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Christians in Egypt are hoping that the protests in the country will lead to more freedom for them, according to George, a church pastor who partners with Open Doors in Egypt.

“The people are afraid for the future, since this is an extremely critical time. But we trust in God, and we hope and pray for a new Egypt, with democracy and freedom for Christians,” states George.

Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic Orthodox Church has called upon Coptic Christians to stay away from the demonstrations and to come together and pray for the country, but many Christians are still involved in the demonstrations.

Pastor George said, “I am in contact with members of my church who have gone into the streets to protest. As Christians we are also part of the Egyptian society and community and we cannot stay away from all of this. It matters to us, too. We are also in the middle of it.”

George just came home from a prayer meeting in the house of a believer.

“We cannot go to the church. In every street is a mosque, where Muslims can go to, but there are fewer churches and most people feel unsafe,” George says.

As a result of the danger of going to churches, Christians are coming together in houses for praying because praying is very important for the church.

“It is very important that we pray at this moment,” says George. “We see that the uproar could lead to a better Egypt and that things could turn out for good, but we do not know yet. So prayer is important.

“We pray for the president (Hasni Mubarak), and we do not understand why he has not withdrawn himself from his post. We pray for him that he will do what is good for Egypt and that he will leave at the right moment. Our meetings are also moments to talk about the situation and open our hearts.

“The situation on the streets is difficult. We hear gunshots and people are killed on the streets. We also are having problems with the provision of our food. The infrastructure in the country is under pressure. It is very scary not knowing how the situation will develop further. Tuesday was an important day as 1 million people were on the street to protest.”

Pastor George also shares that the work of his church in Egypt, in partnership with Open Doors, has come to a standstill.

“Our co-workers and other volunteers cannot go to their ministries or work anymore,” says George. “Road blocks, lack of public transportation and curfew are all hindering this. And even now we have no cash funds anymore to pay for projects or to provide our co-workers with enough money to do their work.

Banks have been already closed for a week and the ATMs are empty. Almost everything in Egypt runs by cash money, and that is finished for almost all Egyptians. That is concerning me, too, for what will people do when they are out of cash for more days? Please pray for Egypt, for the church and the Christians. And for President Mubarak.”

Read more by HS News Staff →

One-out-of-three Super Bowl viewers think the commercials are better than the game.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of American Adults who plan to watch on Sunday think the game is more interesting than the commercials, but 35% disagree and like the commercials better. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Seventy percent (70%) of prospective male watchers say the game is more interesting than the commercials, but a plurality (49%) of women who intend to watch have more interest in the TV ads.

Fifty-four percent (54%) of all those who plan to watch the Super Bowl say they’ll be watching the big game intensely, while 40% admit they will mainly be socializing while the game is on. Last year, these findings were more evenly divided. Among adults who watch football more than once a week, 77% will be watching intensely.

Male Super Bowl watchers will be paying more attention to the game than females.  Adults under the age of 30 who plan to watch will do so more intensely than those who are older.

The survey of 1,000 Adults Who Will Watch Super Bowl was conducted on February 1, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

The Black Eyed Peas, who were recently labeled as the number one reason to get excited about music by Rolling Stone magazine, were chosen to play the halftime show.  Sixty-five percent (65%) of adults who will watch the game plan to stay tuned to the halftime show, comparable to findings for other recent Super Bowls.  Twenty-eight percent (28%) will not watch the halftime show.

Just over half (51%) believe the Black Eyed Peas were a good choice for the halftime show, while 29% disagree with that assessment.  Another 20% are not sure. By comparison, only 33% thought The Who was a good choice for last year’s halftime show.

When it comes to drinking alcohol during the game, Super Bowl watchers are almost evenly divided.  Forty-five percent (45%) will indulge in an alcoholic beverage, while 51% will not.  Younger adults are more inclined to drink alcohol during the game then their elders.

Read more at Rasmussen Reports →

First we have Taylor Swift rapping to Nicki Minaj ‘Super Bass’ on a radio interview and boosting her love of the song then Selena Gomez comes along with her rap version. 

