Latinos Archives | Northwest Public Broadcasting

Tonasket Settles With Former Police Officer Who Alleged Mayor Said His Name Was ‘Too Hispanic’

By Nicholas Deshais March 12, 2020

Tonasket, in Washington's Okanogan County, no longer has a police force after the mayor disbanded it. Courtesy city of Tonasket

A former police officer in Okanogan County town of Tonasket will receive $80,000, after he alleged the mayor told him his name sounded “too Hispanic.” Jose Perez, who was one of three people in the town’s police department, took his allegations to the Tonasket City Council in January 2019, where he described what he said Mayor Dennis Brown told him. Read More

Idaho Schools Superintendent Emphasizes Importance Of Improved Outcomes For English Learners

By NWPB News January 31, 2020

Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra. CREDIT: Idaho Education News

Idaho’s schools have some 16,000 English language learners, and the majority speak Spanish as a primary language. Yet English language learners make up only 25 percent of Idaho’s Hispanic students, the vast majority of whom speak English. Read More

Yakima City Council Pulls Strong-Mayor Proposal From Ballot Hours After Opponents File Lawsuits

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa December 11, 2019

The Yakima City Council voted 4-3 on Tuesday, Nov. 19 in favor of a proposal that would establish an at-large mayoral position in city government if approved by voters in a February special election. Civil rights organizations say any kind of city-wide elections would disenfranchise Latinx voters in Yakima and would violate the federal Voting Rights Act. CREDIT: Enrique Pérez de la Rosa/NWPB

A proposal to change Yakima’s form of government by replacing the city manager with an elected mayor is off the table — at least for now. City council members voted Tuesday to remove the measure from the February ballot hours after two lawsuits were filed by a coalition of civil rights organizations. Read More

Yakima Pierde Representación Latina, Organizadores Se Preguntan Qué Sucedió

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa November 22, 2019

El Concejo Municipal de Yakima votó 4-3 el martes 19 de noviembre a favor de una propuesta que establecerá un puesto de alcalde general en el gobierno de la ciudad si votantes la aprueban en una elección especial en febrero. Organizaciones de derechos civiles dicen que elecciones en cuales participa todo el electorado de Yakima ponen en riesgo los derechos de votantes latinos, por lo que oponen la propuesta que además violaría la Ley federal de derecho de voto. CRÉDITO: Enrique Pérez de la Rosa / NWPB

El próximo consejo municipal en Yakima será menos diverso. Solo una candidata Latina tiene una ventaja estrecha sobre su oponente electoral, cuatro años después de que las primeras Latinas tomaron cargos en el ayuntamiento después de una elección histórica. ¿Qué sucedió? Read More

As Yakima Loses Latinx Representation On City Council, Organizers Wonder What Happened

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa November 21, 2019

If Washington voters don't mail in ballots, they can return them in person to drop boxes like this one at the Yakima County Elections Office. CREDIT: ESMY JIMENEZ/NWPB

Yakima's next council will likely be different. Only two Latina candidates ran for office this year, and just one has a lead — a narrow one — over her opponent. Yakima’s population is nearly half Latinx. Continue Reading Read More