FrontPage Stories

Herrera Captures Mrs. California-America Pageant

By John Philip Wyllie

From the stage of Palm Springs beautiful Riviera Resort, El Cajon’s Brandy Herrera gazed out upon the audience of about 600. Wearing the traditional tiara and sash and carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers, she tried in vain to hold back her tears of joy. Herrera, a 23-year old mother of one had just been selected to succeed Nicole Padilla as the 2004 Mrs. California.

“For about 20 minutes you are caught in a whirlwind surrounded by photographers and people asking you questions,” Herrera recalled of the June 20 crowning. “I never thought anything like this would happen to me. It was an overwhelming experience and an extremely emotional one. I was ecstatic!”

The judges scrutinized the 32 contestants looking for a well-rounded mother to serve as a role model to married and unmarried women across the state. While the Mrs. California-America Pageant is primarily a beauty contest, other attributes factor into the judge’s decision.

“It’s important that you have done a lot to reach out to your family, friends, church, and community and that you love your country and are proud to live in your state,” Herrera said. “They are looking for women with a lot of self-respect and integrity.”

Herrera’s quest for the crown began two years ago at home while watching T.V.

Flipping through the channels one evening, she came upon the PAX network and a beauty pageant like none she had ever seen.

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Misguided Border Policy Continues With Triple Border Fence, Local Activists Say
By Perlita R. Dicochea
In view of the Tijuana hills, activists Amelia Simpson from the Environmental Health Coalition (EHC) and Pedro Rios of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) described the triple border fence as yet another misguided attempt to stop undocumented immigration.

National City Gets Their Man
Dr. Gonzales Appointed Chief of Police
The City of National City has announced the appointment of their new Chief of Police – Dr. Adolfo Gonzales, effective July 26, 2004.

LULAC Celebrating 75 Years of Service to the Hispanic Community
Nation’s Top Leaders Salute LULAC’s Legacy, Future
San Antonio, TX, July 6, 2004—The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) today kicked off its 75th Annual Convention. Political leaders and supporters from around the country cheered on to celebrate the legacy of the organization’s Diamond anniversary. The six-day event is expected to draw an estimated 10,000 political, community and business leaders to discuss Latino issues including Texas Governor Rick Perry, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy Thompson, and former Mayor of San Antonio, Henry Cisneros. President Bush is expected to address attendees live via satellite.

Stories

En Vez De Ver Pasar La Muerte, Decidimos Producir
En Argentina, decenas de empresas cerraron sus puertas dejando a miles de trabajadores desempleados. Hoy, estos trabajadores son quienes están reactivando las fábricas y la economía nacional. En esta primera parte de dos, las causas de la crisis social de ese país latinoamericano.
Por Eduardo Stanley
(I parte)

Wages Among Hispanic Workers Not Increasing
While an increase in Latino employment is driving the revitalization of the U.S. labor market, the hiring surge has not translated into higher wages. The weekly earnings for Hispanics and most other workers remain stagnant.

USC Report Says Latinos Lag in Finishing College
Latino college students drop out of school far more frequently than their white counterparts and earn bachelor’s degrees less than half as often, according to a new national report by USC-affiliated researchers.

Family, Fatherhood, and a Woman’s Choice: Two Youth Views on Abortion
Robbed of Fatherhood
By Hector Gonzalez
When I was young, immigration took most of my family. In high school, my girlfriend’s decision took the rest.

Democratic Effort to Help Hispanic Small Business Owners Prevails
Amendment Will Increase Funding for Minority Loans
Washington, D.C. — America’s small businesses — including more than 1.2 million Hispanic small business owners — won a major legislative victory today when the House of Representatives voted to restore desperately needed funding for the Small Business Administration’s 7(a) flagship loan program. This program provides access to capital and is directly responsible for small business job creation.

Two Latinos Named to California State University Board of Trustees
SACRAMENTO — Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointment of Moctesuma Esparza and Melinda Guzman-Moore to the California State University Board of Trustees.

