Latest news with #Nieto
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Miche Fest's cancellation comes amid ‘political climate' and issues with artist visas
This summer was set to be Michelada Festival's biggest year yet. With thousands of tickets already sold, Miche Fest, a Chicago street festival of Latino music gone mainstream, was canceled on Tuesday just weeks before its July dates at Oakwood Beach. The two-day festival, which had its roots in Pilsen's streets, moved first to Harrison Park and then last summer to Oakwood Beach, becoming one of Chicago's largest Latino music festivals, bringing together thousands of people and featuring world-renowned artists who speak to different generations of Latinos. It had some 10,000 attendees daily in 2024. While some have criticized the organizers for the sudden 2025 cancellation, co-founder Fernando Nieto said, many of their fans have been loyal to the festival for the last seven years. He said the cancellation felt like the right thing to do. 'Outside of the effect that it (the cancellation) might have on our business, we felt like it was a responsible thing to do for our fanbase,' said Nieto on Wednesday. 'We've built up an extremely loyal fan base since day one, and we felt, due to the uncertainty with what's going on, it would be irresponsible to move forward without a clear path.' The announcement on Tuesday said the reason was current concerns over visas and travel: 'Because of the uncertainty around artist visas and the shifting political climate, we've made the difficult decision to cancel Michelada Fest 2025.' Their Sunday lineup was more than 60% international artists who would need a visa to come to the United States and perform. If they were unable to do so, there was no way, organizers said, they could replace their lineup with the level artists as the ones they had promised. While Nieto said they cannot comment specifically on visa issues for specific artists, there were 'enough to believe the issues over visas could escalate.' 'It's too big of a risk for our business and for our fanbase,' Nieto said. 'Although it's a tough one on a business side, we never want to put our fanbase in the position where they're not going to get the best possible experience.' The first group to drop out of this year's lineup was Los Alegres Del Barranco, a popular regional Mexican music group mostly singing corridos. In early April, the U.S. State Department revoked the band members' visas for allegedly displaying a visual of a cartel kingpin during a recent show. While Michelada Fest organizers quickly replaced the group with Gabito Ballesteros, a Mexican singer-songwriter considered one of the rising acts in the corridos tumbados, he, too, is now uncertain about having a visa to come to Chicago to perform for the festival, said Miguel Torres, Nieto's business partner. Corridos typically have lyrics that narrate a historical event, and have most recently focused on telling stories of drug lords or cartel activity in the current music scene. A first-time Michelada Fest in El Paso, Texas, was held May 3, selling out a downtown venue with 8,000 attendees. Regional Mexican artists performed there for a single-day event. Nieto said that 'it only all worked out because of luck and timing,' after all of the artists were able to get visas and perform. El Paso headliner Neton Vega, a rising young Mexican singer known for his corridos and reggaeton, was also supposed to headline Sunday night in Chicago. But a week after the El Paso music festival, organizers gathered to weigh the pros and the cons of hosting in Chicago, said Nieto Hundreds have commented on the news. 'Thank you for thinking of your people and thinking ahead. It would be the most hurtful thing to see a beautiful festival like this targeted,' a user wrote. 'It's sad to see this but it's safe for our community. We have to fight for what's right,' another one wrote. Amid fears of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, other events catering to and celebrating Mexican culture and Latinos have also been postponed and canceled in Chicago. The annual Cinco de Mayo parade in Pilsen was called off this year after nearly half of the parade sponsors dropped out, organizers said. Earlier this year, a celebration of the Purepecha community, an indigenous group that immigrated to the Chicago area, was postponed due to the fear the community expressed over immigration enforcement agents in the area. 'The safety and peace of our community are our priority. We will remain vigilant about the situation and seek the best time to hold this celebration, so important to our identity and our roots,' the group posted on their social media. For Nieto, beyond issues with artists' visas performing at his Music Festival, the 'writing was written on the wall.' 'The current administration is not only targeting our people, but our culture as well. In the meantime, we'll continue to push on and regroup for Miche 2026,' wrote Nieto when he announced that for the first since its inception, Miche Fest would not take place. For now, 'stay tuned,' he said. Many of their fans have asked for the return of Miche Fest back to the streets, with local talent and on a smaller scale. Like the old days. 'There's a lot of nostalgia there,' Nieto added. larodriguez@
