-- by Spencer Hsu, The Washington Post

A coalition of Hispanic and labor groups in Phoenix accused Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio of racial profiling yesterday, alleging in a federal lawsuit that one of the nation's largest sheriff's departments is violating the civil rights of nonwhite U.S. citizens in seeking to arrest illegal immigrants.

A Los Angeles Times editorial laments the new California system for counting dropouts, which shows a quarter of students leave high school before graduating . 

by Lydia Saad

PRINCETON, NJ -- Fewer than half of white adults in the United States -- contrasted with 60% of Hispanics and two-thirds of blacks -- believe good relations exist between U.S. blacks and Hispanics.

by Jay Reeves, The Associated Press

Manuel Castillo was driving a truck through Alabama hauling onions and left with a $500 ticket for something he didn't think he was doing: speaking English poorly.

Castillo, who was stopped on his way back to California, said he knows federal law requires him to be able to converse in English with an officer but he thought his language skills were good enough to avoid a ticket.

-- by Stephen Dinan, The Washington Times

SAN DIEGO — The president of the nation's largest Hispanic rights organization says the group will serve as referee for the immigration debate and back it up with what members expect will be record Hispanic voter turnout in November.

-- by Jonathan Katz, IndustryWeek

To the average person, talk of a workforce shortage probably sounds ridiculous when, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 8.5 million Americans out of work in May. That's a full percentage-point increase over the previous year.

Presidential aspirants John McCain and Barack Obama both addressed the National Council of La Raza's annual convention.  Here are transcripts of each candidate's speech.

First, John McCain's Monday address. 

Next, Barack Obama's Tuesday speech . 

-- by Ana Rivas, The Wall St. Journal

Latino bloggers covering the presidential campaign reacted this week to recent efforts by both candidates with their usual spotting of simplistic stereotypes in the candidates’ outreach efforts, and with a new joint initiative that raises some tough questions — 38 to be precise.

-- by N.C. Aizenman, The Washington Post  

A 30-year-old single mother from Manassas recently visited a notary public to formally arrange custody for her toddler son after she's gone.

It's deportation, not death, that has her worried.