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As Latino shoppers hunkered down, Cook County businesses lost $1.26 billion
Federal immigration enforcement cost Cook County businesses an estimated $1.26 billion in lost sales last year as Latino residents sharply curtailed trips outside their neighborhoods to shop and dine.
The cost of despair: Preventable deaths surging among Latinos in the U.S., data shows
The Latino community’s long-documented health resilience is breaking down.
Latino Expo Resource Fair returns this weekend, in a new location
The Latino Expo cancelled its resource fair last year because of the political climate.
How California Latina, Latino voters differ on politics
A new study shows a gender gap on immigration, Donald Trump and protecting democracy.
Connecticut Latino Business Expo seeks to help entrepreneurs
Pasco, WA landlord says Latino business leader threatened to call ICE on him
How California Latina, Latino voters differ on politics
A new study shows a gender gap on immigration, Donald Trump and protecting democracy.
Many Latinos are over Trump. The shift is especially striking in Texas
Latino voters are souring on the GOP, fueled by frustration over rising costs and the Trump administration’s aggressive approach to immigration enforcement.
How Latinos became America’s biggest swing vote
Donald Trump’s 2024 gains are being erased in the midterms. Here’s what happened.
Political divide: New poll shows how gender, education play role in Latino vote
A new poll shows a major divide for Latinos under 30
LAUP connects Latino families with mental health support in Holland
LAUP in Holland connects Latino families with mental health care through therapy and monthly workshops, addressing stigma, language barriers and cost while helping participants rebuild confidence.
Could Latinos flip this Colorado district blue?
Colorado’s 8th Congressional District is a battleground: evenly divided politically, 40% Hispanic and critical in deciding control of Congress. John King talks to voters to explore whether the Latino trend toward President Trump continues.
Trump won this district by 10 points. This Democrat thinks he can win it by winning back Latinos
How the shooting death of a Houston father is igniting Latino politics in Texas
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was shot and killed on his way to work by ICE agents, who said he used his vehicle as a weapon. An outraged community is demanding justice — and change.
How the study of Latinx politics in America has evolved
A Good Chat with Roberto Carlos on why studying America’s Latino population reveals surprises about how families develop political views, and how communities engage in politics beyond the ballot box.
Latino nonprofits start their own shops to make helping small businesses their business
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — From the pink neon sign on the sunshine yellow wall to the multicolored Mexican paper garlands, Mission Lotería's storefront emits cultural pride everywhere you look.
Latino voters helped put Trump back in the White House. What's their next move?
The path to a House majority on Capitol Hill runs through heavily Latino districts in states such as Arizona, Colorado and Texas.
Mountain Dreamers series aims to connect Summit County’s Latino business community
What began as an effort to help Summit County residents navigate their taxes has grown into a broader initiative to support local Latino entrepreneurs. Mountain Dreamers launched its first Café y Emprendimiento in August, inviting...
Menudo reunites for 50th anniversary tour: 'We’re proud to be pioneers'
Menudo, one of the most popular Latino boy bands of all time, is reuniting for a six-day tour this fall to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
Gándara Center works to improve Latino mental health care
During Hispanic Heritage Month, the Gándara Center is highlighting the importance of cultural representation and language access in addressing mental health needs within Latino communities across w…
How California Latina, Latino voters differ on politics
A new study shows a gender gap on immigration, Donald Trump and protecting democracy.
Examining North Carolina’s Growing Latino Electorate
The analysis, which draws primarily on 2024 data available through the LPPI’s Latino Data Hub, finds that Latino eligible voters are a young and growing segment of the state’s electorate.
Latino voter backlash puts Texas governor's race on Democrats' midterm map
A Democratic state representative is trying to end an electoral drought that has defined Texas politics for a generation
California’s Quiet, Consequential Election Season
California is poised to elect its first Latino governor in more than 150 years, while the tenor of Democratic politics in the state is undergoing a shift.
Harrisburg honors Latino businesses; launches business needs survey
Harrisburg recognized several businesses on Wednesday in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. As part of the city’s new Biz Love monthly ceremony to celebrate local businesses, Mayor Wanda Williams honored a slate of Latino entrepreneurs. “I am proud to celebrate seven businesses that are driving forces in our local economy,” Williams said. “We can see […]
Latino voters helped put Trump back in the White House. What's their next move?
The path to a House majority on Capitol Hill runs through heavily Latino districts in states such as Arizona, Colorado and Texas.
