Their original store in Xalapa, Veracruz, sold fabric, clothes, and sewing supplies and was called El Puerto de Beyrouth.

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At the count in Xalapa, the state capital, party officials looked twitchy on Sunday night as the lead changed hands.

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In 1991, some of Xalapa's poorest residents aligned with an urban planning group and devised a remarkable plan designed to give them a sense that they belonged to -- and were respected by -- their community.

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