1	In the News From politics to art, the headlines of Hispanidad. read more...
2	UPFRONT Dr. Eduardo Padrón Columnist Dr. Eduardo Padrón expounds on the need for more teachers like Jaime Escalante. read more...
3	Up Front Ruben Navarrette, Jr. Columnist Ruben Navarrette, Jr. declares war on Ken Burns’ new PBS documentary. read more...

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In The News

fashion
Wearable Heritage
To commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month, Nordstrom and Cuban designer Robert Rodriguez hosted a T-shirt design competition among fashion and design students from the country’s top universities. The winners received $5,000 to be used towards their education. In addition, Nordstrom made a $20,000 contribution to the Association of Hispanic Arts to benefit educational programs. Lorna Mahler, Vanessa De La Torre and Elly Choi, all from Parsons School of Design in New York, were selected as winners. Their designs will be produced by Rodriguez as limited edition T-shirts and sold at select Nordstrom stores and online at www.nordstrom.com.

people
An Immense Loss
Hispanic advertising pioneer Teresa A.
Zubizarreta passed away on Thursday, July 27 after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Cuban-born Zubizarreta was the founder of Zubi Advertising, one of the nation’s largest and most respected Hispanic advertising agencies. She led the agency over three decades, from its humble beginnings to the powerhouse it has become today, billing over $195 million and boasting clients such as American Airlines, Washington Mutual, Ford Motor Company, Lincoln Mercury and SC Johnson, among others. In addition to her business success she was a committed community leader, serving on the board of the Orange Bowl Committee, Beacon Council and Miami Children’s Hospital. She was also recipient of numerous awards, including Hispanic magazine’s Hispanic Achievement Award.

entrepreneurship
Top Honors
Four Latina entrepreneurs were recognized recently by the Los Angeles chapter of National Latina Business Women. The recipients include Ivette Rodriguez, founder of American Entertainment Marketing; Leticia Aguilar, president, Bank of America Greater Los Angeles Market; Olga Fernandez, owner of Caskets ‘N More in Glendora; and Josefa Salinas, an on-air host and community affairs director at radio station HOT 92 JAMZ.

polls
Straight Priorities
According to a study released during the 2007 NCLR (National Council of La Raza) Annual Conference in Miami Beach, education will be the preeminent issue for Hispanic voters during the ‘08 presidential elections. “What this poll makes clear is that Latinos believe the key to our future is improving the quality of public school education and will vote for the candidate with the best comprehensive plan to do that,” says NCLR President and CEO Janet Murgía. The report also identified high dropout rates as the greatest educational problem faced by the Hispanic community. The poll, which surveyed 1,000 registered Latino voters was co-sponsored by NCLR and Ed in ’08, a nonpartisan campaign to raise awareness about education issues in the upcoming election.

$5.85 The federal minimum wage gets a raise after 10 years of congressional hindrance.

environment
Saintly Green
The Vatican will become the first entirely carbon neutral sovereign state. To do so, it has accepted a donation from eco-restoration company Planktos/KlimaFa who will plant a forest in Hungary, the size of which will be determined by The Holy See’s carbon emissions by year’s end. Based on the belief that the world was created as a gift of God, the Vatican, has long been an advocate of environmental issues.

buzzwords

"We’re against it—sort of."
Scripps Howard columnist Dale McFeatters on the country’s new position on torture, after President Bush signed an executive order outlawing certain methods used by CIA interrogators on terrorism suspects. While the order bars practices such as sexual abuse and “acts of violence serious enough to be considered comparable to murder, torture, or mutilation,” what is still “fair-game” remains a secret.
Scripps Howard

"Washington will get angry when it sees we are hand in
hand."

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, as he held Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s hand during a press conference in which the two countries announced breaking ground on a new petrochemical complex south of Teheran.
Teheran, Iran, AP

“It was while I was taking care of the horses that I got in contact with the angels.”
Princess Martha Louise of Norway announcing to the world that she has the gift of communicating with the angels, and has done so since childhood. The princess is fourth in line to the Norwegian throne.
Norway, BBC

"I’m a big fan of Al’s."
Vice President Dick Cheney in response to increasing pressure from both Democrats and Republicans for the resignation or dismissal of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Washington D.C., CBS

“If the next U.S. government puts arrogance aside and decides to talk in a civilized fashion, that is welcome. If not, we are prepared to continue facing their hostile policy for another 50 years.”
Cuba’s acting president Raul Castro promises economic reform and extends an olive branch of sorts to Washington, but stops short of discussing political changes on the island. His ailing brother Fidel transferred power to him a year ago.
Camaguey, Cuba, Reuters

"Obviously I would love to have the ball."

New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez speaking of the ball he hit for his 500th homerun on August 4. A-Rod became the youngest player ever to reach the 500 mark. Meanwhile, the fan that caught the homerun was still deciding
whether to hold on to his newfound possession. Some experts estimate the ball could fetch around $80,000
today, a price that could increase over time.
The New York Times

The Doctor’s Diaries
Former Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona accused the Bush administration of interfering and suppressing his recommendations while in office because they were not aligned with White House policy. Carmona was appointed by President Bush to serve as the nation’s top doctor in 2002 and stepped down in 2006.
“Anything that doesn’t fit into the political appointees’ ideological, theological or political agenda is ignored, marginalized or simply buried,” Dr. Carmona told a House of Representatives committee. “The problem with this approach is that in public health, as in a democracy, there is nothing worse than ignoring science, or marginalizing the voice of science for reasons driven by changing political winds. The job of surgeon general is to be the doctor of the nation, not the doctor of a political party.”
Among the contested subjects where embryonic stem cell research, contraceptives and sex education beyond “abstinence-only” teachings. Carmona said he was astounded by the partisanship and interference of special interests in what should be a non–political job.
Carmona testified days before it became public that William R. Steiger, head of the Office of Global Health Affairs, blocked a report from the surgeon’s office describing the link between poverty and poor health. Steiger, a godson of former President George H.W. Bush, has no formal medical or scientific training. At press time, he was awaiting Senate confirmation to become ambassador to Mozambique, a position President Bush nominated him to.