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power, ego & the impact of public discourse: an analysis of the IV data center controversy (part 1)
What began as a policy discussion about a proposed AI data center in Imperial County has evolved into something far more revealing.
around the valley: ‘nuestras raices’ to link up lowriders y mas for their annual cinco de mayo car show
written by roman t. flores, freelance journalistedited by sarina e. guerrawebsite by justin orsino Helping me keep gas in the tank for this column is one such car club that hit their slow-roll stride in the fifth year of their main event… Nuestras Raices valle imperial Cinco de Mayo car show. Amid the cool chrome, high hops and…
$2.8 billion or a bad deal? inside the imperial data center showdown
On March 26th, 2026, the Imperial Board of Supervisors had their special meeting regarding the data center. It lasted just over three hours, with dozens of speakers, and…zero vote. The Imperial Data Center Project meeting was a packed, high-stakes public forum that made one thing painfully clear. This project isn’t just about jobs or infrastructure.…
“the moody foodie”: brawley senior citizens club 1988 cookbook stirs up nostalgia
written by letty guerra, citizen journalistedited by sarina e. guerrawebsite by justin orsino Being the budget-minded adventurer that I am, I’m always on the lookout for thrift stores, yard sales, estate sales, and rummage sales. This is a skill I picked up from my six older sisters, and it’s a lifelong ritual I look forward…
around the valley: desert daze brew fest looks to perk up locals, showcase talent
written by roman t. flores, freelance journalistedited by sarina e. guerraformatted by justin orsino In the grand landscape of the Imperial Valley, sad to say, businesses, events and ideas come and go. Some prosper for a bit then run out of gas (a fitting metaphor for the times, right?), some have success and then lack the continued…
28,000 to 1.7 million: should i stay or should i go?
submitted by jessica kenagyedited by sharon burnsformatted by justin orsino I’ve lived in the Imperial Valley my whole life. More specifically, I’ve lived in Brawley my whole life. For nearly thirty years, it’s been the same families, the same events, the same streets, the same views. And now… In about a year and a half, I might…
lucas lair talks vwe, imperial valley wrestling and his road to the top
I first went to San Diego Comic-Con in the summer of 2008. Back then, you could still grab tickets without fighting the entire internet for one. I’d help friends buy theirs online, they’d hand me cash, and we’d pile into a van for the drive down. For a gamer and anime nerd, it felt like…
data centers: elections have consequences
The controversy surrounding the proposed Data Center on county land near Imperial and El Centro is more than a single land-use dispute—it is a reminder of how deeply local government decisions shape our communities for decades to come. Years ago, after speaking at a public hearing, a friend once asked why I regularly attend county,…
“devout, complicated, enduring”: vincent “vince” hugh mousel passes away unexpectedly
Vincent “Vince” Hugh Mousel of El Centro, CA, aged 63, passed away on January 8, 2026 after being hit by a car while walking at night at around 9:30 pm on January 3, 2026. He was life flighted to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, CA where he unfortunately succumbed to critical injuries five…
how one family’s struggle exposes the gaps in america’s mental health system
This family's mental health journey opened a door into a system experts have been warning about for decades; a system chronically under-resourced and almost guarantees people fall through the cracks.
to be or not to be: prop 50 spurs record voter turnout prompting hope for local dems
submitted by eric reyes, citizen journalist edited by sarina e. guerra formatted by justin orsino
big city life, small-town heart: comedian willie barcena makes cathartic comeback in heber
edited by sarina e. guerraformatted by justin orsino Los Angeles-based comedian Willie Barecena makes his way back to the Imperial Valley to light up the stage and work comedy fans’ laugh muscles once again this on November 15, at Prestige Event Center in Heber. Barcena, a 20-year “road warrior” comedy veteran, will share his personal…
el centro’s education crossroads: evictions, enforcement & a new arts school—all at once
El Centro’s education system isn’t just changing—it’s spinning. In the past two years, the El Centro Elementary School District (ECESD) has faced parent uprisings, a campaign-finance scandal, and a multi-million-dollar construction project that could reshape the city’s schools. In 2024, the district blindsided families by terminating leases for county-run preschool programs. In 2025, one of…
dead presidents: an indigenous critique of american capitalism
written by linda martinezedited by sarina e. guerraformatted by justin orsino Currency, Capital, Dough, Silver, Loot. It’s all one and the same. It is “paper” constructed out of 75% cotton and 25% linen. A green textured sheet with pictures of dead presidents. Money. One of the essential elements necessary for human survival. Since the beginning…
$5,000 for a kidney, $100,000 for a life: inside a borderland organ trade
A Vice TV investigation uncovers how organ traffickers in Mexicali lure stranded migrants into selling their kidneys for $5,000, while U.S. recipients pay over $100,000. This People’s Press analysis explores the human cost, corruption, and inequality behind the trade.
