Senior metallurgical engineering major Fabian Alvarez smokes a cigarette after leaving campus.

We’re not all racists, it turns out. At least not according to Oscar host Ellen DeGeneres, who quipped during the opening ceremony Sunday night that either “12 Years a Slave” wins Best Picture or “you’re all racists.” This was the first...

Angela Garcia left Venezuela for the U.S. three years ago. As a college student in her home country, she fought for freedom of speech and human rights, something she’s seeing slip away as violent protests continue to escalate. Garcia, a senior business...

One of the things I remember most vividly after coming out was being asked by my father if I wanted to be a woman. He hardly gave me time to answer. He simply followed it with a more assertive question: “You aren’t dressing up as a girl, right?” That...

WASHINGTON – Spanish-speakers wishing to sign up for health care haven’t had much luck online, but they are still trying – on the phone and with the help of interpreters. After its launch was delayed several times, Cuidadodesalud.gov – the...

WASHINGTON– Members of Congress, along with faith and labor groups, are making one last push to pass comprehensive immigration reform by the end of the year, despite warnings that the House leadership has no plans to cooperate. At a Nov.13 press...

WASHINGTON - The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is not necessary, financial aid experts told senators at a hearing about how to make applying for federal aid a friendlier and easier process. “Do we even need a FAFSA form? Do you think?...

WASHINGTON – Members of Congress are demanding answers to the lack of data available on visa overstays in the U.S., which they say could lead to more informed decisions on comprehensive immigration reform. However, the Department of Homeland Security isn’t...

WASHINGTON - Flags silhouetted Columbus Fountain as chants against mass surveillance reverberated from Union Station’s marble façade. Protesters from all over the country spoke out against bulk data collection in a two-part assault with congressional...

WASHINGTON – They came in high heels, big dresses and even bigger hair. http://youtu.be/bNaY_5oMOVA Hundreds of racers in drag or wild costumes sprinted and strutted down 17th Street NW Oct. 29 in the 27th annual High Heel Race. They paraded from...

WASHINGTON– Regional military partnerships were at the top of the agenda for El Paso business and city government officials as they visited the nation’s capital this week. Members of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce attended the Association...

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Fort Bliss men’s and women’s teams finished third Oct. 20 at the Army Ten Miler. Spc. Japheth Ng’Ojoy, 25, clocked the men’s team fastest time at 52:15 and 1st Lt. Jasmin Branch, 24, finished first for the women’s team...

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service defended its decision to close hundreds of parks during the government shutdown, after coming under fire Wednesday from House Republicans who called the service’s actions “disgusting and despicable.” National...

WASHINGTON – Capt. Richard Phillips, whose 2009 kidnapping by Somali pirates is depicted in Tom Hanks’ new movie, warned Thursday that budget cuts could eliminate one-third of the U.S. ships used to transport military cargo. Phillips’ ship,...

WASHINGTON – A member of the Security and Justice Board in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico said Wednesday that mayor-elect Enrique Serrano has sought admittance into the board. This would be a first for the mayor’s administration, Gustavo de la Rosa, an...

WASHINGTON – Hoping to pressure Congress into passing immigration reform, close to 15,000 protesters marched Tuesday from the National Mall to the Capitol steps, where a number of democratic congressmen and activists were arrested in an act of civil...

WASHINGTON – With the government shut down now for eight days, people all over the nation have been asking, “What is wrong with Congress?” Two congressional scholars pointed to political extremism as the answer Oct. 3 in a discussion at American...

Capitol shooting

WASHINGTON - How many Republicans does it take to tear down a fence? Apparently quite a few. About a dozen senators and representatives, including Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.,  welcomed veterans from the Honor Flight program to the World War II...

WASHINGTON – Democratic House members unveiled a new immigration reform bill Wednesday and called on Republicans to act now on comprehensive reform. “The time is now to pass comprehensive immigration reform,” Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., said....

Congressional Hispanic Caucus freshman representatives talk Tuesday about their first year in Congress. They expressed their concern about the government shutdown. From left, Democratic Reps. Tony Cárdenas, Calif.; Joaquin Castro, Texas; Joe Garcia,...

Editor’s note: This story was written Sept. 30. Due to the subject matter, some facts may have changed since the time it was written. WASHINGTON — Visitors to Washington may not think a government shutdown will affect them, but if they plan to...

WASHINGTON – The number of foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas in the U.S. remains unknown, and Congress is pressuring the Department of Homeland Security for a solution. Under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of...

WASHINGTON – The District of Colombia plans to take matters into its own hands to prevent city services from closing if the federal government shuts down on Tuesday. The D.C. Council has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday, in which it plans to introduce...

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama counted five communities he has consoled after mass shootings and called on Americans to seek changes to prevent more tragedies. He spoke Sunday at a memorial service for those who died Sept. 16 at the Navy Yard. About...

WASHINGTON – A group of elderly migrant laborers ended a cross-country protest Thursday outside the White House, hoping the U.S. would prod Mexico to pay money owed to them for work they did decades ago. “We want Washington and the whole world...

WASHINGTON - A group of middle and high school students were serenaded to the tune of “La Bamba” Monday at the White House by some of the biggest names in Latin music, as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. The 130 students from around the D.C. area...

Navy Cmdr. Tim Jirus says that a man standing next to him was shot and killed as both tried to escape from the shooter at the Washington Navy Yard on Monday. SHFWire photo by Nick Prete

Navy Cmdr. Tim Jirus says that a man standing next to him was shot and killed as both tried to escape from the shooter at the Washington Navy Yard on Monday. SHFWire photo by Nick Prete

WASHINGTON – Mexican actor Demian Bichir has played a gardener and a drug dealer, two professions that Mexico’s ambassador to the U.S. said Friday need to stop being linked to his country. “Mexicans in the silver screen are usually portrayed...

WASHINGTON -  Mexico’s Attorney General said Tuesday that his country has begun to see “efficient results” as it continues to enforce judicial reform. Jésus Murillo Karam, who was appointed attorney general late last year, cited the capture...