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As the Latino population increases in the United States so does the opportunity for Latino political representation on local, state, and federal levels. Next month California democrats Loretta and Linda Sanchez are set to become the first sisters ever elected to the U.S. Congress. But Latinas face unique social and cultural challenges when trying to serve in public office. From Chicago Yolanda Perdomo has our story.

The Census Bureau estimates that 57 percent of Latino adult citizens were reregistered to vote during the November 2000 election. The rising numbers have propelled both republicans and democrats to make great efforts to woo the Latino vote. Now, not too long ago in New York City, no politician was even thinking of wooing the Dominican vote, but fast forward to the present and Dominicans are playing center stage in the political front. Independent producer Ben Kramer reports now on the evolving political presence of los Dominicanos, the Dominican community, in New York City

Some of the world's most powerful business and government leaders are in Mexico for the annual gathering of APEC, Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Mexican president Vicente Fox is hosting this year's gathering, although no major new trade agreements are expected to be announced at the APEC conference, Fox wants to put Mexico in the limelight of the global investment community. As Latino USA's Franc Contreras reports many Mexicans are hope the attention might help jumpstart their country's ailing economy.

As a young writer, it took years for Sandra Cisneros to get a major publishing house interested in her work. Finally, 'The House on Mango Street' was published by Knopf and Cisneros' career took off at light speed. She received numerous awards and accolades for her work, including a MacArthur Genius Award. Her fans across the country have been waiting almost a decade for Cisneros newest work ' it's a novel called 'Caramelo' and it's out this month and already enjoying critical acclaim. Sandra Cisneros joins us on the program.