Filibuster Compromise 'Not Good News' for Hispanics
Patricia Guadalupe

After weeks of intense negotiations, the U.S. Senate has ended, at least for the present, what threatened to be a showdown over a fundamental change to the way the legislative body operates. But the compromise that was reached May 23 is not necessarily good news for the Hispanic community, Latino legislators and community groups say.

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My Children's Future
Victor Landa     [Photo]

When I began writing columns many years ago, my children were toddlers. My daughter was three years old, my son was one. My worries for them were, at the time, immediate, and my writing reflected that fact. The overwhelming weight of sudden responsibility leaves little room for hand-wringing. The wonderful chaos that comes with a new family seems to blur far-sight. One’s concern is focused on the needs of the moment.

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Mattawa Target: Government Waste or Poor Hispanics?
Cecilio Morales     [Photo]

While nationally caregivers of children are increasingly viewed as performing a critical function in developing the human resources of the future, the state of Washington, home to Microsoft and other high-tech industry, seems stuck in the anti-Latina stone age. That at least might be the conclusion of a dispassionate observer upon reading documents in a suit filed last month.

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Salsa Gringo
John Glass

Mexican salsa used to scare me. Just the slightest hint that salsa was nearby would be enough to move my plate to a safe location. This became especially necessary with my ornery father-in-law Charlie close by. Having shelved his Norwegian heritage while living in Mexico for a number of years, he became notorious for the salsa-sabotaged chip. He would hand me one and watch my face turn from eggshell white to burning-building red. Then he’d laugh hysterically as I ran to find my drink.

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Lawmakers Flood State Chambers with Over 100 Bills
Attacking Undocumented Immigrants
Alex Meneses Miyashita     [Photo]

State legislatures have seen a surge of proposals this year that negatively target undocumented immigrants, while the number of new bills addressing the needs of our immigrant and Hispanic populations has paled in comparison.

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White House has Tall New Neighbor,
The Raul Yzaguirre Building
Sonia Meléndez     [Photo]

The National Council of La Raza cemented a new chapter of its existence with the June 1 inauguration of the Raúl Yzaguirre Building, named after its civil rights leader of three decades who retired at the first of the year. The seven-story edifice stands in the heart of the lobbying corridor in Washington’s northwest quadrant.

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Living in the 21st Century, Working in the 19th
Dick Meister

Imagine U.S. workers who must be at their job site 24 hours a day, alone and on constant call. Whose crumbling living quarters at the sites lack electricity, running water and bathrooms. And whose pay is no more than $1,200 a month.

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Benito Juarez’s Advice to U.S. Still Holds True
Raymond Rodríguez

President Woodrow Wilson once vowed to teach Mexico and Latin America to elect good leaders. This month at the Organization of American States meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., President George Bush tried to persuade Latin American countries to foster the growth of democracy via trade and by electing democratic leaders.

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Media Challenges Ahead:
Consolidation, Deregulation, Circulation
Joseph Torres

Two thousand Hispanic journalists and media executives gathered in Fort Worth June 15-18 for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists 23rd annual convention. They came together as circulation at English-language dailies is in decline and the First Amendment is under attack.

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Graduates in the Image of César Chávez
Julia Chávez Rodríguez

I have a long and strong family history that provided me with the opportunities I have today. My grandparents and my parents taught me not to be afraid, to stand up for what I believe in. They taught me that no matter how old I was, I can make a difference in my community and bring about true social change.

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Credit Card Debt Swells among Hispanics and Blacks
Alma Dalia Rojo

Unsolicited credit card applications that fill millions of mailboxes every year tell recipients they're pre-approved for a new credit card. What they don't say is they could also be pre-approved for substantial debt when the fine print is not deciphered.

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Minuteman Project Splinters
As Leaders Stake Out New Turf
Alex Meneses Miyashita     [Photo]

Following their April Minuteman Project demonstration involving about 850 volunteer border guards in Arizona, the once- cohesive organization led by James Gilchrist has splintered into several groups.

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