Americas Now

Since 1989, over 3,000 people have been exonerated from prison sentences in the United States after evidence proved they were innocent. But how hard is it for those who are wrongfully convicted to rebuild their lives? Americas Now Podcast host Elaine Reyes talks to correspondent Dan Williams who followed several cases and produced a special report on this issue.

Imagine a choir where some singers cannot see and others cannot hear. That’s the concept of a unique project in Venezuela, which shows how – when pre-conceptions are put aside — music can be made. Americas Now Podcast host Elaine Reyes talks to Stephen Gibbs who deployed in the city of Barquisimeto to meet and interview these talented musicians and artists. 

Navajo Nation people are being forced out. The same is happening in Central America, where the rainy season has become shorter and unpredictable. Farmers, most of whom are indigenous, can’t produce like they used to a decade ago, so they migrate north.

Peruvian cuisine is a mix of many influences and cultures, including Asian. Two restaurants in Lima have been among the best in the world for few years now but great local food with fresh ingredients and low prices can be found literally in any neighborhood market or eatery. Correspondent Dan Collyns has been reporting how Peruvians have managed to master the art of combining highland Andean products like local potatoes with seafood from the Pacific Ocean.  

The US-Mexico border has long been an area of treacherous terrain. And with the number of migrants trying to illegally cross into the US increasing, the number of migrant deaths has risen as well. Since 2020, migrants have been choosing more dangerous routes to the US to avoid apprehension. Hundreds perish from heat exposure and dehydration in the desert. Others drown trying to cross rivers and canals. On this episode of the Americas Now Podcast, correspondent Alasdair Baverstock shares insight, with host Elaine Reyes, from his deployments to the border to cover the migration story.  

Illegal mining is a big problem in South America. Thousands of small-time miners are digging up and destroying parts of the Amazon in different countries. The police and the army seem to be a step behind as the miners keep operating. Correspondent-Producer Armando Guerra shares his experience, with host Elaine Reyes, covering illegal gold mines in Peru and Ecuador.  

Vallenato is likely Colombia’s most popular musical genre and part of the country’s identity. Played with an accordion, it’s a combination of African, Indigenous and European sounds. Traditionally, the genre has been dominated by male musicians but lately it’s female performers who are making themselves heard. Correspondent Michelle Begue discusses the Women of Vallenato with Anchor Elaine Reyes.

Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine producer and the cultivation of coca plants, the main ingredient of the drug, is increasing. Elaine Reyes talks to correspondent Toby Muse, who recently reported on the Gulf Clan, the leading drug cartel in Colombia. Muse, who is based in the South American country, deployed to the epicenter of cocaine production and met with coca growers and drug smugglers.

Pirates and robbing ships at sea may seem like a thing from the past. But in Mexico, a country that has been attacked by pirates for centuries, the practice continues. Elaine Reyes talks to correspondent Alasdair Baverstock who has reported on modern-day pirates targeting oil platforms and vessels in the Gulf of Mexico.