Latest news with #Carbajal
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers give US-flag shipping a cargo boost
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives approved three bills on Monday that promote U.S. maritime interests, including a requirement that all cargo purchased by the U.S. government move on American ships with American crews. The Cargo Preference Act of 1954 requires that 50% of civilian agencies' cargo and agricultural cargo be carried on U.S.-flag vessels, with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (Marad) being the lead agency managing cargo preference compliance. The American Cargo for American Ships Act would boost the 50% requirement to 100%. The legislation is supported by several U.S.-based maritime labor groups and U.S.-flag shipping companies, including the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots and Hapag Lloyd USA. 'American cargo transported by American ships bolsters our economy, creates more jobs, and protects our supply chains,' said U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., the lead sponsor of the bill, in a press statement when he introduced the bill in March. The legislation, he said, 'will ensure that our maritime workforce remains strong and competitive, safeguards our national security by reducing dependence on foreign vessels, and reinforces America's position as a global leader in trade and commerce.' Carbajal noted in March that 106 U.S.-flag ships were participating in the U.S. foreign trades in 2012, according to Marad data, which dropped to 77 vessels in 2016. That number has since increased to 87 ships. The House also passed on Monday the Maritime Supply Chain Security Act, legislation that would allow Port Infrastructure Development Program grants, administered by Marad, to be used by ports and marine terminals to replace Chinese-made gantry cranes, including the software used to operate the cranes. In addition, the chamber passed the Secure Our Ports Act of 2025, which would bar Chinese, Russian, North Korean or Iranian state-owned enterprises from entering into contracts to own, operate or manage a U.S. port facility. The three bills now head to the Senate. Trump nominates Maersk executive to lead Maritime Administration House passes bill to counter Beijing's influence over global ports China in crosshairs of new ocean shipping reforms Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher. The post Lawmakers give US-flag shipping a cargo boost appeared first on FreightWaves.
Los Angeles Times
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Miss Fountain Valley gets her wish, making others' come true
Jackelyn Carbajal earned the title of Miss Fountain Valley in her final year of eligibility for the Miss America competition. Carbajal, a 27-year-old resident of Orange, has spent the past eight years partnering with the nonprofit Make-A-Wish to help others realize their dreams. Her community service initiative, 'A Smile for a Child,' was inspired by two childhood friends she identified as Rebecca and Jonathan, both of whom she said were 'Wish Kids who unfortunately never made it to their wish day.' She had grown up with both in North Hollywood. 'Deep down, I knew that there were so many other kids who were also in their shoes,' Carbajal said. 'I made it my ultimate goal in life to just grant as many wishes in my life as I can, and so far, I've granted 24 wishes. I've been part of the Make-A-Wish Orange County and Los Angeles chapters for a combination of eight years.' As the winner of the crown at the Miss Fountain Valley competition, which was held on Feb. 2 at the Saigon Grand Center, Carbajal was awarded a $5,000 scholarship. She also received a diamond pendant from Mimi's Jewelry, a Fountain Valley-based jeweler. 'It's very exciting to be able to close my chapter with an organization that's really dedicated to embracing and empowering women,' said Carbajal, who said she performed 'Over the Rainbow' on the ukulele for the talent portion of the competition. A CSU San Bernardino graduate with a bachelor's degree in marketing, Carbajal now works locally as a digital fundraising coordinator at PBS SoCal in Costa Mesa. 'I've learned a lot about not just the public media aspect, but the value of production and of service when it comes to quality content,' Carbajal said of her job. 'I think my goal is to be able to go and get my master's [degree] in business analytics or in post production. 