News (Noticias) for May 15th, 2008

Essentials

Feds grapple with backlog for citizenship - Arizona focus

Did You Know? In Phoenix, 15,976 immigrants applied for citizenship during fiscal 2007, which ended Sept. 30, up 64 percent from 2006.

Illegal Worker Describes Escape from Plant - Postville, Iowa

“It’s as if they had five kids, maybe 10 kids, die in their class because they’re not there anymore. That’s what it’s like…it’s like a natural disaster,” Walz said. - Postville principal still seeing impact of immigration raid

U.S.-trained forces reportedly helping Mexican cartels

As drug violence intensifies, some Mexican police chiefs seek asylum in U.S.

State program helped janitor become teacher - Daniel Silva in Chicago

Recession chokes advertising industry in Puerto Rico

Illegal immigrant ban a first - State’s move has shaken up the academic world - North Carolina’s community colleges ban on illegal immigrants

Nortec Collective is a reflection of shape-shifting Tijuana

Survey: Latinos likely online, bilingual in choice of media - San Diego

George de Lama steps down as Chicago Tribune managing editor for news

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U.S.-trained forces reportedly helping Mexican cartels

As drug violence intensifies, some Mexican police chiefs seek asylum in U.S. | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Mexico News

Feds grapple with backlog for citizenship - Arizona focus

Hispanic jobless rate shows vulnerability - Unemployment among U.S. Hispanics has risen faster than other groups

George de Lama steps down as Chicago Tribune managing editor for news

State program helped janitor become teacher - Daniel Silva in Chicago

Latina chefs get sleek from power diet - Dr. Manny Alvarez’s book: The Hot Latin Diet

Caution: Tres Leches Cake could become an obsession

Survey: Latinos likely online, bilingual in choice of media - San Diego

Illegal immigrant ban a first - State’s move has shaken up the academic world - North Carolina’s community colleges ban on illegal immigrants

I give up, says Brazilian minister who fought to save the rainforest

Missouri Senate OKs illegal immigration bill

Immigrant workers in New Orleans start leaving

Latino help center swamped since raid - Waterloo, Iowa

Human toll told in Postville - Iowa (with video)

Illegal Worker Describes Escape from Plant - Postville, Iowa

Postville immigration raid sends shockwaves - Dubuque County Hispanics feel the impact - Iowa

Georgia’s Gov. Perdue vetoes Mills’ driver’s license bill

Did You Know? In Phoenix, 15,976 immigrants applied for citizenship during fiscal 2007, which ended Sept. 30, up 64 percent from 2006.

Did You Know? Every day, more than half (56%) of Hispanic-Americans surveyed said they spent at least an hour online, which was slightly more than the 50% who spent an hour or more watching TV.

“It’s as if they had five kids, maybe 10 kids, die in their class because they’re not there anymore. That’s what it’s like…it’s like a natural disaster,” Walz said. - Postville principal still seeing impact of immigration raid

Character will help McCain earn Hispanic votes

Recession chokes advertising industry in Puerto Rico

KKMO sale could mean loss of Spanish-language outlet - Seattle

Bidz.com, Inc. Launches Spanish-Language Version of Its Popular Online Auction Site

LOWDOWN ON THE UPFRONT: GolTV Kicks In More Fare

CaribeVisión, Lightworks in New Distribution Deal

Univision Upfront: Highlights Integrated Media Approach

Hispanics Are Seen as Ripe Clients for Wealth Business

Hispanic jobless rate shows vulnerability - Unemployment among U.S. Hispanics has risen faster than other groups

ESPN Deportes General Manager Lino Garcia Vaunts Recent Nielsen Ratings at NYC Upfront

Survey: Latinos likely online, bilingual in choice of media - San Diego

Market Intelligence: Valuation of Hispanic Media Companies, What you Need to know

Univision to Present First Annual “Tecate Premios Deportes” Awards Celebrating Hispanic Athletic Accomplishments

Univision Pitches New Vision: We’re Like NASCAR Before It Revved Up

Tyson testing Hispanic product line in Houston - Tyson Al gusto!

