Minority Population in U.S. Passes 100 Million

The minority population in the United States continues to grow rapidly, and while the nation is still headed for an enormous demographic shift by 2050, the shifts identified by the Census Bureau this year have big implications in the very near-term.

USA Today reports: "The nation's minority population has topped 100 million for the first time and now makes up about a third of the USA, a symbolic milestone that signals more challenges for communities adapting to diversity."

Lot's of regional implications according to these reports in The Washington Post and The New York Times. Also reports by Reuters and UPI.

Is the Digital Divide Narrowing?

BusinessWeek reports on a new study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project which appears to show a shrinking digital divide that for years had left African Americans at a disadvantage. The sub-headline of the article reads: "African Americans are snapping up broadband -- and closing the digital divide"

According to the article, "Surprise. In the past two years, African Americans have been devouring broadband technology--and the digital divide has shrunk significantly, at least for this group. The share of black households with a cable modem, DSL, or satellite Internet connection climbed to 40% this year, Pew says. That's almost twice as fast as the growth of broadband penetration for the general population, which grew to 47%."

ABC News Reports on the Health Environment Action Network

ABC News science reporter Ned Potter has an outstanding report on the new "Health Environment Action Network (HEAN)" launched by the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (a client of The 2050 Group), four regional partner organizations, and environmental countdown. See the launch press release. HEAN is empowering citizen scientists who will be researching and reporting on air and water pollution in four different regions of the country.