Contributions from Carin Zissis
From October 2009 through October 2010, seven presidential races are taking place in Latin America, with elections in Uruguay, Honduras, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Brazil. AS/COA offers an interactive guide to the results thus far and poll figures for elections yet to come.
House Democrats introduced a bill for comprehensive immigration reform on December 15, declaring: "The time for waiting is over." A Senate bill is expected in early 2010. Still, even with congressional action up and running, the road to reform could be a slow one.
A Venezuelan cabinet member resigned in recent days after authorities arrested his brother in connection to a banking scandal. Caracas shuttered seven small banks in recent weeks.