Latin Heritage Celebration focuses on unity amid political tensions
GW’s Latin Heritage Celebration brings together 15 student organizations for a month of cultural, academic and community events, as organizers emphasize unity and belonging amid increased immigration enforcement affecting Latino communities.
Sporting KC Weekly Schedule: Oct. 7-10, 2026
Sporting Kansas City returns home to host the Portland Timbers at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday at Sporting Park as the club celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month. Tickets are available on SeatGeek, including a special Latino Heritage Night ticket pack featuring an exclusive luchador mask/hat and a Corona or Coca-Cola
Valadao-Villegas Debate and the Fight for Latino Voters in the Central Valley
A Central Valley debate with control of Congress at stake, and a look at whether progressive or moderate Democrats make the stronger pitch to Latino voters.
Connecting Medical Training to the Future of Care
Physician training doesn’t stop at the bedside. Residents also grow by teaching, leading and mentoring others. Sutter Health brought that approach to this year’s Latino Medical Student Association National Conference, where it served as a diamond-level sponsor. The event brought together medical students, pre-med students, residents and health care leaders from across the country. Now […]
Latino nonprofits start their own shops to make helping small businesses their business
After years of defying the odds, California's David Valadao faces new test as Latinos turn on Trump
Republican congressman David Valadao has defied the odds before, winning elections in California districts with big Democratic registration advantages
Are Tarrant Latino voters a swing group for 2026 midterm elections?
Latino voters have swayed between Democrats and Republicans.
Reno + Sparks Chamber announces Latino Business Council launching in 2027
The Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce announced plans to establish a Latino Business Council on Jan. 4, 2027, to expand services, advocacy and networking opportunities for Latino business owners in Northern Nevada. The new council will work to increase chamber membership among Latino business owners and operators while developing programs that address their business […]
Republicans gained Latino votes in 2024. Are they losing them already?
The question could decide the midterms
Leaders discuss challenges for Latino communities at the State of the Union on Latino Health
The State of the Union on Latino Health brought together leaders in Pennsylvania to address challenges such as health inequality, housing, and transportation for Hispanic communities.
Examining Latino youth mental health in the age of ICE raids
After the recent deaths of two young Latino men by suicide, youth mental health care professionals reflect on the ongoing mental health crisis happening among Latino children and adolescents.
Banijay Entertainment’s Scripted Secret: Find the Talent, Then Back the Ideas
With 170 labels across 25 territories, Banijay Entertainment has plenty of scale. But at Iberseries & Platino Industria, Steve Matthews, head of scripted, creative, made clear that the company’s globa...
Overcoming Behavioral Health Barriers in the Hispanic Community
For Hispanic and Latino communities, mental health care can remain difficult to access—not only because of practical barriers, but also because stigma can make it harder to acknowledge a need...
Latino voters helped put Trump back in the White House. What's their next move?
The path to a U.S. House majority runs through heavily Latino districts in states such as Arizona, Colorado and Texas, where Democrats are counting on disaffected Trump supporters to swing back their way.
El Futuro supports Latino and immigrant communities through mental healthcare
The Durham-based organization provides bilingual mental health services.
Mesa Market Place home to hundreds of Latino-owned businesses
Maria Borquez was only a young woman when she opened her shop. Twenty years later, her thriving business has grown into four storefronts — one of hundreds of Latino-owned businesses in Mesa.
‘A Latino problem’: National Democrats clash with Andy Beshear over Texas governor’s race
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear hoped being chair of the Democratic Governors Association this midterms year would raise his profile and connections ahead of his expected 2028 run for president. But it’s also created an opening to ramp up pressure on him, with frustrations spilling into the open this week as multiple Texas Democratic members of Congress and national group leaders accused him of putting his book tour and potential 2028 activity ahead of helping Democratic nominee Gina Hinojosa win the Texas governor’s race.
Puerto Rico water crisis, youth marketing campaign: CT politics news
Plus: CT commemorates International Overdose Remembrance Day, new cancer treatment arrives, and officials highlight local Latino businesses.
Hispanic business leader helps Gulf Coast entrepreneurs, empowers community
Mario Castañeda uses his accounting expertise to help small businesses and Latino families achieve financial independence in Daphne, Ala.
Southern Nevada Health District marks Hispanic Heritage Month with diabetes, blood pressure programs
The Southern Nevada Health District is using new local data to better understand the health needs of Hispanic and Latino families in southern Nevada.
Trump's immigration crackdown tests Republicans' hold on Texas voters
The race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton is hotly contested and enormously expensive, with total ad spending topping $500 million.
