December 3rd

MEXICAN FARMERS. Hundreds of Mexican small farmers rode their horses into Mexico City this week in protest of farm policies, agriculture imports and the North American Free Trade Agreement. The group, El Barzon, rode 52 days over 1,000 miles from the Ciudad Juarez to the nations capital. This week, correspondent Raul Silva reports on this campaign.

DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAMS. In Santa Ana, California, like many other major cities in the United States drug abuse and gang violence is on the rise. This week, correspondent Ruben Tapia, reports on a program that is helping young people develop a higher self-esteem and respect for their community so that they will avoid ever getting involved with drugs or gangs in the first place.

TEX-MEX PIONEER.Lidya Mendoza is considered one of the originators of Tex-Mex music, a style of music that combines Mexican ranchero music and U.S. polka, among others. And recently, Mendoza was honored with the National Medal of Arts, given to her by President Clinton. This week Citlali Saenz has an interview with the first lady of Tex Mex.

December 10th

TOXIC SCHOOL. This week, the Los Angeles school district announced that the Army Corp of Engineers would take over the construction of 150 new schools needed in the overpopulated district. This announcement came amid the continued controversy over the construction of the Belmont Learning Center, a school being built on a toxic site. This week, Robin Urevich reports from Los Angeles on the ongoing debate over whether the construction of this much needed school should continue.

MEXICO: POLITICAL ABDUCTIONS. Human rights organizations claim that more than 700 people have disappeared or have been abducted in Mexico due to their political activities. This week, Kent Patterson reports, from the southern state of Guerrero, on a movement by activists urging the federal legislature to pass a law that would criminalize the practice of political abductions.

MEDICAL ADVANCEMENTS FOR CHILDREN. The 20th Century has seen a number of medical advances, especially for children, ranging from a vaccine for polio to the discovery of penicillin. This week, Dr. Marta Killner from the University of Chicago talks about some of these advances and touches on some of the maladies that continue to plague children in the United States. Ana Lilia Barraza reports.

December 17th

MENTAL HEALTH IN THE U.S. According to an unprecedented report, released by U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, nearly one in five Americans are affected by mental disorders. The report goes on to say that nearly half of those with severe mental illness do not seek treatment. This week, Radio Bilingue has an exclusive interview with Dr. Satcher, who spoke on the state of mental health in the nation. Maria Eraña reports.

ZIHUATANEJO BAY. For many years, the tourist industry has defined the economy of Mexico's Pacific coast. And, more recently this has led to a growing number of local residents organizing against the overdevelopment and contamination of the region. This week, Kent Patterson reports on a new environmentalist movement in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero.

NURSES NEEDED. In the next eight years, reports indicate, the U.S. will need more than 400,000 nurses and more than 700,000 nursing assistants. But, according to experts, meeting this goal will be quite a challenge especially in the recruitment of much needed Spanish speaking nurses. This week, Araceli Garcia reports on some of the challenges Latinos face in entering the nursing profession.

December 24th

HOLIDAY NUTRITION. The season of festivities is here, and families prepare for feasts of pozole, tamales, buñuelos and chocolate. This week, Dr. Elmer Huerta advises everybody on how to properly prepare holiday dishes to avoid food-related illnesses. In addition, Dr. Huerta gives advice on how to limit fat and alcohol to ensure a happy holiday.

MEXICAN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS. Less than an hour away from the metropolis of Mexico City, in the small town of Tepoztlán, Morelos, religious fervor and family gatherings help maintain old Christmas traditions. Our correspondent Raul Silva spent time with some of the residents of Tepoztlán and this week he reports on the celebrations involving posadas, nativity scenes, and other Christmas customs.

POZOLE FEAST. For many Latinos, Pozole, a traditional hominy-and-pork broth is an important element of the holiday dinner. But, in the state of Guerrero, Mexico, Pozole is also a weekly Thursday tradition. Our correspondent Kent Patterson, who recently enjoyed this Thursday ritual, looks into the traditional dish and the variety of recipes to prepare and serve it.

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