Chicago Tribune
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Miche Fest's cancellation comes amid ‘political climate' and issues with artist visas
This summer was set to be Michelada Festival's biggest year yet. With thousands of tickets already sold, Miche Fest, a Chicago street festival of Latino music gone mainstream, was canceled on Tuesday just weeks before its July dates at Oakwood Beach. The two-day festival, which had its roots in Pilsen's streets, moved first to Harrison Park and then last summer to Oakwood Beach, becoming one of Chicago's largest Latino music festivals, bringing together thousands of people and featuring world-renowned artists who speak to different generations of Latinos. It had some 10,000 attendees daily in 2024. While some have criticized the organizers for the sudden 2025 cancellation, co-founder Fernando Nieto said, many of their fans have been loyal to the festival for the last seven years. He said the cancellation felt like the right thing to do. 'Outside of the effect that it (the cancellation) might have on our business, we felt like it was a responsible thing to do for our fanbase,' said Nieto on Wednesday. 'We've built up an extremely loyal fan base since day one, and we felt, due to the uncertainty with what's going on, it would be irresponsible to move forward without a clear path.' The announcement on Tuesday said the reason was current concerns over visas and travel: 'Because of the uncertainty around artist visas and the shifting political climate, we've made the difficult decision to cancel Michelada Fest 2025.' Their Sunday lineup was more than 60% international artists who would need a visa to come to the United States and perform. If they were unable to do so, there was no way, organizers said, they could replace their lineup with the level artists as the ones they had promised. While Nieto said they cannot comment specifically on visa issues for specific artists, there were 'enough to believe the issues over visas could escalate.' 'It's too big of a risk for our business and for our fanbase,' Nieto said. 'Although it's a tough one on a business side, we never want to put our fanbase in the position where they're not going to get the best possible experience.' The first group to drop out of this year's lineup was Los Alegres Del Barranco, a popular regional Mexican music group mostly singing corridos. In early April, the U.S. State Department revoked the band members' visas for allegedly displaying a visual of a cartel kingpin during a recent show. While Michelada Fest organizers quickly replaced the group with Gabito Ballesteros, a Mexican singer-songwriter considered one of the rising acts in the corridos tumbados, he, too, is now uncertain about having a visa to come to Chicago to perform for the festival, said Miguel Torres, Nieto's business partner. Corridos typically have lyrics that narrate a historical event, and have most recently focused on telling stories of drug lords or cartel activity in the current music scene. A first-time Michelada Fest in El Paso, Texas, was held May 3, selling out a downtown venue with 8,000 attendees. Regional Mexican artists performed there for a single-day event. Nieto said that 'it only all worked out because of luck and timing,' after all of the artists were able to get visas and perform. El Paso headliner Neton Vega, a rising young Mexican singer known for his corridos and reggaeton, was also supposed to headline Sunday night in Chicago. But a week after the El Paso music festival, organizers gathered to weigh the pros and the cons of hosting in Chicago, said Nieto Hundreds have commented on the news. 'Thank you for thinking of your people and thinking ahead. It would be the most hurtful thing to see a beautiful festival like this targeted,' a user wrote. 'It's sad to see this but it's safe for our community. We have to fight for what's right,' another one wrote. Amid fears of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, other events catering to and celebrating Mexican culture and Latinos have also been postponed and canceled in Chicago. The annual Cinco de Mayo parade in Pilsen was called off this year after nearly half of the parade sponsors dropped out, organizers said. Earlier this year, a celebration of the Purepecha community, an indigenous group that immigrated to the Chicago area, was postponed due to the fear the community expressed over immigration enforcement agents in the area. 