We love our little Selena and the Latina can rap – what do you think?

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Read more by HS News Staff →

An American Heritage Foundation study has determined that because of The Healthcare Reform Act “low income beneficiaries and minorities, especially Hispanics will bear the brunt of the cuts. About three fourths of the cuts will hit those with incomes of less than $32,400 per year in today’s dollars, said Rep. Maria “Toni” Berrios, D-Chicago.

A new reimbursement formula for Medicaid translates into a loss of benefit (or money) for patients who stay in certain Medicare plans. Up to one-half of those affected may lose coverage entirely.

Change will come slowly to Medicare, which covers 46 million seniors and disabled people. There will be winners, losers and a net cut of $428 billion, Berrios said. The most significant new benefit - closing the prescription coverage gap - will not be fully phased in until 2020. In addition, cardiologists will be limited in the number of EKGs they can give to seniors. Eye care and many other important medical services could see cuts.

“This is something I am very concerned about,” Representative Berrios said. With this tough economy, it is very important for our lawmakers in Washington to protect Medicare for our seniors. Cutting Medicare will have a devastating effect on people of color, many of whom are suffering already. I urge bureaucrats and politicians in Washington to fight for Hispanics.”

Berrios said Hispanics have the highest uninsured rates of any racial or ethnic group in the United States with one-quarter living in poverty.

Read more by HS News Staff →

Peru’s presidential hopefuls tossed their names into the hat this month, ahead of a vote in April.

Among those aspiring to the nation’s top post: Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence for violation of human rights during his decade-long regime. If elected, Keiko—currently a member of Peru’s legislature—would be the nation’s first woman leader, and at 36, its youngest.

But she will have to overcome the taint of the legacy of her father.

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Read more at One News Page →

Several leading human rights organizations and the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of the Child are expressing growing concern over the plight of children in Mexico as a result of the drug wars.

There is concern that Mexico is violating children’s rights and not thoroughly investigating deaths of minors from the four-year old drug cartel battle the Mexican government launched.  There have been over 1,000 minors killed over the past four years since President Felipe Calderon started the military crack down on drug cartels.

The UN and others feel the government is not doing enough to ensure that children are not being recruited by cartels as petty criminals or paid assassins.  There is also concern about the excessive force used by the Mexican Army that is patrolling the streets and lack of accountability when innocent victims are killed by the troops. 

Read more at Latina American Herald Tribune →

HS News is pleased to help spread the word…

The United Farm Workers, and the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation are proud to support the grassroots efforts of the University of Texas El Paso’s (UTEP) Students for Cesar Chavez collaborative who are gathering signatures on petitions asking University of Texas El Paso President Diana Natalicio to reinstate the March 31 Cesar Chavez holiday, which was abruptly canceled in November 2010.

The move was announced January 3rd during the winter holiday break. The Faculty Senate at UTEP removed Cesar Chavez Day as a holiday from the university’s calendar for the next four years.  This was done behind closed doors without any student input. Understandably this move has generated controversy on campus. Students have come to us asking for help and we want to do all we can to help them.

UTEP has a Latino student population of approximately 76% percent. Reportedly it receives much of its federal and private grant funds because of this unique population. It’s inconceivable that faculty would decide this holiday does not deserve to be observed.

“They’re canceling the day of someone who was important and fought for what he believed in and made a change,” said Cesar Chacon, senior computer science major to a local newspaper. “UTEP is mostly Latino, so I think students should take offense because we are a widely Latino university.”

“The removal of Cesar Chavez Holiday from the list of days dedicated to mark important events or leaders is not merely administrative, but an act with deep consequences. Texas has already banned Cesar Chavez from elementary and secondary textbooks.  This makes UTEP’S leading role even more important.” said Adrian Rivera, a Bilingual Education student who is the coordinator for Students for Cesar Chavez.

Please sign the petition here

Read more at United Farm Workers →

Latin acting legend, Rita Moreno, is set to start in the TV Land comedy ‘Happily Divorce’, a sitcom adaptation of Fran Drescher’s marriage to a gay man.

