Coming to you LIVE from Bakersfield

Good evening viewers, this is Jessie Wambold coming to you live from the road. Brought to you by the only station that 'Brings News to Life'.

This morning while leaving Elk Grove CA the conflict in Gaza came to life. Mirhad (mer-haad) an American-Palestinian has been driving truck for 17 years, with a Koran on the dashboard and a prayer scarf around his neck. In his early 20's Mirhad was kicked out of Palestine by Israeli soldiers. They were just wanting to stop young people from joining the resistance, which Mirhad had no interest in but nearly became a casualty of when he was shot. He spent some time in the desert between Israel and Egypt before being let in to the neighboring country. His engish was good and he was hired by Lockheed Martin (who was building a satelite communication system for the Egyptian government). The young Palestinian was well liked by his superiors and was offered a green card into the United States. Five years later in 1990 he became a US citizen.

Mirhad, who lives near Oakland with his Mexican wife and nine children, has given up hope on going back to his homeland. When I asked if there was an answer to the conflict he said it will not end "until Jesus returns". This month the Israeli army invaded the Gaza strip and Mirad's family held a 22 person funeral. He has every reason to dislike Americans for funding Israel's war but we have received word that he picks up American hitchhickers and sends them on their
way with a "good luck" and a $5 bill, "for a little breakfast."

Later that day the unemployment line came to life; Louis is a Mexican- American living in Mendota, a small town in central CA. He works at the sugar plant, but not for long. The plant is technically closed, the few workers they kept on are just taking apart machines for scrap. The plant employed 200 people but Louis noted many more are out of work, the number does not include the truck drivers or beet farmers that relied on the plant. Mendota has been hit hard during this economic crisis. A local tomato plant will likely close and the town's claim as the 'Cantelope Capital of the World' will most likely be lost. Jorge, another native, explained how the current drought has already closed many farms; with much of the available water being piped to Los Angelas.

Louis, 39, is not too worried about the coming year, I think he prefers to stay positive. He has been working since he was a youngster, picking grapes until he was in highschool when he was hired by the sugar plant. He worries more about his children and how they don't seem to appreciate what they are given. I suggested some tough times may not be the worst thing to happen to my generation and he agreed that his children could use some work ethic training.

With much regret there is one last thing I must bring to life and that
is the litter problem on our highways. This picture was taken by a
nice young hitchhiker who thought a van was pulling over to pick him
up but discovered they were just emptying the garbage from their
vehicle. I know you are outraged by this problem and will continue to
try and keep our roadways clean.

I will sign off by asking my viewers to join me in praying for all
those affected by the conflict in Gaza and the unemployment crisis.

Thanks for watching,

Jessie Wambold 'Bringing News to Life'

This broadcast approved by Jordan Schiele.