The new era of Washington bipartisanship couldn't come soon enough to Americans angered by gridlock and hyper-partisanship on Capitol Hill. Just how friendly things remain may well depend on how leaders grapple with key economic issues awaiting the 110th Congress.

Democratic control of the House of Representatives and Senate may affect U.S. relations with Latin American and the Caribbean, clearing the way for sweeping immigration reforms but casting a shadow over two crucial free-trade agreements and U.S. anti-drug aid to Colombia.

The Democratic takeover of Congress could lead to a major change in the nation's immigration laws, including a chance for millions of illegal immigrants to become citizens, experts on both sides of the debate said Thursday.

Republican gains among Hispanic voters evaporated in Tuesday's elections, and some party leaders are blaming harsh rhetoric on immigration for the reversal.

Occupying the 11th floor of an office building in Glendale, Calif.'s business district, Americas United employs immigrants from Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico and around the Americas who speak fluent Spanish. Bank officials say the team will reach out to a community that has been ignored for decades by traditional banks.

Some historically black colleges and universities are recruiting Hispanics, hoping to boost their enrollments, diversify their student bodies and educate a fast-growing segment of the population.

Having decisively won his first full term as California's governor on Tuesday, Arnold Schwarzenegger is celebrating with a whirlwind two-day trip -- not to Disneyland, but to the state's top foreign trade partner, Mexico.

Advertisers' efforts to reach Hispanic consumers are becoming more targeted, and language is a major factor. Advertisers spent more than $3.3 billion to market products to U.S. Hispanics in 2005, a 6.8 percent increase from 2004.

Get the entire 2006 Hispanic Business 500 Directory in Excel format.

Big names in the auto industry are competing to tap the buying power of the Hispanic market, too ... it just so happens that they're Hispanic as well.

The Burt Automotive Network leads the Hispanic Business magazine list of the Top 20 Auto Companies for 2006.