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Manolo Betancur’s 12-year-old daughter has no idea what she wants to do for her quinceañera—and that’s not because the important milestone is still three long years away.
It’s because the possibilities are limitless.
“I am Colombian, her mother is Mexican, and she was born here in Charlotte, North Carolina,” Betancur explained. “That’s three different cultures.”
There is no overstating the importance of the quinceañera in Latino culture, in what it represents both to the families who scrimp and save for years to pay for the elaborate party and to the girls at the center of it, whose 15th birthdays are seen as their entrance into womanhood.
Depending on a family’s resources, a quinceañera can be a small backyard affair or a hotel ballroom gala. What all the celebrations have in common is food—and according to caterers across North Carolina, what counts as quinceañera food is rapidly evolving, in large part because Latino families here now go back generations.
Tina Vasquez reports on this evolution of food traditions.
Coming of Age
North Carolina’s Latino population is growing and changing—and so are expectations for the food served at quinceañeras.
Orders in the Court
For at least the past three months, a yellow sign declaring “ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS ARE CONFIDENTIAL” hung outside room 2D at the Guilford County courthouse.
The sign was gone last week, but the sentiment was still very much the rule. People entering the compact wood-paneled courtroom had to sign in and state the reason why they were there.
In the front row sat Mike Tadych, an attorney there to represent the News & Record and its former reporter, Kenwyn Caranna, who was also present. It was the same courtroom where District Court Judge Ashley Watlington-Simms ordered bailiffs to seize Caranna’s notes a year ago, and told Caranna she was not allowed to speak or write about anything she had observed. The judge issued a formal gag order five days later.
The paper is challenging the constitutionality of that order and was in court seeking an audio recording of the hearing.
But in a bizarre ruling, Watlington-Simms denied the request and claimed that journalists must notify court officials before attending a juvenile court proceeding and should not take notes.
Michael Hewlett has more on the case.
Have a news tip for our team? You can reach us at scoops@theassemblync.com.
Help Wanted
We’re hiring for two jobs over at Assembly HQ. If you think you might want to be part of the team, or know someone who would be a great fit, please share!
Audience Editor, Social Media & SEO: We are looking for a dynamic audience editor to lead our social media and SEO strategies. This role is crucial in expanding our reach across North Carolina, engaging our audience, and ensuring our impactful journalism finds its way to readers across various platforms. Find our more here.
Editor in Chief, INDY Week: Our partners at INDY Week, which is part of The Assembly‘s growing network of local outlets across the state, are seeking a new editor in chief to lead the storied alt-weekly into its next era. The new EIC should be a strong manager with demonstrated experience leading a team and thinking strategically about growth. Find out more here.
What We’re Reading
Review: The Mecklenburg District Attorney released a review of the use of force in an April shooting of a man who killed four officers while they were attempting to serve him a warrant.
Secret Sauce: Cook Out fans are loud and proud, but the brand itself is pretty demure. N.C. Rabbit Hole asks whether it’s possible to get to know a fast food chain that doesn’t want to talk about itself.
Calls for Help: An 86-year-old woman called 911 more than a dozen times to raise concerns about her grandson’s troubling behavior. Then, he killed her. Asheville Watchdog digs into where intervention fell short.
Paper Trail: BPR reports that Pactiv Evergreen says it should not have to repay the $12 million in state economic incentives the company received to employ workers at the Canton paper mill it shut down last year.
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