News (Noticias) for Indiana

Whether the work is picking tomatoes on a farm or pounding nails at a construction site, Indiana relies on cheap and plentiful immigrant labor — legal and illegal — to do business.

But what would happen if those workers suddenly disappeared? As Indiana lawmakers debate a tough new illegal immigration bill this week, that’s a question they are being asked.

 

While the legislation is welcomed by some as a way to crack down on illegal immigration, others say the loss of up to 85,000 undocumented workers would have a far-reaching impact on Hoosiers.”*

*From: http://www.indystar.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

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From: http://www.indystar.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

The debate over how to deal with the state’s illegal immigrant population heated up Sunday as the Hispanic community addressed legislation aimed at cracking down on businesses that employ illegal workers.

A bill authored by Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, calls for punishing employers who hire illegal immigrants. It is scheduled to go before the Indiana Senate by Wednesday.”*

*From: http://www.indystar.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

After nearly three hours of passionate and often emotional testimony from Hispanics, legal scholars and lobbyists for Indiana business leaders, a Senate committee voted 10-1 to pass a tough new illegal immigration bill that penalizes employers who hire illegal immigrants.

Senate Bill 335 — which now moves to the full Indiana Senate for consideration — has been labeled as “unfriendly” to the Hispanic community, many of whom believe it could lead to racial profiling, innocent victims and possibly a mass departure of workers, both legal and illegal.”*

*From: http://www.indystar.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

The area’s rising Hispanic population has heightened the need for new services — which is what Cristina Ruggiero is offering for St. Elizabeth Regional Health.

In May, Ruggiero started in a newly created position of cultural coordinator for St. Elizabeth Regional Health, which operates Home Hospital and St. Elizabeth Medical Center. In February, Ruggiero will start teaching medical Spanish classes to staff at the hospitals.

Unlike the language translation phone services many medical facilities rely on — and St. Elizabeth still uses in some situations — Ruggiero can work in person with patients to learn what’s wrong and explain medical procedures.”*

*From: http://www.jconline.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

“This is not about race, ethnicity or nationality. It is about one thing only: respect for the law,” Delph said again and again Wednesday, popping out of his chair a number of times to make his case.

But to Hispanic leaders, that’s exactly the problem with Senate Bill 335, which would penalize Indiana businesses that knowingly employ illegal immigrants, including possibly revoking their licenses.

Mary Jane Gonzalez, president of the Indiana State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, predicted the legislation would have unintended consequences.”*

*From: http://www.indystar.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

The first Latino picked to serve as chairman of the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce board of directors says the accomplishment is a credit to his city as much as his culture.

Charles J. Garcia, 57, named to the post Monday, is the second minority chair in the chamber’s 118-year history. Bill Mays was chairman of the board in 1993 and 1994.”*

*From: http://www.indystar.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

An Indiana legislator wants to penalize companies that knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Republican Sen. Mike Delph told The Indianapolis Star he plans to file the bill next week when the 2008 session begins. The measure already is being criticized by business owners and Hispanic leaders.”*

*From: http://www.upi.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Latinos from across Indiana will unite for what is slated to be the state’s largest Hispanic and Latino conference Jan. 29 in Fort Wayne.

The daylong event, held at Taylor University Fort Wayne’s Eicher Commons, will include speakers and workshops focusing on improving the quality of life for Hispanics and Latinos in Indiana and understanding the challenges facing the community.”*

*From: http://www.fwdailynews.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Indiana might be one of the next states to consider legislation that places the burden of screening illegal immigrants on business.

At least one such bill is likely to be introduced in the General Assembly, said George Raymond, an Indiana Chamber of Commerce lobbyist specializing in labor relations.”*

*From: http://cms.ibj.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Leaders of Fort Wayne’s Hispanic community say their confidence level in the Fort Wayne Police Department may depend on results of an investigation into a shooting before Christmas in which a rookie officer killed an illegal immigrant.

Police commanders tell our Jeff Neumeyer, they have evidence that should help sort out whether the actions of the officer were justified. “*

*From: http://www.indianasnewscenter.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

As expected, Mayor-elect Brian Snedecor announced Wednesday that patrol Sgt. Rod Gonzalez will serve as police chief under his administration.

Gonzalez, 42, was picked to serve as the department’s top administrator following a search and interview pro-cess, said Snedecor, who retired from the Hobart Police Department in October after a 27-year career, including a five-year stint as chief.”*

Latino grocery store owners need more education about the rules and laws governing the sale of prescription drugs, a Hispanic leader said after two business owners were arrested during raids in Saluda last month.

Officers who raided the grocery stores were looking for illegal copies of movies and music but also found businesses selling prescription drugs without a license, authorities said.

