PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Treasurer-elect Ben Westlund is proposing a college savings plan that he says would be safer for parents than investing in the stock market.
Westlund, a Democrat, says he wants to start a prepaid college tuition program that would allow parents to lock into current tuition rates by paying into a savings account.
"We're not talking corporate bonds," ...

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- The leaders of the only two Arab countries to have peace treaties with Israel are condemning Israel's ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.
The office of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak warned Israel of the consequences of the invasion and says it places the responsibility on Israel for any civilians that are killed or wounded  ...

Shipwreck Hunting
Beachcombers find endless treasures along the Oregon coast, from seashells to shipwrecks...

Ski Areas Open
... now, with an abundance of snowfall brought by December's record winter storms, many ski areas are expected to remain open well into the spring ...

Single Speed Mountain Bikes
... the increasing number of mountain bikers in Oregon and elsewhere on single-speed bikes ...

Former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris was rebuffed in the U.S. Senate today as he tried to enter the venerated chambers and take his seat, as the successor to president-elect Barack Obama appointed by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
"My credentials were not in order, I will not be accepted, I will not be seated," Burris, 71, told a reporters ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President-elect Barack Obama will be hosting a Youth Inaugural Ball, five Regional Inaugural balls, and a ball for his Home States - Illinois and Hawaii on Jan. 20. Vice President-elect Joe Biden will host a ball for his Home States as well: Delaware and Pennsylvania. These balls round out the list of official inaugural balls to be held on Tuesday, January 20, along with the previously announced Neighborhood Inaugural Ball and Commander in Chief's Ball ...

On Friday January 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. there will be an MLK Youth Hip Hop event at Garfield Community Center. The Seattle King County NAACP is looking for artists to be in the show.
Historically, says Ashley Dunn, membership chair of the Seattle NAACP, the Hip Hop Event was geared towards a younger generation to allow them to participate in the celebration -- especially planning ...

Are you a minority student who is interested in studying chemistry? The American Chemical Society is now accepting applications for scholarships for high school seniors or college freshmen, sophomores or juniors. Applications will be accepted through March 1, 2009, for the 2009-2010 school year ...

Town Hall Presents 'From Odetta To Obama: Celebrating A Changing America'
An Inauguration Day Gala Concert
Tuesday, January 20 At 7:30 PM ...

The entire Seattle City Council will present to the public its 2009 legislative themes and priorities at its meeting next Monday, Jan. 12. The meeting will include an overview of major priorities from each City Council member, and the opportunity for public comment ...

In a bid to help expand minority access to public-contracting opportunities, Metro officials announced today they have hired Coast Office Products to provide office supplies for the agency. The minority-owned firm, based in northeast Portland, recently signed on with Office Depot and is one of only twelve minority-owned firms in the country selected for the corporation's Supplier Diversity Program ...