News flash

You need your ZZZs

A recent poll by the National Sleep Foundation found that 60 percent of those younger than 18 complained of being tired during the day. Sleep deprivation has serious consequences for teens. It can:

-- Limit your ability to learn, listen, concentrate and solve problems.

-- Lead to aggressive or inappropriate behavior, such as yelling at your friends or being impatient with family members.

-- Cause you to eat too much or eat unhealthy food, including sweets and fried foods.

-- Possibly increase the use of caffeine or nicotine.

-- Contribute to illness, not using equipment safely or driving drowsy.

Get published

According to the U.S. Census, by 2025, one in every five teens will be Latino. Targeting this growing population is Latinitas magazine (latinitasmagazine.org), which aims to empower Latina youths. Latinitas is the first digital magazine made for and by Latina youths, and they're expanding to print publication in 2008.

The magazine is looking for "voces authenticas" (authentic voices) with its Latinitas Magazine National Writing Contest. Winning writers will have their articles published on the Latinitas Web site and in the new print edition.

For details and contest rules, go to the Web site, and don't delay. Articles should be sent to latinitasawards@yahoo.com by midnight Jan. 10, or mailed to Latinitas, P.O. Box 4284, Austin, TX 78765.