pure intentions: a pro-wrestling prodigy’s journey
Pro-wrestling has a unique energy. Even if it’s not your thing, the size and passion of the fans is undeniable. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is thriving right now. Despite high ticket sales and streaming options that all over the place, they’ve gotten to a strong newfound place in pop culture. But this periodical boom isn’t…
the man from jalisco wins again! lead actor talks trade, identity & healing with people’s press
edited by sarina e. guerraformatted by justin orsino RJLB Picture’s The Man From Jalisco recently racked up another win, most recently at the Silicon Beach Film Festival in Los Angeles early last month. The Man from Jalisco, Part 10 of season one, won for… “Best Western Short” …between September 4-11. The Silicon Beach Film Festival…
old glory, open doors, and one curious kid: a morning at el centro’s fire station
Driving toward Walmart with my son, Jared, on a warm Saturday morning, I noticed something shining bright against the Imperial Valley sky—Old Glory flying high above the El Centro Fire Station. “Jared, look!” I said, pointing out the flag rippling proudly in the breeze. His face lit up immediately. “Can we go?” he asked. I…
“I sat with death”: a reflection on life & current events
written by gil rebollaredited by sarina e. guerra I’ve been sitting with Death. First, it was at my grandma’s bedside. Again, less than two weeks later, my mother-in-law drew her final breath.Then, on a phone screen. A young man. Father. Husband. Shot. Murdered in real-time.Three deaths. Two face-to-face. One through a screen.All too close. Each…
dear local politicians: why cut ribbons when you could cut rent?
written by sharon burns, regular contributoredited by sarina e. guerraformatted by justin orsino Politicians in Imperial County and the border region really seem to love a good ribbon-cutting. Whether it’s a new park bench, a mural downtown, or an “economic development” announcement, you’ll see them in crisp shirts and hard hats, scissors in hand, posing…
mariachi acero goes to guadalajara, takes valley spirit to international conference
story by jonathan miranda cuevas adapted by andreya martinez & sharon burnsedited by sarina e. guerra edited & formatted by justin orsino Take a walk through Brawley on a summer evening and you might hear it: the swell of trumpets, the quick strum of vihuela, and voices rising in harmony. It’s the sound of Mariachi…
the good work in the quiet moments
A reflection on Ephesians 2:10, a homeless man and his cat, and St. Thérèse’s “Little Way”—showing how small acts of love carry eternal impact.
vile or virtuous: evangelical pastor speaks on kirk
edited by sarina e. guerraquestions/formatting by justin orsinoanswers by chris nunn 1. What was your immediate reaction to Charlie Kirk’s death, and what do you think that reaction reveals about today’s political climate? The first I heard of the shooting in Utah, I was in a board meeting. It was difficult to proceed with the…
vile or virtuous: liberal military vet speaks on kirk
edited by sarina e. guerraquestions/formatting by justin orsinoanswers by sky ainsworth 1. What was your immediate reaction to Charlie Kirk’s death, and what do you think that reaction reveals about today’s political climate? I thought, “Oh no…” when I first heard the news. Since 2020, Kirk has become well known for staging debates on college…
vile or virtuous: liberal military vet + evangelical pastor speak on kirk
edited by sarina e. guerraquestions/formatting by justin orsino Editor’s NoteThis story began as a simple request for comment that became a kind of experiment both for People’s Press and for Citizen Journalism as a whole. Following the Charlie Kirk incident that took place earlier this month, People’s Press website manager, Justin Orsino, noticed that a…
understanding the system: conversation over chaos
edited by sarina e. guerra The past week reminded me why I stepped away from political debate in 2018. I always followed the news, but I rarely spoke up about my own views. Maybe it was fear of looking uneducated, or of being ripped apart by people who seemed more informed. In today’s culture, if…
on the passing of charlie kirk: amidst grief, I choose to speak
edited by sarina e. guerraformatted by justin orsino The passing of Charlie Kirk hit me like a blow to the chest. I felt shock, anger, and deep sorrow—not only because a life has ended, but because it happened on the eve of September 11. That day is already heavy, already a wound we carry together.…
papa was a veterinarian, luli sold furniture
submitted by jessica kenagyedited by sarina e. guerraformatted by justin orsino I only have two grandparents. My grandpa (Papa) is from my dad’s side, and my grandma (Luli) is from my mom’s side. My grandma (Num Num) on my dad’s side passed away several months after I was born, so I didn’t get a chance…
from rage to relief: the day my grocery box disappeared
written by sharon burnsedited by sarina e. guerraformatted by justin orsino Yesterday evening, I was ready to raise hell. I came home from work—one of my three jobs—to find that my Thrive grocery box was gone. My Ring camera had caught a woman walking right up to my porch and taking it. No hesitation. Just…
local film “the man from jalisco” continues its film festival run, streaming soon on tubi
written by roman flores, regular contributoredited by sarina e. guerra From the writings of a college film student to awards in Los Angeles-based film festivals to upcoming airings on streaming services in multiple countries worldwide, local filmmaker Ryan Brandt’s The Man From Jalisco series continues to gear up before its final film festival push in…