Summary: Up-coming elections in Central America grab our attention this week on Latin Pulse. Voters go to the polls in both El Salvador and Costa Rica early next month. This program sorts out the key candidates, the polls, and some of the major issues for both countries with corruption scandals of the past still affecting voter dissatisfaction. The program also includes a commentary looking forward and backward at U.S. policy in Latin America. The news segment of the program covers the the killing of Monica Spear, a Venezuelan beauty queen and actress. The program includes interviews with: Hector Silva of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS); and Lowell Gudmundson of Mount Holyoke College. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.) (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 41 MB.) podcast news Latin America Venezuela El Salvador politics elections violence Costa Rica Mauricio Funes crime FMLN ARENA PLN PUSC gangs Tony Saca corruption Norman Quijano Central America Monica Spear Johnny Araya Laura Chinchilla justice police Oscar Arias Salvador Sanchez Ceren Barrio 18 Gang Guatemala impunity MS-13 MS-13 Gang