'I do eventually want to become a creative director for PBS Kids. That's always been my goal, to just do storytelling in a children's programming world, so I think if I can get there — and this scholarship will definitely lead me to my first footsteps into returning back to university — I'm excited to see what my next couple years are going to look like.' Participation in pageants had also been a part of early life for Carbajal's mother, Bolena. Carbajal said she felt that pageants had their benefits in building confidence and providing opportunities for one to learn about stage presence. Carbajal, who speaks English, Spanish and the indigenous Mayan language Mam, is also helping others find their voice. 'I actually host public speaking and mentoring workshops across California,' Carbajal said. 'I actually go to a native reservation in New Mexico. It's called the Zuni Pueblo, and I teach children there, ages 7 to 12, on how to be able to build confidence skills. Also, public speaking skills because a lot of these kids are very involved with their governor and with their council. … I help them pretty much prep for speeches and for presentations.' For the first time, the pageant also awarded a crown for Miss Fountain Valley Teen, the title going to Huntington Beach High senior Laurel Brookhyser. Pageant honorees were recognized by the Fountain Valley City Council on Tuesday. When given the floor to talk about her platform, Brookhyser, who is also a musical theater major and a dance minor at the Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts, said she plans to make the arts more accessible. Brookhyser, who showcased her vocal performance skills in the competition, received a $500 scholarship. Mimi's Jewelry gifted her a silver crown necklace. Carbajal and Brookhyser will both compete in the Miss California event in Visalia in June, which will serve as a preliminary to the Miss America pageant. 'My community service initiative through Miss America is 'Art for the Heart,'' Brookhyser told the council. 'It's promoting arts education for underserved communities who may not have the access to arts education that we do here.' Lauren Worley earned first runner-up honors in the Miss Fountain Valley competition, taking home a $1,000 scholarship. She is a business administration major at Mount Saint Mary's University. Britney Lam, a graduate of Concordia University, and Isabel Tuman, who attends Golden West College, were named second and third runner-up, respectively. Addison Phan of Fountain Valley High was the first runner-up in the teen competition.
Chicago Tribune
24-02-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Restaurant news: Carnitas Uruapan, Mexican taqueria, opens Little Village flagship after 50 years in Chicago
A Mexican restaurant founded 50 years ago specializing in 'little meats' finally has a big new flagship. Carnitas Uruapan opened its largest location in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago on Jan. 27. 'We are a very traditional carnitas-focused taqueria,' said second-generation owner Marcos Carbajal, a James Beard Awards semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurateur this year. 'My dad started our original restaurant in 1975.' Inocencio Carbajal began the business in Pilsen making the dish that literally translates to little meats. 'Carnitas is a regional specialty dish from Michoacán, Mexico,' Marcos Carbajal said. Two towns go back and forth about where it originated, he added, Quiroga and Uruapan, where his family is from. The iconic dish traditionally starts with a whole pig, said Carbajal, cooked in its own manteca, or lard, which naturally renders out from the skin. It's flash-fried golden brown, he added, then slow-cooked 'confit style' for about two hours until it's crispy on the outside, but still juicy and tender on the inside. 'We make carnitas using ribs, shoulder, pork belly and pork skin,' he said. 'And we follow a recipe that goes back to the family butcher shop that my grandfather and an uncle owned in Michoacán in the '40s, '50s and '60s. My dad learned the trade when he was about 11 years old.' The elder Carbajal has settled into a role as a founder. He's still known to everyone in the neighborhoods as El Güero, said his son, a nickname for his fair skin and green eyes. 'He is from a generation of immigrants that refuses to ever really stop working,' said the younger Carbajal. 'My dad's not active in the day-to-day running of the restaurant, but a mainstay, someone who's always in our dining room, and who's always around the different restaurants.' The second-generation owner was formerly a banker. 