MTV Tr3s Offers Youth Insights

Did You Know? Every day, more than half (56%) of Hispanic-Americans surveyed said they spent at least an hour online, which was slightly more than the 50% who spent an hour or more watching TV.

“Cup O’ Mambo” Gives Social Media a Latin Buzz — Mercury Mambo Launches Blog on Hispanic Marketing Trends

Consorte Media Named Finalist in 2008 American Business Awards

Quepasa moves its headquarters from Scottsdale to Florida

JLo will host gala to benefit sick children

Aracely Arámbula’s brother is released from the hospital

VIP Access: Inside People en Español’s 50 Most Beautiful Party

Julieta Venegas Speaks Tr3s

Staying true to his Mexican heritage - Pepe Aguilar

Nortec Collective is a reflection of shape-shifting Tijuana

Sangre de Mi Sangre: An Identity Politics Thriller

Mark Johnson preps ‘Ugly Me’ - ‘Narnia’ producer to remake Chilean comedy

‘Gigantic’ changes ahead on Univision

Tony nominee’s roots are on Norwalk High stage - Robin DeJesus

LOWDOWN ON THE UPFRONT: Shakira Shakes Univision’s Stage

Nicaraguan transit strike spawns food shortages - A tense calm, punctuated by violence and protests, blanketed Nicaragua as a transportation strike continued into its second week.

61 illegal immigrants detained in South L.A., officials say

Latina Republicans learn political ropes - California

Fiesta Atlanta ‘08 Is a Tremendous Success!

Latino leadership at Harper College - Chicago area

El Programa Hispano moves to bigger home - Portland, Oregon

Faculty and Staff Member Get HACU-HHD Appointment - University of New Mexico

Carlos Espinosa is man of many trades for McAllen golf fans - Texas

The birth of her twins Max and Emme seems to have awakened the philanthropist in Jennifer López. The Puerto Rican singer will devote some of her time to helping sick kids. JLo will host the third annual Noche de Niños gala to benefit the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, CA, as reported by the Associated Press. The 39-year-old singer and actress will help coordinate the fundraising event, which will include a performance by husband Marc Anthony. Mexican rock band Maná, Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz and Colombian pop sensation Juanes are also confirmed. “*

After spending various days at a hospital in Mexico City, Leonardo Arámbula, the brother and manager of actress Aracely Arámbula, will be released and continue his recovery from home, as reported on Televisa’s TV show La oreja. “*

Beauty reigned during one of the year’s most awaited nights. On Wednesday, People en Español’s 50 Most Beautiful party took over club Mansion. A constellation of stars walked the red carpet of this posh New York nightclub, surrounded by limousines. The cold weather and their busy work schedules were not enough to stop our ‘Bellos’ from attending their own bash. They travelled exclusively to ‘the city that never sleeps’ not to miss this glamorous party… even if it meant taking a redeye flight back home.
“*

In celebration of the highly anticipated worldwide premiere of “Julieta Venegas MTV Unplugged,” MTV Tr3s is giving Julieta fans an unprecedented and intimate look at the Mexican singer/songwriter through its marquee “Artists Speaking Tr3s” superstar campaign, beginning on May 16th. The campaign will run for more than six weeks and features nine vignettes, co-created with Julieta, that show a side of her that fans have never before seen. There’s also exclusive programming, online and mobile experiences and several exclusive performances and appearances that make up “Artists Speaking Tr3s: Julieta Venegas.”

“In this Artists Speaking Tr3s campaign, Julieta is literally surrounded by LOVE because it is a recurring source of inspiration for her,” explains Jesus Lara, Senior Vice President of Music and Talent, MTV Tr3s and MTV/VH1 Latin America.

