MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8.

PROGRAM # 6023   12:00 PM PST

COUNTING ON LATINOS. Latinos are now the largest ethnic minority in the United States, but they remain undercounted by the Census. Officials say they hope to do a better job during this year’s population count, yet the bureau has already been criticized for poor translation and lack of effective outreach. A better count could make the difference for community clinics that receive federal subsidies. Graciela “Chelis” López hosts this edition from San Francisco.

Guests: Raul Cisneros, Spokesperson, 2010 Census, Washington, DC, http://2010.census.gov/; Brenda Storey, Executive Director, Mission Neighborhood Health Center, San Francisco, CA, http://www.mnhc.org/.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9.

PROGRAM # 6024  12:00 PM PST

IMMIGRATION EDITION. Immigrant rights leaders across the country plan a mass mobilization in Washington on the first day of spring. Also, what are community organizations doing to ensure a proper count of immigrants during the 2010 census? Attorney Rosalba Piña, an immigration law expert, hosts this edition from Chicago. Piña also answers listener questions about the do’s and don’ts when applying for residence and naturalization.

Guest: Flavia Jiménez, New Americans Initiative Program Director, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Chicago, IL, http://icirr.org/en/nai

Listen to the full program!

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10.

PROGRAM # 6025  12:00 PM PST

IOWA PLANT CLOSES DOORS. One of the largest companies in Sioux City, Iowa, the John Morrell meat processing plant, plans to close its doors in April. The move will displace 1500 workers, most of them Latinos. This is a repeat of a show aired live from Sioux City, and hosted by Samuel Orozco, of Radio Bilingüe, and Isaac Quiñones, of affiliate station KWIT.

Guests: Norma de la O, Coordinator, New Iowan Center, Sioux City, IA,

www.iowaworkforce.com/centers/newiowan; Juan Carlos Popoca, Worker, John Morrell Plant, Sioux City, IA; Jacobo Hernández, Local union organizer, John Morrell plant, Sioux City, IA; Victor Mar, worker with 15yrs. exp, John Morrell plant, Sioux City, IA.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11.

PROGRAM # 6026 12:00 PM.

SPOTLIGHT ON KETTLEMAN CITY. A tiny town in California’s central valley with a large number of birth defects is finally getting some attention. State health officials visit the town this week, following an order by Governor Schwarzenegger for a full investigation. Their first results, however, were met with indignation from residents.

Guests: Magdalena Romero, Mother, Kettleman City, CA; Alejandro Álvarez, Father, Avenal, CA; Kevin Reilly, Chief Deputy Director of Policy and Programs, California Department of Public Health, www.cdph.ca.gov; California State Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico, Sacramento, CA, www.albertotorrico.com; Zaidee Stavely, Environmental reporter, Radio Bilingue, Fresno, CA.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12.

PROGRAM # 6027 12:00 PM.

Guest: Omar Rabago, Official, Libertad de Expresión de Artículo 19, for México and Latin America, Mexico City, http://www.articulo19.org

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.