'The safety and peace of our community are our priority. We will remain vigilant about the situation and seek the best time to hold this celebration, so important to our identity and our roots,' the group posted on their social media. For Nieto, beyond issues with artists' visas performing at his Music Festival, the 'writing was written on the wall.' 'The current administration is not only targeting our people, but our culture as well. In the meantime, we'll continue to push on and regroup for Miche 2026,' wrote Nieto when he announced that for the first since its inception, Miche Fest would not take place. For now, 'stay tuned,' he said. Many of their fans have asked for the return of Miche Fest back to the streets, with local talent and on a smaller scale. Like the old days. 'There's a lot of nostalgia there,' Nieto added.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Illegal immigrant in U.S. since 1990 faces charges
A Mexican national in the U.S. illegally since 1990 faces federal charges for allegedly stealing his daughter's Social Security number to falsely claim citizenship, open a business bank account and get a temporary Hawaii identification card. The daughter of Samuel Angel Nieto, aka 'Angel Nieto ' and 'Angel David Nieto Garcia, ' a native of Mazatlan, Mexico, told Homeland Security Investigations agents that she first discovered her father stole her identity when she filed taxes at the age of 18. Her refund was sent to child support services in Hawaii, where Nieto allegedly fathered a son with another woman. Two of Nieto's ex-wives also allegedly told federal agents his mother and he are from Mexico. Nieto allegedly claimed he was born in California and is believed to be 49 years old. He was charged April 24 by federal criminal complaint with one count of making a false statement within the jurisdiction of a U.S. agency, three counts of making a false claim of U.S. citizenship, four counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of making a false statement to a federally insured financial institution. Nieto submitted to detention Monday, according to federal court records. U.S. Magistrate Judge Wes Reber Porter granted the government's motion to detain him without bail until trial. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese is prosecuting the case. Nieto is being represented by the office of the Federal Public Defender. Nieto's daughter told federal agents that she has suffered 'poor credit and that creditors have called her multiple times ' looking for her father. Nieto allegedly entered the U.S. on July 17, 1990, on a tourist visa with his grandmother on a flight to Los Angeles, according to federal court documents. 'There is probable cause to believe that Nieto is not a United States citizen. Additionally, there is probable cause that Nieto entered the United States on a non immigrant visa and remained in the country in violation of immigration law, ' wrote the HSI agent. In December 2022 the HSI special agent in charge of Honolulu's Financial Investigations Group received intelligence from the Honolulu Police Department 'regarding several complaints to HPD against Nieto, ' according to court records. An affidavit authored by an HSI agent did not reveal what information HPD shared with federal agents. On June 8, 2022, Nieto allegedly used his daughter's Social Security number in submitting 'a State of Hawaii Identification Card Application for a REAL ID compliant Hawaii State Identification Card from the State of Hawaii Department of Motor Vehicles, ' according to the affidavit. Nieto allegedly did 'willfully represent himself ' as an American during the application process. On July 22, 2022, Nieto allegedly used his daughter's Social Security number to 'deceive and influence First Hawaiian Bank ' to approve an application for a business debit card on behalf of his general contracting business, Mi Tortuga LLC. Nieto incorporated the domestic limited-liability company in 2017, and it remains active, according to records kept with the state Business Registration Division, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. On Oct. 2 he allegedly used his daughter's information on a state of Hawaii identification card application and was issued a limited-purpose state ID card. Federal agents allegedly have documentation that includes various applications that all ask 'Are you a United States citizen ?' to which Nieto left a check mark in the answer box labeled 'Yes.' Federal agents searched Nieto's criminal history in Idaho, Arizona and California, according to court rec ords, but did not disclose any offenses.
