ZAPATISTA WOMEN’S FIGHT FOR RIGHTS - January first will mark the 19th anniversary of the Zapatista National Liberation Army insurgency in the Southern mountains of Mexico. Indigenous women affiliated with the Zapatista movement have already left an indelible footprint on the universal struggle for the most basic rights for women, according to the social researcher Sylvia Marcos. Our correspondent in Mexico, Raúl Silva, prepared the following story based on a conversation with Marcos about her book Women , Indigenous , Rebels , Zapatistas .

HMONG FAMILIES CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR - The city of Fresno, in California’s Central Valley, has the largest Hmong population in the United States. To celebrate the New Year, entire families living in and outside the U.S. gather in the county fairgrounds. The colorful celebration includes dancing, music and traditional dishes in the best style of their towns of origin, in the highlands of Southeast Asia. This annual event attracts over 100,000 people, and is here to stay as a new tradition in California. Juan Santiago Ramírez brings us the story. This report is part of our Raíces Series: Stories About Grassroots Artists.

NOTABLE FORECLOSURE ACTIVIST DIES - Ana Casas knew first-hand about challenges her entire life. She was born with cerebral palsy and grew up confined to a wheel chair. Still, she graduated as a social worker and dedicated her life to helping others. But suddenly she faced greater challenges. She got cancer, which pushed her into financial ruin. The bank foreclosed her home and she was victimized by fraudulent consultants. Ana died of cancer at the age of 50. Ruben Tapia spoke with Ana Casas months before her death and reports on her battle against foreclosure.