Latest news with #Villaseñor
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Funding to protect American cities from extreme heat just evaporated
Straddling the border with Mexico along the Rio Grande, the city of Laredo, Texas and its 260,000 residents don't just have to deal with the region's ferocious heat. Laredo's roads, sidewalks, and buildings absorb the sun's energy and slowly release it at night, a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect. That can make a hot spell far more dangerous than for people living in the surrounding countryside, where temperatures might stay many degrees cooler. The effect partly explains why extreme heat kills twice as many people each year in the United States than hurricanes and tornadoes combined. To better understand how this heat island effect plays out in Laredo, the nonprofit Rio Grande International Study Center partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last summer and enlisted more than 100 volunteers to drive around the city taking temperature readings. Edgar Villaseñor, the center's advocacy campaign manager, taught himself to organize all that data and used it to create the map below. (Red shows where it's hottest in the afternoon and blue where it's coolest — notice the disparities between neighborhoods.) But Villaseñor wanted a more professional map to make it easier to navigate. He also wanted to hire someone to take thermal pictures on the ground in the hottest neighborhoods so that the center could create an interactive website for Laredo's residents. He reckoned the city council could use such a site to figure out where to install more shading for people waiting at bus stops, for instance. So he applied for a $10,000 grant through NOAA's Center for Heat Resilient Communities, which was funded through the Biden administration's landmark climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act. The research center was ready to announce on May 5 that the Rio Grande nonprofit, along with 14 city governments, had been selected to work closely with its researchers to tailor plans for addressing urban heat, according to V. Kelly Turner, who co-led the Center for Heat Resilient Communities. But the day before the announcement, Turner received a notice from NOAA that it was defunding the center. Turner says it sent another termination of funding notice to a separate data-gathering group, the Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring, which was created with the same IRA funding. (When contacted for this story, a NOAA representative directed Grist to Turner for comment.) 'The funding just stopped,' Villaseñor said. 'I'm stuck with this valuable data that not a lot of people have.' It's the latest in a flurry of cuts across the federal government since President Donald Trump took office in January. The Environmental Protection Agency, for instance, has canceled hundreds of grants meant to help communities curb pollution and make themselves more resilient, such as by updating wastewater systems. NOAA announced last month that it would axe a database that tracks billion-dollar disasters, which experts said will hobble communities' ability to assess the risk of catastrophes. Major job cuts at NOAA also have hurricane scientists worried that coastal cities — especially along the Gulf Coast — won't get accurate forecasts of storms headed their way. The defunding of the Center for Heat Resilient Communities came as a surprise to the group's own leaders, who said they will continue collaborating with cities on their own. Though its budget was just $2.25 million, they say that money could have gone a long way in helping not just the grantees, but communities anywhere in the U.S. 'There's a lot of enthusiasm and momentum for doing this kind of work, and we're not going to just let that go,' said Turner, who's also associate director of heat research at the Luskin Center for Innovation at the University of California, Los Angeles. 'We're going to continue to interface with [communities], it's just going to be incredibly scaled down.' The program would have been the first of its kind in the U.S. In an ideal scenario, the Center for Heat Resilient Communities could have developed a universal heat plan for every city in the country. The challenge, however, is not only that heat varies significantly from neighborhood to neighborhood — richer areas with more green spaces tend to be much cooler — but also that no two cities experience heat the same way. A sticky, humid 90 degrees in Miami, for example, will feel a whole lot worse than 90 in Phoenix. Turner and her colleagues at the research center had planned to work with a range of communities — coastal, rural, agricultural, tribal — for a year to craft action plans and discuss ways to construct green spaces, open more cooling centers for people to seek shelter, or outfit homes with better insulation and windows. 'If the community was in a heavily vegetated, forested area, maybe urban forestry wouldn't be the strategy that they're interested in learning more about,' said Ladd Keith, director of the Heat Resilience Initiative at the University of Arizona, who co-led the center. 'It might be something more about housing quality.' The researchers had also planned to help communities determine who's most at risk from rising heat, based on local economies and demographics. Rural economies, for example, have more agricultural workers exposed in shade-free fields, whereas office workers in urban areas find relief from air conditioning. Some cities have higher populations of elderly people, who need extra protection because their bodies don't handle heat as well as those of younger folks. While each city has a unique approach to handling heat, the 15 communities chosen represented the many geographies and climates of the U.S., Keith said. With this collaboration, the researchers would have been able to piece together a publicly available guide that any other city could consult. 'We would have also learned quite a lot from their participation,' Keith said. 'We would have had a really robust roadmap that would be really applicable to all cities across the country.' The funding from NOAA might be gone, but what remains is the expertise that these researchers can still provide to communities as independent scientists. 'We don't want to leave them completely hanging,' Turner said. 'While we can't do as in-depth and rigorous work with them, we still feel like we owe it to them to help with their heat resilience plans.' Villaseñor, for his part, said his work won't stop, even though that $10,000 grant would have gone a long way. He might rely on volunteers, for instance, to take those thermal images of the Lardeo's hot spots. 'I'm still trying to see what I can do without funding,' Villaseñor said. This story was originally published by Grist with the headline Funding to protect American cities from extreme heat just evaporated on Jun 4, 2025.
