Deadlock Ends on Infrastructure Package in the Senate; Leaders Urge Inclusion of Immigration Reform – After intense negotiations, the massive infrastructure package finally made it through the Senate after 17 Republicans aligned with the Democrats. Civil society groups applauded the plan but warned that they will only support it if at the sema time the Senate approves a human infrastructure plan that includes a large investment in social programs and immigration reform. Urgency on this matter grew after President Biden questioned the viability of including immigration issues in the final version of the infrastructure package. José López Zamorano brings the details from Washington.
Legendary Musician Little Joe Joins Texas Poor People’s Campaign – Renowned civil rights and religious leaders from the South staged a 27-mile march from Georgetown to Austin, Texas, in the style of the historic march from Selma to Montgomery led in the 1960s by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The multi-day march is demanding voting rights, a $15 minimum wage, an end to political obstructionism in Congress, and immigration reform. Legendary Texan musician Little Joe Hernández was at the forefront of the launch event for the Poor People’s Campaign. Little Joe discussed the campaign with our news director, Samuel Orozco. To hear the award-winning singer Little Joe, founder of the musical group Little Joe y la Familia, in conversation with Samuel Orozco, you can listen to the full interview in the archives of Línea Abierta for Tuesday, July 27.
Health Secretary Becerra Highlights Model Vaccination Plan for Farm Workers – After hitting California’s farmlands hard a year ago, COVID-19 infection rates dropped from 40 percent to 8 percent among Monterey County farmworkers. This big drop is attributed to a unique collaboration between agribusiness and local health institutions with support from the federal government. To highlight this important precedent, Health Secretary Xavier Becerra visited a clinic in the city of Salinas days ago alongside local representatives and more than a hundred workers who came to get vaccinated. Ruben Tapia prepared this report with field interviews filed by Jesús Ramírez from sister station KHDC in Salinas.