The sale of prescription medications in groceries is common in Latin American countries, but without a license in the United States it is illegal.”*

Fans and family members filled all the seats and most of the aisles at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Indianapolis, as priests conducted a funeral Mass for Gomez. He had been living the past few years in suburban Avon with his wife, children and other relatives.

His closed casket was in front of the church pews, and members of his band wore dark sunglasses as they stood watch at each end of the coffin. A white cloth that said “I am the Resurrection and the Life” covered the casket.”*

Those who knew popular Mexican-American musician Sergio Gomez from his many visits to Spanish-language radio station WEDJ-FM cannot understand how he got caught up in the wave of entertainment-related murders in Mexico.

The 35-year-old singer was killed last weekend after performing with his top-selling group, K-Paz de la Sierra, in Morelia, Mexico. His body was expected to be returned Thursday to Indiana.”*

Illegal Immigration was a top campaign issue for Frankfort Mayor Candidates this year. During his campaign, Chris Pippenger criticized the current administration’s handling of the problems. Independent Chris Pippenger beat out Republican Incumbent Don Stock in the November Election. One of Pippenger’s top issues was what he considers to be Frankfort’s illegal immigration problems. Pippenger says when he becomes mayor in January, his first goal is to step-up law enforcement.”*

La familia del vocalista del grupo K-Paz de la Sierra, Sergio Gómez, confirmó hoy que los restos del cantante serán sepultados en Indianápolis, Indiana, donde residía.

En entrevista con Notimex, Baldomero Gómez, padre del cantante, desmintió que su hijo vaya a ser cremado en la Ciudad de México. “La familia determinó recibirlo, hacerle una misa de cuerpo presente, abierta a sus admiradores, y sepultarlo en Indianápolis”.”*

The Goshen Fire Department is investigating eight separate cases where fires were intentionally set. Three involve Hispanic businesses: The Blessing Place, Los Galanes Market and the San Marcos Grocery and Restaurant.”*

Martin Albornoz has been named director of interactive media for The Times, Publisher Bill Masterson announced today.

Albornoz will start at The Times and nwi.com on Friday.

“I am happy to announce that Mr. Albornoz has been offered and accepted the position of director of interactive media,” Masterson said. “Martin’s extensive and broad-based experience in the newspaper, magazine and online fields made him the perfect candidate to lead our very important nwi.com product.”*

Hispanic business owners in Grant County sometimes experience difficulty communicating with English-speaking customers, but most of them say it’s not a serious problem.

Joaquin Mendez, manager at Mi Pueblo, 406 E. Fourth St., said sometimes customers have a hard time understanding some of his employees because of their accents.”*

Tensions between the Latino and Anglo communities in this city can be eased, believes Mayor-elect Chris Pippenger, if all residents become lawful citizens.

“We have had such an influx of Hispanics in our town,” he said. “It is making people uneasy.”

The recent growth of the Hispanic population in Clinton County has caused some residents to think the local school system and other public services are being forced to support illegal immigrants.

The number of Hispanic residents in the county has increased by nearly 70 percent -in six years — from 2,478 residents in 2000 to an estimated 4,207 residents in 2006, according to the U.S. Census Bureau”*

The west side of South Bend has a growing Hispanic population. But the barriers between the people who live there and the police patrolling the areas can create conflict. That’s why police are working with local Hispanics, hoping to break down those barriers.

Police and community members formed the Hispanic Outreach Committee in 2006. After learning about a rise in Latino gangs in Elkhart and Goshen, they wanted to prevent that from happening in South Bend. Now they’re trying to bridge the gap between the police department and the Hispanic community.”*

There were no programs or clubs at Pike High School to bring Hispanic students together or teach other students about the contributions Hispanics have made to the U.S. and the rest of the world.

“When I moved here . . . I was educating people about my culture,” said Cindy, who was born in Mexico.

That’s now changed at Pike and other area schools as more and more Hispanics move into Indianapolis. According to the U.S. Census, they are the fastest-growing population in Marion County. At Northwest and George Washington high schools, for example, Hispanic students make up 17 and 21 percent, respectively, of the high-school populations.”*

Efforts to implement a Latino studies minor gained momentum when about 50 students and faculty attended a presentation by the director for Latino studies at Notre Dame, Monday night.

Students and faculty attended the lecture presented by Gilberto Cárdenas to show support for this desired program. He discussed the growing rates of the Latino population in the United States.”*

“”Bella,” a heartwarming tale about one magical day that changes the lives of three people, took the top prize at the Heartland Film Festival on Saturday night. Haley Joel Osment (”The Sixth Sense”) was one of the presenters at the black-tie gala held at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Written and directed by Alejandro Monteverde, “Bella” took home the $100,000 Grand Prize for best dramatic feature, the largest cash award of any film festival in the world.

The film, in both English and Spanish, was one of several Hispanic-themed movies giving this year’s festival a distinctive Latin flavor. It stars Eduardo Verástegui, a major TV star in Mexico.”*