HOMESTEAD, Fla.—Immigrants, both legal and illegal, and their allies gathered Monday for marches, prayers and demonstrations on a planned national day of economic protest, boycotting work, school and shopping to show their importance to the country.

Thousands of marchers gathered in cities across the nation -- including Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, Denver, Colo., New York City, Atlanta, Dallas and many more -- for Un Dia Sin Immigrantes, or A Day Without Immigrants.

Others were working Monday but buying nothing as part of the economic boycott around the country. Some planned to attend protests during lunch breaks or after work. Church services, candlelight vigils and picnics also were planned.

The deadline is fast approaching for seniors to register for the new Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage program. The complicated new system — there are 77 different coverage plans to choose from — has proven to be confusing and sometimes overwhelming to many senior citizens.

While opinions differ on how cost-effective the program will turn out to be for consumers — and how profitable it will be for the pharmaceutical industry — failing to sign up before the May 15 deadline will mean a lifetime of penalties, said Paul Iarrobino with the Multnomah County Office of Aging and Disability Services.

Humboldt PTA and Humboldt Neighborhood Association President Nancy Clark, center, holding sign, listens in Monday night at the meeting over the future of Humboldt Elementary School.

MILTON, Wash.—Brittany Vigoreaux is a statistical anomaly in the world of educational testing and the federal No Child Left Behind law.

As one of a dozen American Indian students at Fife High School, the 15-year-old's test scores are not reported to the federal government to illustrate whether her school is making adequate yearly progress.

Matt Essieh immigrated to Oregon in 1980 to attend Southern Oregon State University. Now, the one-time immigrant is an American citizen with a company that employs 21 people and does business nationwide.
Matt Essieh pictured

The Bridge Builders, in collaboration with Nike's African American Diversity Network and U.S. Supply Chain group, held Portland's first high school step competition, dubbed "The Show!"

Portland Community College President Preston Pulliams, left, and Marylhurst University President Nancy Wilgenbusch celebrate the recent agreement between their schools.

Officials from Portland Community College, Marylhurst University and Columbia Gorge and Tillamook Bay community colleges this week formalized a partnership to improve student access to undergraduate education.

The agreement helps students receive credit for classes they take at one college when they enter another college to further their education.

A group pushing a ballot initiative to rein in payday loan practices is urging the coming special legislative session to avoid the issue if proposals are weaker than what their initiative outlines.

The ballot proposal sponsored by Oregon for Payday Loan Fairne$$ would limit payday loan interest to 36 percent a year, restrict loan initiation fees to 10 percent of the loan amount, allow only two rollovers and give borrowers 31 days instead of 15 to use the money before the loan comes due.

Paint companies, shipyards and other industrial companies released 126,000 pounds of pollution in the Seattle area during 2004, an improvement over the previous year and a reason supporters of the tracking program are arguing against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recent proposal to scale it back.

NEW ORLEANS—Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu both suggested during a nationally televised mayoral debate that race played a part in the response to Hurricane Katrina.

Race, said Landrieu, "is the most difficult issue we're facing in the city."

He and Nagin appeared with five other prominent candidates in a debate Monday hosted by cable network MSNBC and New Orleans NBC affiliate WDSU-TV. The primary election is Saturday.