Senate Votes to Block Net Neutrality Rollback – With the support of three Republicans and after an intense, months-long campaign, the Senate voted to maintain regulations to protect the free flow of information on the Internet in opposition to the Trump administration’s bid to end net neutrality. The measure now goes to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where, based on electoral calculations, Democrats are pressing for an immediate vote.
Workers Deported from Postville, IA, Still Struggling – Ten years ago, several hundred workers at a meat packing plant in the small town of Postville, Iowa, were arrested and deported in what was the largest immigration raid in U.S. history. More than half were from the rural community of San José Calderas, Guatemala. Our correspondent, Maria Martin, visited the town and spoke with several families. She reports on how the mass repatriation devastated this community that relied mainly on remittances.
Puerto Rico: Blackouts and Debates over Electricity Privatization – After Hurricanes Maria and Irma devastated Puerto Rico, the island suffered the worst blackouts in U.S. history. Seven months later, thousands of Puerto Ricans still lack electricity, and the slow recovery has caused economic and mental health problems as well as mass immigration. Ramón Cruz, a former member of Puerto Rico’s Energy Regulatory Commission, spoke with Samuel Orozco on the program Linea Abierta about the current debate over the privatization of the electricity company and obstacles to building a safer renewable energy system.
