With the end of a government ban that was in place for at least 15 years, Cubans can now stay at island hotels, a largely symbolic move in a country where a nice hotel room can cost about $200 a night -- the average annual salary for a state job. Though not formally announced by the government, several hotels reached Monday confirmed the end of the so-called "tourism apartheid."

Brain-injured Grammy award-winning singer Emilio Navaira is at the center of a groundbreaking medical trial at a Houston hospital, his doctors say.

Software-giant Microsoft has no intention of increasing its multi-billion takeover bid for internet company Yahoo, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

The geographic dispersion of the U.S. Hispanic population continues. States with small Hispanic populations have shown the greatest growth in the last decade — with seven of the 10 fastest-growing states in the South.

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.

Today, due to advancements in women's rights and education, more Hispanic women than ever are rising to the top of the corporate, government, and academic hierarchy. Every April since 2003, Hispanic Business magazine has reported on the notable achievements being made by Hispanic women. Read the full text of this article for the reveal of this year's Woman of the Year and Elite 20.

Dr. Sandra Hernandez is a relentless supporter of the poor and uninsured, even in the face of great opposition continues her fight for them -- and continues to win. She was the first Hispanic and first woman to serve as public health director for the city and county of San Francisco; now she's chief executive officer of the San Francisco Foundation -- where again is was the first woman and Hispanic in the post. The foundation, which distributes $60 million yearly, is dedicated to improving access and quality health care for the underserved.

Analysts are estimating U.S. mortgage losses could reach the $400 billion mark; consumers are experiencing a wealth deterioration due to declining stocks and home prices and increasing inflation; businesses are confronted with softening sales. Even so, analysts are mixed on whether the U.S. is headed for an official recession. This latest installment of Hispanic Business magazine's economic forecast attempts to provide an objective look at the matter, as we assesses the economy's current balance sheet and its prospects for 2008.