Mexico

Central America struggles to unite for Obama trip

By LUIS ALONSO LUGO and ALBERTO ARCEAssociated Press SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) - President Barack Obama on Friday visits a Central America that continues to be plagued by violence, drug trafficking, corruption and poverty, despite the success of a decade-old trade agreement with the United States.

Family: Utah ref in coma had been assaulted before

By BRADY MCCOMBSAssociated Press MURRAY, Utah (AP) - A longtime Utah soccer referee in a coma after being punched by a teenager during a weekend game had been attacked by other angry players before, but he continued refereeing because he loved the game, his family says. Ricardo Portillo, 46, has

Drought across the West spurs resurgence of faith

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYANAssociated Press BERNALILLO, N.M. (AP) - Along the irrigation canal that cuts through this centuries-old New Mexico town, a small group of churchgoers gathers to recite the rosary before tossing rose petals into the water. Remnants of a tradition that stretches back to the

Obama reaching out to Mexican young people

By JIM KUHNHENNAssociated Press MEXICO CITY (AP) - President Barack Obama and Mexico's new president, Enrique Pena Nieto, are stepping gingerly to avoid any suggestion of meddling in each other's most contentious issues. Instead, Obama is drawing attention to the cultural ties that have