WILSONVILLE, Ore. (AP) -- The convictions of three former prison workers and pending lawsuits is leading to criticism that the state is failing to protect women inmates from predatory prison workers...

Washington County museum lovers are already star-struck, as the area's biggest celebrity, Craig Robinson -- the Oregon State University men's basketball coach and lookalike brother to the First Lady -- hosts the Washington County Museum's Hollywood-themed 20th annual gala, at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at the PCC Rock Creek Campus event center.

Daniel Lee Jones, of Portland, has been indicted and arrested for allegedly mailing a hangman's noose to the Lima, Ohio, chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Justice Department announced Thursday.

The new Portland Parents Union hosts an informational gathering Saturday, Oct. 10, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. at Curious Comedy Theater, 5225 NE MLK Jr. Blvd.

Within a week, Colas Construction will begin work on what promises to be the most sustainable and advanced environmental building in the inner Northeast area. The June Key Delta Community Center at 5940 N. Albina St. promises to be a "living building" – a building made with the lowest environmental impact possible. Members of the Portland Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority celebrated the groundbreaking on Oct. 7...

In 2007, King County residents overall had a life expectancy at birth of 81.5 years, but African Americans and American Indian/Alaska Natives on average had lower life expectancies of 75 and 72 years, respectively.

It was a rare victory for African American males in Multnomah County: a jury Sept. 28 awarded three men a $175,000 verdict amid charges that Portland Police officers had beaten, humiliated and wrongfully arrested them.

More than 15 years ago, the Portland Fire Bureau was locked into a conflict nearly identical to a July Supreme Court case involving New Haven, Conn. firefighters: Would it be acceptable to hire or promote minority firefighters from a separate testing list than their White colleagues? While diversity has increased since that time – in 1994, only 2 percent of the Fire Bureau were African Americans – change has been slow....

State Sen. and former Representative Chip Shields has endorsed Lew Frederick for appointment to fill his unexpired term in the State House of Representatives. 

SEATTLE (AP) -- The state Department of Social and Health Services has hired a Muslim consultant to provide cultural and dietary advice to foster parents for seven children taken from the Seattle home of an Ethiopian refugee...