News

A study released this week highlights severe problems among police in the violent Mexican border city of Juarez. From the Changing America Desk, Monica Ortiz Uribe reports half of the officers admit to engaging in corrupt acts.

Record high temperatures, severe dust storms and catastrophic wildfires have plagued much of the southwest this year. And as Laurel Morales reports for the Fronteras Changing America Desk, climatologists predict there won't be much relief any time soon.

Hundreds of Hispanic Republicans are gathering today in Albuquerque hoping to build momentum ahead of next year's presidential election. As Monica Ortiz Uribe reports from the Fronteras Changing America Desk, New Mexico has the highest percentage of Hispanic voters in the country.

Each week we take a look at business news from around the state. This week, KUNM's Elaine Baumgartel spoke with Dennis Domrzalski.

Green jobs are coming to Imperial Valley. At least that's what local leaders and renewable energy executives have been saying for the past several years. Many projects have experienced delays, and the jobs have been trickling in very slowly. But now the pace is picking up. Fronteras Changing America Desk correspondent Jill Replogle reports that may be because the deadline for California utilities to get 20 percent of their power from renewable sources is getting closer.

Elderly Latinos in Southwestern states would have the most to lose from potential cuts to Medicare and Social Security benefits. From our Fronteras Changing America Desk, Ruxandra Guidi has more.

Thurs. 10/6 at 8am: Are you having trouble paying your mortgage?  Do you have friends or family who have lost their homes to foreclosure?  What does the recent increase in foreclosures mean for New Mexico?

On the KUNM Call In Show this week we'll discuss foreclosures and what some organizations are doing to slow the trend.  We'd like to hear from you!  You can send us an email at callinshow@kunm.org, or call in live during the show: 277-KUNM or toll-free 1-877-899-5866.

Southern California was once a critical manufacturing center for the defense and aerospace industry. But as costs have gone up, much of that production has moved across the border to Tijuana. According to the Mexican government, the amount of aerospace parts that Mexico manufactures and exports has grown more than 15 times in the last 10 years. That output is expected to double again by 2015. In this second story in our series on the maquiladora industry, Ruxandra Guidi reports from the Fronteras Changing America Desk.

American-owned manufacturing plants in Mexican border cities, called maquiladoras, have been around for more than four decades. Business has not been great in recent years with low wage jobs shifting over to Asia and the U.S. recession devastating sales. But now many maquiladoras that survived this downturn are on the rebound, adding new jobs all along the U.S. Mexican border. The Fronteras Changing America Desk launches a new series that looks at what's working for the maquiladoras, and why. Hernan Rozemberg begins, with a little history.

New Mexico has a pretty lousy business relationship with Mexico. Despite its ideal location right on the border, the state ranks 38th among U.S. states in trade with its neighbor. That's a fact not lost on the business community in southern New Mexico, where an industrial revolution of sorts is slowly taking shape. In the third installment of our series on the maquila industry, Monica Ortiz Uribe reports from the Fronteras Changing America Desk on a growing industrial hub that's at the heart of New Mexico's plan to boost trade with Mexico.

A native of Mexico and long-time naturalized U.S. citizen was confirmed as a new federal judge in South Texas. Hernan Rozemberg reports for the Fronteras Changing America Desk.

It happens every 10 years.  First, the census.  Then squabbles over drawing new lines for Congressional districts. The big debate is usually over whether to carve out a minority district or spread the minorities out amongst districts, making their political agenda more widely heard. In northeastern Arizona it’s surprisingly less of a squabble.

Each week we take a look at business news from around the state.  KUNM’s Elaine Baumgartel spoke with Megan Kamerick, Senior Reporter with the New Mexico Business Weekly.

Local supporters of protesters in New York City are planning an event of their own this weekend to show their solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street Movement. Organizers say they want to draw attention to issues like wealth inequality, lack of health care, rising foreclosure rates, and workers' rights. The non-violent protests are planned in 85 cities across the U-S and 100 cities worldwide. According to reports the Occupy Wall Street protest began nearly two weeks ago in Manhattan. Police have arrested at least 80 people and critics say law enforcement tactics have been excessively harsh.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced this week plans to clean up the largest and highest priority uranium mine on the Navajo Nation. Laurel Morales reports for the Fronteras Changing America Desk.

