Home prices fell in nearly nine out of every 10 U.S. cities in the first quarter of this year as first-time buyers looking for bargains dominated the market. The National Association of Realtors said Tuesday that median sales prices of existing homa."declined in 134 out of 152 metropolitan areas compared with the same period a year ago. Prices rose in the other 18 cities. Nationwide, sales of foreclosures and other distressed properties made up about half of the market. Overall, sales dipped 3.2 percent from the year-ago period. "I think we're near a bottom, but we're not there yet" . . .

Norval Broome wove through the maze of desks in classroom B 214 at King's Fork High School. The test on conic sections was minutes away and most of his two dozen algebra II students were using the review time to enter equations into graphing calculators. "Who needs a little help?" Broome asked. "I don't mind helping you." ... Almost 69, Broome is three years into in his third career -- one he admits is frustrating and harder than he expected. . . .

President Barack Obama touched on something very poignant in his proclamation when he authorized the month of May to serve as Older Americans Month. That is that many Americans who are of retirement age are remaining in the workforce instead of simply calling it quits. A 2008 survey from AARP, a non-profit membership organization for people over 50 years of age, found that seven out of 10 working adults between the ages of 45 and 74 plan to work during retirement or never retire at all. . . .

With a decades-long battle between the Bloods and the Crips, this film examines the conditions that have lead to the devastating gang violence among young African Americans growing up in South Los Angeles. Pictured: Baron Davis (left), producer, and Stacy Peralta, producer/director. This heartrending expose' is set to debut this week on the PBS-TV series 'Independent Lens'.

In an America that elected Barack Obama its first African-American president who appointed Eric Holder as its first African-American Attorney General, is there still a need for civil rights protections?  All one has to do is look at the current docket of civil rights cases before the Supreme Court to realize the answer to that question is a resounding, ''Yes.''  In several important cases to be heard by the Court this month, we find civil rights under assault. . . .

The most important moment of the 2008 presidential debates was one that was little remarked upon at the time. It was in the second debate that the candidates were asked whether health care was "a privilege, a right or a responsibility." Senator McCain said it was a responsibility -- of government and business. But Sen. Obama said that it "should be a right for every American" and cited as "fundamentally wrong" his mother's experience of being denied payment for her treatments as she lay dying of cancer . . .

Marc Morial wants to see Portland become a symbol of this nation's commitment to green job training. . . .

Three unconfirmed but "probable" cases of swine flu were identified yesterday in King County, Wa., and one in Multnomah County, with laboratory samples on their way to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for official evaluation.
Meanwhile, Madrona K-8 school in Seattle has been closed down by school district and health officials.
"As a result of Public Health's ongoing overnight investigation into the swine flu infection of a child at Madrona K-8 in Seattle, additional information from school officials has lead local health officials to believe that the infected student may have been ill during school last Friday," officials said today in a statement.
"Out of an abundance of caution, Public Health and Seattle Public Schools jointly decided that the best course of action is to close the school for seven days, starting today, to reduce the ability of the infection to spread.". . .

What's happening for you in your city this week? Read here a day-by-day diary of community events to fill your spare time. For a full calendar please click on "Read the complete article" below . . . .

Pictured, from left: Merkeycia Carter, Richard Gallion, and Petal Munroe.
On Friday April 24 the hippest, hottest and newest runway fashion was at the Portland Convention Center for the 51st annual Ebony Fashion Fair. On display were some of the hottest designers, such as Luca Luca, Gianni Calignanos, Rubin Singer, Giles Montezin, Marc Bouwer, Missoni, Kevin Hall, and Emmanuel Ungaro. Showcasing some of the best designers across the world, the crowd was engulfed in the beaded, sleek, sultry looks of the runway. . . .