$7,500 Scholarship in Recognition of Credit Union’s 75th Anniversary
Five Local Students Receive Special Recognition
As part of its continuing support of education and in celebration of its 75th anniversary, California Coast Credit Union recently awarded tuition scholarships totaling $11,500 to five local high school seniors who will attend college full-time in the fall.

Southwestern College Honors Victims of 1984 McDonald’s Tragedy
CHULA VISTA — The Southwestern College (SWC) Education Center at San Ysidro and the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce will be honoring the victims of the 1984 McDonald’s tragedy with a memorial event. The event will take place Thursday, July 15, 2004 at 11:00 at 460 West San Ysidro Blvd. in San Ysidro. The general public is invited to attend.

La ley exige viviendas adecuadas para trabajadores agrícolas
Los contratistas y empleadores agrícolas pueden ofrecer a los trabajadores del campo un lugar donde vivir en zonas rurales o urbanas. Las leyes federales y estatales que velan por la salud y seguridad del trabajador incluyen reglamentos que tratan desde la condición de la vivienda hasta la salubridad del terreno circundante. Hay también requisitos de acreditación de la vivienda por el estado y agencias a las que se puede presentar una queja.

LA COLUMNA VERTEBRAL
Por Beverly Lyles; traducida al Español por Karina Hurley
Latinas Sexualmente Activas Necesitan Tomar Ácido Fólico Todos los Días
Las mujeres Hispanas presentan doble riesgo de dar a luz bebés con defecto de tubo neural (NTD, por sus siglas en inglés) que cualquier otra mujer en edad reproductiva en los Estados Unidos. Una de las razones de esta situación, es la falta de consumo de ácido fólico por parte de las mujeres Latinas. El ácido fólico, una Vitamina B, puede reducir los defectos de tubo neural hasta en un 70%, si se toma antes y durante las primeras semanas de embarazo.

LA COLUMNA VERTEBRAL
By Beverly Lyles
Take Folic Acid to Reduce the Risk of Serious Birth Defects
Hispanic women have two times the risk of delivering a baby with a neural tube defect (NTD) than other women of childbearing age in the United States. One reason for this may be that Latinas simply do not get enough folic acid. Folic acid, a B vitamin, can reduce neural tube defects by as much as 70 percent when taken before pregnancy, and in the early weeks of pregnancy.

Ixchel Ahau
Conversando Con Mi Papá
(Segunda y última parte)
- ¿No les dió la administración de Bush 43 millones en mayo del 2001?

Editorials

Editorial
Democrats Launch Offensive Against Republicans!
Its John & John VS George & Dick
Senator John Kerry launched an awesome campaign, against the bumbling President George Bush and his incredibly incompetent Sancho Panza, Vice President Dick Cheney, when he selected Senator John Edwards to be his Vice Presidential Candidate! In one stroke, Presidential Candidate John Kerry destroyed the reelection hopes of the extreme Right Wing element of the Republican Party!

Editorial
The San Diego Unified School District “Blueprint for Success” is Dead!
The “Blueprint for Success” is a colossal failure and as the old saying goes ‘the rats are abandoning the ship.’ First it was Anthony Alvarado, the supposed architect of the Blueprint who left last year. The San Diego Unified School Board of Trustees with a 3-2 majority which steadfastly supported the Blueprint, consisting of Sue Braun, whose political career was sunk with her poor choice of words (Under pressure, Braun left the board in 2003.), Ed Lopez, and Ron Ottinger all decided not to run for re-election as they took note that the teachers, parents and the Unions were strongly opposing the “Blueprint for Success”. Ultimately, Superintendent Alan Bersin decided it was time to seek employment elsewhere and will soon be gone.

Comentario
La Mujer y la Política en México
Por Humberto Caspa, Ph.D
Amalia García es la ganadora de las elecciones de gobernador en el estado de Zacatecas. Con 47% de apoyo electoral, García del Partido de la Revolución Democrática (PRD) se convierte en una de las máximas figuras políticas de México. En una sociedad de rasgos culturales determinados por el mito del machismo, la victoria de una mujer en un puesto político de jerarquía es un heraldo de buenas noticias. La ascensión de García en el gobierno Zacatecano prueba que México está adquiriendo madurez política, tolerancia y sobretodo predisposición al cambio. Amalia García es el fruto de un movimiento por los derechos de la mujer, que usualmente se gesta por el lado izquierdo.