'I jumped back into the family biz about 10 years ago,' said Carbajal. They expanded with a second location in Gage Park in 2019 and have been building the third location since 2021. And they're referring to it as their flagship. 'It is a much larger endeavor than our other two locations,' he said. 'And it's kind of a natural evolution.' Pilsen was the original Mexican neighborhood in Chicago, he added, and still the heart and soul of the community culturally. 'But Little Village is now the most populous Mexican neighborhood in the city,' Carbajal said. And it's the backbone of the community, he added, booming with entrepreneurship. Their new space has transformed the ground floor of a three-story building with a history dating back 100 years. 'It's from the 1920s,' said Carbajal. 'An art deco building with a terra cotta facade. In the '50s and '60s, it was a furniture store, he said, with furniture manufactured on the second and third floors. 'In the '80s and '90s this became a concert venue for up-and-coming Mexican bands called the Concordia,' he added, with a 40-foot sign out front. 'A lot of people came here for concerts. They would do weddings and quinceañeras. There's a lot of nostalgia in the community.' That nostalgia appealed to Carbajal and inspired him to bring back the building, which sits on a corner with one of the largest sidewalks in the neighborhood known as Mexico in the Midwest. The flagship Carnitas Uruapan was designed with 100 seats available inside now. A sidewalk patio with 50 seats will be built out in the spring, he added. You can park in their lot across the street, which can be a big deal in Little Village. 'The building itself is beautiful,' said Carbajal. 'We restored the terra cotta storefront.' The 40-foot Concordia sign was replaced, he said, with an ode to the neighborhood. As much as he loves his business, Carbajal said he did not want to be the guy that takes a historic landmark sign and plasters their name 40 feet high. 'What we decided to do was take the same style and font and write the name of the neighborhood on that sign,' said Carbajal. It now says La Villita. Through the front window, you'll see somebody making fresh tortillas on a new tortilla machine. And there's a takeout window, so you don't need to go in. But when you open the door, you'll experience modern-day Mexico. 'Spanish everywhere, music playing,' said Carbajal. 'The design is refined, regional Mexican.' From banquettes with an ostrich pattern, like ostrich boots, and rebozo fabric, similar to women's shawls. 'It's full table service,' he added. But we do so much takeout that on a Sunday, you might see 50 people in line in the takeout area.' So what should you order? 'If it's during the week, we have a lunch special,' said Carbajal. 'We run this half a pound of carnitas, where you can order all the different cuts and kind of dial in what you like.' The Carnitas Especial Meal also includes a half dozen tortillas made fresh, he added, a little side of beans, little side of chicharron, a crispy fried taco dorado, with your choice of three fillings, and house-made horchata or jamaica agua fresca. 'On the weekend, you gotta go carnitas by the pound,' he said, with a sampler of all the different sides. 'And on the weekend, we have a specialty type of tamal from Michoacán called a corunda.' Instead of a dried corn husk, it's wrapped in a fresh corn leaf for a stronger corn flavor. Filled with Swiss chard and cheese, it's eaten topped with salsa, crema and cotija cheese. And for the first time in its 50-year history, Carnitas Uruapan is serving alcoholic drinks, from imported and local beer to spirits and seasonal cocktails. The Tarasco Secrets, an early bestseller, said Carbajal, is mixed with charanda, a sugarcane spirit made in Michoacán, Nixta corn liqueur and guava. Do note that the restaurant closes at 4 p.m. on weekdays and 5 p.m. on weekends. That's because carnitas are typically a weekend specialty dish in Mexico, Carbajal said, and usually places that do great carnitas are normally sold out by noon. 'We have batches and batches that come out,' he added. 'But the majority of our customer base being Mexican, in their mind, they're not craving our food for dinner.' Which could be good for quiet nights in the apartments he's building on the second and third floors. He plans to bring live music back to the building on weekends, but acoustic. 