Economy:
November 2018 – Holiday shopping season begins with weak peso, unease over ports
As Nogales’ critical holiday shopping season began, sales seemed threatened by a weak Mexican peso exchange rate of 20 to the dollar and uncertainty at the ports of entry.
January 2020 – Mexican shoppers flock to Nogales to buy ‘borrego’ blankets
A variety of economic factors highlight why Mexican citizens travel to the United States in search of certain items like the highly-sold “borrego” blankets, despite the weakening of the Mexican peso.
August 2020 – ‘Who else will look after us?’
While the residents of Nogales, Sonora were hit with a similar pandemic experience as their neighbors on the U.S. side of the border, they had to confront the crisis with less public assistance.
Local government:
November 2018 – Sheriff’s Office under scrutiny for overtime hours
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office became under investigation after it was discovered that employees were being awarded overtime hours they didn’t work as compensation for taking on extra responsibilities.
October 2019 – City customers hit with inexplicably high water bills
When people’s water bills suddenly began increasing exponentially, they weren’t getting answers from the City of Nogales as to why that was happening.
Border and immigration:
February 2019 – Concertina wire praised by Border Patrol, scorned by local officials
Three months after Army troops installed coils of concertina wire atop the border barrier, U.S. Border Patrol agents said it was beneficial for security, while local government officials said it was harmful for economic development.
February 2019 – Migrant shelter ‘saturated’ by influx of Mexican asylum-seekers
The Albergue San Juan Bosco in Nogales, Sonora tripled its number of guests over three months, housing an average of 360 men, woman and children per night as they waited to request asylum in the United States.
June 2020 – With restrictions in place at ports, U.S. citizens carry the smuggling load
With cross-border travel restrictions largely prohibiting Mexican nationals with tourist visas from entering the country, U.S. citizens were left to do the drug-smuggling work themselves.
Courts:
September 2019 – Day of reckoning for David Murillo
Community members gather at Santa Cruz County Superior Court for the sentencing of David Murillo, the man convicted of killing a Nogales Police Department Officer and committing an array of other violent crimes.
Education
February 2019 – Patagonia librarian brings literature to life for kids
School librarian Roberta Ford dresses up as different literary characters to enhance students’ involvement with literature
July 2019 – Volunteers share language with migrants waiting for a chance at U.S. asylum
People from Southern Arizona travel to migrant shelters in Nogales, Sonora once a week to teach English classes and continue the children’s education.
COVID-19 coverage:
May 2020 – Produce warehouses take varying approaches to worker infections
Contrasting responses to COVID-19 infections in different produce warehouses highlight how essential food workers face heightened stress and health risks during the pandemic, and are subject to the luck of the draw when it comes to their employers’ responses.
June 2020 – As coronavirus infections surge, county’s hospitalization and death rates remain low. Why?
When the COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates in Santa Cruz County did not match statewide rates, county officials attributed it to luck. About a week later, new data from the county showed that hospitalization numbers had been underreported.
Genesis Lara | Journalist 