Linea Abierta Programming: WEEK OF MAY 13, 2024

MONDAY, MAY 13

PROGRAM #10371 12:00 PM PT 

Moms Mental Health. This month, the world commemorated Maternal Mental Health Day to raise awareness about mental illnesses that affect women during pregnancy and within the first year after birth, called perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. What’s being done to encourage women and men to seek help and get treatment?

Guest: Xóchitl Carlos Méndez, Spokesperson, Postpartum Support International, Survivor, Perinatal Mood Disorders, Raleigh, NC.

New Push for National Paid Family Leave. Currently, there are no federal laws in the United States that require employers to provide paid days off. Universal paid leave passed the House of Representatives in 2021 but failed in the Senate. Now, Latina working moms are pushing again Congress for federal paid leave for all employees, as Latina workers are less likely than their white counterparts to have access to paid parental leave.

Guest: Carolina Wassmer, Florida State Program Director, PoderLatinx, Orlando, FL.

What’s on the Mind of Latina Voters. According to a new survey, the 2024 election is closely followed by Latina women, but they are not too enthusiastic about voting and want their experiences and concerns to be heard. A top Latina leader shares the results of the survey, and comments on the top issues for Latinas, including reproductive justice, and how Latinas view the 2024 presidential election.

Guest: Lupe M. Rodríguez, Executive Director, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Washington, DC.

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TUESDAY, MAY 14

PROGRAM #10372 11:00 AM PT 

Extra Edition: Yolanda López Exhibit. Arte Americas, a community arts gallery in downtown Fresno, showcases dozens of art works that legendary Chicana artist Yolanda López created between 1975 until her death in 2021. The painter and feminist, is best known for painting the Virgin of Guadalupe, “the patroness of the Americas,” in her own image and wearing running shoes. The exhibit “Yolanda López: Portrait of the Artist,” is closing this week. This and other news developments are reported in this edition.

Guest: Lorena Marrón, Director of Education and Public Programs, Arte Américas, Fresno, CA.

Food Insecurity in the Undocumented Community. In light of the new spending plan announced by Gov. Newsom, advocates and community members of the Food4All coalition are advocating with members of the state legislature as well as the governor’s office to eliminate food assistance exclusions and ensure that all Californians have access to the food they need. This month, the governor announced the revised 2024-25 state budget plan, which is believed to delay the state’s previous commitment to provide food access to immigrant Californians age 55 and older. A community leader explains these efforts targeting food insecurity.

Guest: Betzabel/Betsy Estudillo, Chief Engagement Officer, Nourish California, Los Angeles, CA.

PROGRAM #10373 12:00 PM PT 

Immigration Edition. DACA immigrants are gaining access to subsidized health care through Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplace under a new HHS rule. What should Dreamers know about this new benefit? An expert explains the details. On other news, the Republican-controlled House passed a bill to add a citizenship question to the 2030 census, excluding millions of noncitizens from the count. What’s the meaning and the future of this effort? Finally, prominent congressional leaders raised the pressure on President Biden urging him to take executive action to protect long-term undocumented immigrants, including spouses of US citizens and family caregivers.

Guests: Diana Pliego, Federal Advocacy Strategist, National Immigration Law Center-NILC, Washington, DC; Mario Beovides, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, NALEO Education Fund, Washington, DC; Sam Sanchez, Owner, Third Coast Hospitality, also Member, National Restaurant Association Board of Directors and former Chairman, Illinois Restaurant Association, Chicago, IL.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 15

PROGRAM #10374  12:00 PM PT 

Gaza Protests Spread Around Colorado. As Israeli troops continue a ground invasion on crowded cities in devastated Gaza, pro-Palestinians protests spread on college campuses around Colorado. Dozens have been arrested demanding schools end financial ties with war-related interests. Students and professors are being invited to discuss the topic.

Guests: Laura Gonzalez, Investigadora y Organizadora Comunitaria, Boulder, CO; Rosanna Longo-Better, Contributing Reporter, Boulder, CO, today from Ecuador.

Graduation and Immigrant Parents Concerns. A high school in Colorado moved its upcoming graduation from an Air Force base after teachers raised concerns that undocumented students and their families could be left out of the celebration. Community leaders tell the story of the concerns and advocacy efforts that led to the change of venue.

Guest: Raquel Lane-Arellano, Communications Manager, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition-CIRC, Denver, CO.

New Colorado State Bills. A journalist gives an overview on the outcome of the legislative session that just ended in Colorado. Under one bill, Colorado families would be able to get an income tax credit to cover tuition and fees at in-state colleges. Another bill would bring property tax reform. One more legislation would strip anti-same-sex marriage language from the state constitution, if approved by voters in November. On the other hand, a proposed ban on assault weapons was shelved and will not become law in this session.

Guest: Jesús Sánchez Melean, Publisher, El Comercio de Colorado Newspaper, Denver, CO.

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THURSDAY, MAY 16

PROGRAM #10375 11:00 AM PT 

Extra Edition: Undocumented Residents Can Get Medi-Cal (Program Repeat). As of 2024, California’s entitlement to health insurance for low-income people became a reality, and this year it has been extended to all undocumented immigrants, who were previously excluded. But are people responding, or is enrollment slow? A few months ago, thousands of people were being disenrolled. How is the situation now? How is the information for Medi-Cal renewal getting out to beneficiaries? Polled radio listeners comment on their experience with using health insurance, including state Medi-Cal. This archived program originally aired on May 9, 2024.

Guest: Dr. Ilan Shapiro, Chief Health Correspondent and Medical Affairs Officer, AltaMed Health Services, Los Angeles, CA. Testimonials from radio listeners. 

Proposed Covered California Expansion. AB4, a bill that would extend Covered California to undocumented residents and give them the same ability as those who currently have access to Covered California to purchase health plans on a subsidized basis, is pending in the state Senate. A reporter explains the details of the proposal.

Guest: Maye Primera, Editorial Director, El Tímpano, Los Angeles, CA.

PROGRAM #10376  12:00 PM PT 

Heat Protections for Florida Farmworkers. Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill last month that would ban heat protections for workers. The federal government does not have laws protecting workers from extreme heat either. But those who work on farmworker-driven Fair Food Program farms in Immokalee, are protected from the dangers of extreme heat.

Guest: Lucas Benítez, Coordinator, Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Immokalee, FL.

Bird Flu Outbreak. The H5N1 bird flu virus has infected dairy cows across the country. The virus has been found in livestock in nine states, including Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. At least one person in Texas, also became infected with H5N1. What scientists fear most is if the virus spreads efficiently from person to person. How big is the outbreak? Can humans catch it? Are we at risk of a rapid spread and another pandemic? How can dairy workers protect themselves from bird flu?

Guests: Denise Vega Ocasio, Epidemiologist, US Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA; Paula Andalo, Ethnic Media Editor, KFF Health News, Silver Spring, MD.

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FRIDAY, MAY 17

PROGRAM #10377 12:00 PM PT 

Mexico Edition. As tens of thousands of Mexicans living in the US have cast their ballot in Mexico’s presidential election, political observers explain the steps to vote from abroad and comment on the upcoming presidential debate.

Guests: Vicky Cerpa, Mexican voting abroad, Los Angeles, CA; Victor Barcenas, Reporter, Radio Educación, Mexico City, MX.