Today's Feature

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis Delivers “The State of the American Worker” Report

September 3, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis delivers a special message to Americans this Labor Day. “Labor Day has always been what it was originally intended to be: a day to celebrate the contributions that working men and women have made to the strength and prosperity of the country,” Solis said in a video message posted on the Department of Labor website. On this symbolic holiday for American workers all across the nation, Solis shares what she says she’s seen and heard from workers in her travels during the past year, including steps the administration is taking to stimulate the economy. “I’ve... [Read the full story]

Guest Blogger

Guest Blogger Series: Education Investments, a Sure Thing in Shaky Times

August 30, 2010 · 1 Comment

By Rep. Henry Cuellar As featured in the Huffington Post: The cliché is true. ‘Education is the gateway to opportunity’ has been said so many times that it’s almost an empty expression. But it’s still very true. Earning an education is the greatest investment a person can make and adhering to that axiom has paid off for million Americans, including myself. As individuals, as a community and as a country- we can all agree that keeping Americans equipped with knowledge and skills is of the highest importance. But, today, what once was a path to prosperity is leading us to second place—or... [Read the full story]

Arizona Watch

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio Faces Lawsuit From Justice Department

September 3, 2010 · Leave a Comment

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Thursday after his failure to cooperate with the federal government on an investigation looking into allegations that his practices discriminate against Hispanics. The Justice Department, which has been investigating Arpaio for over a year, is calling the sheriff’s refusal to hand over documents “unprecedented.” “The actions of the sheriff’s office are unprecedented,” Thomas E. Perez, assistant attorney general for the civil rights division, said. “It is unfortunate that the department... [Read the full story]

News Makers

Puerto Rican Birth Certificates Turned Down in Ohio

September 2, 2010 · Leave a Comment

The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles is turning away Puerto Ricans applying for state-issued identification cards on the grounds that their birth certificates are considered invalid. Elizabeth Torres, whose 19-year-old son was denied an identification card by the BMV, says Puerto Ricans are not being given their rights as US citizens. “We’re not illegal aliens, we are citizens of this country,” Torres said. “We have everything, all the documents and all that, but we are not treated as such.” The policy at the Ohio BMV is based on a law in Puerto Rico that will invalidate... [Read the full story]

Politics

Study Shows that Climate Change Will Increase Mexico-U.S. Migration

August 4, 2010 · 2 Comments

According to researchers at Princeton University, a warming climate could cause an increase in the number of Mexicans crossing the border, due to rising temperatures that lead to a decrease in crop yields. The study finds that for every 10 % of lost crop yields, another 2% of Mexicans are more likely to leave their native country. Data points out that there is a clear connection between climate change and immigration, at the same time that US policymakers are trying to grapple with both issues The Princeton researchers, lead by Michael Oppenheimer, found that that rising temperatures affect crops... [Read the full story]

2010 Census

New Census Question in 2020

July 14, 2010 · 2 Comments

The first census conducted in 1790 only counted three categories of “race.” They were white, black, and red. Fast forward to the most recent census and the amount of choices not only for race, but ethnicity and nationality seem to have exploded. Many people are left confused and some even question why the government should have to ask these questions at all. The Hispanic community, with two questions directed at it, the “Hispanic question” and the “race question” faced a unique situation when filling out the census questionnaire this year causing confusion for many. Many Hispanics... [Read the full story]