MEXICO CITY — The U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Antonio Garza Jr., knows a few things about the American border state of New Mexico. He grew up in neighboring Texas, another border state. He also fondly recalls touring part of New Mexico once with its powerful senator, Pete Domenici, who is one of the most vocal lawmakers on Capitol Hill regarding American policy toward border issues with Mexico.   Full Story

Troy Turner/The Daily Times

Today's story is one in a series that examines major changes in Mexico, and how they affect us. MEXICO CITY — Lydia Cacho is considered the rock star of Mexican journalism. Mexican mafia and corrupt officials, however, consider her a dangerous threat. She was seized, beaten at gunpoint, and was walked into the ocean for what she thought was surely her murder.   Full Story

Troy Turner/The Daily Times

Today's story is one in a series that examines major changes in Mexico, and how they affect us. MONTERREY, Mexico — American-trained, high-tech special forces units have turned to the dark side here, using their skills to protect and enforce Mexico's drug lords instead of their native government. But that's just part of the problem.   Full Story

Troy Turner/The Daily Times

Today's story is one in a series that examines major changes in Mexico, and how they affect us. CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — Operation Spotter might sound like a name worthy of a good bird dog, and that is indeed something akin to how the U.S. Customs and Border Protection uses it. The primary border crossing that links El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez has more than 100,000 people a day traveling through it, with an astounding 20,000 of those daily crossovers doing so on foot.   Full Story

R.J. Sangosti/Denver Post

Today's story is the second in a weeklong series that examines major changes in Mexico, and how they affect us. EL PASO, Texas — Martin Hernandez is, as his name suggests, Hispanic. His mother lived and worked in El Paso, but his father stayed behind in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez, a sprawling collection of more than 2 million people just a few feet south, across the watery ditch glamorized by the name Rio Grande.   Full Story

Today's story is the first of a weeklong series that examines major changes in Mexico, and how they affect us. EL PASO, Texas — Church's Fried Chicken seemed only slightly less crowded than Kentucky Fried Chicken, but both restaurants sit in a prominent spot right across the street from the Saturday marketplace. That means, on Saturdays, the fry baskets stay hot.   Full Story

Troy Turner/The Daily Times

Mexico, our neighbor to the south, is in a pivotal struggle to change history and to join the ranks of free democracies in the world without an asterisk beside its listing. An asterisk that still says: Democracy, yes, but governed by centuries-old Latin American machoism that creates an inbred love of strong-arm dictatorship, bandit-style good vs. evil, and doubt that life in Mexico can ever be any different.   Full Story