In the U.S. presidential contest's final frenzied weekend, a confident Barack Obama promised to heal America's political divisions while rival John McCain fought to hold on to Republican-leaning states and pledged to score a historic upset.
For Obama, it was a time for soaring rhetoric and forays deep into Republican territory, buoyed by record campaign donations and encouraging poll numbers. "We have a righteous wind at our back," he said Saturday of his bid to become the first black American president....

By the time Jeffrey Frankel got to bed it was past midnight, but sleep did not come easy.
Twice during the night, the broker had climbed out from the covers and returned to the television, trying to get a read on what investors were thinking in Tokyo and Hong Kong and to see what the futures market foretold about the trading day ahead.
Now, the digital board hanging over the New York Stock Exchange's maple hardwood floor showed 9:24 a.m.
Six minutes left until the open....

After half a century as more of a curiosity than a convenience, passenger trains are getting back on track in some parts of the country. The cost of energy...

Crowds danced in the streets, wept, lifted their voices in prayer and brought traffic to a standstill. From the nation's capital to Atlanta to Los Angeles, Americans celebrated Barack Obama's victory and marveled that they lived to see the day that a Black man was elected president.
Jubilation stretched into the early morning Wednesday in Washington, D.C., and a large crowd paraded on Pennsylvania Avenue with drums, balloons and a life-size cutout of Obama.
In Portland, revelers set off fireworks, danced and cheered in the streets and a group even broke out in a spontaneous singing of the Star Spangled Banner in Pioneer Square.
Earlier in Detroit, carloads of celebrants rolled past the bronze sculpture of prizefighter Joe Louis' fist, blaring their horns and chanting "Obama!" out of open windows ....
Photo by Justin Hawthorne

The Urban League of Portland this week threw its gala Equal Opportunity Dinner, celebrating the upcoming release of their landmark "State of Black Oregon" report and honoring former Portland Mayor Vera Katz with a special appreciation award.
The event's featured speaker was Dr. Julianne Malveaux, president of Bennett College for Women in North Carolina....

Henry Lynch was in the process of expanding from self-employment as the sole proprietor of Henry Will-Haul and Company LLC, hauling and landscaping, to a new career as a union journeyman roofer.
He invested the money he inherited from selling his family home in the Hawthorne District and bought a new house with room to accommodate his roofing, landscaping and hauling equipment.
But after the training, then the apprenticeship, and then acquiring the equipment he needed for his company, the economy started sliding. It became harder and harder to find clients....

For the first time in 10 years, child abuse and neglect rates went down in Oregon. That's one of the highlights in Children First for Oregon's annual report card for child wellbeing. Overall, however, the state earned a 'D' grade, the same as last year....

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

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

The Cleveland High School Eagles played Nathan Hale in the Raiders' homecoming game on Oct. 17. Cleveland Eagles running back Janiko Martin tries to evade Nissim Shulman, a Nathan Hale defensive player. The Nathan Hale Raiders won the game 42 to 33....
Photo by Susan Fried