In New York, a growing Latino population seeks greater political clout
Outside of lieutenant governor, no Latino or Latina has otherwise held statewide office, nor been elected mayor of New York City.
The 2026 New York State Fair is Action-Packed, with More New Events, Exhibits, Entertainment, and Food Than Ever Before!
Jet Ski Stunt Shows, Racing Dogs, Kids Tractor Pull, Miniature Horses, The Big Cheese, and More! Asian Village and Latino Village Showcase Amazing Food, Music, and More, Now on the West…
How lip-syncing to AI let Forced Entertainment ‘play the game of theatre’
Today we have a fascinating piece by long-time Forced Entertainment fan Ben Kulvichit, speaking to Tim Etchells about their latest show Cold Sweat, how they are integrating lip-sync and AI voices into their work, the question of ‘authenticity’ on stage, and how lip-sync has even opened the door for them to make “something a little bit like drama”. This piece is a paid partnership with the Southbank Centre, where you can see Cold Sweat next month – we’re very grateful to the Southbank Centre for their ongoing support for Exeunt. Holly Williams ‘It was immediately interesting and uncanny’ **By Ben Kulvichit** “Is the microphone on?” So goes one of the opening lines of Signal to Noise, delivered by a human performer lip-syncing to an AI-generated voice. The voice is American, cheery but sluggish, slowed down into a gelatinous drawl. It repeats ad infinitum in a farce of stuckness; an answer never materialises. I find myself asking the same question as I hop on a Google Meet call with Tim Etchells, the artistic director of Forced Entertainment. We spend five or ten minutes frowning at each other, muting and unmuting, me gesticulating in semaphore into my webcam, checking if I am coming through now, restarting the laptop. To Etchells, I appear exaggeratedly mouthing words, my voice missing. In this gloopy purgatory of broken communication, life imitates art imitates life imitates art. We try a Zoom instead. Forced Entertainment, the pioneering British theatre company who have been at the avant-garde of performance since the 1980s, turned an interesting artistic corner with Signal to Noise, created on the occasion of their 40th anniversary. The whole performance employed this lip-sync technique to AI voices; on the face of it a left-field move from a company whose identity has long been grounded in the earthy, immediate presences of its performers and its unassuming, low-tech approach to theatricality. The technique, however, turned out to provide the company with a “rich new seam” of artistic enquiry, and has now spawned a trilogy of works. The second instalment, Cold Sweat, plays at Sheffield Theatres, Southbank Centre, and Lancaster Arts in October, while the third part, Everything Must Go, has been touring in Europe and is slated to come to the UK in 2027. As is often the case with Forced Entertainment shows, the main conceit for this work didn’t arrive until quite late. They were “four or five weeks into rehearsals for Signal to Noise,” Etchells recalls, and getting nowhere. Away from rehearsals, he had been playing around with feeding “weird texts” to AI voices to see how they would cope with them – “basically for my own amusement” – and was compelled by the uniformly “serviceable, benign, good-natured” tone they would read in, no matter how poetic, fractured or experimental the writing. On a hunch, he brought some examples into rehearsals and the performers gave lip-syncing a go. “It was immediately interesting and uncanny,” he recalls, with the performers having to deal in the moment with the problem of mapping themselves onto another artificial ‘performer,’ which itself was dealing with the problem of a very human text. “Almost all the writing for these projects would be useless to us unless it was done in this way,” says Etchells. “We wouldn’t know what to do with it. It’s too poetic. It’s too fictional. It’s too tangled.” But exploring lip-syncing along to the text has opened “an enormous reservoir of ways of thinking about writing and performing.” Subscribe to Exeunt, and get two in-depth pieces on theatre a week, direct to your inbox Subscribe Forced Entertainment have long been sifting through the detritus of popular culture, from daytime TV to end-of-the-pier vaudeville, magic acts and clown shows, to find frameworks for their own unusual entertainments. Lip-syncing, then, makes sense for them to experiment with. As a mode of performance, it’s wired into popular consciousness through pop stars trying to convince stadium audiences of their liveness, or those same voices as channeled through the made-up lips of contestants on RuPaul’s Drag Race, or movie dialogue spreading virally through the host bodies of TikTok users. For Etchells, lip-syncing is often about “approaching real voices and trying to take on their aura,” subsuming that original human presence into yours. “There’s a very basic, elemental sort of theatre magic to it, produced in this very easy way.” This broad approach resonates with instances of lip-syncing within contemporary performance, too. In works like Re-Member Me and Showmanism, performance artist Dickie Beau acts as a kind of spirit medium for archival recordings (this process of re-membering – as in, giving corporeal form to voices – relies on his masterfully precise actor’s technique), while Frankie Thompson is similarly possessed by a host of characters ranging from