The Yucatan Times

MÉRIDA, YUCATÁN — Uber has officially rolled out its new “Uber Mujeres” feature in Mérida, allowing female passengers to choose to ride exclusively with female drivers. The feature aims to give women greater control and confidence over their trips, addressing a long-standing request from users in the region. Available daily from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., the tool provides riders with multiple scheduling options. Passengers can request an immediate ride with a female driver, res

MÉRIDA, Mexico — On World Agriculture Day, commemorated every September 9, Mexico’s Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRICULTURA) highlighted the critical role of agricultural workers who sustain the nation’s food security and drive the economic and cultural identity of Yucatán. Mexico ranks ninth globally in food production, delivering nearly 290 million metric tons of agricultural output valued at 1.59 trillion pesos. The sector relies on a workforce of 6.1 million pe

Yucatán Pueblo Mágico Chosen as Host for National Folklore Festival 2026 MERIDA, Mexico — One of Yucatán’s designated Pueblos Mágicos (Magical Towns) has been selected to host the upcoming National Folklore Festival 2026: Raíces de México (“Roots of Mexico”), putting the region’s rich cultural heritage and vibrant traditions in the national spotlight. The festival, celebrated as a landmark gathering for traditional Mexican dance and music, will bring together folkloric dance troupes, music

MÉRIDA, YUCATÁN — The expansion of the Energía Mayakan natural gas pipeline is progressing rapidly across southeastern Mexico, reaching 65% total completion as Phase II enters commercial operation. Developed by French energy group ENGIE in partnership with Macquarie Asset Management, the overall project represents an investment exceeding $2 billion. The expansion aims to double the region’s natural gas transportation capacity, increasing flow from 250 million to 567 million cubic feet p

PROGRESO, Mexico — Yucatecan filmmaker and documentarian Víctor Rejón, a native of the coastal port of Progreso, has achieved a major career milestone after being nominated for Mexico’s prestigious Ariel Award for his short film “Las voces del despeñadero.” Recognition from the Mexican Film Academy The Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences (AMACC) officially announced Rejón’s nomination among the contenders for the 68th Ariel Awards ceremony. The recognitio

(Tuesday, September 8, 2026).- The State Government informs vehicle owners that they can carry out various administrative procedures at the USE Izamal Collection Office, located at Calle 31 No. 374, between 44 and 46. Available services include vehicle registration regularization, replacement of registration cards and license plates, and vehicle deregistration. Service hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Keeping vehicle

In Mérida, Yucatán, on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, the Secretariat of Public Security (SSP) reported that investigations are ongoing regarding an incident at a property in the Tamanché district of Mérida, where two elderly individuals were found dead. Upon receiving the report, police officers arrived at the scene and activated the appropriate protocols. SSP investigative agents, in coordination with the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE), have taken charge of the proceedings to clar

The Tren Maya project has officially launched a recruitment drive for 2026, offering job opportunities across Mexico’s southeastern states of Yucatán, Campeche, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, and Chiapas. Applicants have to submit their documentation for a range of specialized positions. Open Roles and Key Qualifications The recruitment call targets a variety of profiles, primarily focusing on engineering disciplines, specialized operational roles, and transport logistics: Engineering and Tech

VALLADOLID, YUCATÁN — Coca-Cola’s Mexican system, in partnership with bottling partner Bepensa, has inaugurated the Planta Centenario Valladolid in Yucatán. Representing an investment exceeding 1.2 billion pesos (approximately $60 million USD), this marks the brand’s first dedicated carbonated beverage processing and bottling facility opened in Mexico since the late 1990s. Modern Technology and Strategic Location Located in Valladolid, Yucatán, the newly opened facility was officially inau

MIAMI, Florida — Federal investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived at Miami International Airport (MIA) on Monday, September 7th, to determine what caused an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane to overrun a runway, killing five people and critically injuring three others. The incident occurred Sunday afternoon at around 1:53 p.m. local time during light thunderstorms and gusting winds. Operating as 21 Air Flight 7598, the Boeing 767-300 freighter—arriving from San Ju