'Just to give it that flagship vibe.' Until then, look for the sign that says La Villita visible a mile away. 'It's becoming something that people are taking pictures with,' said Carbajal. 'My intent is for it to serve as a landmark the way that the Little Village arch serves on the other side of the neighborhood.' 3801 W. 26th St., 773-940-2770, More new openings, in alphabetical order: Diversey House Black-owned Moor's Brewing and Steep Ravine Brewing (formerly Ravinia Brewing) have opened a new sports bar and brewery together. Diversey House started pouring in Logan Square on Feb. 5. Partner Marc Anthony Bynum, a veteran chef from Long Island, New York, is making his debut in Chicago with signature ribs, served with pickled watermelon rind and an espresso chipotle barbecue sauce, and the Diversey Fries, loaded with an oxtail ragout and beer cheese fondue. 2601 W. Diversey Ave., 773-799-8050, Milk Bar A highly anticipated bakery has finally arrived from New York City by way of the Boka Restaurant Group. Milk Bar began baking in the West Loop on Feb. 8. Acclaimed pastry chef Christina Tosi personally brought her famous Compost Cookie and created two new Chicago-only items: a Portillo's Chocolate Cake Cookie and a Hot Dog Bomb, a variation of their Bagel Bomb, but with all the elements of a Chicago-style loaded hot dog instead. 208 N. Green St., The Staley After opening Signature Bar together in January 2024, former Chicago Bear Israel Idonije and chef Stephen Gillanders (S.K.Y., Apolonia, Valhalla) have teamed on a second play — this time, a sports bar. The Staley kicked off in the South Loop on Jan. 27. Named for Bears godfather Gene Staley, the menu offers classic bar food including a Staley cheeseburger with bacon jam and a Staley-style pizza, plus big screens everywhere. 1736 S. Michigan Ave., 312-248-8711, In notable restaurant news: Alinea, one of the world's best restaurants, opened by acclaimed chef Grant Achatz 20 years ago in May, is going on tour to celebrate with three stops announced so far on a first leg: Brooklyn (March 20 to April 13), Miami and Beverly Hills. 1723 N. Halsted St., Ever, the Michelin two-star restaurant by chef Curtis Duffy that opened in 2020, is losing business partner Michael Muser who announced that he's 'moving on' and 'headed for new adventures' after working together for 15 years through three restaurants. 1340 W. Fulton St., Chicago Black Restaurant Week, which marked its 10th year celebrating Black-owned businesses, just wrapped up Sunday. While the deals are officially over, it's a great list with notable, new destinations including Homewood Brewing Co., the restaurant and brewery launched by Carmela Wallace last October in the south suburb as a ' testament to a mother's love ' for her late son, the rapper Juice WRLD. 18225 Dixie Highway, Homewood; 708-838-0064; In restaurant reopening news: Sikia, the only fine dining restaurant in Englewood, operated by the students and instructors of Washburne Culinary and Hospitality Institute, reopened after repairs and refurbishment with a $17 three-course lunch service at Kennedy-King College on Jan. 30. It had closed due to the pandemic in 2020. 740 W. 63rd St., 773-602-5200, (Reservations are required.) Vermilion, the restaurant opened by women's rights activist Rohini Dey as a pioneering Indian Latin restaurant more than 20 years ago, and last transformed with a fiery Indian Chinese menu, has closed, but relaunched as Sanctuary, a 'cocktail den' with 'comfort fare' in River North on Feb. 21. (Axios Chicago first reported news of the closure.) 10 W. Hubbard St., In restaurant closing news: 90 Miles Cuban Cafe, known for expansive corner patios as much as its food, closed both locations in Roscoe Village and Logan Square. (Block Club Chicago first reported the news.) In restaurant fundraising news: Piece Brewery and Pizzeria, makers of the New Haven style thin and crispy yet chewy pizza, are running with the big dogs again, with the PAWS Chicago Slice to Meet You fundraising collaboration. The Wieners Circle has joined the pizza collab pack for the first time with a pie featuring their char Polish sausage, chopped sport peppers, grilled onions, grated pecorino cheese and an infamous side of attitude. Your purchase of a $35 pizza sends an $80 donation to PAWS ($10 from Piece and $10 each from seven matching donors). The Wieners Circle pizza for PAWS is available at Piece until March 8. If you miss it, big dog Rick Bayless will be back with his Bayless Family Pizza next. (Full disclosure: I adopted my dog Kōl Chu from PAWS.)
