1	In the News From politics to art, the headlines of Hispanidad. read more...
2	Up Front Columnist Ruben Navarrette, Jr., looks at tensions between Hispanics and African Americans. read more...
3	Up Front Dr. Eduardo Padrón discusses the growing educational gap between the upper and lower income brackets. read more...
4	Media mun2 KICKS OFF PRODUCTION FROM BRAND NEW STUDIOS IN THE HEART OF CITYWALK AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD read more...

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in the news

Cosmetics
Sealing Lips
Grammy-nominated recording artist Paulina Rubio in collaboration with MAC cosmetics launched “Rubia,” a new lipstick. The golden matte-toned lipstick sells for about $14 at selected MAC locations in New York, Los Angeles, El Paso, Houston, Northern California, Arizona, Las Vegas, New Jersey and San Diego. It is also available in key cities in Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela and Peru. Rubio was recently named Spanish GQ’s Woman of the Year and released her latest album Ananda in
September 2006. MAC Cosmetics was created in Toronto, Canada in 1984 and sells in 60 countries worldwide.

Immigration
Locking Up
Mexico’s head of migration, Cecilia Romero Castillo, promised to improve government detention centers after criticism that Mexico fails to give Central American immigrants the same respect it demands for its own citizens in the U.S. Romero announced plans for improvements at the nation’s 48 detention centers. Doctors’ offices are planned for 16 of the centers, as well as upgraded facilities and improved staff training. According to reports, Mexico expects to detain more than 200,000 illegal migrants this year.

Education
Reaching Higher
A recent study found that 80 percent of Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) recipients graduated in 5 and 1/2 years and had a graduation rate almost 30 percent higher than the national average for students of all races and ethnicities for the same period. The HSF is the nation’s leading organization supporting Hispanic higher education, having provided more than 78,000 scholarships totaling $195 million in its 31-year history. According to the study, scholars supported by HSF worked 10 hours less a week than most students enabling them to focus more on their academic tasks.

Media
Eyes on the Rainmaker
Univision selected top ad exec Joe Uva as its CEO in an apparent bid to secure more advertising revenues. Uva was formerly CEO of OMD Worldwide, one of the world’s biggest advertising buying firms. The 51-year-old Uva, with deep Madison Avenue ties, is expected to bring in previously untapped ad dollars to the nation’s leading Spanish-language television and broadcasting company. Uva, like his predecessor A. Jerrold (Jerry) Perenchio—who orchestrated the $12.3 billion sale of Univision to an investor group led by Los Angeles billionaire Haim Saban—is Italian American and does not speak Spanish.

Religion
What Did Jesus Do?
The claims made by director James Cameron and journalist Simcha Jacobovici, that they have uncovered the burial cave of Jesus and his family, has angered church authorities. The pair aired their findings in a Discovery Channel documentary and accompanying book The Jesus Family Tomb. Cameron also said enough DNA evidence has been uncovered from the tomb in question to prove that Jesus was not resurrected, and that he fathered a son with Mary Magdalene. The focus of the documentary is a 2,000-year-old cave found in 1986 during excavation for a housing project south of Jerusalem.

buzzwords
“We want to be treated with dignity and won’t stand to see the debate hijacked by xenophobes.”
Cecilia Muñoz, senior vice president of the National Council of La Raza, weighing in on the unfolding congressional immigration debate as it kicks off again in 2007.
St. Paul Pioneer Press, Minnesota

“I can’t promise that I’ll go over there soon, but, yes, I’m gaining ground. I feel more energetic, stronger.”
Cuban leader Fidel Castro’s first live comments since falling ill, said while calling in to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez’s radio talk show.
The Associated Press, Caracas, Venezuela

“A lot of people are thrilled with the historic significance for Gov. Richardson, but for a lot of us, our political identity is wrapped around the Clinton experience.”
2002 Clinton deputy campaign manager and 2004 Kerry campaign chairman, San Antonio lawyer Jose Villarreal on why some key Hispanic Democrats are supporting New Yok Sen. Hillary Clinton over New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson for the presidency.
McClatchy Washington Bureau

“The thing that interests me about Montoya is more than him simply being Hispanic, it’s that I think we have a great opportunity for Formula One fans to understand that [NASCAR] is really hard, and that we’re not just a bunch of dumb, unintelligent
rednecks.”
No. 2 ranked NASCAR racer Jeff Burton on Colombian NASCAR sensation Juan Pablo Montoya.
The Irish Times

Leaders
Gone, Not Forgotten
A&R legend Joe Cain, Cuban dissident Mario Chanes de Armas and Latin America scholar Ronald Hilton have passed away. Cain, a record producer, trumpeter, bandleader, arranger and A&R man at Seeco and Tico records, was 78. Chanes de Armas was at Fidel Castro’s side in the Cuban Revolution, and later spent three decades as a political prisoner in the dictator’s jails, before coming to the U.S. He was 80. Hilton, who uncovered plans for the Bay of Pigs invasion, and was most recently director of Stanford’s Institute of Hispanic American Studies, was 95.

FILM
Going for Gold
The 79th Oscars proved to be an exercise in diversity, with Hispanics receiving upwards of 12 nominations. Pan’s Labyrinth, took Oscars for best art direction, best cinematography, and best makeup, while Gustavo Santaolalla (Babel) took home his second Oscar for best original score. Among the Hispanic nominees were Spanish actress Penélope Cruz (Volver), Mexican actress Adriana Barraza (Babel), Mexican screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga (Babel), Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu (Babel), sound mixer Fernando Cámara (Apocalypto), Mexican cinematographers Emmanuel Lubezki (Children of Men) and Guillermo Navarro (Pan’s Labyrinth) and Argentine composer Santaolalla.

Television
Seeing Me
The Public Broadcasting Service has leapt into Hispanic broadcasting by launching V-Me, a Spanish-language television station. A play on words that translates to “C-Me” or “See Me,” V-Me features factual childrens’ and lifestyle programming as well as films. V-Me will be available in 60 percent of Hispanic households and is available on Verizon’s FiOS TV video service. The Educational Broadcasting Corp., which holds the license for New York public broadcaster Thirteen/WNET, is a minority investor in V-Me Media, with the majority share of the firm being held by private investors including The Baeza Group and Syncom Funds.

Music
Our Thing
Actress/singer Ninel Conde and Chilean TV and film star Cristian de la Fuente hosted the 19th Premio lo Nuestro awards show—where the public votes for winners—this year, in Miami. Pop group RBD took best album of the year for Nuestro Amor and also earned the music group of the year prize. Luis Fonsi won for best male artist of the year, while Shakira won for best female artist of the year. Thalia and Anthony “Romeo” Santos from bachata boy band Aventura won song of the year for No, no, no! while Chelo took honors for best new artist.