Mexiconews

Over the years, I have had countless family members and friends confidently tell me that I was crazy for spending so much time in Mexico. They first told me this nearly 30 years ago when I studied in Guadalajara and it has been a constant theme ever since. Why Mexico? Is it safe? Can you drive there? Can you drink the water? Can you have ice? Can you eat lettuce? Can you go out and walk at night? I feel like for the better part of my adult life I have been trying to explain to people that much of what they have heard about Mexico, or much of what they have read or seen in the media, isn’t necessarily all true or might not be totally accurate. That’s not to say that Mexico is perfect or doesn’t have its share of problems — of course it does and some big ones at that — but I am consistently surprised at how many people seem so confident in expressing strong opinions about Mexico based on information that is incomplete, incorrect, and in some cases, just plain hearsay. As our readers kn...

What's been going on in the news this week? Our weekly quiz is here to keep you on top of what’s happening in Mexico. Get informed, stay smart. Are you ready?  Let’s see where you rank vs. our expert community! Which Mexican creature is currently lighting up the Burning Man festival in Nevada? Ocelot Horny Toad Axolotl Feathered Serpent None Which Mexican racing driver was announced by the Cadillac team for the 2026 F1 World Championship? Pato O' Ward Esteban Gutiérrez Rafael Villagomez Jr. Sergio "Checo" Pérez None Pop star Selena Gomez has a new, Mexican inspired beauty line. What Mexican product has inspired her latest venture? Tajín chile powder Corona beer Chichén Itzá The Mexican flag None Mexico's sport teams are champions again — this time in Baseball. What tournament did they win? World Baseball Classic Pan American Games Baseball World Championship U-8s Cal Ripken World Seri...

Mexico’s first cold front of the season is expected to arrive this weekend, primarily affecting the northeastern states of the country, according to the National Meteorological Service (SMN).  In the northeast, temperatures are expected to drop to between 0 and 5 degrees Celsius (32-41 F) during the early morning hours accompanied by heavy rains and potential hail. Parts of the north can expect cold weather while much of the rest of Mexico will feel the heat. But rain is a threat everywhere over the next few days. (X) On Monday, when children in Mexico go back to school, heavy rains are expected in the states of Nuevo León and Tamaulipas. Meanwhile, whirlwinds or tornadoes are expected in the state of Coahuila on Sunday, spreading to areas of Nuevo León and Tamaulipas on Monday. Other states such as Puebla, Durango, and México state could see low temperatures and rain. The forecast predicts the rainy season will continue until Sept. 30, before the full onset of autumn. Wh...

Mexico and Brazil signed a plethora of agreements on agriculture, health and biofuels on Thursday, part of a plan to strengthen a trade framework inked more than two decades ago. However, the deals falls short of the trade pact the South American nation hoped to reach . President Claudia Sheinbaum hosted Brazil’s Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and a contingent of cabinet ministers and business leaders at the National Palace, where the sides negotiated cooperation and regulatory updates. In a social media post, Sheinbaum praised the “very productive meetings … held between Mexican and Brazilian authorities and businesspeople to strengthen cooperation in scientific, economic and environmental development.”  Sheinbaum had made clear that Mexico could not extend Brazil any arrangement comparable to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), while Alckmin admitted that Brazil is not free to negotiate a broader free trade agreement without going through the Mercosur trade b...

In an inspiring show of cross-border teamwork, Mexican scientists have been at the forefront of restoring the rare California red-legged frog to some muddy ponds in Southern California — highlighting Mexico’s pivotal role in the revival of a species teetering on the brink. From a small office in Ensenada, Baja California , biologist Anny Peralta and her team at the nonprofit Fauna del Noroeste have devoted years to boosting the numbers of the frog, listed as “endangered” in Mexico and “threatened” in the U.S. Through painstaking habitat restoration, they grew a frog population in Mexico’s borderlands from just 20 individuals to more than 400 — a lifeline for the species after it vanished from 95% of its original American range. Working with U.S. scientists, Mexican teams engineered wetland habitats in the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, a protected natural area in the Santa Ana Mountains in southwest Riverside County, California. By 2018, the Mexican team was prepared...

