On Fronteras: Texas Campsite Hosts Central American Minors, Emergency Resources In Rural New Mexico

Texas Camp Housing Children Who Fled Central America

Two weeks ago we told you about the resurgence of unaccompanied minors from Central America coming into the U.S.  Now nearly 500 of those children are temporarily staying at a camp ground south of Dallas in North Texas. Two-hundred more youths were expected to arrive there by the end of this week, with an additional three-hundred going to another facility east of Dallas.  KERA's Stella Chavez toured the Ellis County camp site and found out the children's stay is not without controversy.

Here's the story.

Border Bridge From San Diego To Tijuana’s Airport Opens

On the west coast, there’s a new way to cross the border.  The long-awaited cross-border bridge linking the U.S. with the Tijuana International airport is now open in Otay Mesa. KPBS Fronteras reporter Jean Guerrero details how the new bridge is making crossings easier.

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Dying Houston Teen Reunited with Pakistani Parents

Turning now to Houston, where a bittersweet reunion took place between Pakistani parents and their terminally ill daughter being treated there.  For years, the parents were denied visas to visit their daughter, Qirat, who desperately wanted to see them before she died.  As Houston Public Media’s Syeda Hasan reports, their struggle is a prime example of how hard it has become to get travel visas in Muslim countries.

Here's the story.

Project Echo Helps Rural New Mexicans Get Medical Care 

In rural New Mexico, getting medical care for complex conditions can mean driving hundreds of miles to specialists in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.  But, as KUNM’s Ed Williams reports for Fronteras, a program at the University of New Mexico is finding ways to deliver specialty care to patients in their own hometowns.

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Signs Give Mesa Residents A Way To Get Emergency Help

Also in New Mexico, an update on the story about how people living on a mesa near Albuquerque have been unable to get emergency help for decades. Without official addresses, fire trucks, ambulances and sheriff’s deputies have struggled to reach residents when it matters most.  But now as Fronteras reporter Marisa Demarco of KUNM tells us, county officials believe they’ve found a good solution. 

Here's the story.

Does Santa Claus Have To Be White?

Santa Claus is known for bringing gifts and cheer to the good little boys and girls of the world. His signature suit and sleigh make him instantly recognizable – but usually, so does his skin color.  So while more diverse Santas are starting to appear across the country, Texas Public Radio's Virginia Alvino looked into how mainstream Santas are often represented,  and what that could mean for families and children of color.

Here's the story.