June 2nd

Following the second presidential debate in Mexico last week, more than a few analysts agreed that the current presidential contest has not two but three strong contenders. The debate marked the resurgence of Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, candidate of the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD). Although there has been mention of Cardenas joining forces with Vicente Fox, candidate of the National Action Party (PAN), to assure the defeat of the long-governing Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and its candidate Francisco Labastida, this possibility seems far from certain. Our correspondent in Mexico City, Raul Silva, explores the current political panorama.

More than one million Mexican children are on the verge of losing the school year due to the strike by teachers in various states all across the country, who are demanding better wages and protesting against the privatization of education. One of the states where this movement has taken a strong hold is the state of Chiapas, already ranked lowest in education in the country. Our correspondent Silvia Parra has this report.

As a volunteer for the California Health Department's "Teen Choices" program, Marimar Rodriguez speaks with other young people about the importance of waiting until after marriage to have sexual relations, in an effort to lower the high rate of teen pregnancies. Marimar, the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, spoke with Citlali Saenz about her experiences of growing up in a home without a father figure and the reasons she has decided to practice sexual abstinence.

June 9th

This week, more than two thousand people participated in a public hearing in Fresno, California--the center of the nation's principal agricultural valley--supporting a general amnesty for undocumented workers. The hearing was organized by the United Farm Workers (UFW) and other community organizations, and, as Citlali Saenz reports, the voices heard there were passionate testimonials of the difference it would make to thousands of families to have papers allowing them to work legally in the United States.

In a meeting held this week in the Mexican state of Morelos, immigrant rights organizations from Mexico and the United States, in alliance with labor union groups from both countries, signed an agreement supporting a call for amnesty for undocumented workers in the U.S. and pressuring the governments of both countries to bring an end to the persecution of immigrants along the border with Arizona. Our correspondent Raul Silva was in Morelos and has this report.

Little has occurred in Latin music in the United States during the past 50 years that the "king of the timbales" Tito Puente did not either create or contribute to, from the swing- and rumba-crazed '40s, through the cha-cha '50s, to '60s salsa and '70s Latin jazz. Guadalupe Carrasco offers a tribute to the legacy of the Mambo King, who died in New York this week at age 77.

June 16th

With the Mexican presidential election only fifteen days away, civil organizations have expressed their fear, which they have backed up with studies, that government social programs could be used by the ruling Institutional Revolution Party (PRI) as an instrument to apply pressure in order to get votes. Our correspondent Lenica Avila reports from Mexico City.

The cost of prescription medicines in the United States is higher than almost anywhere else. For 60% of elderly Americans, whose low and fixed incomes make it difficult to afford the medicines they need to maintain their health, this is a serious problem. In an effort to find a viable solution, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are discussing proposals that would call for health insurance to cover the cost of prescription medicines. Citlali Saenz has the details.

Eddie Gonzalez, known as a rising star of the new Tejano music, is one of the featured attractions this weekend at Radio Bilingüe's Norteño-Tejano Festival. From its beginning eleven years ago, the festival has distinguished itself both for presenting renowned accordionists who have left an indelible mark in the development of conjunto music as well as up and coming norteño-tejano stars. Guadalupe Carrasco explains how the music of 24-year old Eddie Gonzalez combines traditional elements with contemporary influences.

June 23rd

Every six years, around the time of its presidential elections, talk in Mexico always revolves around change. Now, as the country heads into one of the most hotly contested presidential elections in its modern history, the possibility of change looms ever more imminently. With polls showing the two main contenders--Francisco Labastida of the governing Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), and Vicente Fox of the opposition party National Action (PAN)--running head to head, many Mexicans are looking ahead to the upcoming election on July 2nd with great anticipation. Our correspondent in Mexico City, Raul Silva, spoke with Ciro Gomez Leiva, editor of the Mexican newspaper Milenio, about the country's current political climate and has this report.

In San Jose, California, a program developed by the family-planning section of the state Health Department seeks to raise consciousness among Latino youth about such issues as male responsibility in interpersonal relationships, birth-control, and drug abuse. Enrique Arreola, director of the Mexican-American Community Service Agency (MACSA), an organization involved in this effort, spoke with Citlali Saenz about the program's objectives and achievements.

Walking around the exhibit on the Evolution of the Drum at the prestigious Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., you might find a set of conga drums belonging to the Mexican-American conguero Poncho Sanchez. Growing up in places as seemingly removed from Afro-Latin music as his birthplace of Laredo, Texas and his adopted city of Los Angeles, California, Sanchez never imagined he would ever receive such an honor. Recently, Poncho Sanchez talked to Noticiero Latino about the beginnings of his career in what today is known as Latin Jazz. Guadalupe Carrasco has the details.

June 30th

House Republicans this week approved a proposal to provide beneficiaries of HMOs vouchers to help them pay for prescription medicines. If the proposal is approved by the Senate, which now has it for review, it is expected to be vetoed by President Clinton, which would delay any further discussion for another year, until the new Congress is in session. Meanwhile, an organization of private healthcare providers recently announced that many of its main HMOs will no longer offer coverage under Medicare, which could more than double the 700,000 people who have already lost these benefits. Maria Eraña has the details.

This week, the three main candidates for Mexico's presidency used their massive campaign-closing rallies to urge people to come out and cast their votes in this Sunday's election. Though slogans demanding change and personal accusations where common during the presidential campaigns, many Mexicans remain hopeful that the end of the electoral season will bring the country closer to a true democracy. Our correspondent in Mexico City, Raul Silva, has this report.

More than one million people work in the maquiladoras along the U.S.-Mexico border, earning little more than minimum wage and often in subpar conditions. In Tijuana, workers at an automobile plant have been trying for the last three years to have their independent union recognized in order to improve their working conditions. But after a recent clash, the workers say they have confirmed their fear that official unions will continue to ally themselves with the state government in order to block their efforts. Robin Urivich reports.

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