 Edición Semanaria de Noticiero Latino |
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March 2006
March 3rd | Listen to the program
LATINO HURRICANE VICTIMS - Six months after hurricane Katrina devastated hundreds of communities along the Gulf Coast, a coalition of Hispanic groups is releasing a report that says Latino victims were poorly helped. Their complaint goes further and calls for action by the Latino community. Patricia Guadalupe offers the details from Washington, D.C.
PRO IMMIGRANT CARAVAN - Pro immigrant activists from Southern California planted four thousand wooden crosses in 40 cities of 12 states across the United States. The crosses represent the thousands of immigrants who have died trying to cross the US-Mexico border since the beginning of “Operation Guardian”. Leaded by the grandson of a Mexican historic union leader, the activists drove their cars across the country for 27 days to ask legislators in Washington to approve an immigration reform and to stop the deaths at the border. One of the lasts crosses planted was in the Latino city of Maywood, California. Our correspondent Ruben Tapia attended the ceremony and files the report.
MARTA SAHAGUN DE FOX’S SONS - The second commission of the Mexican Congress investigating the sons of the first lady of Mexico is starting sessions in the next few days. This, after findings that at least seven construction companies where the Bribiesca brothers are stockholders might have benefited financially from their close ties to the Presidency. While the Mexican first lady defends her sons from the accusations and tries to get legal protections for them, the ruling party- her party- tries to avoid being linked to the controversial case. Citlai Saenz reports form Mexico City.
March 10th | Listen to the program
THOUSANDS PROTEST SENSENBRENNER’S BILL - This week a powerful Senate committee began discussions on immigration reform and enforcement. The committee Chairman’s mark includes a bill known as the Sensenbrenner Bill, which was approved last year by the U.S. House of Representatives, and includes the criminalization of the undocumented among other things. Today, Washington is a focal point of intense lobbying. Pro immigrant groups have made their voices heard with a massive march on the Capitol’s lawn. Patricia Guadalupe shares details from Washington, D.C.
DAY LABORERS RUN FOR THEIR RIGHTS - Tired of being attacked by the so-called Minutemen and labeled as a social burden, twelve day laborers initiated a lengthy run across the most hostile states toward immigrants in the country. The run started in Santa Monica, in the Pacific Coast, and would end in the East Coast, after passing thru several states in-between. The day laborers want to bring a message of peace and dignity to their aggressors. Rubén Tapia was at the kick off of the journey and presents the reports.
ENGLISH FOR IMMIGRANT KIDS - After a six-year long political battle and more than twenty million dollars in fines Arizona authorities agreed to increase the budget for English language programs geared towards immigrant kids. Governor Janet Napolitano and the state legislature would ask a federal judge to approve an increased budget for English as a Second Language programs. Napolitano decided to end the fight with the legislature, even though her proposal had asked for more than double of the monies approved, giving the final word on the budget to the judge. Elvia Díaz talked to the student who initiated the political fight and reports from Phoenix.
March 17th | Listen to the program
IMMIGRATION REFORM - When time was running out and many observers thought the issue would be lost, the U.S. Senate committee in charge of writing an immigration reform initiative decided to discuss several proposals to legalize the millions of undocumented workers in the country. Patricia Guadalupe reports from Washington.
CHICAGO’S HISTORIC MARCH - The huge demonstration in Chicago last week made history. There is no memory of a similar show of force in favor of immigrants’ rights. According to police, there were no arrests even though it is estimated that between 100 thousand and 500 thousand people showed up. Demonstrators strongly protested against bill HR4437 by Wisconsin’s republican senator James Sensenbrenner. Regardless of the come back to normality in Chicagoan streets, our correspondent Irma Lopez reports that the march is still making waves.
TROUBLING VISIT - The visit of two anti-terrorism agents to the office of a university professor in Pomona, east of Los Angeles, has caused concern among various sectors, specially the academic. The agents said they were looking for information about the Venezuelan community and possible ties between Professor Miguel Tinker Salas and the Venezuelan government. Salas is an expert on Latin-American studies and has been a critic of the Bush administration foreign policy with Venezuela. Ruben Tapia shares details from Los Angeles.
March 24th | Listen to the program
NATION-WIDE DEMONSTRATIONS - This Monday in Washington, the future of millions of undocumented residents would be decided. The U.S. Senate committee in charge of drafting an immigration bill set Monday as the deadline to vote on measures that consider possible visas for immigrants. Meanwhile, Senator Bill Frist, Senate Majority Leader introduces his own initiative, which fails to offer any type of legalization. Congressional deliberations are happening in the midst of intense demonstrations around the nation by immigrant groups rejecting hostile measures and demanding a comprehensive immigration reform. Patricia Guadalupe reports from Washington, DC.
COMMON CAUSE IN LOS ANGELES - While lobbyists and senators at the nation’s capitol are working against the clock, cities with high immigrant population are flooded with activism. In Los Angeles, popular radio hosts join efforts with civil defense groups to organize what is expected to be the largest pro immigrant demonstration in modern times. Ruben Tapia shares details.
WORLD WATER FORUM - This week, Mexico was the host of the fourth World Water Forum. Politicians, users and administrators met to discuss how to solve potable water shortages for millions around the world and maintain the vital liquid as a right for all populations. The most controversial issues, particularly among community groups, were the proposals to increase service costs and to give water management concessions to private companies. In the end, attendees agreed on the possibility of subsidizing water costs for the neediest. Citlali Saenz files the report.
March 31st | Listen to the program
IMMIGRATION DEBATE IN THE SENATE - This week, in the midst of an atmosphere charged with massive pro immigrant demonstrations, the U.S. Senate started deliberations on immigration reform. Among the proposals been discussed is a guest worker program and the plan to offer visas to undocumented workers. Patricia Guadalupe is following the debate at the Capitol and files the report.
HISTORIC MARCH - Last weekend, the city of Los Angeles hosted the largest pro immigrant demonstration in recent years. Large columns of white T-shirts covered the streets of the city’s downtown area. They were worn by hundreds of thousands of working families who marched to protest the Sensenbrenner bill, and to demand an immigration reform. Ruben Tapia joined the crowd and files the report.
FUTURE MARIACHERAS - Last Sunday, a group of young girls from California longing to become mariachi stars mingled with some of the top mariachi groups in the country. The group of youngsters from agricultural communities in the central valley between the ages of 11 and 21 shared the stage for the first time with headliners such as Mariachi Mujer 2000 and Mariachi Divas. The future mariacheras’ debut took place at this year’s Viva el Mariachi Festival produced by Radio Bilingüe. The traditional event is well known as a platform for great performers of Mexican music. Marco Vinicio Gonzalez files the report.