MONDAY, JULY 26.

PROGRAM # 6166    12:00 PM PST

THE RIGHT TO CONNECT. One-third of U.S. households have no internet access, and another third has slow internet at home. Latinos are less likely to have fast internet connections than any other ethnic group. In light of this digital divide, it has become more and more important that schools and libraries have high speed internet. A group of Latino activists is pushing for the government to subsidize internet access for libraries in poor neighborhoods and communities of color. Meanwhile, some cities, such as Seattle, Washington, are trying to offer their own high speed internet connections to compete with the large telecommunications companies. This edition is part of our ongoing series “Conéctate”, to help reduce the digital divide and increase high speed internet connections for all.

Guests: Francisco Vargas, Youth Services Manager, Yuma County Public Libraries, San Luis, AZ, www.yumalibrary.org; Tony Pérez, Director, Seattle Office of Cable Communications, Seattle, WA, http://www.seattle.gov/cable/; Alex Nogales, President and CEO, National Hispanic Media Coalition, Pasadena, CA, http://www.nhmc.org.

TUESDAY, JULY 27.

PROGRAM # 6167   12:00 PM PST

IMMIGRATION EDITION: ARIZONA LAW CHALLENGED. A federal judge has been hearing arguments for and against Arizona’s controversial immigration law SB 1070, which makes it a crime to be undocumented. Attorney Rosalba Piña, an immigration law expert, hosts this edition from Chicago, just days before the Arizona law is scheduled to go into effect. Piña also answers listeners’ questions about the do’s and don’ts of immigration reform.

Guest: Angel Freytez, Former Executive, Nebraska State Commision on Latin-Americans; Elvia Díaz, Reporter, Noticiero Latino, Radio Bilingüe, Phoenix, AZ; Nora Sándigo , Director, Fraternidad Americana, Miami, FL.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28.

PROGRAM # 6168   12:00 PM PST

BUDGET BATTLES. The economic crisis is putting many cities and states in a bind as to how to balance their budgets. In California, the governor is proposing to cut numerous social programs that would affect Latinos statewide. Republicans support these measures, while some Democrats are pushing to raise taxes on oil companies to improve revenue. This edition includes a debate between representatives of both parties on how to pass a budget that won’t hurt residents.

 Guests: Araceli Martínez, Reporter, Sacramento, CA; Denise Moreno Ducheny, State Senator, California State Senate, Sacramento, CA, http://dist40.casen.govoffice.com; Assemblyman Martin Garrick, Leader of the Republican Caucus, California State Assembly, Sacramento, CA, www.martingarrick.com ; Vanessa Cajina, Policy Advisor, California Immigrant Policy Center, Sacramento, CA, www.caimmigrant .org.

ALSO, JUDGE BLOCKS ASPECTS OF SB 1070. A federal judge has blocked the most controversial sections of Arizona’s law SB 1070. Judge Susan Bolton blocked the sections that obligated police to investigate immigration status of those they detained, criminalized not having immigration documents at all times, and prohibited undocumented immigrants from asking for work. Our reporter in Phoenix, Elvia Díaz, announces the details of the block.

THURSDAY, JULY 29.

PROGRAM # 6169    12:00 PM PST

SB 1070: BLOCKED. After a federal judge blocked the most controversial aspects of Arizona’s controversial immigration law SB 1070, today some measures of the law do go into effect, including the ones that make it a crime to transport or give shelter to undocumented immigrants, prohibit impeding traffic when picking up day laborers for work, and allow residents sue local police if they believe they are interfering with federal immigration laws. Immigrant rights activists organize mass protests of the law. Meanwhile, state governor, Jan Brewer, promises to appeal the decision to block parts of the law.

Guests: Rubén Tapia, Reporter, Noticiero Latino, Phoenix, AZ; Luz Ibarra, Protester, Phoenix, AZ; Rey Torres, Member, Arizona Latino Republican Association (ALRA), Phoenix, AZ, http://latinogop.org/ ; Tony Estrada, Sheriff, Santa Cruz County, Nogales, AZ, www.co.santa-cruz.az.us; Edmundo Hidalgo, President, Chicanos por la Causa, Phoenix, AZ, www.cplc.org .

FRIDAY, JULY 30.

PROGRAM # 6170    12:00 PM PST

MEXICO EDITION. Former migrants, deportees, and activists organize a protest outside the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City in solidarity with the children in the United States who are asking President Barack Obama to stop the deportation of their parents. This edition brings together some of the voices in that protest, which happened at the same time that federal judge Susan Bolton suspended the most controversial parts of Arizona’s SB 1070 law. Martha Elena Ramírez hosts the program Voz Pública, from Mexico City.

Funds for Línea Abierta are provided in part by The National Endowment for the Arts, The California Endowment, the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.