June 4th

RACIAL PROFILING. The allegations of racial profiling are a prevalent topic throughout the nation. People of color, including legislators, have reported being stopped by police because of their race. In response, civil rights advocates of Northern California are undergoing a campaign entitled "Driving While Black or Brown." They have recently added a toll-free Spanish language hotline, urging Spanish speaking drivers to report incidents of race-based police stops. This week, Guadalupe Carrasco reports on this topic.

MEXICO: ILLICIT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. The source of political campaign contributions has taken center stage in Mexico's political arena. Last week, former banker Carlos Cabal Peniche, imprisoned in Australia, admitted to having contributed 25 million dollars, in 1994, to political campaigns of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party. As a result, opposition parties are renewing their demand for campaign contribution reform. Correspondent Raul Silva files a report from Mexico City.

PRIMA BALLERINA TAKES LAST BOW. Evelyn Cisneros is arguably the most accomplished Latina in today's world of ballet. She became a beloved figure in San Francisco for more than 20 years as prima ballerina for the San Francisco Ballet Company, one of the most renowned in the world. Now, Cisneros is hanging up her dancing shoes to be a mother and a mentor. This week, Citlali Saenz interviews Cisneros about her love for the dance.

June 11th

FLACO JIMENEZ. Five-time Grammy award winner Flaco has been performing since age seven alongside his father Santiago, considered the father of modern conjuntos. The younger Jimenez, known for his continuing blends of traditional Texano with country and rock music, will headline the 10th annual Norteno/Texano Festival in Fresno, CA, on June 19. This week, Araceli Garcia speaks with the accordion virtuoso on his career and his plans for the future.

LATINA YOUTH. Most teenagers in the U.S. would agree that talking with their parents about sex can be difficult. But for Latina youth the situation can be even more complicated because they have to deal with messages being given from two cultures. This week, Citlali Saenz speaks with Latina youth and health workers on ways to bridge the divide between teens and their parents.

June 18th

CENSUS BUDGET. The director of the U.S. Census Bureau, Kenneth Prewitt, estimates his agency will need to hire 860,000 workers for the upcoming count Prewitt says that because they will not be able to use statistical sampling, the costs of the population count will dramatically exceed the allocated budget. Yet, GOP Congressmen claim that the bureau is only mismanaging the funds. This week, Patricia Guadalupe reports from Washington D.C. on the ongoing debate in Congress.

ANTI-LOITERING LAW STRUCK DOWN. Chicago's anti-loitering law, designed to combat gang activity, was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court last week, on the grounds that it gave police too much discretion to target innocent people. While civil liberties groups applaud the ruling, city officials say they will propose a more specific law to stop gang related crime. This week, Ana Lilia Barraza reports on this controversial topic.

MEXICO CITY - PUBLIC SAFETY. As a result of the violent murder of Mexican TV entertainer, Francisco "Paco" Stanley, the issue of public safety has come to the forefront in Mexico's political debate. The war against organized crime and public safety is now a key campaign theme in the upcoming presidential race of 2000. Correspondent Lenica Avila speaks with political analysts and people on the street about this hotbutton issue.

June 25th

FRAUD AT THE BORDER. Since 1993, Mexican immigrants applying for permanent residency have had to attend a final interview at the Consulate in Juarez, Mexico. And since then, complaints of abuse and fraud have multiplied, as applicants claim that service providers in the bordertown have taken advantage of the situation. This week, Kent Patterson reports from Cd. Juarez.

FUNDING LATINO FILM. Three years after the Corporation for Public Broadcasting suspended funding designated for the TV organization in charge of distributing Latino programming, a group of independent producers work to regain the funds and insure a future for Latinos in public television. This week, Citlali Saenz reports on this topic from a national gathering, in San Francisco, of more than 200 Latinos in the entertainment industry.

MEXICO: WOMEN MAYORS. It's estimated that about four percent of Mexican municipalities are ruled by women mayors. Although this participation may be minimal, scholars suggest that these women have had a significant impact on the communities they govern. This week, Raul Silva speaks with anthropologist Delia Barrera and some of these civic leaders.

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Noticiero Latino