Created by the MTV Tr3s On-Air Promotions team in collaboration with the artist, Julieta’s nine vignettes feature stripped down versions of the world to provide a clean and aesthetic place where Julieta plays, talks and interacts with LOVE. The vignettes explore the different ways and forms in which she does this, from living it, talking about it, using it and expressing it in her writing, music and songs.

In addition to the extensive on-air promo campaign, Julieta will also be featured in exclusive and multiplatform programming such as “Videologia” (May 26th at 9 PM) and “Making MTV Unplugged (May 26th at 9:30 PM) and the premiere of “Julieta Venegas MTV Unplugged” (June 5th at 9 PM).

Starting May 16th, viewers can learn more about Julieta’s MTV Unplugged by visiting www.unplugged.mtvtr3s.com. “Julieta Venegas MTV Unplugged” will be available in full on www.unplugged.mtvtr3s.com starting June 5th, and affiliated programming will be posted to the site prior to the show’s airdate. Throughout the campaign, users can learn more about Julieta via her MTV Tr3s artist page packed with music videos new and old, Artists Speaking Tr3s vignettes, a behind-the-scenes of Artists Speaking Tr3s video exclusive, photos, bios and more. MTV Tr3s Mobile will feature long-form versions of the on-air promos.

On June 17th, New York’s Times Square will be flooded with fans anxious to catch a glimpse of Julieta as she makes an appearance on “Mi TRL,” which will be projected on a public jumbo 44 1/2 foot video screen for all to see. Julieta will follow her “Mi TRL” taping with an appearance at the Virgin Megastore at 7 PM where she will autograph copies of her “Julieta Venegas MTV Unplugged” CD/DVD, which is being released the same day by Sony/BMG. “Mi TRL” featuring Julieta airs on June 19th at 4 PM.

The “Artists Speaking Tr3s” campaign with Julieta Venegas wraps up on Saturday July 12th when the channel sponsors a free concert with her as part of New York Summerstage.

“Julieta Venegas is one of those rare artists who is known not only for her amazing musical talent but also for her distinct interpretive style which has earned her fans throughout the world,” added Lara. “Julieta was the muse of LOVE in our Artists Speaking Tr3s campaign and only MTV Tr3s is able to present her in such an innovative way. It was exciting to provide her with the creative platform of the Artists Speaking Tr3s campaign and we are thrilled to provide our audience with such a special look at her and her music.”

MTV Tr3s selects superstar Latino artists throughout the year for its “Artists Speaking Tr3s” campaign and collaborates with them on the creation of distinctive, customized spots that offer fans the most intimate television programming experience — an unprecedented and unique look at their favorite artists, their music and their lives. Previous “Artists Speaking Tr3s” artists include Aventura, Enrique Iglesias, and AB Quintanilla.

“Julieta Venegas MTV Unplugged” provided an acoustic platform for Julieta to showcase new songs and perform some of her biggest hits in an intimate setting before a live audience. During the show, she integrated an eclectic mix of rhythm and harmony by incorporating an array of instruments including the tuba, clarinet, xylophone, flute and a string quartet, among others, giving a new twist to some of her classic hits such as “Limón y Sal,” “Lento” and “Me Voy.” New songs included “El Presente”, “Algún Día”, “Mira la Vida” and “Ilusión.”

MTV Tr3s (www.mtvtr3s.com) is the most widely distributed TV network dedicated to superserving today’s bicultural Latino youth and is currently seen in 6.3 million Hispanic TV households and 33.3 million total TV households. Music programming is at the core of MTV Tr3s and the channel features hitmakers, emerging artists and new sounds that resonate with young U.S. Latinos and celebrate their hybrid identity and culture. In addition to music programming, the MTV Tr3s programming slate features lifestyle series, news, documentaries and other long-form programs.”*

The 37-year-old Latino from Logan Square represents the type of educators being funneled into the system by Grow Your Own Teachers. GYO was established by the state Legislature in 2004 to prepare 1,000 new teachers by 2016 to work in schools with disadvantaged populations and high turnover rates.

