Results tagged “mexico”

• Federal probe ends, NM Gov. Richardson won't be charged in pay-to-play investigation.
• On Sen. Kennedy's work for immigration reform.
• Mexico's drug violence spilling over the border as informers move north.

• Iran protesters take to streets despite threats.
• Hopes fade for quick solution to Honduran crisis.
• Human rights groups say the Mexican army is using torture in their search for drug traffickers.

About twenty to twenty-five people were smuggled into Texas through Mexico and held captive in Bastrop County, a man who escaped from his captors yesterday told authorities. When ICE and Bastrop County SWAT arrived on the scene (a single-wide trailer near Dale) yesterday evening, most of the hostages had been moved from the location. There were reports of some female hostages being sexually assaulted and of the three kidnappers keeping water and food from their hostages. Two of the three men in charge of the operation were arrested; Juan Carlos Sanchez-Camacho and Nabor Rodriguez-Guillen have been charged with seven counts of aggravated kidnapping. The Bastrop County Sheriffs Office reports that the kidnappers were demanding money from the families of their hostages. There are likely to be more details released on this story as the investigation continues. [News8Austin, Statesman]

J.W. Lown, who served three terms already as mayor of the town of San Angelo, announced that he was resigning his office before being sworn into his fourth term this week. He chose his personal life over his political one; he has been romantically involved with a non-citizen since March (the relationship started after the filing deadline for this past election), and is currently in Mexico while his partner tries to get a visa allowing him back to the States. Town leaders seemed stunned by Lown's decision, speaking to his accomplishments as mayor. Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem Jon Mark Hogg told the San Angelo Standard-Times, "I think it goes without saying we lost a great public servant with Mayor Lown." [San Angelo Standard-Times]

A brand new gallery dedicated completely to fine art photography will open its doors Saturday. The L. Nowlin Gallery will celebrate its opening from 6-8 p.m. with the debut of Mexico - a collection of black and white photos taken by local documentary photographer John Langmore.

Rev. Jesse Euresti, the Austin priest who had gone to Mexico to work on his retirement home there, had been missing since last week; a friend had stopped by his Nuevo Laredo house and found blood in the garage and no sign of Euresti. Bishop Gregory Aymond announced today that Euresti's body was found on the side of a highway yesterday near Nuevo Laredo, near a mattress that had been missing from his house. Euresti was the priest at Cristo Rey Catholic Church and was set to retire this summer from his work there. Mexican authorities believe that a caretaker at Euresti's retirement home is responsible for the crime. The currently has audio of Bishop Aymond's announcement on their main page. [Statesman]

• A Mexican beauty queen is arrested in a truck filled with guns and ammunition
• Double whammy: People cutting back on spending, companies eliminating jobs
• Resistance is growing against Caroline Kennedy's Senate interest

• Auto bailout fails in the Senate.
• Cheney says it will be "Herbert Hoover time" if there is no aid for automakers.
• Mexico deports Americans.

gina pina/Flickr
• 32,607 people voted yesterday in Travis County's first day of early voting.
• Shenanigans yesterday as people tried to vote at a South Austin Randalls.
• Slow-going at early voting in Williamson County.

Mexican culture surrounds us in Austin – the census estimated in 2000 that 30% of the city is Hispanic and in my hometown of San Antonio, the influence of Mexico is even more pronounced. Not speaking Spanish, my view into that world is understandably shuttered thanks to a language barrier. But with so much culture bleeding into another these days – one ugly word to describe the process is globalization, another is gentrification – it really just hinges on each one of us as to how deep our curiosity will lead us from the familiar into the unknown. It also helps to have a guide.

In Intimidad, documentarians Ashley Sabin and David Redmon follow the lives of Cecy and Camilo, a young couple living in Reynosa, Mexico. Cecy and Camilo both work for minimum wage in maquiladoras, trying to save money to buy land, build themselves a house, and bring their daughter Loida back to live with them.