The Star
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Football superheroes: Colombian flair powers new FIFA video game
Nieto shows the FIFA Rivals video game on his phone in Bogota. Nieto said it could be available to download before the FIFA Club World Cup, which starts on June 14 in the United States. — Photos: AFP BOGOTA: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe as superheroes dodging tackles with gravity-defying acrobatics: three years after its name was removed from the world's best-selling football video game, FIFA is back with FIFA Rivals. Gone is the realism of the best-selling FIFA game of yesteryear. The new cartoon-style mobile game features players with preternaturally wide torsos and silhouettes of fire fielding balls that emit streaks of light, a YouTube preview revealed. Developed by US gaming technology studio Mythical Games in conjunction with Colombian studio Bacon Games, it is part of football's world governing body FIFA's bid to regain a foothold in the multi-billion-dollar gaming industry. Bacon Games 3D designers work on creating a FIFA video game in Bogota. In an office in Bogota, a group of 40-something experts in technology, design, and 3D figures give life to FIFA Rivals, a cartoon-style video game for cell phones, with bright colors, wide-chested, long-legged athletes, flares as they play, and balls that give off trails of light. For nearly three decades, FIFA dominated the market for PlayStation and Xbox games. But in 2022, world football's governing body ended its partnership with EA Sports, the game's US creator, in a dispute over licensing fees. Three years later, FIFA aims to win back gaming fans with a surefire formula: a free game for mobile users. Mythical Games on its website promises "the thrill of fast-paced, mobile arcade-style football with authentic FIFA action." Jairo Nieto, executive director of Bogota-based Bacon Games said FIFA Rivals was in search of "its own identity." "We don't want to be a simulation game, (...) but we also don't want to be on the other end of the spectrum of more fantasy games," he said. Bacon Games 3D designer Andres Hernandez works on creating a FIFA video game in Bogota on March 10, 2025. Inspired by NFL Rivals, an American football game for smartphones also developed by Mythical Games, it is slated for release in the summer. Nieto said it could be available to download before the FIFA Club World Cup, which starts on June 14 in the United States. Dream-like footwork EA Sports and FIFA were the kings of video football between 1993 and 2022, selling at least 235 million copies of their franchise. By the time their partnership ended, The New York Times reported that they had raked in more than US$20bil (RM84.32bil) in sales. After their partnership ended, EA renamed its product EA Sports FC and continued offering realistic games with players uncannily similar to their real-life counterparts. Bacon Games 3D designer Juan Duque speaks during an interview with AFP in Bogota. Juan Duque, in charge of creating the movements of the players in the FIFA Rivals game, says the game "combines two very cool things: real-life players, real-life championships, but the moves are dream-like." The game marks a milestone for Colombia, home to several leading Latin American gaming studios but a minnow compared to the United States, Japan, China or South Korea. Coincidentally, another football game, developed by French studio Sloclap, is also slated for release in June. Rematch is for PCs, Xbox Series and Playstation 5. Unlike FIFA Rivals, however, players control just one player in fast-paced five-a-side matches. – AFP
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Yahoo
Two Monterey County restaurants caught serving alcohol to minor
Two Monterey County restaurants were caught serving alcohol to a minor, according to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office. Part of statewide initiative Operation Shoulder Tap, the sheriff's office and agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) conducted a two-day, grant-funded operation aimed at reducing underage access to alcohol. On Mar. 15, a minor, under the direct supervision of local law enforcement, stood outside liquor and convenience stores across the county and asked customers to buy alcohol. The minor "clearly stated they were underage and unable to purchase alcohol themselves," according to sheriff's deputies. More than 40 adults were approached and no one purchased alcohol for the decoy. 'I commend the community for making responsible choices during the Shoulder Tap Operation and refusing to purchase alcohol for minors," Sheriff Tina Nieto said. "This shows a collective commitment to safeguarding our youth and promoting responsible behavior." The following day, the operation expanded to restaurants and eateries where the minor attempted to purchase alcohol. On Mar. 16, two restaurants in Salinas and the Monterey Peninsula were caught providing alcohol to the minor decoy. "Two servers were cited for serving alcohol to a minor and now face a minimum fine of $1,000 and 24 hours of community service for their first violation," according to sheriff officials. Additionally, ABC may take administrative action against the businesses involved, including fines, suspension, or permanent revocation of their alcohol beverage licenses. Sheriff Nieto said the results of the Minor Decoy Operation highlighted that there are still businesses that need to improve in preventing the sale of alcohol to minors. "I urge local establishments to remain vigilant, comply with the law, and ensure their staff is well-trained in properly checking IDs," Nieto said. "By working together, we can create a safer and healthier environment for everyone in Monterey County.' Latest news, sports and more: Accessing local journalism is even easier with the Californian app According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), young people under the age of 21 are at a much higher risk of being involved in crashes compared to older drivers—approximately 25% of fatal crashes involve underage drinking. This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Two Monterey County eateries caught serving alcohol to minor 'decoy'