a nine-year-old Jacob Rees-Mogg to Cliff Richards, all of whom she finds compellingly nauseating, in the exorcism ritual that is her latest show, Horrible Things. What’s different about Forced Entertainment’s use of lip-syncing is that here, there is no original presence to be channeled. The performers are instead taking on what Etchells describes as “the voices of nobody,” or rather the “phantasmic, aggregated echoes” of the many many voices on whose data the AI has been trained, and which are now conjuring into existence words they never actually said. There is a sort of mournful, empty quality to these voices, having “washed up” far away from the people they originally belonged to, to find themselves in stranger’s mouths listing objects, wondering if anyone can hear them and glitching in interminable loops. There is a cold, sad anonymity to it all. Etchells remarks that occasionally the software company he used has notified him that particular people are withdrawing their voices from the platform, instructing him to cease use of those voices. Using these technologies in performance certainly brings up ethical questions around digital rights, consent, identity and ownership, although in the grand scheme of things, Etchells is fairly blasé about it: of all the purposes someone’s voice might be put to without their knowledge, “an avant-garde performance is probably the least of their worries.” [ ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/frankie-thompson-horrible-things-essay-mental-health-compulsive-behaviours-pleasance-courtyard-soho-theatre) [ Frankie Thompson: How I manage my own ‘horrible things’ at the Edinburgh Fringe ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/frankie-thompson-horrible-things-essay-mental-health-compulsive-behaviours-pleasance-courtyard-soho-theatre) Exeunt · Aug 25 [ Read full story ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/frankie-thompson-horrible-things-essay-mental-health-compulsive-behaviours-pleasance-courtyard-soho-theatre) For the performers, though, lip-syncing to these strange, artificial voices is an odd task, requiring them to bend their live, human presence into the shapes produced by machines. Politically, it mirrors processes that are already at play in the continued computational automation of human life. Etchells brings up James Bridle’s writings on new technologies as a reference point: one example Bridle gives is of “chaotic storage”, a logistics technique employed by Amazon fulfilment centres whereby items are stored not according to traditional methods of categorisation or alphabetisation, but in a way that an algorithm determines to produce the most efficient routes for ‘picking’ based on customer purchase patterns. This appears completely random and incomprehensible to humans, with paddling pools sitting next to USB sticks sitting next to blowtorches, and so for the warehouse workers, the process of picking items becomes completely reliant on technology which tells them where to go. Our world is increasingly being designed not with humans in mind, but rather machines. As Etchells puts it, “technology malforms the space, and then you end up having to live in it.” Initially, Forced Entertainment tried their best to live in the world of machines: “I was in the it’s-got-to-be-perfect school of lip-sync,” says Etchells. But with their aesthetic being so tied to the failing act, the slipping mask, the shoddy costume, “it’s no surprise really that that didn’t last.” Instead, the performers got to enjoy being late for a line, or playing games with each other, “stealing” each other’s voices. Etchells compares it to the principles of ventriloquism, in which a free-floating voice unattached to a body is fundamentally discomforting and “sort of traumatic”. That discomfort is equally as alluring to Forced Entertainment as the satisfaction of precision, the pretence of authenticity only interesting if shown to be a pretence. Lip-sync has also opened up new avenues for the company. Having been allergic all their lives to Plays-with-a-capital-P, with Cold Sweat Forced Entertainment find themselves approaching something a little bit like drama. Rather than the presentational arena of Signal to Noise’s open white stage, Cold Sweat places us more decisively in a “fictional locale”: what appears to be “the aftermath of some disastrous party or backyard drinking binge” where three figures – family members, or neighbours, perhaps – are the last ones standing. “It’s all quite acrimonious and accusatory, everyone’s talking over each other.” For Etchells, this more fictional mode is “a door that we’ve never been able to open. We’ve just never really gone there.” Perhaps it is the technique of lip-syncing, an extra buffer of mediation, that allows them to venture away from the here-and-now without feeling that they have to commit to the “psychological claptrap” that comes along with acting; to be able to “play the game of theatre, without getting one’s hands too dirty.” As I wonder how else the impulses behind Forced Entertainment’s work have changed over time, it occurs to me that over the last ten years of new creations, with the exception of If All Else Fails, the company’s performers haven’t ever spoken on stage: there were two shows without any language at all, Out of Order and Under Bright Light, and then this trilogy of lip-sync works. Etchells agrees it’s a shift away from earlier productions, that were so