Vicente Fox

OLYMPIA—When Mexican President Vicente Fox visits Washington state, he will meet the state's business elite at Seattle's tony Rainier Club, but also get his shoes dirty by traipsing around a Yakima Valley farm.

Gov. Chris Gregoire's office released the itinerary for Fox's visit next Wednesday and Thursday, describing it a well-rounded, whirlwind tour of town and country, with plenty of opportunity to meet Mexican nationals who have become a key part of the state economy.

"We're getting our money's worth out this trip," enthused Antonio Ginatta, the governor's Equadorian-born policy adviser.

Rep. William Jefferson

WASHINGTON—FBI agents searched the congressional office of Rep. William Jefferson of Louisiana Saturday evening in connection with a public corruption investigation that has already netted two guilty pleas by two associates, authorities said.

In just over two years of operation, the Wellness Project, a free mental health clinic in Vancouver, has treated more than 1,300 clients. In 2005 alone, it conducted approximately 4,500 appointments.

To celebrate its accomplishments, the Wellness Project is having an open house from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at 317 E. 39th St. in Vancouver.

James Brown 

WASHINGTON—Major League Baseball has at long last picked someone to buy the Washington Nationals, choosing a group that's led by real estate developer Theodore Lerner and includes former Atlanta Braves executive Stan Kasten.

Also among the team's new owners are TV sports announcer James Brown and Paxton Baker, president of event productions and executive vice president and general manager of digital networks for Black Entertainment Television.

Gloria Baker- Blandford: 1943-2006Services were held on May 10 at Emmanuel Temple Church for…

  2006 Breakfast InformationFor tickets e-mail [email protected] or come to The…

There's something about a deadline that makes people jump -- inspiring them to bring back those library books or finally file their taxes.

Oregon and federal officials are expecting the same response to the upcoming midnight Monday deadline to enroll in the new Medicare drug plans without financial penalty.

Medicare has added extra customer service staff to handle questions about the complicated benefits program and increased its online capacity. And the Oregon Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program, which handles the enrollment assistance in the state, has extended its hours and is bracing for a few extra inquiries.

As of Friday about 160,000 Oregonians who are eligible for the benefit have not signed up, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

"There's just something about a deadline," said Michael Marchand, spokesperson for the Northwest region of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Attorney Rebecca Duncan, left, with Oregon Public Defense Services, argues a point before the…

The Jefferson Dancers will fill the Newmark Theatre with energy and talent this month in the group's annual concert.

Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. May 11 and 12; and at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. May 13 in the Newmark, 1111 S.W. Broadway.

The 20-member troupe of Portland high school students will premiere choreographer Sarah Slipper's "Beautiful Madness," danced to the music of Mozart. Slipper has choreographed pieces for the Nashville Ballet, Louisville Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Cornish Dance Theater, Cincinnati Ballet and Oregon Ballet Theatre.

If a server has ever censored your e-mail, if you have ever been blocked by a search engine from looking at a Web site or a blog, or if you have ever been prevented from receiving an incoming message because of its content, there's a meeting you might want to attend.

Proposals being discussed by Congress could take away your right to communicate freely over the Internet. At the heart of the problem is the "network neutrality" principle, which allows users free access to any Web sites and search engines. Without "net neutrality," users might be barred from certain sites unless they paid for them or unless the sites themselves paid the companies providing the Internet service.

The Oregon Alliance to Reform Media will host a meeting to discuss the problem from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, in Studio A at Portland Community Media, 2766 N.E. Martin Luther King Blvd.