Linea Abierta Programming: January 13, 2025

MONDAY, JANUARY 13

PROGRAM #10652 12:00 PM PT

The Social Security Fairness Act. The US Congress has passed the Social Security Fairness Act, a bipartisan bill that will restore social security benefits for public employees, among them teachers, firefighters, police officers, postal workers and many others. What’s in it?

Guest: Rep. Henry Cuellar, US Congressman, D-TX, Washington, DC.

María Eraña: Legacy Award. An organization that promotes leadership among Chicana Latina scholars is recognizing Radio Bilingüe’s outgoing Broadcast Director María Eraña with its Legacy Award for her central role in the community network’s expansion along the US Southwest. The Chicana Latina Foundation states: “We need to support Latinx/Indigenous owned community media as an alternative to corporate media… [Radio Bilingüe] is truly a treasure that plays a key role in our communities.” In this interview, Eraña reflects on her decades-long work in Radio Bilingüe.

Guest: María Eraña, Outgoing Broadcast Director, Radio Bilingüe, Recipient of Legacy Award by Chicana Latina Foundation, Fresno, CA.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 14

PROGRAM #10653 11:00 AM PT

Extra Edition: Radio Educación Centennial. On the 100th anniversary of Radio Educación, veteran producers share memories of their decades-long work in Mexico’s premier public radio station. The renowned radio personalities reflect on the radio milestones and the lessons learned.

Guests: Cruz Mejía Arámbulo, Producer, Singer-Songwriter, “Quién Canta?” Program; Fructuoso López Gutiérrez, Studio Operator, Radio Educación, Mexico City, MX.

PROGRAM #10654 12:00 PM PT

First Year of California’s Health Care Expansion. One year after California expanded its Medi-Cal program to include undocumented individuals, tens of thousands of previously uninsured undocumented residents can now have access to healthcare services with no impact on their immigration status. But while many have gained access, in the aftermath of anti-immigrant campaigns many people are weary of signing up. One year after the law went into effect, what has changed? In more news, experts join this program to comment on labor rights in times of emergency, such as fires, and immigration rights in emergency situations, such as detentions and raids.

Guest: Dr. Ilan Shapiro, Chief Health Correspondent and Medical Affairs Officer, AltaMed Health Services, Los Angeles, CA; Lilia Garcia-Brower, California Labor Commissioner, Sacramento, CA; Ricardo Suarez, Community Organizer, Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative-CVIIC, Fresno, CA.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15

PROGRAM #10655 12:00 PM PT

Israel and Hamas agree to a Ceasefire. After 15 months of a conflict and crisis that has left tens of thousands dead in Gaza, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement for a truce and a release of hostages held by the Palestinian Islamist movement. The compromise will not only allow the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the exchange of hostages and prisoners, but also the flow of humanitarian aid to the war-torn area. US President Joe Biden made the announcement today, and this segment includes excerpts from his recent remarks on the matter.

The Future of the Department of Education. In 1979, Congress passed the measure creating the US Department of Education and recently deceased President Carter signed it into law. Now President-elect Trump has promised to dismantle it. What was Carter’s vision for the Department of Education, its function, and its future under Trump?

Guest: Christy J. Moreno, Chief Community Advocacy and Impact Officer, Revolución Educativa, Kansas City, MO.

Covid Winter Wave. The US current COVID wave, considered the 10th since the pandemic started, is expected to grow in a “silent” surge, according to experts. Many people may not be aware that COVID levels have escalated over the past weeks. What are the areas at higher risk? What are the symptoms during this season? How are the new Covid boosters working? How to protect against the virus?

Guest: Dr. Lucía Abascal, Public Health Physician, California Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA.

Respiratory Health and Air Quality Hazards. Prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke can aggravate pre-existing conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and other chronic respiratory diseases. This can be especially harmful to young children and older adults. Given the current situation with the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles, California, and the dangerous levels of air quality, an expert shares important medical tips for residents to protect themselves from the harmful effects of smoke.

Guest: Dr. Gustavo Ferrer, President and Founder, Ferrer Primary Care and Pulmonary Institute, Hallandale Beach, FL.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16

PROGRAM #10656 11:00 AM PT

Extra Edition: Labor Activism on the Rise in Fresno. As new labor laws come into effect this year and a new president takes office, labor organizations are bracing for change. Amid a rise of labor union activism, local unions in the San Joaquin Valley are joining forces around an institute that seeks to build a pipeline of skilled labor organizers and community leaders. Is this reported “union boom” in the valley here to stay?

Guests: Daniela Rodriguez, News Reporter, Radio Bilingüe and Fellow, California Local News Fellowship Program at UC Berkeley, Fresno, CA; Olga Valles, Board Member, Service Employees International Union-SEIU, Labor Activist, Fresno CA; Reyes Uviedo, Director, Valley Forward, Fresno, CA.

California Prohibits Cancellation and Non-renewal of Insurance in Fire-Affected Areas. As thousands of Southern Californians who have suffered losses from the L.A. fires begin the arduous process of filing insurance claims, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced a one-year moratorium on the cancellation of such policies in areas affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires. What should those whose homes have been destroyed do as they prepare to file any claims with their companies?

Guests: Ricardo Lara, Insurance Commissioner, California Department of Insurance, Los Angeles, CA; Yisel Cabrera, Spokeswoman, Los Angeles County Emergency Operations Center, Los Angeles, CA.

The State of California’s Health Care System in the Aftermath of the L.A. Fires. As the health care system may fall into the abyss under President-elect Trump, a journalist comments on the big health care projects that marked the California governor’s administration and what to expect from now on. She also comments on the work of health professionals following the devastation of the flames while several of these experts lost their homes in the tragedy.

Guest: Paula Andalo, Ethnic Media Editor, KFF Health News, Silver Spring, MD.

PROGRAM #10657 12:00 PM PT

Farm to School Initiative. California is now partnering with the Climate Mayors network to advance the Farm to School initiative, a program touted as a national model to ensure students have access to healthy school meals made with locally-sourced ingredients and support small and underserved farmers. Under this program, farmers, many of them People of Color and women who practice climate-smart agriculture, receive grant support from the state. States and cities around the nation are now watching the impact of the farm-to-school program on health, education, and climate resilience.

Guests: Jorge Maldonado, Nogales City Mayor, Nogales, AZ; Miguel Villarreal, Interim Co-Executive Director, National Farm to School Network, Petaluma, CA; Jane Alvarado-Banister, Farm to School Network Regional Lead for the San Joaquin Region, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Fresno, CA; Javier Cruz, Farmer, Cruz Martinez Farms, Chowchilla, CA.

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 17

PROGRAM #10658 12:00 PM PT

Mexico Edition. With the opening of new shelters along the border to house deported migrants, launching a cell phone app to help migrants in the US facing deportation, Mexico’s government is preparing emergency measures ahead of the inauguration of the president- elect, Donald Trump. How is Mexico preparing for the promises of mass deportations and a trade battle?

Guest: Karina Ruiz, Migrant Senator, Phoenix, AZ.