often about “the actual voices of the performers and their actual presences. We had a lot of money, in some ways, on an authentic approach to what it might mean to speak on the stage.” But this sense of authentic presence itself had a fakeness to it; these days, Etchells can’t stand that mode of being onstage where performers “are here to be cheeky and witty versions of themselves. I don’t want to be charmed.” Pulling back into a more anonymous space has resulted in works that feel slightly sharper-edged, more brutal in a way. “All of these shows are post-Brexit, post-Trump, post-truth, post-everything,” Etchells notes. Speech, charisma, authenticity – these things feel politically loaded, and perhaps warmth and openness just don’t feel like the right tools to reflect the world we’re living in. “It feels like the space is closing down, and we’re trying to deal with the fact that the system, the structure that you’re in, is more oppressive and more powerful. It probably always was, but I think we’re just more tuned to it now.” Yet even without their voices, the performers’ distinctive presences – ones that many audiences have followed around for years, if not decades – still, inevitably, shine through as they physically navigate whatever unending task the system of the piece has set for them. They’re still trying to keep up with the onslaught of text, still running about, changing costumes, moving stuff around. The human is always stuck in the teeth of the machine, jamming the smooth, frictionless cheeriness of the not-real, gesticulating silently, trying desperately to communicate. Cold Sweat is at Sheffield Theatres, 2 to 3 October; Southbank Centre, London, 9 to 10 October; Lancaster Arts, 14 October [ ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/exeunt-recommends-the-best-autumn-theatre-2026-lives-of-others-standard-of-living-our-friends-in-the-north-lanny-) [ Exeunt recommends... the best autumn theatre ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/exeunt-recommends-the-best-autumn-theatre-2026-lives-of-others-standard-of-living-our-friends-in-the-north-lanny-) Exeunt · Sep 16 [ Read full story ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/exeunt-recommends-the-best-autumn-theatre-2026-lives-of-others-standard-of-living-our-friends-in-the-north-lanny-) This piece was paid for by the Southbank Centre. Such support helps Exeunt to keep publishing the most interesting writing, about the most exciting theatre. Interested in partnering with Exeunt? Visit our Advertise with Exeunt page, where you can get more information, download an advertising pack, and find our contact details.
Immigration crackdown continues to hurt Sunnyside businesses
The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown continues to take an indirect toll on Latino-owned businesses in Sunnyside.
Mission Lotería bets on brick-and-mortar as Latino makers face high costs
Despite both a rise in costs and fears around immigration crackdowns, some Latinos are committing to championing other Latino entrepreneurs by offering access to a storefront.
Ana Valdez Is Making Business Leaders Recognize Latino Economic Power
The president and CEO of the Latino Donor Collective is transforming how companies serve their customers
Preview: Sporting KC hosts Portland Timbers on Saturday at Sporting Park as club celebrates Latino Heritage
Sporting Kansas City vs. Portland Timbers 2026 MLS Regular Season | Game 28 Saturday, Oct. 10 | 7:30 p.m. CT (7:40 kickoff) Sporting Park | Kansas City, Kansas Watch: Apple TV | Pub Partners Listen: 810 AM | 1340 AM | SKC App More: Know Before You Go | 5
Latino nonprofits start their own shops to make helping small businesses their business
Despite both a rise in costs and fears around immigration crackdowns, some Latinos are committing to championing other Latino entrepreneurs by offering access to a storefront.
Connecticut Latino Business Expo seeks to help entrepreneurs
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Entrepreneurs, community leaders and elected officials came together Tuesday to strengthen Latino-owned businesses in Connecticut. The Hispanic Federation’s CRE…
New LA initiative honors historic Latino businesses in Boyle Heights
A new Los Angeles initiative is honoring historic Boyle Heights businesses for their contributions to the city's Latino history and culture.
Inside California Politics
(FOX40.COM) — This week on Inside California Politics, political strategist Mike Madrid joined the show to discuss his recent poll of Latino voters and two of the state’s upcoming ballot init…
Apple TV's 'Acapulco,' Andy Garcia Lead Winners and Honorees at '41st Annual Imagen Awards' Celebrating Latino Entertainment
Andy Garcia recieving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Imagen Foundation Acclaimed actor, filmmaker, producer, and musician Andy Garcia received the Imagen Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his four-decade career, groundbreaking storytelling, and longstanding commitment to Latino representation. Actor Danny Pino presented him with his award. Following the presentation, Garcia and The CineSon All Stars took the stage for a special performance, joined by Grammy Award-winn
Poll: Latino voters swing away from Trump and Republicans
Democrats have a significant lead among Latino voters in 2026 amid economic concerns, according to the NBC News/Telemundo poll, though the GOP has made some long-term gains.