Mexico’s national mail service, Correos de México, has temporarily suspended postal and package shipments to the United States starting Aug. 27, after the U.S. eliminated an import tax exemption for packages under US $800. The elimination of the U.S. tax exemption, known as the “de minimis” exception, is applicable not only to Mexico but to all foreign countries — meaning U.S. consumers will face new charges for shopping on sites like Shein, Temu and possibly Amazon. Starting Aug. 29, the U.S. will charge taxes on all packages received from anywhere in the world, regardless of the value of the goods. A U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officer inspects a package. Customs duties for small packages will range from 10%-50% of their value, with a flat-rate option available in some cases. (U.S. Customs and Border Patrol) This means new procedures must be established for reporting, collecting and remitting customs duties. In the meantime, it’s unclear who will pay the tax, and how — leadin...

The Cutzamala System — the chief source of water for the Valley of Mexico — is now operating at 70.7% capacity, its highest storage level since 2020, Mexico’s National Water Commission (Conagua) reported on Tuesday.  The rise in the water levels is the result of recent heavy summer rains, according to Citlali Peraza Camacho, the director of the Valley of Mexico Water Basin Authority (OCAVM).  “In 2020, storage was 63.38%,” Peraza said. “As of today, we have the highest storage level [since then].” The system is one of the largest and most important water infrastructures in Mexico, using a network of canals, pipelines, tunnels, dams, reservoirs, treatment plants and storage tanks to supply water to the Mexico City metropolitan area, including the capitial of México state, Toluca. It is some four times larger than the secondary Lerma System.    Combined, Cutzamala’s principal dams — Valle de Bravo, El Bosque and Villa Victoria — are 27% fuller than a year ago...

Puerto Vallarta is entering a period of visible change, with new projects and policies aimed at reshaping how residents and visitors experience the city. From mobility initiatives like a free public bicycle system and proposed smart parking meters, to infrastructure upgrades along the Malecón, and even a new tax on lodging platforms to fund environmental services, the municipal government under Mayor Luis Ernesto Munguía González is advancing a mix of urban improvements and regulatory reforms. Puerto Vallarta weighs virtual parking meter system amid ongoing debate (File photo) Parking shortages in Puerto Vallarta’s Historic Center and Romantic Zone have become a daily frustration for residents, business owners, and visitors. Overcrowded streets, abandoned vehicles, and limited open space have left few options, while cars left parked all day by workers and residents further strain availability. To address these challenges, city officials are considering a new digital parking syste...

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a co-founder and longtime leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in U.S. federal court on Monday, exactly 13 months after he was arrested in New Mexico following his alleged kidnapping in Mexico. Zambada, 75, pleaded guilty to being a principal leader of a continuing criminal enterprise — the Sinaloa Cartel — and to a racketeering charge. “ Culpable ,” he said in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, using the Spanish word for “guilty.” The courtroom was “packed with members of the Drug Enforcement Administration and other U.S. law enforcement agencies,” Reuters reported. Zambada — who will not face trial as a result of his guilty plea — will be sentenced to life in prison on Jan. 13, 2025, the presiding judge determined. As part of his plea agreement , he “agreed to the entry at sentencing of a [US] $15 billion forfeiture money judgment,” the U.S. Justice Department said. According to U.S. prosecutors, the Sinaloa Cartel...

Mexico’s federal government plans to invest 800 million pesos (US $42.8 million) to construct two solar-powered electricity generation plants for the state of Baja California Sur. President Claudia Sheinbaum, who made the announcement during her daily press conference on Tuesday along with Energy Minister Luz Elena González, said that construction will be carried out by the state-owned Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). It is not yet certain exactly where the two plants will be developed. “We are determining the site for the land acquisition,” Sheinbaum said. “Our idea is to have everything ready to begin bidding this year, if not, by early 2026.” González said that the two 50 megawatt solar plants destined for the northwestern peninsula will incorporate thermal storage capacity, allowing them to supply power even when the sun is not shining.  “The objective is to strengthen the electricity supply in Baja California Sur … in response to growing demand in this area” González ...