Bilingual Weekly

STOCKTON, CA – Representatives from local organization met at El Concilio in downtown Stockton, on Wednesday, August 8^th to discuss Latino challenges in the community and the possible creation of a Latino statewide agenda. Continue reading »

STOCKTON, CA- Kennedy Community Center overshadowed by accusations of mistreatment and racism. Continue reading »

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) submitted a formal letter of resignation from Congress to Governor Jerry Brown and Speaker John Boehner, effective midnight August 15th.  Continue reading »

Juan Andrade

The most anticipated soccer game of the London Olympic Games was held at the magnificent Wembley stadium, on Saturday August 11, 2012. The final soccer game between Brazil and Mexico started at 7 AM Pacific time. During the first 30 seconds of the game, the Mexican player, Oribe Peralta, scored the first goal giving his team confidence and surprising the Brazilian team. Continue reading »

STOCKTON, CA – On Labor Day, Monday, September 3, the San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) will not operate its regular fixed route bus services (Stockton Metro, Metro Express, Intercity, Hopper, and San Joaquin Commuter) and Dial-A-Ride services. RTD’s administrative offices and the Downtown Transit Center (DTC) Customer Service Center will be closed.

RTD will resume regular service and reopen its administrative offices and the DTC Customer Service Center on Tuesday, September 4.

For route and schedule information: RTD Customer Information Line, (209) 943-1111 or 1-800-HOW-TO-RIDE (1-800-469-8674) or visit RTD online at

http://www.sanjoaquinRTD.com and follow San Joaquin RTD on Facebook and Twitter.

STOCKTON, CA- Stockton communities joined the 29th Annual National Night Out against crime on Tuesday August, 7^th. Continue reading »

WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) submitted a Federal Register notice announcing new forms and instructions to allow individuals to request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals from USCIS. USCIS will begin accepting completed forms tomorrow, August 15, 2012. On June 15, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and meet other key guidelines may request, on a case-by-case basis, consideration of deferred action.

“The release of the new form and instructions to allow individuals to request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals from USCIS marks an important step in our implementation of this new process,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. “While requests should not be submitted until August 15th, it is important that individuals wishing to be considered for deferred action understand the requirements necessary to demonstrate eligibility to be considered.”

Individuals requesting consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals must submit Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals; Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (with accompanying fees); and an I-765WS, Worksheet. USCIS recently developed a series of resources to inform the public on how the process will work. The website, www.uscis.gov/childhoodarrivals, includes a flier, a How do I brochure, frequently asked questions, and a number of other resources. USCIS encourages individuals with questions to visit this website or call the USCIS National Customer Service line at 1-800-375-5283.

USCIS is aware of immigration scams surrounding the deferred action for childhood arrivals process. Often, unauthorized practitioners of immigration law may try to take advantage of individuals by charging a fee to submit forms to USCIS, or to provide other services. The USCIS website www.uscis.gov/avoidscams includes tips on filing forms, reporting scams and finding accredited legal services.

USCIS is committed to ensuring that this new process works within the agency’s mission to ensure the integrity of the immigration system.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis) and the USCIS blog The Beacon.

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA23) sent a letter calling on Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Jeffrey Zients to take steps to protect federal workers from renting vehicles under safety recall while they are traveling on official business.

Boxer and Capps are the lead sponsors of House and Senate legislation – the Rachel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act of 2012 – which would ensure the safety of America’s rental car fleet by preventing rental car companies from renting or selling recalled cars or trucks. According to Boxer, the legislation is named in honor of Raechel and Jacqueline Houck, who was killed in a tragic accident in 2004 that she says was caused by an unrepaired defect in a PT Cruiser rented from Enterprise that was under a safety recall.

The two California lawmakers wrote in the letter, “This terrible accident drew attention to the fact that car rental companies are not required to repair vehicles under safety recall before they are rented or sold to the public. We have written legislation to close this loophole and are working with our colleagues in the House and Senate to enact this measure into law.

“In the meantime, we believe it is imperative that we protect people from unsafe recalled vehicles,” the lawmakers wrote. “So today we are urging the Federal government to put in place policies that will ensure that no Federal employee rents a vehicle under safety recall until it has been fixed.”

RICHMOND, Calif. (AP) — Air quality regulators say they were wrong about pollution caused by the Chevron refinery fire in Richmond.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District originally said that air samples taken during Monday’s fire showed that toxic air contaminants were below levels considered safe by federal health officials.

On Thursday the district said its “initial statement was incorrect.” In one of eight samples taken throughout Richmond, levels of the toxic compound acrolein were above the federal standard.

The air district also says the refinery fire generated smoke containing particulate matter that is the likely source of health complaints by Richmond residents.
After the fire erupted and sent plumes of black smoke into the sky Monday night, hundreds of people showed up at local hospitals complaining of respiratory problems.

Candy Vargas poses for Bilingual Weekly cover-shoot by Sarah Lippincott.

Candy Vargas,

Born and raised in Lamont Bakersfield, Vargas moved to Stockton six years ago to attend the University of the Pacific.

It was during a study abroad program at Lima, Peru where Vargas renewed her interest in the public service. Continue reading »

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Art painted on the wall titled CAFE INC., and fish made out of paper named Stella

Sarah Lippincott

STOCKTON, CA – Celebrate Stockton flags decorated the entrance of the 235 N. San Joaquin Street with sounds of music echoing out.

Continue reading »