Moreno is an Academy, Emmy, Tony and Alma award winner and was last seen in the CBS sitcom Cane.  Valente Rodriguez, who is best known for his role as George Lopez’ best friend in George Lopez is also in the sitcom. 

The sitcom is written by Fran Drescher, star of TV’s Nanny, which focuses on her dating adventures after her divorce after her husband who has suddenly announced he is gay.  As it can only happen in Hollywood, Fran’s now gay ex-husband, Peter Marc Jacobsen is co-producing the show.  Rita Moreno will play Fran’s mom.

Read more at Latin Heat →

Puerto Rico’s longtime serving police commissioner, Colonel Hilton Corder, is under investigation for the possible sexual molestation of his young daughter.

Commissioner Corder has been temporarily relieved of his duties and all weapons have been removed from his home, after his young daughter complained to her school that she was being molested by her father.  Corder is married to local TV personality Deborah Martorell and they have two young daughters ranging in age from 4 to 14 years old.

Puerto Rican authorities are not releasing the exact age of the girls or their names.  The girls were removed from the home by a Puerto Rican social worker and then reunited with their mother, all are staying at an undisclosed location.

Read more at Las Vegas Sun →

The growth of the Latino community accounts for New Jersey’s population increase since 2000, according to a National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund analysis of newly released Census 2010 data.

Between 2000 and 2010, New Jersey’s Latino population grew from 1.1 million to 1.6 million, and the Latino share of the population grew from 13.3% to 17.7%.  Latinos are now the state’s second-largest population group.

“Nearly one in five New Jerseyans is Latino.  In order to ensure the state’s future prosperity and well-being, New Jersey’s policies must promote the economic, social and civic progress of the Latino community,” said NALEO Educational Fund Executive Director Arturo Vargas.  “The state’s leadership must be accountable to its growing Latino population.”

The increase in New Jersey’s Latino population was responsible for the state’s overall growth during the last decade.  Between 2000 and 2010, the Latino population grew by 39.2%, while the non-Latino population declined slightly by 0.8%.

“During the 2010 reapportionment, New Jersey lost a congressional seat, and that loss might have been greater had there not been a substantial increase in the state’s Latino population.  As New Jersey now undertakes it 2011 redistricting, those who draw its maps must recognize Latino population growth by ensuring the new maps allow Latinos to effectively choose their elected leaders,” added Arturo Vargas.  “The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) prohibits states from creating districts which may dilute and or divide the votes of Latinos and other underrepresented groups.  We call on New Jersey to strictly comply with VRA’s requirements during this year’s redistricting process.” 

The Census 2010 data also reveal significant Latino populations in many of New Jersey’s largest cities, with Union City having the greatest share of Latinos (85%). 

Eight of New Jersey’s major cities are also home to the state’s biggest Latino populations, including Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, Trenton, Camden, Passaic and Union City.  Over one-third (37%) of New Jersey Latinos live in the top 10 cities with the largest Latino communities.


“New Jersey’s Latinos will continue to make vital contributions to the state’s economic and civic life.  The newly released numbers suggest that the New Jersey Latino community placed a high priority on being counted in the 2010 Census and of being full participants in the American political process.

It is now time to make sure Latinos can embrace the opportunity to translate those Census numbers into full and fair representation,” said Arturo Vargas. 

Read more by HS News Staff →

Agave plant products have become the leading source of income for the Otomí indigenous peoples in the central Mexican state of Hidalgo.

“It has been a long process and they have learned about many areas. They have received training and have strengthened the organization. The women themselves do the marketing,” said Jocelyne Soto, delegate of the non-governmental organization Enlace Rural Regional (Regional Rural Link, ERRAC), founded in 1988 to promote productive initiatives in impoverished areas.

The juice can be extracted from the plant after 10 years of growth. Each plant can then be scraped to extract the juice twice a day. The nectar recovered in the morning is made into syrup and the afternoon nectar is made into pulque. Pulque is the alcoholic beverage made by fermenting the juice.