This week, nine U.S. Senators, including Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall of New Mexico signed onto a letter calling on President Barrack Obama to fully fund services for American Indian communities.

A report authored by two retired generals says the Texas border with Mexico is increasingly dangerous for the farmers and ranchers who live there. From the Fronteras Changing America Desk, Monica Ortiz Uribe reports.

Experimental choreographers and performers Eiko and Koma are back in New Mexico this weekend. The world-renowned Japanese-born duo and special guest, Robert Mirabal, will perform at the Global Dance Fest at the VSA North 4th Art Center in Albuquerque.

Reviewer Janet Eigner says their work shows the light and dark sides of our world with profoundly original brilliance. Eigner is a poet and dance writer. She lives near Santa Fe.

VSA North 4th Global DanceFest
 

Hispanic children now make up the largest group of kids living in poverty. The Pew Hispanic Center report attributes the increase in poverty to the grim economy. Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez reports for the Fronteras Changing America Desk.

Researchers from the University of Arizona's law school recently released a report on the impacts of the state's controversial immigration law, S-B 10-70, has had on Arizona youth. As Devin Browne reports for the Fronteras Changing America Desk, the study notes an increase in the number of high school students living without their parents.
 

Nevada has never elected a Latino to Congress, but one Democrat would like to be the first in 2012. On Tuesday night, a young, Mexican-born state senator kicked off his congressional campaign. From the Fronteras Changing America Desk, Jude Joffe-Block reports from Las Vegas.
 

In the latest twist to Washington's immigration debate, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to clarify some deportation rules. From the Fronteras Changing America Desk, Ruxandra Guidi has our story.

The spectacular failure of the American solar company Solyndra has focused attention on the struggle of renewable energy to compete in a global marketplace. But there may be a bright spot in Arizona. The manufacturer First Solar makes those iconic photovoltaic panels more cheaply than anyone else. From the Fronteras Changing America Desk, Peter O'Dowd reports the solar titan is trying to stay ahead of an industry in turmoil.

Mon. 10/3 at 730pm: M?sica desde el coraz?n de las tierras latinoamericanas.

The discovery of America: celebration or commemoration? Music from the heart of Latin American lands.

Host: Cristina Baccin

Thu. 9/29 at 8am: Who should draw voting district maps? Courts? Lawmakers? Citizens? This week on the KUNM Call In Show we'll discuss redistricting, what did and didn't happen in the special session, and what's next for voting districts in New Mexico.

Who should draw voting district maps? Courts? Lawmakers? Citizens? This week on the KUNM Call In Show we'll discuss redistricting, what did and didn't happen in the special session, and what's next for voting districts in New Mexico.

The wealth gap between white, Black, and Hispanic households in the US is getting bigger. According to a recent report by the US Census Bureau and the Pew Foundation, white households have 20 times the wealth of Black households and 18 times the wealth of Hispanic households.

Lawmakers in Washington D.C. are meeting this week to address this growing wealth inequality and here in Albuquerque leaders in the African American community are working to support black owned businesses and entrepreneurs. KUNM's Elaine Baumgartel has more.

For the 30th year, libraries across the country next week are highlighting books that some people have wanted removed from the shelves. Banned Books Week is promoted by the American Libraries Association as an opportunity to celebrate the First Amendment and freedom of speech and the press. KUNM's Elaine Baumgartel has more.

The President of the Navajo Nation is in Switzerland today seeking the help of the United Nations Human Rights Council. As Laurel Morales reports for the Fronteras Changing America Desk, it's a last-ditch effort to stop recycled waste water from being used to make snow on the San Francisco Peaks north of Flagstaff.

Wed. 9/28 at 2pm: Irish fiddle virtuoso Martin Hayes and American guitarist Dennis Cahill will join Carol Boss in the KUNM studios this week to deliver a delightful live performance - just for you! Tune in.