MÉRIDA, Yucatán — The annual Feria del Queso de Bola will return to Mérida on August 29 and 30, transforming the Parque de La Plancha into a culinary and cultural showcase centered on Edam cheese, an iconic staple of traditional Yucatecan gastronomy. Event organizer Delmar Briceño Valadez announced that the festival’s seventh edition aims to move beyond a conventional food fair, offering a fully themed, family-oriented experience designed for all ages. The festival will feature 40 ve

MÉRIDA, Yucatán — Mayor Cecilia Patrón Laviada officially designated a majestic black carob (algarrobo negro) tree in the Colonia México neighborhood as Mérida’s 200th “Green Heritage Tree,” marking a significant milestone in the city’s urban conservation strategy. Located at the corner of 11th and 18th Streets, the specimen stands 21.52 meters tall with an expansive canopy diameter of 27.7 meters. Environmental metrics calculated via the I-Tree platform indicate the tree ha

PROGRESO, Yucatán — Archaeologists from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have uncovered K’oxol Ja’ II, an ancient Maya settlement offering a rare glimpse into the daily lives of commoners who lived outside royal palaces. Discovered during archaeological salvage work for the Progreso Multimodal Terminal—part of the Maya Freight Train project—the site spans 2,257 square meters and contains 21 recorded monuments. Its name, translating from Maya as &#8220

MÉRIDA, Yucatán — A major electrical failure crippled commercial and daily activities across Mérida’s historic downtown district on Thursday, August 27, marking the third prolonged blackout to hit the city center in under two months. The incident began around 7:00 a.m. when an underground utility vault belonging to the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) on 62nd Street erupted with a loud explosion, blowing off its heavy metal cover and emitting thick smoke. By mid-morning, the power supply

MÉRIDA, Yucatán — Outraged by an electrical blackout lasting over 15 consecutive hours, residents of the Castilla Cámara neighborhood in southern Mérida took to the streets on August 28, blocking major intersections to demand immediate action from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). The protest centered at the intersection of 62nd, 111th, and 113th streets, where neighbors set up barricades to halt traffic. Demonstrators stated that the prolonged outage disrupted daily domestic and work

Eugenio “Gino” Segura, current senator and former Finance Secretary of Quintana Roo, has found himself at the center of political controversy following reports detailing extensive private jet usage alongside Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama. According to investigative findings based on migration and airport records, Lezama, members of her family, and Segura accumulated hundreds of international migration movements involving private aircraft between December 2018 and December 2025. Record

On Thursday, August 27, 2026, the Secretariat of Public Security (SSP) reported that, following recent incidents involving two dogs in the Bojórquez neighborhood, police officers responded to the scene to address the situation. The owner of the animals voluntarily surrendered them to SSP officers, who kept them in custody while coordinating with Mérida municipal authorities. Subsequently, the dogs were handed over to the municipality’s Environment and Animal Welfare Unit, which will

CHETUMAL, Mexico — Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa has taken at least 97 private flights on executive aircraft dating back to her tenure as Mayor of Cancún, according to aviation logs and migratory data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accessed online. The records show that Lezama’s frequent use of luxury air travel began while she was leading the municipality of Benito Juárez (Cancún). During her Mayoral administration, she logged 31 private flights despit

MÉRIDA, Mexico — Cinema will catalyze reflection on human rights, body politics, memory, and gender equality as the 15th International Gender Film Showcase (MICGénero) lands in Mérida. Organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Arts of Yucatán (Sedeculta), the free public event will take place from August 28 to August 30 at the Cineteca in the Armando Manzanero Theater. Celebrating 15 years of utilizing film as an educational and reflective tool, MICGénero Tour 2026 b

MÉRIDA, Mexico — A sluggish start to Yucatán’s octopus season has sparked concern among local fishermen, who are reporting significantly lower yields than in previous years. However, industry leaders remain optimistic that catches will improve as the season progresses into September. Enrique Sánchez Sánchez, head of the local chapter of the National Chamber of the Fishing and Aquaculture Industry (CANAINPESCA), reported that larger commercial vessels returning to port are bringing in only