KTEP-FM

1 week ago | ktep.org | Angela Kocherga

CIUDAD JUAREZ – The Castruita family is spending Saturday afternoon shopping at a grocery store in Mexico. Crisscrossing the border is a family tradition for Cristina Castruita and her husband. “We’ve been doing it since the kids were babies, especially because the formula is half the cost in Mexico that it is in El Paso and it’s a better name brand too,” she said. Now that the boys, Tomas, 8 and Alfredo,10 are older, she saves on brand-name laundry detergent.

1 week ago | ktep.org | Yvette Benavides

Sign up for TPR Today, Texas Public Radio's newsletter that brings our top stories to your inbox each morning. According to Spotify, an estimated 16 million people routinely listen to Spanish language pop music—and that audience is growing all the time. New listeners, even non-Spanish speakers, are always discovering everyone from Selena to Los Tigres del Norte. One American musician—Jason Fountain—is finding success in blending Spanish language pop with rock.

1 week ago | ktep.org | Greg Rosalsky

This is Part 4 in our Planet Money newsletter series on manufacturing and America. Part 1 asked why Americans aren't filling the manufacturing jobs that are already here. Part 2 dived deep into economic research that finds that manufacturing jobs pay a higher premium than many other industries. Part 3 asked whether manufacturing-based economic development could help America's heartland catch up with its major cities. Subscribe here for the next installment. As always, our podcast is here.

1 week ago | ktep.org | Angela Kocherga

Hundreds of demonstrators rallied at Edgemere Linear Park near a busy intersection in central El Paso. People of all ages chanted and waived signs as cars honked their horns in support. Ramiro Gonzalez made a sign that said “No Kings. No Felons” He’s worried about what he sees as the rise of an authoritarian president. “It’s our last chance as citizens of a free country to show our commitment to our laws,” Gonzalez said.

1 week ago | ktep.org | Daniel Chacon |Daniel Chacón |Will Rose

In this wide-ranging conversation, host Daniel Chacón speaks with poet Matt Sedillo— called “America’s greatest political poet”—about his poetic mission, international travels, and deep commitment to social justice. Sedillo reflects on the legacy of revolutionary poets like Roque Dalton and Pablo Neruda, and shares his experiences participating in international poetry festivals, including a recent trip to Cuba where he read a poem to Olympic gold medalist Mijaín López.