Fronteras: The USDA has lifted a ban on inspectors working in Mexico, which could invigorate a cattle trade that has been hurt in both countries. We look at how one border city provides a model for solar power in Texas. State health officials have alerted the CDC about conditions in border facilities where thousands of Central American minors are being detained. Commentator Yvette Benavides takes us inside an immigration court room in San Antonio where these children and teens are making their cases.

On Fronteras: Tens of thousands of Central American children are waiting to see how the country will respond to their immigration cases. We hear from an organization helping these minors in San Antonio navigate the complex immigration legal system. Summer time can mean fun in the great outdoors, but everything doesn’t always go as planned. On the show, a story of friendship and teamwork that began during a flash flood at a Texas river.

On Fronteras: We continue our reporting on the tens of thousands of Central American children and teens who are now in the United States. A UTSA demographer, who researches immigration, tells us more about what's driving this surge to the north. Texas is known as an energy superpower, but solar is sluggish here. We also look at solar economics in Texas and lessons that can be learned from other southwest states. And, the Kitchen Sisters take us to the Mexican town of Tequila, it's in the heart of a region that produces the legendary spirit.

Fronteras: There's a critical shortage of mental health care workers in Texas, and the problem is especially apparent in the borderlands. The Texas Democratic Party chair speaks about the party's top candidates, its platform and more as the convention arrives this weekend. For San Antonio artist Cruz Ortiz, culture is everything. He speaks about the inspiration for his Tex-Mex artwork and new exhibit at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.

Fronteras: In what would be a historic move, Mexico may open up its energy industry to private domestic and foreign investors. How Texas is preparing to get ahead of a proposed overhaul of Mexico’s energy industry. U.S. and Mexico authorities released water into the Colorado River Delta this spring to try to jump-start habitat restoration. We check in to see how that experiment is going.

Fronteras: U.S. Customs and Border Protection is undergoing a shakeup following intense scrutiny over the Border Patrol’s use of force. Waves of unaccompanied Latino minors continue to make their way to Texas. What happens after they get here? The Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund is suing Texas, claiming the state has violated the civil rights of English language learners.

Fronteras: If you're questioned by law enforcement at a traffic stop, what are you required to answer? As demographics change across the nation and in Texas, there’s growing concern about Alzheimer’s disease among Mexican-Americans—a population that continues to age. More minors from south of the border are making the dangerous journey to the U.S. illegally and alone. We visit Joint Base San Antonio Lackland where many of those minors are being housed.

Fronteras: The Democrat facing newly-nominated Republican Dan Patrick in the Texas lieutenant governor race says Sen. Patrick’s pledge to campaign in the minority community is “insulting.” New EPA rules to cut carbon emissions are expected to be unveiled soon. The new rules are expected to spur the use of a so-called clean coal technology. There are fewer than 100 fluent speakers of Kumeyaay left in Southern California and northern Baja California, where they once dominated. Efforts are now underway to preserve the endangered language.

Fronteras: San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro is President Obama’s pick to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development. One political expert says such a high profile position can make or break a candidate’s political future. Development and drought are creating a duck dilemma in Texas. Also, San Antonio singer Rita Vidaurri marks her 90th birthday this weekend.

Fronteras: Fewer Hispanics in the U.S. are identifying themselves as Catholic. At the same time more U.S. Catholics are Hispanic. How so? We unravel and explore these trends on this week's show. Also, there’s a common misperception about the fastest-growing minority group in Texas’ capital city. Most people would think that title belongs to Hispanics. While Hispanics are the largest minority group, they are not the fastest-growing there. We look at the diverse and growing Asian-Americans population in Austin.