Las Notis is a daily news column that gets you up to speed on the political, media + other going ons in Latin America and the diaspora—all in one quick digest.
- Here’s your glimpse at what’s going on today:
- President Joe Biden announced on Monday (May 17) that roughly 39 million families will begin receiving monthly child tax credit payments for the first time as part of an expanded program in the American Rescue Plan. The payments, normally given annually as tax refunds, will be distributed monthly starting July 15 and aim to dramatically reduce child poverty. [NBC]
- The White House has promised to investigate reports that migrant children were forced to remain on board buses overnight as they waited to be relocated away from the border. According to media outlets, the children had to use the toilet and eat on the buses. The bus company owner told NBC News that some children wait on the vehicles just a few hours and others are kept overnight. He continued on to report the coaches are often littered with refuse and have overflowing bathrooms. [BBC]
- Miami is offering COVID-19 vaccines at pop-up locations “wherever people are” all around the city. Now that 12- to 15-year olds are eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, Miami-Dade County is offering shots at some high schools. The University of Miami has a mobile pediatric unit heading to churches and underserved neighborhoods to ramp up the campaign to convince or reach those who haven’t gotten shots yet to get vaccinated. [NPR]
- Femicide protests have reignited in Puerto Rico after the recent killings of Keishla Rodríguez and Andrea Ruiz. Ruiz appeared in court virtually less than two months ago to file a complaint against Miguel Ocasio, detailing emotional abuse and persecution, to which the judge found “no cause” to arrest Ocasio. He went on to kill and burn Ruiz a month later. Rodríguez was found dead after she told boxer Félix Verdejo that she was pregnant with his child. A record number of seven femicides were reported in April, making it the deadliest month for women on the island so far this year. [NBC]
- On Saturday, Vanessa Bryant spoke on behalf of her late husband, Kobe Bryant, as he was posthumously inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame at the Class of 2020 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement ceremony. During her speech, she reflected on Kobe’s career and hard work. She closed by congratulating her husband, remembering he once told her, “if you’re going to bet on someone, bet on yourself,” to which she responded, “I’m glad you bet on yourself, you overachiever. You did it. You’re in the hall of fame now…you’re an all-time great.” [NBC]
