SEATTLE—State officials, citing worries about safety, are backing away from a state program in King County aimed at helping Black children and families in the child welfare system.
Last month the state halted referrals of new child abuse complaints to the Office of African American Children's Services, and officials with the state Department of Social and Health Services are contemplating an end for the program, a local paper reported Monday.

"The Department (of Social and Health Services) has to take a lot of responsibility for that"

As he takes the stage, wearingbaggy jeans, an oversized basketball jersey and a massive gold chain, Sahaan McKelvey could be any rapper, layin' it down for any crowd in any of a dozen concerts happening in Portland that night. But he's not and they're not and it isn't.

This ceramic tile is among many currently on display at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center as part of the "AIDS Crisis: Zimbabwean Artists Respond" exhibit. The installation is comprised of dozens of tiles crafted by artists from Zimbabwe to represent the terrible toll exacted by the HIV/AIDS pandemic on their culture.

SALEM—Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury is urging all of New Orleans' Hurricane Katrina evacuees who have temporarily relocated to Oregon and the Northwest to immediately contact the Louisiana Secretary of State in order to participate in the upcoming Orleans Parish elections.

Chata Addy, left, S. Renee Mitchell, Evelyne Ello Hart, Jensine Larsen and Jessica Tomforde share a moment after the recent "Kikumbatio: An Embrace Between Portland's African and American Women," a program of music, dance, storytelling and theatre held March 15 at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center.

ATLANTA—The Rev. Jesse Jackson is touring Southern cities this week to rally opposition to next month's mayoral election in New Orleans, saying too many Hurricane Katrina victims scattered around the country will be unable to vote.

On the outside, it looks like an ordinary 40-foot TriMet bus, but under its engine panels is a one-of-a-kind cooling system that makes it unique in the transit industry.
"TriMet is the first in the nation to combine cutting edge technologies from the racetrack and military field in a bus that should get better fuel economy and require reduced maintenance," said Fred Hansen, TriMet's general manager.

CORVALLIS—Oregon State University will once again this summer offer high school students the experience of living on campus in a residence hall, attending college classes, meeting with advisers and getting a jump on what college life is all about. And they'll earn two college credits.

A delegation of activists, government officials and professionals from French-speaking Africa dropped by The Skanner's offices in North Portland March 20 to discuss the role of investigative journalism in transparent societies. While the group was forced to cut its visit short due to a scheduling conflict, they nonetheless got to take a look around The Skanner's offices and hear about the paper's purpose and readership.