Cartels still in control of Tijuana, expert warns

TIJUANA – "Drug violence is down significantly in the city." That's the message often repeated in the last year by high-ranking officials, from Baja California's governor and his Cabinet secretaries to Tijuana's mayor and business leaders. And to an extent, they are right. As of Sept. 1, there have been 180 fewer killings in the […]

April 13, 2017 at 6:03 AM PDT

Teen focused on riding his passion to success

DEL MAR.— While many adolescents spent their summer vacation at the beach or in a mall, Eswan Flores had a job many can only dream of. Flores, 18, rode horses at the Del Mar Racetrack, the youngest jockey in the 2011 season. His passion for this sport began at an early age. His father, Carlos […]

April 13, 2017 at 6:03 AM PDT

All border lanes to be open for holiday weekend

SAN YSIDRO – The U.S. government said it will keep all lanes open at the San Ysidro border crossing during the Labor Day weekend, temporarily halting the expansion project there, a spokeswoman said. What's more, there will more personnel on hand because two inspection booths per lane can be opened at a time, said Jackie […]

April 13, 2017 at 6:03 AM PDT

Dentist’s killing raises death toll to 22 in 9 days

TIJUANA – State authorities identified on Friday the dentist who was shot to death the previous day, pushing the city’s death toll to 22 homicides in nine days. The victim was Rodolfo Martínez Rodríguez, 45, who was shot in the head, face and upper back, the Baja California Attorney General’s office announced. The killing occurred […]

April 13, 2017 at 6:03 AM PDT

Tame Xolos can’t handle dominant Chivas

TIJUANA- The Xoloitzcuintles remain winless at home and continue to sink toward demotion from Mexico's premier league. Led by a goal from Héctor Reynoso, Chivas de Guadalajara beat the Xolos at home Friday evening to claim first place in the standings in the Apertura tournament before a capacity crowd at Estadio Caliente. The game was […]

April 13, 2017 at 6:03 AM PDT

Success against cartels does not cut demand for drugs

TIJUANA – Civilian and military authorities agree that cartels no longer control drug trafficking in this city after a hard-hitting crackdown on their operations and the confiscation of their products in the last three years. Drug abuse among the city's residents, however, has not dropped. Why? Dozens of small criminal groups have emerged, authorities say, […]

April 13, 2017 at 6:02 AM PDT

Caliente game pits storied Chivas vs. Xolos

The line stretched thousands of people long. They had camped out for nearly two days to buy tickets for the most anticipated match of the Xolos season, maybe of all time. Xolos vs. Chivas Rayadas de Guadalajara, a game Friday afternoon at Estadio Caliente. A measure of the emotion this match-up has stirred was evident […]

April 13, 2017 at 6:01 AM PDT

Pope’s relics to visit Tijuana in November

TIJUANA – The relics of John Paul II are coming to the border region in November as part of a four-month tour of Mexico. The items include a wax figure of the pope wearing the vestments John Paul II wore during one of his seven visits to Mexico, said Mónico Margarito Hernández, a spokesman for […]

April 13, 2017 at 6:01 AM PDT

Angry Calderón says Hank case ended in impunity

Using a series of videos, Hank's defense team maintained the military had illegally entered the mansion. The videos proved convincing to both the initial judge who ruled on the case as well as the appeals one, according to their rulings made public. "Because the evidence that was found, in the judges' opinion, came from an […]

April 13, 2017 at 6:01 AM PDT

15 people killed in last six days in Tijuana

TIJUANA – A total of 15 people have been killed in the city in the last six days, three of them Monday, state authorities announced. It was just last Thursday when the State Attorney General's office noted that there had been 326 murders in the city to date; but by Tuesday that number had spiked […]

April 13, 2017 at 6:00 AM PDT

Tijuana center treats youngest cancer patients

In addition, the center has "sister" agreements with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., a pioneer in the treatment of children with cancer, and Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego. St. Jude's provides training for Tijuana's staff through courses given in Memphis or Chile and donates grants to supplement the salaries of 18 […]

April 13, 2017 at 6:00 AM PDT

Local contestant gets ugly grades for ‘Sexy Chick’

TIJUANA – The judges in Mexico's musical reality show "La Academia" gave local singer Frank Díaz failing grades in Sunday's second episode, one labeling his performance a "piece of junk." The judges ruled that he should be one of three contestants to be tossed off the show, but enough viewers, voting through text messages, kept […]

April 13, 2017 at 6:00 AM PDT

New deportation policy sows confusion, scams

Agencies across the country that help undocumented immigrants are receiving a steady stream of phone calls since the Obama administration announced a change in its deportation policy a few days ago. Anxious callers want to know: What does the policy mean? Can they apply to remain in the country? Should they turn themselves in to […]

April 13, 2017 at 5:59 AM PDT

Lackluster Xolos squander chance for home win

TIJUANA -Coach Joaquin del Olmo said it several times. So did some of the Club Tijuana Xoiloitzcuintles players. "We are calm." "There's no need to panic." "We will be fine." That's how they described the Xolos, the newest team of the Mexican Primera División, promoted from the minor leagues before the start of the Apertura […]

April 13, 2017 at 5:59 AM PDT

Predictable tacos and salsa? Not at Latino food expo

The Expo Comida Latina has been held every August since 2002 in Southern California. This year, the expo is occurring Sunday through Tuesday at the San Diego Convention Center in combination with the http://www.westernfoodexpo.com/ Both conventions are expected to draw 10,000 people, including vendors, chefs and visitors. The Expo Comida Latina "is the platform that […]

April 13, 2017 at 5:59 AM PDT

Judge rejects appeal of Hank’s release

TIJUANA – Controversial former mayor Jorge Hank Rhon spent part of Friday on his Facebook page thanking his supporters for standing by him after he was detained in June and accused with ten others of stockpiling weapons. Late Thursday, Mexico City federal judge Alejandro Rodríguez rejected the evidence the Attorney General's Office (known as the […]

April 13, 2017 at 5:59 AM PDT

Xolos need second-half toughness

His shot bent inches outside the left post and into the side of the net. Leandro Augusto's shot via a free kick could have been a game-changing play had it squeezed into the goal during Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles' 2-1 loss at Cruz Azul last Saturday. Had the Brazilian-born and Mexican naturalized midfielder scored, it would […]

April 13, 2017 at 5:58 AM PDT

Murder rate drops despite day’s death toll

TIJUANA – State authorities announced on Thursday the murders of three people, pushing the number of homicides in the city to 23 in August. Even so, there have been significantly fewer violent deaths so far this year compared to 2010. The lifeless body of a man was found Wednesday around 1 p.m. in the trash […]

April 13, 2017 at 5:58 AM PDT

Despite the long waits, pedestrians ignore SENTRI

SAN YSIDRO- Fifty-three-year-old Mario Parra crosses the border every day to go to work, sometimes standing as long as two hours to enter the United States. Even so, he has not applied for a SENTRI pass that cut that wait to virtually nothing. The businessman said he does not have the time to apply for […]

April 13, 2017 at 5:58 AM PDT

Fair fiesta begins 25 days of rides, games and food

TIJUANA – Billed "Livelier than ever," the annual Tijuana Fair begins Thursday and stretches for 25 days of rides and games, concerts, exhibits and of course, food, lots of it. Organizers lowered the price of admission compared to last year, to $4 for adults, making the fair one of the best entertainment values around. What's […]

April 13, 2017 at 5:57 AM PDT