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
‘I just want to warn people': Consumer claims he lost $3K to Orlando business
An Orlando auto parts business claims to be AAA Approved, but some customers question if it's even a real company. One customer told Action 9 he paid thousands of dollars for parts that that were never delivered. After getting complaints, Action 9 Consumer Investigator started looking into the website: A Google search landed Tony Carbajal on the Unlimited Speedshop website. He was looking to find the perfect blower for his '57 Chevy pick-up truck. Carbajal is a self-described car guy. He said, 'I've got a '33 Plymouth Coupe that I restored, a '57 chevy truck, a '66 Mustang for my wife that I restored.' READ: Tariff Tension: What tariffs could mean for your wallet? He said the website looks legitimate and $3000 for the part he needed was a good deal. Carbajal said, 'I was going to use my card (to pay), and they said that they didn't use a card that it was Wells Fargo wire to wire. In November, he and his wife Natalie wired the money and received a tracking number from a company called Universal Parcel Deliveries. READ: 'We about fell out of our seat': Elderly couple surprised by $55,000 timeshare bill He received tracking updates showing the blower was making its way from Florida west across the country toward New Mexico where Carbajal lives. Then there were delays. Eventually the shipping company claimed it tried to deliver it. It was odd because it was a day the Carbajals were home and they have a doorbell camera. But they said they didn't get a shipment. Action 9 couldn't find Unlimited Speedshop LLC registered in state records and couldn't find a tax ID for that business in Orange County. READ: 'The worst nightmare': Homeowner claims solar panels don't work So, Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal went to the address on Sand Lake Road in Dr. Phillips and found another company called Globalfy. A worker at the address said Unlimited Speedshop has a virtual address there. Globalfy receives mail for several companies and forwards it. Jeff Deal then called Unlimited Speedshop at the phone number listed on its website. Once on the phone, Deal said, 'He paid $3,000 and you still haven't delivered it.' The customer service agent answered, 'Yes, we sent it, but there are issues with the shipping company.' After blaming the shipping company, the agent told Jeff Deal the company's auto parts warehouse was in Orlando. READ: Owners of Legacy Pools accused of defrauding central Florida homeowners out of millions Jeff Deal asked, 'That's the address of the warehouse on Sand Lake Road?' The man on the phone answered, 'Yes.' Deal responded, 'Well, we went there and it's just a drop box.' When Jeff Deal asked about a refund for Tony Carbajal, the agent mentioned he would talk to a manager and call back. The man on the phone then hung up after Deal asked if it was even a legitimate business. Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal then called the shipping company, Universal Parcel Deliveries. The background noise on the line and the voice of the man who answered sounded like it was the same person who answered at the number for Unlimited Speedshop. As soon as Deal identified himself the man hung up. 'Online auto parts scams are becoming more and more prevalent,' said Better Business Bureau President Holly Salmons. BBB received a complaint about Unlimited Speedshop through its Scam Tracker. ( Salmons warned against ever paying by wire transfer or gift cards for goods online. She said, 'If you're purchasing online, there are very, very few things that anyone's ever going to legitimately ask you to pay for that by wire transfer.' That's something the Carbajals wish they had known sooner. 'I know that I won't be able to get my money back, but I just want to warn people,' Tony Carbajal said. AAA told Action 9, Unlimited Speedshop is not an approved shop and it couldn't find records indicating it ever was AAA Approved. It's always best to pay by credit card especially is using a business you aren't familiar with since there are some protections built in Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Action 9 Investigates Orlando auto shop business after customer claims he lost thousands
An Orlando auto parts business claims to be AAA Approved, but some customers question if it's even a real company. Action 9 talks to one customer who said he paid thousands of dollars for parts that that were never delivered. Read: Tariff Tension: What tariffs could mean for your wallet? Carbajal is a self-described car guy. He said, 'I've got a '33 Plymouth Coupe that I restored, a '57 chevy truck, a '66 Mustang for my wife that I restored.' Looking to find the perfect blower for his '57 Chevy pick-up truck, Carbajal found the website for Unlimited Speedshop. Read: 'We about fell out of our seat': Elderly couple surprised by $55,000 timeshare bill That's when the trouble began. After losing thousands of dollars, Carbajal reached out to WFTV. Action 9′s Jeff Deal presses on the gas and gets to the bottom of the custom car deal gone wrong. Read: 'The worst nightmare': Homeowner claims solar panels don't work Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
