Manuel Ortiz

Mexico Moves to Curb Cartels With Killing of El Mencho. Will the US Follow Suit?

Mexico's killing of "El Mencho" dealt a blow to organized crime. Will the US take similar steps to curb drug demand and weapons sales that empower it?

The Healers of MacArthur Park

LA's MacArthur Park has come to embody many of the city's ills, from crime to homelessness and drugs. Still, not everyone is ready to give up on it.

Los angelinos y su idilio con los parques

Desde Echo Park Lake hasta Grand Park, los angelenos se vuelcan en sus parques citadinos para encontrar paz, salud y comunidad.

Green Sanctuaries: Why Angelenos Love Their Parks

Amid immigration raids and city stress, LA parks remain vital spaces where residents recharge, connect with nature, and shape the future.

California’s Challenge — Resisting Authoritarianism Without Playing Trump’s Game

California is emerging as the spearhead of both civil and governmental resistance to Trump’s war on immigrants and ethnic communities.

Newsom Threatens Half Moon Bay With Legal Action Over Farmworker Housing

The mayor of Half Moon Bay described the remarks as an "attack" on the city, noting officials are working with the interest of farmworkers in mind.

‘El calor nos puede matar’

Los trabajadores agrícolas de Fresno utilizan diversas estrategias para gestionar los riesgos del calor extremo, que puede haber influido en la muerte de un trabajador a principios de este mes.

‘The Heat Can Kill’ — How Farmworkers in Fresno Cope with Rising Temperatures

Peninsula 360 | Farmworkers in Fresno use a variety of strategies to manage the risks of extreme heat, from starting earlier to staying hydrated and on alert for signs of heat stroke.

Tijuana Sees Sharp Increase in Ukrainian Refugees Seeking Entry into U.S.

Some 2,000 Ukrainians are currently being sheltered in Tijuana as they wait to enter the US amid Russia's ongoing invasion of their country.

Faces of Eviction – East Palo Alto Renters Band Together to Push for Rental Relief

ChatGPT said: Award-winning photojournalist Manuel Ortiz launches a series of photo-essays capturing East Palo Alto renters’ struggles to pay rent after pandemic job losses.

California Publishers: Don’t Miss the 2026 California Civic Media Program

The launch of the $18.75 million California Civic Media Program (CMP) marks a historic investment in California's local journalism.

Are Our Votes Safe? Voting Rights, Voter ID, and the 2026 Election

Just Live | A conversation on the changing landscape of voting rights, election access, and the challenges facing American democracy as we approach the 2026 mid-term election.

Tennessee Directive Threatens Healthcare for 400 Critically Ill Immigrant Children

Tennessee has become the first state to condition life-saving healthcare for critically ill immigrant children on their willingness to be identified to immigration authorities.

A Country ‘Gripped by Fear’ — What Follows in the Wake of Colombia’s Elections

Experts say the win by far right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella threatens to return Colombia to the violence of years past.