March 10, 2001

Weekly Edition
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An index of this week's stories:

Census (14.4 | 28.8) - NPR's Pam Fessler reports on the impact of the first figures released from the 2000 census. An explosion of Hispanic and Asian populations in New Jersey, Wisconsin, Mississippi, and Virginia -- the first states to be reported -- is expected to transform politics and public policy at every level and in nearly every community. Figures from remaining states are to be released in the coming weeks. - 3:49

Hispanic Power (14.4 | 28.8) - Commentator Ruben Navarette says there's a difference between where Hispanics are politically and where they should be in terms of their demographics. While the population of Hispanics is rising, the number of Hispanic representatives at all levels of government hasn't kept pace. - 2:41

Environmental Racism (14.4 | 28.8) - NPR's Ina Jaffe reports on allegations of environmental racism in a southern California community. Residents of Southgate, a primarily Latino town, claim their area has been chosen as the proposed site for a new power plant because energy company officials assume they are "stupid immigrants" who won't fight back. - 6:46

Betty La Fea (14.4 | 28.8) - The Colombian soap opera Betty La Fea, or Betty the Uglyhas become a nightly hit all over Latin America. It features a heroine with buck teeth, dirty hair and a very bad wardrobe. Reporter Steven Dudley visits the show's set in Bogota to find out why Betty is popular. - 5:00

The West Nile Virus I (14.4 | 28.8) - NPR's Daniel Zwerdling reports the case of West Nile symbolizes a dilemma: as the global economy knits countries closer together, it's also making the United States more vulnerable to exotic diseases. The story of West Nile is a production of NPR and American Radio Works. It was produced by Marisa Penaloza. - 12:30

Email Request (14.4 | 28.8) - Listeners are encouraged to send their suggestions to Weekly Edition at www.weed@npr.org. - :59

Bolivia Postcard (14.4 | 28.8) -NPR's Joe Palca sent us an audio postcard from Carnaval in Bolivia. - 1:09

Along for the Ride (14.4 | 28.8) - Comedian Alex Borstein takes us to an elementary school classroom to find out how Class Clowns are made. - 10:30

Some stories do not link to audio files because of Internet rights issues.

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