Commentary:
More Medical Research on Hispanics Urgently Needed
Nation’s Well-Being Needs a Dose of Care From Presidential Candidates
By Dr. Elena Rios
WASHINGTON – As the presidential race heats up this summer, the candidates might want to consider the changing landscape of our nation and how one out of every six children is Hispanic.

Comentario:
Se Necesita Urgentemente Más Investigación Médica sobre los Hispanos
El Bienestar de la Nación Requiere Una Dosis de Atención de los Candidatos a Presidente
Por la Dra. Elena Ríos
WASHINGTON – Al intensificarse la contienda presidencial este verano, los candidatos quizá deseen considerar los cambios de panorama en nuestra nación y el hecho que uno de cada seis niños es hispano.

Mayor’s Pension Proposal: Heavy on Debt, Short on Reform
The Performance Institute is greatly disappointed by the proposal released today by San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy containing his suggested changes to the City’s deficit-plagued pension fund. “The Mayor’s pension proposal fails to deliver the accountability reforms necessary to protect taxpayers and retirees and to prevent a crisis like this from happening again,” said Carl DeMaio, president of The Performance Institute and director of the San Diego Citizens’ Budget Project.

The Public Forum . . . El Foro Publico
Monroe Clark students working to stop violence
Do you want to stop the violence in City Heights? The Circle of Peace Club at Monroe Clark Middle School is working together to accomplish this goal! We found out that there were lots of problems in our school. We were amazed at what the statistics say about the violence in City Heights. One statistic that caught my attention was that the rate of violence and crime in City Heights is higher, three times higher than other areas of San Diego.

Etc. Etc. Etc.
Entertainment, Reviews, Sporting news, and other tid bits

Diviértase en Compañía de su Familia en los “Domingos Familiares” en la Explanada del Centro Cultural Tijuana
Por: Paco Zavala
Existen muchos sitios que se pueden visitar en ésta temporada de verano y de vacaciones, pero en algunos casos hay que cargar con el “costal” de dinero para poder sufragar los gastos que un viaje o una visita en ésta temporada implica.

Se Promueven los Premios Nacionales de Literatura 2004
Por: Paco Zavala
Las letras es una de las ramas del arte y la cultura que en México siempre han sido apoyadas y es impresionante su representación. La pasión por escribir libros, poesías, cuentos, narraciones, fábulas, ensayos, periodismo, etc., es una afición profesionalizada en una mayoría muy significativa de la población, quienes han obtenido a base de estudio, de esfuerzos y de trabajo cuando menos una licenciatura en letras mexicanas o hispanoamericanas.

Conversaciones Cruciales
“Claves para el éxito cuando la situación es crítica”
Por: Paco Zavala
Pero, ¿A quién no le ha sucedido, que al iniciar una conversación, no se piense ni remotamente en que ésta se complicará y se llegará a tener problemas bastante serios, en los que vayan en juego muchas circunstancias, las que pueden ser de salud, familiares, de negocios, de estudios o de otra índole?

Mission San Diego Alcalá Festival of the Bells
California’s oldest church celebrates is 235th birthday
The Mission San Diego de Alcalá is celebrating its 235th birthday with a two day celebration, The Festival of the Bells, on July 17 & 18, 2004.

Dora: Latina Heroine
She’s a caring friend always ready to stop and help someone in need
By Mari Leal
Fresh from winning a prestigious Peabody Award for Journalism, Dora the Explorer shook her bangs, flashed her contagious smile, said “We did it…we did it!” - and jumped along her little friends thru the magic forests and carpets of flowers of her imaginary world.