Now seeking from the Legislature a $1.5 million increase in its $3 million appropriation of the last two years, GYO partners community groups, colleges and local school districts to recruit candidates of diverse backgrounds to work in schools in their own communities statewide. About 545 candidates currently are in the pipeline — 87 percent of them minorities.”*

Total 2008 ad investment expected to reach $767.4 million in real dollars; ad execs blame politics for economic woes; few bright spots offer relief.

“Advertising in a Recession” was the title of a panel discussion held during the early 1980s, when oil prices drove interest rates to more than 20%.”*

N.C. community colleges are the first statewide system to bar illegal immigrants from seeking college degrees, according to the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

The move has shaken up the academic world by going beyond the nationwide debate over whether undocumented students should pay lower in-state tuition.

“This has really caught the attention and caused a lot of alarm,” said Dan Hurley, the association’s director of State Relations and Policy Analysis. “Charging them out-of-state tuition is one thing, but barring them entirely is another.”*

Brazil has been accused of turning its back on its duty to protect the Amazon after the resignation of its award-winning Environment Minister fuelled fresh fears over the fate of the forest. The departure of Marina Silva, who admitted she was losing the battle to get green voices heard amidst the rush for economic development, has been greeted with dismay by conservationists.

“She was the environment’s guardian angel,” said Frank Guggenheim, executive director for Greenpeace in Brazil. “Now Brazil’s environment is orphaned.”"*

Last month, all anyone could talk about in the marketplace was the rising cost of food. Now that a violent transportation strike has paralyzed the country for two weeks and prevented deliveries from getting to market, the conversation has shifted to food shortages.

”Things are going from worse to more worst,” said veteran market vendor Manuel Ramírez, inventing a superlative to describe his frustration with the unraveling situation in Nicaragua. ”Even the [produce] baskets look like they are on strike,” he said, nodding to the large market bins that are empty except for a few rotting tomatoes and what appears to have been lettuce.

In the streets, several protests continued Wednesday while a tense calm prevailed throughout most of the country. Striking bus and truck drivers have clashed with riot police in recent days and the U.S. Embassy in Managua warned U.S. citizens to take precautions in the face of the strike, which began May 5.”*

Sixty-one illegal immigrants, including three toddlers, were discovered at a house in South Los Angeles early Wednesday by federal immigration agents serving a search warrant as part of an investigation into a human smuggling ring, authorities said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered the single-family, two-story home in the 10000 block of South Normandie Avenue about 6:30 a.m. and found the Central and South American immigrants crowded into the house, with trash and rotting food piled 2 to 3 feet high in each room, agency spokeswoman Virginia Kice said. The immigrants told agents that they had been staying there since Friday.”*

Pepe Aguilar’s Mexican pride is reflected in the title of his latest CD, “100% Mexicano.”

For Aguilar, one of the most popular commercial ranchera singers, the album, which won a Grammy last year for best Mexican-American/Mexican album, marks his return to “banda,” the regional Mexican music that launched his career in the early 1990s.

Aguilar had taken a hiatus from the style to focus on recording a variety of mariachi, but says it’s time to say it loud and say it proud.”*

The equation’s a simple one: Nortec equals norteño plus techno, and the combo is kind of like dipping pizza in mustard or barbecue sauce, or both, when you’ve run out of ranch dressing.

Rockabilly comes close as far as splicing together two genres goes, but it winds up sounding nowhere nearly as preposterous as smearing a bouncy house track with a thick polka bass line that’s piled with brass. That’s norteño.

Borders, both cultural and physical, bring out the oddest of what lies on either side, especially in this sun-drenched corner of the world where Latin America, California and the Pacific Ocean collide.“*

As many as 200 U.S.-trained Mexican security personnel have defected to drug cartels to carry out killings on both sides of the border and as far north as Dallas, Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble, told Congress on Wednesday.

