Congratulations to Elianeth Mary Brito. Brito, a 15-year-old 11^th grader from Miami, was born in Puerto Rico and wants to attend the University of Florida or the University of Central Florida to major in Creative Writing and minor in Drama.

In New York there was a tie for the number of the most likes, with both contestants getting more than 1,200 likes!  We are now announcing our second winner, Miss Ana Rodriguez. A little about Ana: She is Mexican- American and lives in the Bronx.  She’s currently a 10^th grader.  At her high school she is studying design and construction because she wants to be an architect. She wants to go to college in Florida.

On Nov. 9, the Department of the Interior released a plan that would require oil shale companies to provide solid proof that their activities will balance the state’s economic and environmental needs before starting any commercial exploitation. Reversing a Bush-era decision that would have given industry free reign on 2 million acres of public lands, BLM’s plan effectively protects 1.6 million acres of public land, as well as areas of critical wildlife habitat.

Talk about a statement!

Regardless of which political party you align yourself with, the 2012 presidential election proved that Latinos are a force that can’t be ignored or superficially placated as record numbers of Latinos went to the polls on Nov. 6 and cast their vote.

While this will undoubtedly serve as a wake up call to our nation’s politicians, it should also underscore the need of corporations, government institutions and other organizations in America to embrace Latinos as part of its consumer and civic base.

The Race Track Chaplaincy of America awarded Chaplain Israel “Izzy” Vega its annual Community Service Award, on November 1, 2012 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

Vega has 40 years of ministry experience in evangelism, event coordination and media relations in Latin America and the United States. Vega has worked with the Hispanic Access Foundation to bring our programs to the employees of the Race Track Industry at four racetracks in California and Texas.

According to research conducted by the American Cancer Society and the Intercultural Cancer Council, cancer is the second leading cause of death among Hispanic adults after heart disease. Hispanic women have two to three times the cervical cancer rates of non-Hispanic white women. Hispanic men and women have higher rates of stomach cancer than non-Hispanic populations. Lung cancer and breast cancer are the deadliest cancers among Hispanic men and Hispanic women, respectively.

For Latinos, the 2012 tax return presents significant opportunity. In fact, the potential impact of key legislative changes for the nation's fastest growing population is unprecedented. Starting in 2014, many people -- not just Latinos -- who do not have health insurance may be able to receive a subsidy based on their household income and family size to help with the cost.

Paying your taxes is not only an obligation for all those working in this country, but also one of the best ways to show your generosity and loyalty to the country that has welcomed you. Without an efficient tax system, a modern society cannot exist. But, like about everything else in life, there are many out there ready to take advantage of other people’s goodwill and good heart by scamming them through fraudulent tax schemes.

In the wake of the 2012 presidential election, the Latino vote in states like Colorado has been held up as a critical and influential factor. Latino voters turned out in record high numbers and their 75% vote for President Obama nationally set a new high for a Democratic presidential candidate. While much of the attention has been on changes to immigration policy, Latino voters, like all voters, are paying attention to a wide variety of issues.

Remember: the deadline to submit your tax return documents is April 15. And there is a lot at stake for Latinos, regardless of your immigration status. It’s not only the satisfaction of fulfilling your civic duties. Filing and paying your taxes is also a legal obligation that must be met with strict regularity. If you are a legal resident, and you fail to declare your taxes, you can be deported.