday promulgated the federal government’s judicial reform, setting the stage for thousands of judges, including all Supreme Court justices, to be elected by Mexican citizens starting next year.

A decree signed by López Obrador in which various articles of the Mexican Constitution were declared to be “reformed, added to” or “repealed” was published in the government’s official gazette, four days after the Senate approved the judicial reform bill and three days after a majority of state legislatures ratified it. The reform takes effect Monday.

In a video posted to social media, the president, seated alongside President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, said he was signing the reform into law “with the intent of improving the judicial power because we need justice to get to everyone.”

Among the other aims of the reform, he said, are to eliminate corruption in the judiciary and for judges, magistrates and Supreme Court justices to apply the law equally to all.

“We should have an authentic, a true rule of law, not a crooked one,” said López Obrador, who asserts that many judges are corrupt and has been angered by court decisions handed down against his government’s projects and policies.

“The simulation must end because it was said we lived in a democracy but we didn’t. An oligarchy dominated. Those right at the top were the ones who were in charge, a minority with the facade of democracy,” he said.

“There was simulation. Now it’s different, now it’s the people who rule, the people who decide,” López Obrador said.

He described Sunday — the eve of Mexico’s Independence Day — as an “historic day,” considering the publication of the judicial reform decree in the government’s gazette.

Sheinbaum, the president’s “witness of honor,” applauded the president after he uttered three words — “voy a firmar,” or “I’m going to sign” the decree.

She will be sworn in as Mexico’s first female president on Oct. 1, and will immediately have immense power as a coalition led by the ruling Morena party has a supermajority in the lower house of Congress and a near-supermajority in the Senate.

Many other constitutional reforms that López Obrador sent to Congress in February, and which Sheinbaum fully supports, could be approved in the coming months.

The president promulgated the judicial reform despite a court in Colima ruling against its publication in the government’s gazette.

Morena Senator Ernestina Godoy, who will serve as legal counsel to Sheinbaum, asserted Friday that the court order was not valid given that two-thirds of lawmakers in both houses of Congress had approved the judicial reform.

“One power can’t do that to another power,” she said.

The most controversial aspect of the judicial reform is the provision to allow citizens to directly elect all members of the judiciary, including Supreme Court justices and other federal judges.

In accordance with the reform, thousands of judges — approximately half of the nation’s judiciary — will be elected in “extraordinary elections” on June 1, 2025. Another round of elections will be held in 2027 at the same time midterm congressional elections take place.

The National Electoral Institute will be responsible for organizing the judicial elections.

Critics of the judicial reform argue that judges sympathetic to Morena will come to dominate the judiciary as the president and the Congress will nominate candidates.

There are also concerns that the reform will have a negative impact on foreign investment and Mexico’s trade relations, including those with its key regional partners, the United States and Canada.

López Obrador and Sheinbaum have dismissed all criticism of the reform, portraying concerns about it as unfounded.

What else does the judicial reform change?

Among the other changes in the judicial reform are:

  • The reduction of the number of Supreme Court justices to 9 from 11.
  • The reduction of justices’ terms to 12 years from 15.
  • The reduction of the experience required to serve as a justice and judge.
  • The adjustment of salaries so that no judge earns more than the president.
  • The elimination of the Federal Judiciary Council.
  • The creation of a Tribunal of Judicial Discipline that could sanction and fire judges found to have acted improperly or illegally.
  • The use of “faceless,” or unidentified judges, to preside over organized crime cases.
  • An expansion of the crimes for which pre-trial detention can be enforced.

With reports from El Financiero, Reforma, La Jornada and Aristegui Noticias

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Gen Z needs to look beyond the memes

by Jeannine Chiang

How can younger generations expect to uphold our nation’s fragile democracy if we’re disconnected from the conversations that matter most?

This morning in my United States Government and Politics class, a simple question from my teacher prompted an unexpectedly heavy silence: “Who watched the Presidential debate on Tuesday, Sept. 10th?”

One by one, my classmates responded, offering up reasons for why they hadn’t in fact watched the debate, whether because of soccer practice, or art class, or piles of homework — a snapshot of our busy teenage lives.

But the fact remains that very few of my fellow students, if any, had watched the debate, which drew an audience of some 67 million Americans. Not even the highlights.

As a senior, this realization hits hard.

Most of us will turn 18 this year, finally old enough to vote and, along with it, take on the responsibility to shape our future. But how can we expect to uphold our nation’s fragile democracy, or make decisions that will guide our country’s future course if we’re disconnected from the conversations that matter most?

It’s a scary thought, but it’s an increasingly common reality. Members of Gen Z — those of us born between 1996 and 2010 — rarely if at all consume the news even when we do bother to engage. Our sources aren’t The New York Times or The Washington Post; in fact, they aren’t news sites at all.

According to the Pew Research Center, about one-third of Americans aged 18 to 29 regularly get their news from TikTok. Social media offers quick, accessible snippets, but understanding the nuances of our political reality demands a critical eye and media literacy skills that many of us simply haven’t developed and that social media doesn’t offer.

The result? A generation consuming content curated by algorithms, designed not for accuracy but for engagement, clicks and likes.

Last night, after watching the Presidential debate on ABC News, I scrolled through TikTok to unwind. I was immediately bombarded by videos about Vice President and Democratic Nominee Kamala Harris. Accounts like @kamalahq, boasting over four million followers, churned out pro-Harris content set to trending music, complete with memes and jokes, often at the expense of Republican Nominee Donald Trump.

One video in particular stood out: a slide reading, “Tonight a convicted felon will debate,” alongside a photo of Trump, followed by another slide of Harris labeled “a prosecutor.” The comments were filled with mocking laughter and “LMAO,” reflecting a narrative aimed not at fostering understanding but promoting ridicule.

Politics, it seems, has become less about civic engagement and more about entertainment for many of my generation. We engage through the lens of celebrities and influencers rather than through direct involvement. Candidates gain support not because of their policies but because our favorite stars endorse them.

Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Harris, for example, dominated conversations among my friends, overshadowing any substantive discussion of the debate itself. My Instagram feed was filled with memes referencing Swift’s “Childless Cat Lady” comment — a playful jab at GOP VP Candidate JD Vance’s remarks deriding unmarried women.

Swift’s post displaced any discussion about Trump or Harris’ policy stances.

And it’s not just Harris or Swift — the broader conversation often drifts into the absurd. I saw more about Trump’s outlandish and false claims — like bizarre statements about “immigrants eating pets” or “executing babies” — than any real discussion of policy. It feels as if the genuine issues facing our country are buried beneath sensational sound bites and clickbait, reducing the serious business of democracy to a string of viral moments.

I’m worried we’re missing the point. In a world that increasingly values the quick hit of dopamine from a “like” or a share, what happens to our commitment to the slow, deliberate work of being informed citizens? Democracy isn’t just about casting a vote on election day. We must engage with the complex, often uncomfortable truths of our society that require more than just scrolling through social media.

As young people, we’re poised to inherit a world that needs thoughtful, informed leadership more than ever. But if we’re not even willing to watch a debate, how can we expect to take on that responsibility? We owe it to ourselves — and to each other — to do better, to look beyond influencers and viral videos, and to engage deeply with the issues that truly matter.

Even Taylor Swift, in her endorsement, urged us to “do your research.” If we don’t, we risk becoming not just uninformed voters, but a generation that’s lost sight of what it truly means to be part of a democracy.

Jeannine Chiang is an aspiring journalist and a senior at Burlingame High School in Burlingame, California where she is a reporter for the school paper, The Burlingame B.

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