The renegade members of Mexico’s elite counter-narcotics teams trained at Fort Benning, Ga., have switched sides, contributing to a wave of violence that has claimed some 6,000 victims over the past 30 months, including prominent law enforcement leaders, the Houston-area Republican told the House Foreign Affairs Committee.”*

Drug cartel attacks against Mexican police have become so violent and so common that some Mexican police chiefs are seeking safety in the United States.

Faced with cartel-sponsored assassinations that have claimed the lives of more than 25 officers since the start of May – including that of Edgar Millán Gómez, head of the federal police – and threats of further retaliation, some Mexican police are quitting their posts.

But three times in recent months, leaders of Mexican police have gone further, arriving at U.S. border crossings and applying for political asylum out of fear for their lives, according to Jayson Ahern, deputy commissioner of Customs and Border Protection.

“*

How to turn a social problem into an existential drama? Sangre de Mi Sangre (Blood of My Blood), a first feature written and directed by Columbia-educated Christopher Zalla, makes an end run around liberal shibboleth by treating the situation of Mexican illegals as the subject for a miserabilist thriller—complete with issues of lost and found identity.

On the whole, Zalla’s strategy pays off. Slick and energetic as it is, Sangre de Mi Sangre won the grand-jury prize (as Padre Nuestro) at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival—a first for a Spanish-language feature. Arty but elemental, it subsequently found its niche in last year’s “New Directors” series, as one of the more visceral movies pondering the new globalization. Indeed, Sangre de Mi Sangre asks to be considered as a Mexican movie, although it was made in the U.S.A.”*

The winter quarter ratings book from The Arbitron Co. was a good one for Spanish-language radio in the Seattle-Tacoma market. Three such stations placed in the top 31 among all listeners.

Which adds an element of curiosity to Salem Communications Inc.’s recent decision to sell KKMO-AM/1360, marketed as Radio Sol.

According to a filing with the Federal Communications Commission, Salem has agreed to sell KKMO, one of five AM stations it owns in this market, to Intelli LLC of San Jose, Calif., for $3.69 million.”*

Immigration officials in Phoenix are churning out record numbers of new U.S. citizens, with as many as 2,000 to be sworn in this month alone. The push is part of a national effort to chip away at a mountain of backlogged applications, including many thousands from immigrants who had hoped to vote in November. Despite the increase in naturalizations, however, critics say the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is not working fast enough, so many immigrants won’t become citizens in time to vote. “Instead of people being able to participate in democracy, they are being caught up in the red tape of bureaucracy,” said Monica Sandschafer, head organizer of Arizona ACORN, a grass-roots organization that holds citizenship classes. “*

Senators have approved legislation adding penalties and restrictions on illegal immigrants and employers.

Senators passed the bill 27-7 today, but it has a provision House leaders don’t like. It would allow employers who misclassify workers as “contractors” instead of “employees” to be fined up to $50,000.”*

So did you know this? If you didn’t, perhaps you could send it to someone you know to help spread the knowledge and please tell them about HispanicTips. View more “Did You Know?” facts in our “Did You Know?” section

Bidz.com (NASDAQ:BIDZ), a leading online auctioneer of jewelry, announced today the launch of a complete Spanish-language version of its online auction site, Bidz.com. This version of the Web site can be accessed by clicking the “En Espanol” (”In Spanish”) link on the Company’s homepage, www.bidz.com. The Company has also hired Spanish speaking customer service personnel to better assist their new clientele.

The Spanish-Language site is geared to Spanish-speakers, whether they are in the U.S. or other countries. Bidz.com already derives 24% of its revenue from outside the U.S., and international revenue grew 60% in the first quarter of 2008. The Spanish-language site will be the first in a series of non-English sites, which will seek to tap into the auction site’s attractiveness around the world. The company, which grew revenues 38.5% in the first quarter of 2008, sells on average over 12,000 items a day, making it one of the most visited jewelry sites on the Web. Bidz.com recently launched an online retail store with fixed prices, Buyz.com.