Hypebeast
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Como 1907 and Rhude Team up With Adidas on a Limited Edition Jersey Kit
Summary Italian football club Como 1907 has teamed up with Los Angeles luxury streetwear brandRHUDEandadidasfor a limited-edition fourth kit that beautifully blends the serene beauty of Lake Como with the vibrant energy of L.A. This collaboration celebrates Como's successful return to Serie A after 21 years and serves as a cultural statement. Designed by RHUDE founder and Como 1907 Chief Brand OfficerRhuigi Villaseñor, the jersey is predominantly jet black with sharp golden detailing, reflecting RHUDE's signature elevated aesthetic. Key features include the co-branded front which showcases RHUDE's monogram beneath the Como crest and adidas logo. The number '24' beneath 'COMO' on the back commemorates the club's 2024 return to Serie A and a bold 'LAGO DI COMO – LOS ANGELES' inscription at the base, along with 'Rhude x Como 1907 MMXXV' at the collar, subtly links the two distinct worlds. Debuted in the final match of the 2024/25 season, the jersey is crafted from technical fabric and is more than just a football kit; it's a reflection of identity, ambition, and style, marrying Hollywood glamour with Como's elegance. It is available now atComo Footballlpriced at €275 EUR.
GMA Network
28-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
IT expert calls for crackdown on unlicensed crypto platforms
An information technology (IT) advocate called on the government to crack down on unlicensed cryptocurrency platforms, claiming these exchanges have become the financial backbone of kidnappings, human trafficking, large-scale scams, and even drug and illegal gambling operations. In a statement on Wednesday, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) ICT Committee co-chair Reyner Villaseñor claimed that unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges 'operating without regulatory oversight' have become the financial tool of organized crime syndicates operating within and beyond the country's borders. 'Criminal syndicates are exploiting regulatory gaps to carry out diverse illegal activities, using unlicensed and unregulated cryptocurrency platforms as their tools,' Villaseñor said. The IT expert said the unlicensed cryptocurrency platforms enabling criminal syndicates to move millions in illicit funds 'with little to no trace.' Citing data from the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, Villaseñor said Filipinos have lost an estimated P460 billion to online crime in 2024—equivalent to 1.9% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). 'These numbers paint a grim picture: the Philippines is now in the midst of a digitally enabled crime epidemic - one that calls for immediate public vigilance, private sector safeguards, and proactive regulatory intervention and law enforcement action,' he said. Without properly audited KYC or Know-Your-Customer and anti-money laundering controls—standards mandated on licensed platforms—these rogue exchanges offer near-total anonymity, according to the IT expert. Villaseñor said criminals are exploiting blind spots to launder ransom payments, conceal profits from human trafficking, and move massive sums without triggering regulatory red flags. With this, the IT expert called for an urgent, coordinated crackdown from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and other relevant agencies. —RF, GMA Integrated News
Los Angeles Times
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Finding joy: Victor Villaseñor to share his wisdom at Santa Ana book reading
Best-selling author Victor Villaseñor lives on a ranch in Oceanside where the presence of his Mexican family can be felt throughout it. 'My mother was very proud of these,' he said of the antique doorbell chimes at the main entrance to his home. The long tubes ring enchantingly, alerting the household that company has arrived. Beneath his fleece vest Villaseñor wears a blue T-shirt with the colorful cover art of his latest book, 'Gathering StarDust,' inspired by his relationship with his grandmother, 'Mamagrande.' At Ranchito Villaseñor, family is present not only in artifacts and photographs, but also in memory and spirit. Villaseñor is the award-winning author of many books, including the 1991 national bestseller 'Rain of Gold,' which tells the story of his immigrant family. He went on to write titles such as 'Thirteen Senses,' a loving portrait of his parents, Juan Salvador Villaseñor and Lupe Gomez, and 'Burro Genius,' his personal memoir. The 160 acres of Ranchito Villaseñor have been in the author's family for years. His parents bought the original ranch at a bargain price not long after the attack on Pearl Harbor, when the seaside land was considered undesirable, vulnerable to enemies. Villaseñor grew up on the property and still lives there today with his wife, Barbara, and loyal dog, Paco. 'Gathering StarDust' is set on the ranch and is written to engage both children and adults with illustrations by Jack Wiens and a story that begins with an invitation: 'Come, and take my hand, and let us be children once again, and this time be raised up together by my Yaqui Native American grandmother.' Some of the sites mentioned in the book have been lost to development. On a short drive of the original property lines with a visitor, Villaseñor points out where the little garden and leaky faucet in the book once stood. Another stop is at his beloved grandmother's grave, about a mile away at Oceanview Cemetery. The new book is filled with her wisdom, such as the practice of making an effort to bring joy to at least 10 people each day. 'Every time you leave your house, you do something to make 10 people smile and laugh, at least 10 people,' said Villaseñor. 'If we all did that, we'd have a happy world.' Villaseñor said the book is not meant to solve all the world's problems, but rather help readers find joy in even life's most challenging times. It is an ideology Villaseñor saw modeled by everyone in his family throughout his upbringing. 