EL PASO -- Social justice, racism, and hate crimes have become hot-button issues on the presidential campaign trail and debate stage.  Voters in predominantly Latino El Paso are paying attention. They know the horror and heartache caused by a hate crime.  This August marked a year since a gunman from North Texas traveled to border city and went on a shooting rampage inside a Walmart.

CIUDAD JUAREZ --It’s been more than six months since the U.S. and Mexico border closed to all but essential travel to slow the spread of COVID-19. The disruption of lives and livelihoods has been widespread on both sides during the pandemic. 

Marco Antonio Corral, 60, has watched it all unfold from the middle of the Paso del Norte Bridge where just over the borderline on the Mexican side he peddles potato chips and cold water to drivers and passengers stuck in idling cars calling out “Papitas! Agua!”  

EL PASO -- U.S. customs and Border Protection officers continue to seize large loads of drugs on the Texas-Mexico border.  Smuggling during the pandemic also includes a comfort food that is contraband Mexican bologna. 

Miriam Ortiz, a loyal shopper at La Mejor Texas Meat shop understands the popularity of the lunchmeat. She was at the meat market buying dinner for her family including steaks and some short ribs.  

In today's episode listen to host Tim Z. Hernandez talk to poet Seema Reza. She is the CEO of Community Building Art Works, a unique arts organization that encourages the use of the arts as a tool for narration, self-care, and socialization among a military population struggling with emotional and physical injuries. Reza’s work with veterans is featured in the 2018 HBO documentary We Are Not Done Yet. She was awarded the Col John Gioia Patriot Award by the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore for her work with service members.

More than 70 billion land animals are killed for food every year and research suggests that global demand for meat may double by 2050. And animal agriculture is responsible for a major share of the damage caused in global land degradation, air and water pollution, and the loss of biodiversity. On ACT Radio, Greg, Liz and Tom talk with filmmaker Liz Marshall about her latest documentary Meat the Future, which chronicles the birth of the cell-based, cultivated meat industry and its revolutionary efforts to sustainably feed the world without the need to breed, raise and slaughter animals.

National Hispanic Heritage Month has just come to an end, but its impact still remains. This week, Kyle Alvarado joined in to discuss the heritage of Latinos within the world of the cinema. From notable actors, writers, and films, we learned about the immense and sometimes misrepresented presence of Latinos and Latino stories within the American film industry. 

 As Fall approaches, film festivals around the world are still coming up with ideas about how to screen their curated selections. Our local film festival is at the forefront of innovation within this field. Artistic Director and Founder, Carlos Corral, streamed in this week to discuss the upcoming film festival. From October 16 - 25, the El Paso Film Festival will be streamed online with an immense selection of feature and short films. The festival is available via Apple TV, Roku TV, and Amazon Fire TV - all completely free. Donations are highly encouraged and appreciated. 

The book Power At The Pass is the story of businessman Don Shapiro finding home and success in the El Paso region.

Don’s love of the region has been so powerful that it’s brought a spiritual component into the realm of business. It is through his story we also learn more about the stories of El Paso, Northern Mexico, The Southwest, and America.