“Our exciting auction format delivers unsurpassed value to consumers, and we believe that by making the site available in other languages, beginning with Spanish, we’ll bring our service to new audiences around the world,” said David Zinberg, Chief Executive Officer of Bidz.com. “We believe that these sites can be a tremendous growth opportunity for the Company.”

“*

Members of the only Latino women’s Republican group in the area gathered Wednesday for a lesson on media coverage and political spin, as they push for Republican candidate support this election year.

On the group’s agenda is promoting Republicans for office, including Sen. John McCain of Arizona for president and Stockton City Council District 4 candidate Diana Lowery.

“We need to know how to answer media questions the best way we know how,” said Carol Trujillo-Hadley, founder of Latinas United Republican Women Federated.”*

The stops and starts of the post-Katrina rebuilding effort, often due to bureaucratic delays in funding, still provided plenty of work to rebuild homes and businesses. But reconstruction work has slowed as projects are completed or transition to phases requiring highly specialized skills.

“In the immediate aftermath, labor demand was huge and few workers were willing to accept the labor and residential conditions that prevailed in the city,” said Elizabeth Fussell, a Washington State University professor who studied immigration after Katrina.

“Now there is less demand, and it is for workers with more skills and perhaps certification by the state. This translates to less demand for low-skill, undocumented workers.”"*

“Narnia” franchise producer Mark Johnson is set to make an English-language version of Chilean romantic comedy “Pretendiendo” (Ugly me).

Thesp Judge Reinhold and wife Amy, who brought pic to Johnson’s attention, will exec produce.”*

Gorgeous weather, large crowds and a fun-filled day of activities greeted attendees of Fiesta Atlanta ‘08, Atlanta’s largest outdoor Cinco de Mayo celebration held on Sunday, May 4th in the heart of downtown Atlanta. The approximately 45,000 attendees enjoyed Hispanic food, live music by national and local artists, arts and crafts, a live soccer tournament, and various sampling booths, making it one of the largest crowds assembled at Centennial Olympic Park since the 1996 Summer Olympics.

“Fiesta Atlanta ‘08 was a tremendous success,” said Ralph E. Herrera, President of Lanza Group, LLC. “An event like this isn’t possible without our many sponsors; our thanks go out to Bud Light, AT&T, State Farm, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Viva and El Patron Radio, Monster Energy Drink, Atlanta Latino, Hyatt Hotels of Atlanta, MARTA and the many others who supported Fiesta Atlanta. We also want to thank all the musical artists who participated and all of the many people who joined us celebrating Cinco de Mayo in the heart of Atlanta… this year’s attendance was diverse and a true reflection of present-day Atlanta! I was proud to see how many volunteers and supporters were present throughout our week long series of events. We are looking forward to expanding our successful track record of events with the inaugural Fiesta Georgia in September and again with Fiesta Atlanta ‘09!”

In addition to the food, art and music, this year’s event also featured a Soccer Challenge with 16 teams competing. The winning team, Alianza Soccer Club, defeated Boca Juniors with a final score of 6-1. The Soccer Challenge was sponsored by: Mundo Hispanico, El Pollo Loco, Azteca America TV, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and POWERade.

“Fiesta Atlanta, only in its second year, is amazing,” said Teresa Callava, Director Sales & Marketing for the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana. “It was truly impressive to see the organization, the large attendance, the mix of attendees including a large percentage of non-Hispanic festival-goers, the well-balanced flow of activities and the large amount of sponsors that participated in your event.”

For more information about Fiesta Atlanta ‘08 and ‘09, contact Caroline Elisabeth Peters at (404) 350-0200 or at cpeters@lanzagroup.com. You can also visit www.fiestaatlanta.com. Fiesta Atlanta is a Lanza Group, LLC production.

Lanza Group, LLC is Atlanta’s premier full-service Hispanic Market Advertising and Public Relations firm specializing in the growing US Hispanic market. The Lanza Group provides a full-line of bilingual & bicultural services.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Caroline Elisabeth Peters
(404) 350-0200