George W. Bush is the 10th U.S. president to hope for a democratic revolution in Cuba to replace Fidel Castro. Now it's somebody's job to make it happen.

Right now is the time to apply for some of the new and very profitable federal, state and local government contracts. There are also special opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses.

In the past two years, a handful of multinational Spanish companies have expanded their operations into Texas. The bond between Texas and Spain has grown so rapidly that earlier this month the Spanish government hosted a trade conference here. Trade ties also have been on the rise, totaling $1.2 billion last year, up from $847.5 million in 2003.

Wal-Mart recently shifted management of some $60 million in annual legal billings to 40 minority attorneys, including racial/ethnic minority group members and women. The shift is the result of the corporation's first annual "diversity review," which included the top 100 outside law firms serving its legal needs.

The network diversity report cards, issued annually by members of the Multi-Ethnic Media Coalition, give mediocre marks to the four major broadcast networks for diversity in front of and behind the camera. The groups assign grades based on figures provided by Fox, ABC, NBC and CBS.

The unemployment rate for Hispanics increased to 6.0 in November from 5.8 percent in October, according to data released today by the U.S. Department of Labor. The overall U.S. unemployment rate remained the same as in October at 5.0 percent, thereby increasing the Hispanic unemployment gap to 1 percentage point.

Luis A. Aguilar, a corporate finance specialist at the Atlanta office of law firm McKenna Long & Aldridge, is the 2005 Lawyer of the Year. The award, bestowed by the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), was judged by a special review committee that focused on some of the most highly regarded attorneys in the country.

First-time Hispanic enrollment in postsecondary education increased much faster than non-Hispanic white enrollment between 1996 and 2001 in each of seven states that collectively account for 80 percent of U.S. Hispanic college students.

While the U.S. median age continues to rise, from 35.3 years in 2000, the median age of Hispanics remains the lowest of all groups. Demographers predict faster growth among young Hispanics than among other young ethnic groups for the next decade.

More than 20 percent of Cubans are 65 or older, while a scant 4 percent of Mexicans are in that age bracket. On the other hand, 37 percent of Mexicans and 31 percent of Puerto Ricans are younger than 18.

Outdoor advertising has become a powerful way to reach Hispanics.