The new year has started off with a set of developments on the COVID-19 front. A new strain of coronavirus has been discovered, and while we aren’t sure what that means long term, already some countries have gone on lockdown as experts warn it could be more infectious…
From rumors about the origin of the coronavirus to false claims about the U.S. election and, most recently, elaborate conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 vaccine, 2020 has been full of misinformation. And for Latinos, much of that misinformation is coming from the messaging app, Whatsapp. One in every…
One of the first nominees selected in November for president-elect Joe Biden’s cabinet was Alejandro Mayorkas, a Cuban-American who previously served in several cabinet positions under president Barack Obama. It’s unclear when the U.S. Senate will vote on whether to confirm Mayorkas to lead the Department of Homeland…
The long path to establishing a Smithsonian National Museum for the American Latino, which has been in the works since 2004, finally made it to the desk of the president after clearing the major hurdle of passage in the U.S. Senate. A bill to establish this museum as…
California has its first Latino U.S. Senator, Alex Padilla. On Tuesday, the state’s governor Gavin Newsom chose Padilla to fill the seat vacated by Democrat Kamala Harris when she was elected vice president. The remaining term is two years. The 47-year-old Padilla has been serving as California Secretary…
News of two authorized COVID-19 vaccines has energized a new wave of hope across the country just in time for the holidays, although health experts warn that the situation is still grim. For Latinos, COVID rates are outpacing the general population and leaders are also grappling with new…
In the nine months since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Latinos have been amongst the hardest hit populations. Yet recent polling shows that Latinos are less likely to trust a vaccine. In light of Pfizer’s vaccine becoming available for emergency use to medical workers last Friday, Latino…
Fourteen military commanders and lower-level leaders have been fired or suspended as a result of an investigation into the death of Latina soldier, Vanessa GuillĂ©n. In April, GuillĂ©n went missing at Fort Hood Military Base and after a national campaign to draw attention to her disappearance, her body…
Alesia Nava took a risk and started a new design business during the pandemic. Here she is modeling one of the scarves she designed in New York City. Photo courtesy of Alesia Nava. Like millions of U.S. workers this year, Alesia Nava found herself without a job at…
Early voting starts today for the U.S. senate runoffs taking place January 5 in Georgia. This race could flip the leadership of the senate and dramatically affect president-elect Joe Biden’s ability to enact items on his agenda. With so much at stake, Latino voters are being courted again…