“It has to reach a heavy boil so that the water evaporates, leaving the syrup,” Rómulo, 45, an indigenous Otomí woman, told Tierramérica, explaining the process for turning the nectar of the maguey, or pulque agave plant (Agave atrovirens), into something the consistency of honey.

The maguey nectar, made with the “aguamiel” (honey water) extracted from the plant, is a sweetener 1.4 times stronger than refined sugar and is rich in fiber and proteins. In addition, the plant’s fructose does not stimulate insulin production like other sweeteners do.

Incorporated since 2000 the 22 women and one man women operate a plant with the capacity to produce one ton per week, with stoves run on solar energy and natural gas.

Read more at IPS News →

Speaking at a National Football League (NFL) news conference on Friday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deputy Director Kumar Kibble and NFL Vice President for Legal Affairs Anastasia Danias announced the record-breaking results of a nationwide enforcement operation involving multiple law enforcement partners targeting stores, flea markets and street vendors selling counterfeit game-related sportswear throughout the United States. The operation, dubbed “Operation Interception,” commenced Jan. 1, 2011.

Special agents from ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operated in multiple teams with the NFL and various law enforcement agencies throughout the nation to identify stores and vendors selling counterfeit trademarked items. With two days left before Super Bowl XLV, these teams have seized 36,273 items of phony Super Bowl-related memorabilia along with other counterfeit items to date for a total take of about $3.56 million. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area alone, 10,430 items were seized with an estimated value of $554,280.

Fake jerseys, ball caps, t-shirts, jackets and other souvenirs are among the counterfeit merchandise and clothing confiscated by teams comprised of ICE HSI, NFL, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other law enforcement agencies.

Furthering ICE HSI efforts to combat counterfeiting and piracy online, special agents seized 10 websites earlier this week that illegally streamed live sporting telecasts over the Internet, including NFL games. The websites were among the most popular on the Internet for illegally distributing copyrighted sporting events. It is estimated that each year, sports leagues and broadcasters lose millions of dollars from illegally distributing copyrighted, live sporting events over the Internet. Such piracy threatens the investment that broadcasters and digital media companies are willing to make to distribute live content. More information about this seizure is available by clicking here.

Read more by HS News Staff →

The Brazilian Government will start providing free high blood pressure and diabetes medication to those who need it, starting next month. 

According to President Dilma Rousseff, this particular measure was a component of her campaign to bring about an end to extreme poverty in her country.  Approximately 33 million Brazilians have high blood pressure and over seven million are living with diabetes. 

In an official announcement on Thursday, Health minister Alexandre Padilha stated that the two diseases caused 34% of the 2009 deaths in Brazil. Also, it was revealed that the poorest members of Brazil’s society spend about 12% of their income on medicines. 

Although the free medication is available to everyone in the country, government officials believe that those who are less capable to afford the medicine will mostly use it. 

Read more at Brazil to provide free medicines for high blood pressure and diabetes →

Tax season is upon us and while online filing makes it an easy process, there are still many who do not have access to home computers.  Everyone should know that computers at One Stop Career Centers are available for those who wish to file online.

Preparing a tax return can sometimes be stressful and confusing. Stressful because preparing one’s own taxes can be challenging, and professional tax preparation is often a costly option.  Confusing because it is not always clear what resources are available for those working on their returns.

Fortunately, for low and moderate income families, there is a resource.  The Free File program allows an estimated 70 percent of all taxpayers to file their returns for free online.  This public-private partnership between the Internal Revenue Service and a number of tax software companies is available to millions.  What is more, some companies offer their software in both English and Spanish.

Free online filing allows low to moderate income workers make sure they take advantage of the credits – such as the Earned Income Tax Credit – that are available to them.  It also speeds the refund process when compared to traditional paper filing.

Free File also offers a secure way for users to prepare their returns.  All information is stored on the servers of the participating software companies.  Nothing is ever saved to a computer’s hard-drive, making accessing a computer at a One Stop or a local library a safe choice for those without computers at home.

Visit www.freefile.irs.gov today to find out if you are eligible and to learn more about the program.  Find the One Stop Career Center nearest you at www.servicelocator.org or by calling 1-877-US2-JOBS.

