by Safiya Merchant | Mar 14, 2012 | Politics
WASHINGTON – In the 2012 election cycle, one demographic has caught the eye of the Republican presidential candidates, President Barack Obama and the mainstream media — for better and for worse. Many analysts think Hispanic voters are the key to the outcome of...
by Safiya Merchant | Mar 7, 2012 | Politics
Hector E. Sanchez, the executive director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, said illegal immigration benefits American business (Safiya Merchant/Medill).Janet Murguia, the president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza, said...
by Safiya Merchant | Mar 6, 2012 | Education, Politics
WASHINGTON — During his junior year in high school, Manny Galvez dropped out in order to get a job and help his sick mother pay the rent. Galvez also wanted to avoid the final presentation required of each student at the end of the semester. “I wasn’t good at...
by Safiya Merchant | Feb 28, 2012 | Education
WASHINGTON — A red-faced Rep. George Miller refusing to yield his time to a Republican lawmaker highlighted the simmering partisan tension at Tuesday’s House committee hearing on education reform. The session amounted to a debate between majority Republicans wanting...
by Safiya Merchant | Feb 21, 2012 | Health & Science
WASHINGTON – To counter the shortage of two important cancer drugs, the Food and Drug Administration reached out to U.S. and foreign manufacturers Tuesday in an attempt to increase the flow of the drugs to American markets and hospitals. FDA Commissioner...
by Safiya Merchant | Feb 16, 2012 | Education
Arne Duncan said funds to raise teacher pay are already in the system. He suggested money exists in sections of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act targeting low-income students and teacher training. (MNS) WASHINGTON — In its search for better schools,...
by Safiya Merchant | Feb 13, 2012 | Business, Education, Politics
WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama asked U.S. businesses and community colleges Wednesday to unite behind an $8 billion jobs training plan that he said will help improve both education and the job market. The proposal would fund partnerships between community colleges...
by Safiya Merchant | Feb 8, 2012 | Politics
By Safiya Merchant WASHINGTON—More than 12 million Latino voters may vote in the November presidential election, but some leading Latino advocates said Wednesday the candidates aren’t adequately addressing Hispanic issues. According to a June study conducted by the...
by Safiya Merchant | Feb 1, 2012 | Education, Politics
WASHINGTON – Congress sought the advice of states Wednesday as two governors told the House Education and the Workforce committee about their strategies to improve job markets on their home turf. According to Chairman John Kline, R-Minn., the economy has improved...
by Safiya Merchant | Jan 31, 2012 | Politics
WASHINGTON — A national task force championing the end of domestic and sexual violence Tuesday called on the House to follow the Senate’s lead and start moving to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. The act provides funding to states for training law...
by Safiya Merchant | Jan 30, 2012 | Education, Politics
WASHINGTON—College tuition rates have increased faster than family incomes in recent years. With a new set of reforms in the works, the federal government is hoping to do something about college costs and make the American dream accessible for more Americans....
by Safiya Merchant | Jan 25, 2012 | Business, Politics
By Safiya Merchant WASHINGTON–Hours after President Barack Obama urged Congress to create more employment opportunities for veterans, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki stressed the importance of taking care of the nation’s veterans...
