THE CONVENTIONS: A PRIMER. The major U.S. political parties are gearing up for their presidential nomination conventions. Democrat Barack Obama will accept his nomination at a massive event at Denver's football stadium. Republican John McCain will receive his nomination in Minnesota, a political battleground. Party leaders talk about their plans for Denver and St. Paul. News reporters announce stories to follow, including the mood of local residents, the pro-immigrant, anti-war protests outside, and the visibility of youth delegates.

Guests: Yohana de la Torre, Spokesperson, Republican National Convention, Minneapolis, MN; Luis Miranda, Spokesperson, Democratic National Committee, Washington, DC; Zaidee Stavely, news producer/reporter, Radio Bilingüe, Fresno, CA; Tania Unzueta, news reporter, WRTE, Chicago, IL; Ruben Tapia, news correspondent, Los Angeles.

ALSO, TROPICAL STORM FAY. Tropical storm Fay may become a hurricane by the time it hits Florida. This is a report on the evacuation measures and improvised shelters for farm workers living in trailer homes.

Guest: Lucas Benítez, WCIW Radio, Immokalee, FL.

LUIS RAMIREZ DEATH: STREET FIGHT OR HATE CRIME? Three white teen agers were charged with homicide in the fatal beating of undocumented immigrant Luis Ramirez in Shenandoah, a small town in Pennsylvania. Ethnic slurs were used during the beating. Still, local authorities are not treating it as a hate crime. Civil rights groups call on federal authorities to monitor the local investigation. Is this case a sign of deep anti-immigrant sentiments in the local community? Can it be prosecuted as a hate crime?

Guests: Enelly Betancourt, Member of WLCH, Radio Centro, Editor for La Voz Hispana, Lancaster, PA; Dr. Agapito López, Governor's Office for Hispanic Affairs, State of Pennsylvania, Hazleton, PA; Nancy Ramirez, Western Regional Counsel, MALDEF, Los Angeles, CA.

ALSO, "THE JUDGE AND THE GENERAL." A documentary titled "The Judge and the General," which narrates the story of the criminal investigation of Chilean Judge Juan Guzman gathering evidence against dictator Augusto Pinochet, premieres tonight on public TV network PBS. This film on the Chilean experience is particularly timely in the U.S., at a moment when torture and secret prisons headline the news. This is a conversation with one of the filmmakers.

Guest: Patricio Lanfranco, veteran journalist, co-producer and co-director, "The Judge and the General", Santiago de Chile.

LATINO OLYMPIANS. Latinos are known to enjoy playing soccer and baseball. Still, only two Latino men made it to the Olympic team in those sports. Latinos are only 12 of the 600-athlete delegation attending the games in Beijing. What can be done to nurture talented young Latino athletes? An Olympic champion and a sports commentator join this program to provide testimony and analysis.

Guests: Olympian Patricia Cardenas, Attacker, U.S. Olympic waterpolo team, Beijing, China; Sergio Rodriguez, Executive director, Hispanics Across America, Co-host of Sports Journey's Show, 2007 New Jersey State Coach of the Year, New York, NY.

ALSO, MARIACHERAS PLAY AT OLYMPIC GAMES. A female mariachi group from California was chosen to play at the grand opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing. It was the only musical group chosen from North America. This is a conversation with the band's director.

Guest: Marisa Orduño, director, Mariachi Mujer 2000, Fresno, CA