OLYMPIA—Washington's child welfare agency has asked Gov. Christine Gregoire for nearly $20 million to improve foster care, adoption support and other services.

The recent "Evening of Enchantment," held Dec. 3 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, celebrated 50 years

The Central Area Senior Center has provided ready access to services and activities to African American seniors

SAN FRANCISCO—The California Supreme Court late Sunday refused to grant a stay of execution for convicted killer Stanley "Tookie" Williams, meaning the former gang leader who became an outspoken critic of gang violence will be executed early Tuesday unless the governor grants clemency or a last-ditch federal appeal succeeds.
Williams' supporters also made another pitch directly to the governor Sunday to spare his life, telling Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a letter that they had a new witness who could help prove Williams' innocence.
"All we need now is time to investigate to make sure this story is real," said NAACP California President Alice Huffman. "We're hoping and praying for clemency, but we're not going to leave any stone unturned."

LOS ANGELES—It is one of those indelible images from the late 1960s that remains locked in the minds of those who were there. It's a comedy album photograph of a nearly naked Richard Pryor, dressed in a loincloth, with bones through his nose and beads around his neck like a stereotypical African bushman

WASHINGTON—Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. has dreamed for years of getting the federal government to help build a big, new airport near his district, creating an economic boom for Chicago's South Side and south suburbs.
But even with a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, Jackson has failed to get congressional approval.

Portland Community College Cascade Campus President Algie Gatewood, right, receives a check for $150,000 for the school's Skills Center from state Rep. Chip Shields, D-Portland, left, Gov. Ted Kulongoski and state Sen. Margaret Carter, D-Portland, during a ceremony held Monday in the school's technology building.

A direct investment is being made in the future economic health of North and Northeast Portland thanks to a $150,000 check Gov. Ted Kulongoski presented Monday to the Skills Center at Portland Community College's Cascade Campus.

As headlines in France capture the unrest among immigrants from Northern and sub-Saharan Africa and President George Bush proposes changes in United States immigration law, immigrants in Portland are speaking out.

With cold weather already hitting the Willamette Valley, low-income residents will have $15 million in grants to weatherize their homes and pay heating bills.