The Grito de Dolores:

In the early hours of September 16th, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a priest in the small town of Dolores, rang the church bell to gather the townspeople. He called for the people of Mexico to rise up against the Spanish Crown, thus initiating Mexico's War of Independence. The country did not achieve independence until 1821, but it is this event, known as the Grito de Dolores which is commemorated every year with the Grito in town squares across Mexico.

By Chris Hawley, USA TODAYZAPOTLANEJO, Mexico — Here in the heart of Mexico's tequila country, where every town has a distillery and the air smells like sweet fermenting molasses, a sign proudly marks the entrance to Miguel Ramírez's farm: "Rancho Ramírez: Producer of Agaves."

But behind the fence, the blue agave plants, the raw ingredient of Mexico's famous tequila, are getting harder to spot. They are being replaced by row after row of leafy cornstalks.

MEXICO CITY / Mexican archeologists have discovered a maze of stone temples in underground caves, some submerged in water and containing human bones, which ancient Mayans believed was a portal where dead souls entered the underworld.

ENSENADA, Mexico --
Mexico said Wednesday it will invest 163 million pesos ($16 million) to save a highly endangered species of porpoise in the upper Gulf of California, asking reluctant fishermen to adopt safer methods or give up their trade entirely.

Scientists say the population of the vaquita marina - Spanish for "little sea cow" - has dwindled to 150 or fewer from more than 500 a decade ago.

In the capital, more than 80% issue a resounding 'no' to the proposal to allow private firms a greater role. In the nine states that also voted, more than 90% give the plan a thumbs down.

MEXICO CITY -- Turnout was light, but voters in a nonbinding referendum gave an overwhelming "no" to President Felipe Calderon's proposal to give private firms a bigger role in Mexico's government-controlled petroleum industry.

In Mexico's turbulent state, woodblock prints are a means of public protest. As the title states: 'The Ink Shouts.'

MEXICO'S southern state of Oaxaca has two dominant character traits. It's a hub of artistic creativity, known for the superlative caliber of its rugs, whimsical carved animals and brittle black pottery. And it's a hotbed of political discontent, a long-oppressed region whose heavily indigenous population chafes under crushing poverty, ethnic discrimination and autocratic political rule.

MEXICO CITY --Almost a century after its constitution was drafted, Mexico is in knots over the meaning of a single article dealing with oil.

President Felipe Calderón wants the state oil company, Petroleos Mexicanos, to contract with private foreign firms to build desperately needed refineries and drill for deep-water oil.

Inflationary pressures are rising. Remittances are falling. Mexico's economy is slowing. So is job growth, writes Marla Dickerson from Mexico City.

Mexico's central bank released a string of bad news Wednesday confirming that the nation is feeling the effects of a U.S. slowdown and exploding global prices for food and fuel.

ACAPULCO, Mexico - Police in southern Mexico say they have seized 9,000 protected sea turtle eggs and arrested seven men suspected of intending to sell them.

Police in the Pacific coast state of Guerrero said in a statement Tuesday that the eggs were discovered at a highway checkpoint in a truck driven by the suspects.

ACAPULCO, Mexico - Environmental officials in Mexico say dozens of dead sea turtles apparently killed in fishing nets have washed up on beaches in recent days.

Authorities say 59 Olive Ridley turtles have been found on beaches in and around the resort of Acapulco.

MEXICO CITY — Mexico threw open the doors to its judicial system Tuesday, allowing public trials and creating a presumption of innocence.

Under the long-awaited constitutional amendment signed by President Felipe Calderon, guilt or innocence will no longer be decided behind closed doors by a judge relying on written evidence.

In Mexico's war on drugs, the government faces entrenched support for crime bosses in some poor communities.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

7:05 p.m. June 9, 2008

ACAPULCO, Mexico – Mexican officials say heavy rains and large waves have caused flooding in low-lying parts of the Pacific coast resort of Acapulco.

City civil defense Director Jorge Pacheco said Monday that teams were working to clear the roads of flooding that cut off Acapulco's airport and affected about 5,000 homes.

Ford will build its new Fiesta subcompact car in Mexico, the firm announced Friday.
By Sara Miller Llana | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

from the June 2, 2008 edition

Reflecting buyers' mood, it pulls back on pickups and SUVs, aims smaller

Wednesday, Jun 04, 2008 - 12:08 AM

By STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS