Voces del Frontera And Students At Joint Committee On Finance Hearing To Protest Repeal Of In-state Tuition

Voces de la Frontera and Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES) were in Madison to defend public education and in-state tuition rights.

Photos by HNG

Students protest repeal of in-state tuition at Senate finance committee hearing, but meeting time to convene changed several times.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 2, 2011

Madison - On Thursday, members from Voces de la Frontera (VDLF) from Milwaukee and students went to Madison to address the proposed intent by the Republican controlled legislature to repeal in-state tuition in Wisconsin. The state Senate Joint Committee on Finance scheduled meeting to debate Governor Scott Walker's budget including a proposed repeal of in-state tuition for undocumented students in the state was delayed several times. The meeting was delayed for more than four hours forcing people and some students with limited time to leave and return to Milwaukee.
Republican legislators are pushing to eliminate in-state tuition for undocumented students, despite the parents of the students effected are taxpayers. The parents considered undocumented do pay property taxes, sales taxes and there income is taxed as required by state law. But, they don't get tax refunds or reimburse at the end of the year. How much has accumulated and what happens to the tax contributions that undocumented immigrants have paid for the last ten years? The state budget office or both the Representative and Senate finance committees have yet to address the issue and make public the actual tax contributions undocumented immigrants and their families including Hispanic businesses do contribute to the economic growth of the state.
The Senate committee scheduled 1:00 p.m. budget meeting for Thursday was delayed until 3:00 p.m., then again delayed to 5:00 p.m., but most people and students continued to wait for it to convene. VDLF reported at 6:30 p.m., that the meeting hadn't started as previously announced.
State Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milw.) came in to the hearing room and told those waiting for hours that the Republican senators might not convene until they are ready to do so. Some of the people responded by saying, the Senate Republicans know that students who will be effected by repealing in-state tuition are present and are delaying the meeting hoping to diminish the crowds.
A VDLF press release stated that, in 2009, Wisconsin became only the eleventh state in the U.S. to pass this historic educational civil rights legislation. Under Governor Scott Walker's (R) current budget proposal, undocumented students who have graduated from Wisconsin high schools will no longer be eligible to receive in-state tuition rates.
Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera stated, "The public hearings of the Joint Committee on Finance were a joke- they did not allow genuine and democratic input by the public. Senator Alberta Darling has repeatedly ignored requests to meet with diverse youth who will be affected by the education budget and repeal of in-state tuition rights. We are coming to the hearings to highlight the devastating inequities in Governor Walker's budget, which forces taxpayers to pay for the children of wealthy families to attend private schools while attacking the quality of education for working class families and the poor."
Several days ago, the state of Illinois passed an In-state tuition bill.

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Mexican Military Found Arsenal From Russia, China And U.S. Buried At Seven Sites In Coahuila

Photo: Sedena

Authorities investigating which criminal organization owned the arsenal composed of weapons.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 2, 2011

Nadadores, Coahuila, Mexico - On Tuesday, the Mexican Secretary of National Defense Department (Sedena) reported that members of the military regiment in zone 7 discovered 161 weapons and ammunition buried in seven sites. General Dagoberto Espinoza Rodríguez confirmed that military personnel during a routine search at an area in Ejido de Sardinas within the municipality of Nadadores reported the discovery of a large arsenal.
The arsenal included grenades, 4,627 magazines, 23 military camouflage uniforms, a grenade launcher and 92 thousand rounds of ammunition for different type of high caliber weapons. The weapons including the rest of the arsenal are believed to come from Russia, China and the U.S., according to Sedena.

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Tainos Sports Bar Windows Get Shot By Unknown Suspects In Milwaukee

A bullet hole remained in one of Tainos bar windows facing S. 6th St., background reflection in damaged window shows a building accross from the bar.

Photos by HNG

Tony Vega and local groups kept from performing after multiple gunshots interrupted Sunday's event.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 31, 2011

Milwaukee - Last Sunday, the Tony Vega Salsa concert at Tainos Sports Bar, 611 W. National Ave. was shut down early by police after suspects shot into the bar from outside. One woman suffered minor injuries to her hand by glass debris.
Orquesta Veneno, a popular Merengue band was about to perform just before 10:00 p.m. when gun shots rang and a crowd of people standing by scenic windows facing S. 6th St. began to scream, scattered and others hit the floor to avoid being shot.
Evidence showed that at least four bullets were fired from outside and penetrated through several windows, but people reported hearing about five to six shots.
A woman who didn't want to be identified said, Orquesta Veneno was about to play when the shooting incident occurred. The whole event was stopped as police and investigators arrived.
On Tuesday, some of the people who were at the Vega dance on Sunday came back to Tainos at 6:30 p.m. expecting some sort of refund or a rescheduled ticket for a future event. Tainos Facebook page, posted a note for people seeking a refund to stop at the bar, according to a woman who showed up. She said, Tainos Facebook followers who attended the event, posted comments that they wanted a refund.
The person in charge of the Tainos bar declined to comment, but said "thank god no one was hurt." The manager wouldn't say when the next event will take place, or what type of refund was being offered. The cancellation of the Vega dance by Tainos bar will end up to be costly and a major loss of revenue. Tainos owners are not booking anymore events temperarily, but is expected to reopen this weekend.
Police continue to investigate the shooting incident that cancelled the Vega concert.

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GAB Certifies Recall Elections For Six Wisconsin Senate Republicans

Recall elections for six Senate Republicans to be held in July.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 31, 2011

Madison - On Tuesday, the Government Accountability Board (GAB) certified recall elections for six state senators. The election will take place in July. The GAB determined there were sufficient signatures for a recall election for each of the following Senate Republicans, Alberta Darling, Randy Hopper, Robert Cowles, Luther Olsen, Sheila Harsdorf and Dan Kapanke.
The GAB is delaying recall elections for three Democrats who challenged the petitions and alleged fraud. The GAB will take more time to investigate the fraud allegations and won't certified recall petitions for three Senate Democrats, Dave Hansen, Jim Holperin and Robert Wirch.
Governor Scott Walker (R) will be facing a recall himself after he completes one year in office. Walker signed into law Act 10, which eliminates most collective bargaining rights for most state employees.
Last week, Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi, ruled Act 10 was passed in a state legislative meeting that violated open meetings law, thus voiding Act 10. State legislators failed to give 24 hours notice for the meeting. Republicans are seeking for the State Supreme Court to hear arguments in the case in June and for the court to take up the case.
The Republicans have been recall for voting to eliminate collective bargaining rights for most state employees. The Democrats are being recall for leaving the state for a month to stall a vote to eliminate union state employees to engage in collective bargaining.

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Undocumented Drunk Driver Kills Houston Police Officer

Johoan Rodriguez

Officer Kevin S. Will

Photos: Houston Police Department

Drunk driving suspect is in the country illegally.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 31, 2011

Houston, Texas - The Houston Police Department reported that Johoan Rodriguez, 26, an undocumented immigrant has been charged with the death of Police Officer Kevin S. Will, 38. Rodriguez went through a road block on highway Loop 610 and fatally struck Will at 3:45 a.m. on Sunday. Officer Will was investigating an accident, but Will was able to yell at a person to get out of the way before getting hit by Rodriguez vehicle.
Rodriguez blood alcohol was .238, three times the legal limit and has been charge with intoxication manslaughter of a peace officer, possession of cocaine and felony evading with a motor vehicle, according to the criminal complaint.
The criminal complaint states, that Officer Will was on duty, conducting an investigation on a previous accident on the 610 North Loop near Yale when Rodriguez, driving a silver Volkswagen Beetle, passed through a police barricade blocking the freeway. Officers pursued the Volkswagon but, before it could be stopped, the vehicle fatally struck Officer Will.  Rodriguez was taken into custody at the scene and then transported to Ben Taub General Hospital where he was treated fo minor injuries, according to both HPD Vehicular Crimes Division Sergeant D. Usher and Officer C. Hall.
Will was sworn as a police officer on September 2010 and had been assigned to the Vehicular Crimes Division.
Will leaves behind a wife and two children ages 6 and 10. Officer Will's wife is six months pregnant.
A judge refused to set bond because Rodriguez is considered a flight risk. He is expected back in court on Wednesday. An immigration hold has been placed on Rodriguez.
Federal court records showed Rodriguez had been charged in 2005 for illegally re-entering the U.S.

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Bradford Beach Closed By Milwaukee County Sheriff Deputies By Mistake

Sheriff deputies shut down Bradford Beach hours early without authorization on Memorial Day.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 30, 2011

Milwaukee - On Monday, thousands of people gathered at Bradford Beach were forced to leave when Milwaukee County Sheriff Deputies announced the beach was closed hours early. The beach park closes at 10:00 p.m. Deputies began to disperse crowds from the beach at around 6:30 p.m. and scores of people (Milwaukee County taxpayers) weren't to happy as they were being forced out of the area. Most of the people affected were African-American and minorities.
Earlier in the afternoon, traffic had been blocked from getting access into the beach, but it didn't keep people from walking along the beach.
Deputies were suppose to keep the crowds moving along the sidewalks and from walking on N. Lincoln Memorial Drive. But deputies in motorcycles, mounted in horses and squad cars without authorization began to announce that "the beach is closed." They moved people out of the area and thousands were seen walking out of the beach.
A Sheriff supervisor later admitted that deputies misunderstood an order and took it upon themselves to force people out of the beach. An inquiry into closing the beach early will be initiated, according to the supervisor.
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke could not be reached for comment.

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Mexican Kinder Teacher Applied Technique For Students To Hit The Floor When Gunfire Erupted

Photos: Youtube

Five reported dead outside a kindergarten school in Monterrey.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 30, 2011

Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico - On Sunday, Martha Rivera-Alanis, a kindergarten teacher posted a Youtube video taken while a gunbattle occured near the Alfonso Reyes Children's Garden school. Rivera-Alanis quickly reacted and had her students get on the floor with their chest to the ground moments after gunfire near the school was heard. She could be heard calming the children and getting them to sing a song while rapid gunshots were heard on the background.
She was able to video tape the moment it happened, which showed her students frighten, nervous, and curious. Rivera-Alanis posted the video on her Twitter account on Sunday and wrote that she wasn't looking for fame, but used a learned procedure to get the children on the floor quickly for their safety.
On Monday, she was recognized for "Civic Outstanding Courage" by the local Secretary of Education for her quick action to protect the children at the school. The Mexican officials have been using certain safety techniques in schools to prepare students to react when gunfire or emergencies occur.
Rivera-Alanis quickly reacted moments after a gun battle ignited outside the kindergarten on Friday and instructed the children to hit the floor for their protection. The gunfire ambush erupted
when five men inside a vehicle were selling drugs to drug buyers at a taxi stand in the Estanzuela sector in the southern part of Monterrey. When another group of suspects arrived and exchanged gunfire. Five men were killed, according to the Nuevo Leon State Attorney General's Office.

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