© 2024 Texas Public Radio
Real. Reliable. Texas Public Radio.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

On Fronteras: Pope Brings Hope To Juarez, Native Americans Reclaim Ancestral Lands

Ivan Pierre Aguirre
/
Texas Tribune
Pope Francis memorabilia during his visit to Ciudad Juarez.

This week on Fronteras: 

--Pope Francis travels a migrant’s path in Mexico, ending up in Ciudad Juarez, a city where some have felt hopeless.  

--In New Mexico, Native Americans finally are regaining some of their conquered ancestral lands.

--Texas Republicans are worried about winning their share of the Latino presidential primary vote on Super Tuesday.

-- A San Diego program serves as a catalyst, encouraging immigrant parents to finish their education.

--Racial slurs prompt Texas A&M officials to apologize to some Dallas students.

--Special centers are helping homeless students in Dallas.                                       

Thousands Turn Out For Pope Francis In Juarez

Migrants fleeing violence and deprivation were the focus of Pope Francis’s trip to Mexico this week.  His last stop was Ciudad Juarez on the border across from El Paso.  An estimated 70,000 people turned out along the pope's motorcade route in Juarez, a city trying to recover from drug war violence.  It was an emotional journey for Pope Francis as well as those who came out to see him.  Monica Ortiz Uribe covered the pontiff’s visit Thursday and filed this report for National Public Radio's Morning Addition.

The story

Native American Ancestral Land Returned

In New Mexico, Native American tribes are regaining parts of their ancestral land.  The Obama administration has a goal to return half a million acres to tribes across the country.  Isleta Pueblo, just south of Albuquerque, saw their territory grow by 50 percent as part of that initiative.   KUNM’s Ed Williams reports leaders there are looking at new ways to use their recovered land to improve the economy.

The story

Texas GOP May Have Hard Time Attracting Latino Votes

In recent elections, Texas Republicans have been trying to attract Latino voters. KUT’s Ashley Lopez reports, the rhetoric during this year’s primary is making that effort even harder.

The Story

Adult Immigrants Have Second Chance At Education

Educators say parental involvement is vital to a student’s success.  But what if a student’s parents never attended school or didn’t graduate?  A program in a San Diego neighborhood is helping immigrant parents get an education. Megan Burks of KPBS reports on how it’s inspiring adult students.

The Story

Texas A&M Leaders Apologize To Students Met With Racial Slurs

A group of black and Hispanic charter school students from Dallas were met with racial slurs when they recently visited Texas A & M University.  The incident prompted the university's president and chancellor to travel from College Station to the school Wednesday to personally apologize. They told students at Uplift Hampton Preparatory school they were sorry about the racial taunts the Dallas kids endured.  KERA’s Stella Chavez reports, A&M’s top student leader also delivered thousands of letters of support.

The Story

Church Drop-In Center Helps Homeless Students

Dallas County’s Parkland Hospital is helping homeless students at a new drop-in center located in a church.  The Dallas school district has several centers serving students who don’t have a place to call home.  KERA’s Bill Zeeble found out why these centers are critically needed.

The Story

Fronteras is a public radio show about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border and changing demographics in the Southwest.  It's produced by Texas Public Radio in San Antonio.  Alexis Yancey produced this week's broadcast.  Charanga Cakewalk composed our theme music.  Shelley Kofler is the executive producer and this week's host.  

Shelley Kofler is Texas Public Radio’s news director. She joined the San Antonio station in December 2014 and leads a growing staff that produces two weekly programs; a daily talk show, news features, reports and online content. Prior to TPR, Shelley served as the managing editor and news director at KERA in Dallas-Fort Worth, and the Austin bureau chief and legislative reporter for North Texas ABC affiliate WFAA-TV.