California students post gains in math, science and English in 2025-26
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California students made gains across key academic and success measures during the 2025-26 school year, with test scores rising in English, math and science while the statewide graduation rate reached a record high of 87.9 percent. For the first time, the state released assessment results and California School Dashboard data together to give families and educators a more complete picture of student performance.English language arts scores increased 0.5 percentage points to 49.3 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced, while math scores rose 1.1 percentage points to 38.4 percent. Science showed the strongest improvement, jumping 3.3 percentage points to 36 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced.The statewide chronic absenteeism rate dropped 1.1 percentage points to 18.3 percent. The suspension rate declined to 2.8 percent, marking the third consecutive year of improvement."At a time when California continues to focus on accelerating learning and closing opportunity gaps, these results provide important evidence that our sustained investments are making a difference," Gov. Gavin Newsom said. "The continued progress we are seeing is a testament to the hard work of students, families and educators across the state—and we will continue working to build on these gains."The percentage of students prepared for college and career increased to 55.2 percent, up 2 percentage points from the previous year. More than 54 percent of graduates completed coursework required for admission to University of California and California State University systems, an increase of 0.9 percentage points."California has made important strides in expanding student supports and opportunities, but the pace of academic improvement reminds us that our work is far from finished," State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said.Eighth grade students posted the strongest score trends in both English language arts and math. Science performance improved across all tested grades, with the strongest gains at the high school level.African American students demonstrated larger-than-average improvements across English, math and science. Hispanic or Latino students showed larger-than-average improvements in English and math, with positive math score trends across all grades.Students who were socioeconomically disadvantaged made gains across all 3 subjects, including larger-than-average improvements in English and math. Students who were homeless continued to demonstrate gains across grades, with particularly strong improvements in math."We are encouraged to see students making gains across all 3 major assessments and are especially encouraged by the progress of African American students, Hispanic or Latino students, socioeconomically disadvantaged students and homeless youth," said Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the California State Board of Education.The progress comes as California's public school system undergoes significant demographic change. Statewide school enrollment declined to approximately 5.73 million students in 2025-26, nearly 500-thousand fewer students over the past decade.The number of students with disabilities increased approximately 25 percent over the same period, from about 680-thousand to more than 850-thousand students. Graduation rates increased across nearly all student groups, including notable increases for American Indian or Alaskan Native students at 4.3 percentage points and students with disabilities at 3.7 percentage points.In Downey Unified School District, the rate of students demonstrating proficient or advanced grade-level knowledge increased by 2.1 percentage points in English, 2.8 percentage points in math and 4.7 percentage points in science. The district aligned graduation requirements with college admission expectations and invested in inclusive special education practices, expanded career technical education and expanded learning opportunities."The gains Downey Unified is seeing in student assessment results and on the Dashboard are the result of years of focused, consistent work across the district," Superintendent Roger Brossmer said.In Exeter Unified School District, proficiency rates increased by 4.6 percentage points in English, 2.3 percentage points in math and 3.6 percentage points in science. The district placed a strong focus on phonics and the science of reading, particularly in kindergarten through second grade."The gains Exeter Unified is seeing in student assessment results and on the Dashboard are the result of having great people who are focused on the right work, and great students who want to do well," Superintendent Melanie Dorough said.Union Elementary School District saw proficiency rates increase by 1.5 percentage points in English, 2 percentage points in math and 4 percentage points in science. Teachers regularly analyze state and local assessment data to guide instruction, supported by strong core instruction and early literacy strategies."Union Elementary School District's achievement gains reflect a focused, data-driven approach to meeting the needs of every student while fostering a strong sense of belonging, safety and connection," Superintendent Carrie Andrews said.The California Department of Education is examining local results to better understand strategies and conditions associated with stronger student outcomes. The state has made significant investments in recent years, including literacy and math coaching, tutoring, expanded learning opportunities, community schools and universal transitional kindergarten.
Weslaco Proclaims Hispanic Heritage Month and Recognizes Mexican Consulate
The City of Weslaco held a Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation ceremony on October 6, 2026, recognizing the history, culture, traditions, and contributions of the Hispanic and Latino community while also acknowledging the Mexican Consulate’s work.