VAMOS AL CINE
Disfrutando del retraso mental
“Anchorman” fuera de control en su humor
Por Jose Daniel Bort
A Will Ferrell y sus colaboradores les gusta pujar los botones de la caracterización. Esto lo demostraron en una reciente rueda de prensa con motivo de su película “Anchorman”, donde Ferrell, el director Adam Mc Kay, Cristina Applegate, Paul Rudd y Steven Carell se lanzaron por la borda con respuestas dignas de los artistas del movimiento “Dada”. Pero no hacía falta la rueda de prensa, la película habla por sí sola.

Christina Takes The Summer Off
All this and more on Latino Loop
Christina Aguilera is taking advantage of this summer’s cancelled tour to churn out two new albums, one English, one Spanish language. Although not going into too much detail about the new albums, Aguilera did hint that she’s been “flirting with old ’20s and 30’s looks and styles and movies and old pinups”.

Calendar of Events...............
By Berenice Cisneros
El Legado de Los Papas
** Desde el pasado 15 de mayo hasta el 6 de septiembre, el San Diego Museum of Art está hospedando más de 390 artefactos, documentos y obras de arte, prestados por el Vaticano, incluyendo ejem-plos por Giotto, Michelangelo y Bernini. La exposición intitulada San Pedro y el Vaticano: El Legado de los Papas, hace su última presentación en el San Diego Museum of Art después de una gira por los Estados Unidos.

US Open Sandcastle Event Will be Held on July 11
Imperial Beach – The Port of San Diego, the longest running sponsor of the US Sandcastle competition, has stepped into the title sponsor slot for this year’s event to be held Sunday, July 11 on the beach and along Seacoast Drive in Imperial Beach. The “grand-daddy” of sandcastle building contests takes place on Sunday, July 11, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is open to Professional (Master) and Amateur teams. More than forty teams with giant-size sculptures are judged at the same time and presented prizes and titles at the 4:00 p.m. awards ceremony.

Mosaico de Actividades Culturales en Tijuana
Por Paco Zavala
Se realizará el “Primer Festival del Arte Baja Terra”. Los bajacalifornianos y los extranjeros admirarán los días 30 y 31 de julio y 1 de agosto, este sensacional Primer Festival. En una promoción sin precendentes la Región Vitivinícola del Valle de Guadalupe y el sector Gastronómico del Estado, se han echado a cuestas la organizaación de este “Primer Festival del Arte Baja Terra” denominado “Entre el Mar y Desierto”, en la que estarán presentes los trabajos de reconocidos pintores de Baja California, presentando exposiciones fotográficas, escultóricas y un concierto de guitarra.

Copa América: la más antigüa del mundo
La edición número 41 de la Copa América, el torneo de selecciones más antiguo del planeta, comienza esta semana en Perú con la intención de mantener en vilo la pasión por el fútbol continental durante 20 días.

¡Duelo de Campeones! River enfrentará a Pumas también como campeón
Jugarán en San Diego el 18 y en Pasadena el 24 de julio
El equipo River Plate de Argentina, conquistó el campeonato de fútbol del Torneo de Clausura y ahora enfrentará al Pumas en calidad de campeón, cuando se midan en San Diego y en Los Ángeles los días 18 y 24 de julio, respectivamente.

Santos’ “Diamond in the Rough” Has World Cup Dreams
By John Philip Wyllie
The WUSA may be gone, but quality women’s soccer is alive and well in America’s Finest City. The San Diego WFC Sea Lions (4-4-3), a top level amateur team boasting two former WUSA players and lots of local collegiate and prep talent is hoping to fill the void. One of the Sea Lions youngest players is Mexican U-17 national team member, Aurora Quiroz.

Why Lance Armstrong Won’t Win The Tour
By James Raia
Usually a month or so before the Tour de France the question begins. With little variance in words or tone, friends and acquaintances simply ask: “Can he do it again?”

Bullfight World
By Lyn Sherwood
Alfredo Gutierrez Gored in Tijuana Bullfight
With a strong attendance in Plaza El Toreo de Tijuana, last Sunday, bulls of Begoña provided good opportunities for El Zotoluco, who cut two ears; Rafael Ortega, who likewise cut two ears, although he deserved only one; and Alfredo Gutierrez, who suffered a goring in the outside of the left leg. The goring was not considered to be life threatening.

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