'I grew up with this brilliant philosophy. When they stole my father's car, he was going crazy and his mother said, 'gracias a Dios,' thank God you finally had a car nice enough that somebody wanted to steal it,'' recalls Villaseñor. 'This book makes me indestructible inside my heart.' On May 24, Villaseñor will celebrate 'Gathering StarDust' at Libro Mobile in Santa Ana with a special reading and signing. 'I want to back [the bookstore] and I'd like to come not just once but several times. I am really looking forward to it,' said Villaseñor. Libro Mobile's founder, Sarah Rafael Garcia said she first encountered Villaseñor at an event at Libreria Martinez, Santa Ana's long- shuttered Latino bookstore. Then Garcia connected with him again at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, around the time she published her first book, 'Las Niñas.' Libro Mobile has faced challenges in staying open since the nonprofit lost arts grant funding it has depended on to remain operational. Garcia is grateful Villaseñor agreed to make an appearance. 'I'm a huge fan and I look forward to hosting this event,' Garcia said. 'Plus, the book sales will help us stay open.' Libro Mobile has the distinction of being the only bookstore in Santa Ana. And with the city's Main Library closed for construction until 2026, losing Libro Mobile would leave residents with virtually no access to literature. Reading is a fundamental that Villaseñor struggled with himself. He didn't learn to read until he was into adulthood, spending most of his childhood struggling with undiagnosed dyslexia. 'Reading is very important in education and if you can't read, it's horrible, it's embarrassing,' said Villaseñor. 'I didn't learn to read until the age of 20, when I became a writer.' Once he conquered the written word, Villaseñor felt compelled to record his own history, particularly after reading James Joyce's 'Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.' Sharing his family story gave him purpose and he often credits writing with saving his life. 'Every tribe has it's own bible, every family, every person,' said Villaseñor. 'And once you write your personal story, it connects you to God.' Villaseñor's writing also keeps him connected to his family. 'Gathering StarDust' is a way Mamagrande and her wisdom continues to live on at Ranchito Villaseñor and beyond. At Oceanview Cemetery, in front of her grave marker, Paco and Villaseñor bow their heads. 'My grandmother would say, for every person that is falling apart and says they can't go further, there is somebody that had it worse, way worse,' said Villaseñor. 'And they went further.' Join Victor Villaseñor from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 24 at Libro Mobile, 1150 S. Bristol St. #A3, in Santa Ana for a special reading and book-signing event. For details visit
Fashion Network
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Fashion Network
Rhude launches racing-inspired capsule collection with Pirelli
Los Angeles-based menswear brand Rhude has collaborated with Milanese tire manufacturer Pirelli on an exclusive capsule clothing collection, uniting the worlds of fashion and motorsport. While Rhude has maintained a long-standing connection to sports—evident in past collaborations with brands such as Automobili Lamborghini and McLaren—this capsule marks the first official partnership between the two companies. The 13-piece capsule captures the essence of racing—an integral part of Rhude's creative identity. The lineup includes oversized logo T-shirts and hoodies printed with "World Champion" and "1st" graphics, as well as racing-style jackets and track pants that incorporate Pirelli's signature color palette of black, yellow, and red. The collection also reimagines some of Rhude's best-known pieces, such as logo-woven shorts featuring a custom Rhude graphic. Classic baseball caps are embroidered with vintage racing symbols, including flags and laurel badges. "The collection celebrates the joining of two forces to define what it means to be a champion. Striving to be the best... what it means to make your dreams a reality and come in first at whatever your heart desires," said Rhuigi Villaseñor, founder and creative director of Rhude. "The partnership between Rhude and Pirelli captures the meaning of excellence and always pushing to give your best—whatever the race may be." The collection launched exclusively on Rhude's e-shop on April 18. Founded in 2015 by Filipino-American designer Rhuigi Villaseñor, Rhude is a Los Angeles-based luxury menswear brand known for fusing streetwear aesthetics with upscale construction. The collections reflect themes of modern socioeconomics and Villaseñor's own journey since moving to the United States. After graduating from high school, he briefly studied art history and gained early industry experience as an assistant and intern to menswear designer Shaun Samson. Despite lacking formal training in fashion design, Villaseñor attributes his technical knowledge to his upbringing with a seamstress mother, who taught him the fundamentals of garment construction. Villaseñor's deep connection to sportswear further evolved in late 2024 when he was named chief brand officer of Como 1907, the official merchandising brand of the Italian Serie A soccer team. Founded in 1872, Pirelli is a global leader in tire manufacturing and the only major player solely focused on the consumer market. Its product range spans tires and services for cars, motorcycles, and bicycles, with a strong focus on the premium and ultra-premium segments. Pirelli has also played a prominent role in motorsports since 1907 and is currently involved in over 350 international competitions. Since 2011, the company has served as the exclusive global tire partner of the Formula 1 World Championship—a partnership recently extended through at least 2027.