Hispanic/Latino student-athletes hit new NCAA high of 38,778 in 2026
Hispanic/Latino student-athletes reached a record 38,778 across NCAA sports in 2025-26, up 55% in a decade, with a Division I Graduation Success Rate of 89%.
'Antigone' review: Sophocles tragedy transposed to Aztec Empire
The Getty Villa production of Evelina Fernández's 'Antigone: In the Language of Kings," co-produced by Latino Theater Company, resets Sophocles tragedy to pre-conquest Tenochtitlan, Mexico.
5th annual Tri-City Latino Parade returns to Columbus area. What to know if you go
The parade is a showcase of regional Latino identity, with participants representing multiple countries and community groups.
After years of defying the odds, California's David Valadao faces new test as Latinos turn on Trump
Republican congressman David Valadao has defied the odds before, winning elections in California districts with big Democratic registration advantages.
Nearly 60% Arizona Latinos see environmental conditions as major health concern, report shows
The Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has released its annual Datos report, which looks at the state of Arizona’s Hispanic market. This is the 30th annual report.
Los Angeles Public Library Celebrates Latino Heritage Month With Eighth Annual L.A. Libros Festival Featuring Authors, Artists, Workshops, and Entertainment
Bilingual Family Event Set For Saturday, Sept. 26, at Central Library, Downtown L.A. Los Angeles Public Library Celebrates Latino Heritage Month With L.A. Libros Festival on Sept. 26, 2026 Families enjoy crafts inside the Central Library rotunda during the Los Angeles Libros Festival. LOS ANGELES, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In celebration of Latino Heritage Month, the Los Angeles Public Library will present the Eighth Annual Los Angeles Libros Festival, the city’s largest celebration of
Conversation on Migration with Roberto Carlos: Politics in Latino Immigrant Families
As the November midterm elections approach, Latino voters remain an important part of the country’s political landscape. Within Latino immigrant families, the development of political beliefs and civic knowledge can be influenced by how information is shared across generations, including the role children play in informing their parents.
Springfield event supports Latino healthcare leadership
The National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives brought together over 150 people in western Massachusetts for a fundraiser celebrating culture and healthcare work.
Association of Latino Professionals For America ties together culture and business
Started in 2020, the ALPFA chapter at UNC focuses around professional development and working to empower its members.
Great American Media Invests in Wholesome, Family Streaming Entertainment for Latinos with Launch of Pure Flix Familia
/PRNewswire/ -- Great American Media is expanding its investment in Latino audiences with today's launch of Pure Flix Familia, a new streaming destination...
No Estás Solo: A resource guide for Latinos seeking mental health support
Oct. 10 is World Mental Health Day. Though culturally competent care may be hard to find for Latinos, De Los compiled some mental health resources available in Los Angeles and beyond.
As Latino shoppers hunkered down, Cook County businesses lost $1.26 billion
Federal immigration enforcement cost Cook County businesses an estimated $1.26 billion in lost sales last year as Latino residents sharply curtailed trips outside their neighborhoods to shop and dine.
Minneapolis shops invite customers for Latino business week as many recover from ICE surge
Minneapolis celebrates its third annual Latino Business Week this week, as many Latino-owned shops around the city continue recovering from losses during the federal immigration enforcement surge.
Latino voters, souring on Trump, swing toward Democrats, new poll finds
The growing electorate played a critical role in Trump’s 2024 victory. Now, sentiment is dipping, particularly on economic issues, a new NBC/Telemundo poll finds.
