• Young Latinos born in the U.S. are more likely to finish high school and less likely to live in poverty than Hispanic immigrants of their age, according to a study by the Pew Hispanic Center. The survey and analysis of census data found the dropout rate was 17 percent for all Latinos between the ages of 16 - 24. However, when only looking at second generation Hispanics the dropout rate fell to 8.5 percent. - Pew Hispanic Center, December 11, 2009
• "President Barack Obama is on track to name more Hispanics to top posts than any of his predecessors," Aol News, reported December 21. In less than a year in office President Obama has tapped at least 49 Hispanics, including Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, for posts requiring senate confirmation. To date, 35 have been confirmed. President George W. Bush ranks second with 34 during his first 20 months in office.
• White Americans are expected to lose their majority status nationwide by 2050, based on recent census figures. Hispanics currently at 15 percent are expected to nearly double to 28 percent. "The actual shift in demographics will be influenced by a host of factors that can’t be accurately forecasted - the pace of the economic recovery, cultural changes, natural or manmade disasters, as well as an overhaul of immigration law." - Aol News, December 17, 2009
• Hispanics online grew by 10 percent since last year, now numbering more than 22 million, based on data from comScore. Of the total Latino audience, 52 percent preferred English content and 27 percent, both English and Spanish. - Hispanic Business, November/ December 2009
• The same issue of Hispanic Business, listed the Top 50 Advertisers. Although spending was down 5.6 percent, top advertisers in the Hispanic market still spent $2.85 billion for the period of July 2008 to June 2009. The top three were:
  1. Procter & Gamble Co., $166.5 million,
  2. US Government, $137.7 million and
  3. AT&T Inc., $133.5 million
• Univision, the nation’s highest rated Spanish language television network, said it was creating an in-house production unit to produce prime-time soap operas, reality shows and videos for the Internet. Although Univision benefits from a steady supply of popular telenovelas from Mexico, the New York-based broadcaster has determined it needs greater diversity in content, according to company executives. - Los Angeles Times, December 8, 2009
• "Local lawmakers voted (December 21) to make Mexico City the first city in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage. The bill passed by the city assembly changes the definition of marriage to ‘the free uniting of two people.’" - New York Times, December 22, 2009