PUT YOUR FEET UP this weekend with a Latin American natural wonder.  Guess What and Where this is?

Today, the Ninth Circuit’s ruled in Vicente v. Barnett, upholding an Arizona jury verdict against a vigilante rancher operating along the Arizona-Mexico border. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the jury’s decision that the vigilante was liable for assaulting a group of immigrants he found on public land. As a result of today’s ruling, the rancher will be forced to pay approximately $87,000 in damages.

The Ninth Circuit ruled that the rancher, Roger Barnett, was not entitled to claim self defense, because he admitted that none of the migrants he assaulted had threatened or attacked him. The Ninth Circuit also upheld the jury’s award of punitive damages against Barnett.

“We are very pleased with the Ninth Circuit’s verdict. Today’s ruling sends the strong message that vigilantes will not be tolerated in Arizona” stated David Hinojosa, MALDEF’s Southwest Regional Counsel and attorney in the case.

“This case was tried in Tucson in front of Chief Judge John Roll, who was tragically killed in the recent attack on U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords,” stated Nina Perales, MALDEF Director of Litigation. “We are pleased to have secured some justice for our clients, and to have preserved the ruling in a case in which Chief Judge Roll served so ably and fairly,” continued Perales.

Prior to Barnett’s attack, the plaintiffs had been resting on the ground near Douglas, Arizona. Barnett was armed with a gun – a semi-automatic .45 – and was accompanied by a large dog. He held the group captive, threatening that his dog would attack and that he would shoot anyone who tried to leave. During the encounter, Barnett kicked a woman as she was lying, unarmed, on the ground.

Today’s ruling marks the second successful case challenging Roger Barnett’s vigilante attacks along the border. In September 2008, the Arizona Supreme Court upheld a jury award of close to $100,000 in damages for a family of Latino U.S. citizens who were assaulted by Barnett on state-owned land. In that case, Barnett held the group at gunpoint with a semi-automatic military-style assault rifle, cursed and screamed racial slurs at them and threatened to kill them all, including two girls aged 9 and 11.

Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF President and General Counsel stated “This decision vindicates constitutional guarantees for all. Even in Arizona, vigilantes do not have the right to harass and victimize peaceful migrants.”

The law firms of Freedman Boyd Hollander Goldberg & Ives P.A. and Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP participated as pro bono counsel on behalf of the plaintiffs.

Read more by HS News Staff →

Sheriff Joe Arapaio is calling for his uniformed officers to use caution when eating at McDonalds.  Last Thursday while one of the Sheriffs deputies was at the Mesa McDonalds, he alleges that some Spanish-speaking workers accused both him and Sheriff Joe of being racists.

The deputy confronted the workers in Spanish then refused to accept his food order- just in case.

Arpaio said in a news release the restaurant was targeted for an employer sanctions investigation last March when four people were arrested for identification theft.

No word on whether Sheriff Joe has hired an official food taster for his officials.

Read more at KGUN9 →

This weekend, Phoenix-based Latino civil rights groups joined and bashed Lady Gaga for what they feel are racist lyrics (not to mention unoriginal). Several local Asians have joined in the condemnation.
“Why is this talentless, White Madonna rip-off artist who was born into privilege stereotyping Asians with the term ‘orient?’ asks Maricopa College professor Peter Wong. Mary Kim, one of his students, agrees.
“I think it is disgusting that gay people look up to her. She hates them. Lady Gaga is an obvious homophobic who is using reverse psychology in order to make gay people look bad. But now she’s going after Asians and Latinos. It’s pretty sick what White corporate men in suits will come up with.” Mr. Wong and several Asian students plan to travel to Los Angeles in order to protest Lady Gaga’s performance of the song on the Grammy Awards next week.
Even though Lady Gaga is considered a gay icon, some Gay writers have condemned her as well. Orange County gay rights activist Fernando Palazzo has recently denounced Lady Gaga as an insult to the gay community and notes that even her piano playing isn’t sincere.
What do you think, readers? Are people trying to make controversy where it doesn’t exist or do they have a point?

Read more at Examiner →