'Sabores of South Philly' offers personal look inside Latino-owned businesses of AEM
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BUSINESS UPDATE: Attracting World-Renowned Piercing Educators to Oswego
Growing number of renowed piercers are coming to Oswego to share knowledge at newly opened Aqua Spa Float Center piercing suite Submited by Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique [caption id=attachment_11066 align=alignright width=450] Recent opening of Aqua Spa Float Center piercing suite.[/caption] Professional piercers and educators from countries including France, Scotland and India have come to Oswego’s Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique to share their knowledge In the past year and a half, the Port City has become a destination for some of the industry’s most respected educators through the efforts of the Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique. Beginning in January of 2025, Aqua Spa Float Center envisioned a new version of body piercing, one where elegance, safety and personal expression could converge. According to the Aqua Spa, piercing is no longer just a trend — it’s a refined form of personal identity, luxury styling and self-investment. It’s not only about the jewelry — it’s about the entire experience. The team welcomed first guest piercer Ruben Triguero, a senior French piercer, piercing stylist and international educator, who has over two decades of experience and has worked in some of the world’s best studios, including Paris, Rome, New York, Miami, Los Angeles and Dubai. In those studios, he offered his expertise and refined styling skills. Triguero is a prominent figure and leader in the piercing community and shares his knowledge with piercers teaching classes for the industry’s most prestigious organizations, including Latinoamérica Body Piercing Association (LBP) and Association of Professional Piercers (APP). He is currently the senior international instructor of the APP. Triguero has a passion for creating stunning, personalized piercings for clients around the world. Education and Mentorship Following a year of success and popularity, Aqua Spa Float Center hosted the grand opening of its private dedicated piercing suite in March. Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness celebrated this next chapter with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by the Oswego Mayor Robert Corradino, members of the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce, local business owners and community members. The educational focus, aligned with Aqua Spa Float Center’s vision and mission, had already begun expanding beyond clients. Aqua Spa has hosted multiple workshops and continuing education opportunities for professional piercers, inviting studios from across the region to gain hands-on experience from internationally recognized instructors without the expense of traveling to national or international conferences. These educational events have welcomed nationally and internationally recognized professional piercers and educators from countries including France, Scotland, India, and throughout the United States. Aqua Spa also continues to collaborate with talented regional and local professionals, creating opportunities for education and mentorship that benefit both industry peers and clients throughout Central New York. Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique owners — Tammy Wilkinson and Terry LeRoi — have been deeply rooted in the piercing industry with over 30 years in business as LeRoi Fine Body Jewellery. Combining that experience with holistic wellness, self-care and self-expression is the new concept with the client Luxe Piercing Experience at the Aqua Spa Float Center. “At LeRoi Fine Body Jewellery and Aqua Spa Float Center, we’ve been fortunate to work with many of the world’s most respected piercers through our involvement with the Association of Professional Piercers and by attending conferences across North America and Europe,” said LeRoi, founder of LeRoi Fine Body Jewellery and co-owner of Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique. “Those experiences have shown us that education is what drives our industry forward. “Not every piercer or studio can travel to major conferences like the APP Conference in Las Vegas or APP Benelux in the Netherlands, so we’re committed to bringing that level of education here. Hosting internationally respected educators like Jef Saunders allows our clients to experience the highest standards of professional piercing while giving piercers throughout the Northeast the opportunity to learn from some of the very best in the profession. That’s something we’re incredibly proud to offer our community.” When asked about the client experience, Wilkinson explained that education is at the heart of every appointment as well. “Our vision is to nurture and enhance wellness, balance and harmony through a multi-modality-centered facility, and we aspire to empower sustained, positive change, well-being and self-awareness; and educate to the benefits of natural health, holistic wellness and life balance,” Wilkison explains. “Piercing is no different. The piercing experience feels just as peaceful and rejuvenating as any other spa services. From the moment our clients arrive, they are in the very best hands with our kind and professional Wellness Ambassadors and experienced APP guest piercers.” Wilkinson also explained that piercing clients receive stellar care: every Luxe Piercing appointment includes a one-on-one private piercing in Aqua Spa’s dedicated piercing suite, their choice of custom jewellery by LeRoi Fine Body Jewellery, thorough after-care instructions and complementary check-up appointment, complementary whole-body red light therapy session in the Class II NovoTHOR medical device to promote healing, and access to many rejuvenating spa services. Piercing clients get 15% off during any event. According to Wilkinson, “Health and safety are always our highest priority when you come in for a piercing or jewelry installation. Before each appointment, all tools and jewelry are sterilized in a Statim autoclave, and every surface in the piercing room is carefully disinfected. During the procedure, your piercer will wear a mask and change gloves as needed to maintain a sterile environment. Once your piercing is complete, your piercer will go over detailed aftercare instructions with you. Following these steps is crucial to ensure proper healing before you leave our sanctuary.” As a part of the experience, guest piercers include a thorough anatomy review of the client’s desired piercing to ensure the new addition will work in harmony with the existing. “Our clients are enjoying building and creating ear curations with these international professionals. It’s a unique styling event and a chance to highlight self-expression,” Wilkinson said. Clients and piercers throughout the region are flocking to this piercing destination in Upstate New York. The Luxe Piercing Experience has welcomed clients and piercers alike from around the globe. Owners Wilkinson and LeRoi hope to continue the momentum with more educational seminars with industry experts to be a hub of knowledge and expertise. They hope to establish LeRoi Fine Body Jewellery and Aqua Spa Float Center as legacy businesses known for their lasting, positive impact on the piercing and holistic wellness industries.
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Hispanic and Latino culture
High prices are testing Latino voter loyalties in a key battleground district
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