L atino culture is more than tacos, pinatas and Ricky Martin. Western culture may have popularized these items, but they are not the essence of what it is to be Latino. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 40,459,196 people identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino in 2004, 5 million more than in 2000. But what does it mean to be Latino? To find out, Y-Press talked with two groups of young peopl

It seems to be a law of nature: No kid has a perfect family, particularly after bratty siblings, parents and eccentric relatives are factored in. But while every family has its problems, teens like Tiffany arguably have more than most. Tiffany, 17, has been in the foster care system for more than two years, ever since her mother's boyfriend was charged with molesting her in April 2002. Her surname

I n 1997, The Indianapolis Star interviewed Roxanne Ratcliff, a 19-year-old who had already had three pregnancies. The 14-part series traced Roxanne's turbulent adolescence, from nonconsensual sex at age 13, to an abortion at 14, to the births of two children by age 18 -- Devon, who is being raised by Roxanne's parents, and another boy who was put up for adoption. Y-Press read about Roxanne's expe

Most people know smoking is harmful to their health. Nevertheless, about 440,000 people die of tobacco-related diseases every year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Research by the U.S. Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources, and the CDC has found that more than 65 percent of all smokers begin smoking before the age of 18. Fo

Imagine going to high school with 3,210 other kids. Do you think you'd be able to find your way around in seven minutes with that many people in the hallways? Could you make friends? North Central High School freshmen share many such concerns. Panther Quest, an optional summer program, is designed to help students become familiar with the school and each other before the school year begins. To fin

Have you ever stood at attention when a teacher entered the room or had an upperclassman order you to do sit-ups? And aside from the occasional drug sweep, you've probably never had anyone inspect your personal belongings. These actions are common at Howe (Ind.) Military School, a co-ed boarding school for Grades 5 through 12, where regular civilian clothing is not worn and the band members aren't

The experienced fingers of 20 women crochet strands of plastic into one-of-a-kind gifts in a shop in Porto-Novo, Benin's capital. These women, led by Grace Dotou-Aboh, began their business, Qui Dit Mieux?, in 1996. They collect plastic bags littering Benin's streets, clean them and transform them into beautiful purses, bags and dolls. The group has received international recognition for raising en

The experienced fingers of 20 women crochet strands of plastic into one-of-a-kind gifts in a shop in Porto-Novo, Benin's capital.

Womens quest for equality gains strength, too, but slowly.