To the Point

Does Villaraigosa Win Mark Rise in Latino Political Power?

Latinos have just passed blacks as the largest minority in America. That makes last week's mayoral election in Los Angeles particularly timely and significant. City Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa scored a landslide 59%-to-41% victory over incumbent Jim Hahn, positioning him alongside New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and a few others as Latinos on the national political stage. Will Latinos around the country use Villaraigosa's victory as a springboard for their own power and public image at home? Is it a time for burgeoning Latino influence or the forming of multi-ethnic coalitions? Guest hosts Diana Nyad gets perspective from journalists, political scientists and advocates working to empower Latinos. Making News: Afghan President Hamid Karzai Meets Bush in Washington Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan meets with President Bush in Washington today. On the agenda are concerns about Afghan prisoner abuse and Karzai's criticism of the United States and other western countries for not helping his people develop alternative livelihoods to heroin and opium, for which Afghanistan is the world's leading source. Peter Grier, Washington Editor of the Christian Science Monitor, attended today's press conference. Reporters Notebook: Venezuela Demands Posada Stand Trial, May Cut Ties with US Luis Posada Carriles was arrested in Miami last week for entering the US illegally. Now, Venezuelan President Chavez is threatening to sever diplomatic relations with the US if Posada is not turned over to stand trial in Caracas for a 1975 plane bombing, a crime for which he has been twice acquitted by Venezuelan courts. The US has 60 days to consider Chavez's request. Rafael Lorente is covering the story for South Florida's Sun-Sentinel.