NewsTaco Rundown – February 5, 2019

Latino group sues Texas over flagging potential noncitizens on voter rolls – NBCNews

The nation’s oldest Latino civil rights group, the League of United Latin American Citizens, filed a lawsuit against Texas on Tuesday after state officials said nearly 100,000 potential noncitizens may be on the state’s voter rolls. The Texas secretary of state’s office announced last week that it would send election officials a list of 95,000 flagged potential noncitizens for possible review. The office also said that 58,000 of those potential noncitizens had voted in one or more Texas elections since 1996.

Hispanic voters will make up largest minority group by 2020 election, study says – New Orleans Times-Picayune

By the 2020 presidential election Hispanics will make up the largest share of non-white eligible voters, according to a Pew Research Center study published Wednesday (Jan. 30). The study takes an early look at the unfolding demographic changes that are shaping the U.S. electorate, with minority groups now projected to make up one third of all eligible voters by 2020.

California AG Becerra to give Spanish-language SOTU response – The Hill

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D) was chosen Tuesday to give the Spanish-language Democratic response to President Trump‘s State of the Union speech on Feb. 5. Becerra, a former lawmaker who served in Congress for 24 years, has used his position as attorney general to challenge many of Trump’s policy initiatives, particularly on immigration, health care and the environment.

Solar-Power Benefits Aren’t Reaching Communities of Color – City Lab

One of the fundamental drivers of the environmental-justice movement is that low-income communities and communities of color are often at the forefront of environmental harm, since they are more likely to live in the path of air pollution and near toxic facilities like oil refineries. But a study recently published in Nature Sustainability highlights the fact that communities of color are also disproportionately missing out on the benefits of rooftop solar power.

Hispanics are propping up Texas economy, workforce as shrinking white population ages, experts say – Dallas Morning News

Nora Soto has a big family. She’s one of 36 cousins, most of them born in the U.S. Most are in their 20s or 30s, work in all types of industries and have kids of their own. Experts say Texas’ population wouldn’t be at the levels it needs to be to meet the state workforce needs without Hispanic families like Soto’s contributing to the state’s population growth.

White people are experts at identity politics but complain when blacks, Latinos follow – USA Today

In both political parties, a lot of white people — and white males in particular — are beefing with identity politics. America’s newest class of victims — i.e., white men — is on the warpath again. They complain that they can’t get into college because of affirmative action, can’t get a job because of diversity hiring, and can’t keep a job because of factories closing due to unfair trade deals.

5M and counting: The state of Latino-owned businesses in the U.S. – Wells Fargo Stories

When Esperanza Friedman decided to open a pediatric and adult orthotic and prosthetic care center with her husband in San Diego, they had some challenges. They had spent more than a decade working in Los Angeles, so they didn’t know the local doctors, and they had limited capital and a hard time acquiring a building to lease — challenges similar to what many Latino business owners face in the U.S., according to a recent study.

The importance of counting Latinos in the 2020 Census – Fresno Bee

No phrase better defines the American experience than the clear directive: No taxation without representation. With one set of words, a nation’s value system is captured and guided into the future, giving every single resident a voice. You’d think we would do everything in our power to protect and preserve that which makes just representation possible — like making sure the decennial census count is accurate, right?

Local author on prestigious Newbery Medal: ‘Doesn’t feel like it could possibly be me’ – ABC8 News

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Local author Meg Medina won the John Newbery Medal, awarded to the most distinguished American children’s book of the year, on Monday for her novel “Merci Suárez Changes Gears.” When she got the call that she had won, Medina couldn’t quite believe it. “Doesn’t feel real yet, so far,” Medina admitted. She spoke, in a phone interview with 8News from her Richmond home, about her admiration of past Newbery winners and detailed what the honor means to her.

Pioneering spirit: How one school helps Latino students tackle AP tests – Christian Science Monitor

Ivan Rangel weaves among more than 30 desks in his small classroom as he lectures about Confucianism to his high-level Advanced Placement world history class. The ancient Chinese philosopher valued lifelong learning, says Mr. Rangel, and saw education as the only way to “transform the people.” It is self-cultivation that brings success. Nurture not nature. The class silently stares as their teacher paces among them in his white Converse sneakers. They are absorbing information that will likely be on their AP test this spring. It is a scene common in highly rated high schools in prosperous areas all across the United States.

Univision joins lawsuit against 2020 census citizenship question – The Hill

Spanish-language network Univision on Friday joined a lawsuit against the Commerce Department’s decision to include a citizenship question on the upcoming 2020 U.S. Census. The media company signed on to a lawsuit pursued in northern California, challenging the Commerce Department’s authority to add a question on citizenship to the census.

Trump’s push for citizenship question dooms 2020 census -Washington Post/Yakima Herald