When we think of heavy technology users, we tend to imagine young white males. Perhaps instead we should be thinking of Hispanics. A new study from Terra Networks USA, the Miami-based digital content producer aimed at Hispanics, finds that the online Hispanic population is highly engaged with new technology, often moreso than with traditional media.

Immigrants of the past quarter-century have been assimilating in the United States at a notably faster rate than did previous generations, according to a study released May 13.

College graduates earn much more than those without a college education, and college graduates are more prevalent in metro than nonmetro areas, which contributes to higher earning levels in metro locales. Recent data from the Current Population Survey show that the metro advantage in college completion rates is growing over time. College completion rates rose across all major racial and ethnic groups in both metro and nonmetro areas between 1996 and 2006. By 2006, high school completion rates for most racial and ethnic groups were 80% or more in nonmetro areas and above 86% in metro areas. However, high school completion rates for Hispanics remained far lower than for other groups.

A survey just released by the Inter-American Development Bank found that the percentage of immigrants who report sending remittances to their country of origin has dropped to half in early 2008 compared with 73% two years ago, even though migrants continue to flock to the U.S.

In addition, the Central Bank of Mexico reported that remittances from the U.S. dropped 2.9% for the first three months of the year compared with the first quarter of 2007.

The findings by the Inter-American Development Bank marked the first decline in the number of immigrants sending money home since the institution began tracking them eight years ago.

A recent report shows airlines leading the travel industry in spending. Through the first three quarters of 2007, the top 10 airlines invested just over $19 million in Spanish-language advertising, with the majority ($12.5 million) going to Spanish-language network television. The top investor over the same period was Southwest Airlines at $11.8 million, as tracked by Nielson Monitor-Plus.

Low-income Hispanic women are more likely than their black and white counterparts to follow diets that are rich in fruits and vegetables, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. The study looked at 603 low-income mothers who participate in Head Start programs in Alabama and Texas.Researchers found that while diets among all women in the study tended to be low in important nutrients, Hispanic women in general consumed more fruits and vegetables than blacks and whites.

Artist and 2008 NSHP sponsor, Elizabeth Baez, has built her image and name through her paintings. Stepping into the scene eight years ago, Ms. Baez has made 2008 an important year in her artistic history. In December of 2007, Bank of America asked this painter to carry out a work that represented the Puerto Rican essence, which was delivered in a gala March 2008, in the Island of Enchantment, Puerto Rico.

The U.S. Hispanic population increased 1.4 million to reach 45.5 million on July 1, 2007, or 15.1 percent of the estimated total U.S. population of 301.6 million. National and state estimates by race, Hispanic origin, sex and age released today by the U.S. Census Bureau also show that the Hispanic population exceeded 500,000 in 16 states.

Hispanics remained the largest minority group, with blacks (single race or multiracial) second at 40.7 million in 2007. The black population exceeded 500,000 in 20 states. Blacks were the largest minority group in 24 states, compared with 20 states in which Hispanics were the largest minority group.