Author and biographer Evelyn C. White will make two appearances this week during a visit to Seattle. White is biographer of Alice Walker, the author of The Color Purple and the first Black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in fiction.

OLYMPIA—The state of Washington has announced a new drug discount card available to any state resident. The card will reduce costs between 15 percent and 25 percent for prescription drugs not covered by insurance.

Lori Renner demonstrates how to model good oral reading at a workshop for potential tutors entitled "Adventures in Reading for Elementary Students," at the Seattle All City Tutor Training held March 2 at Meany Middle School.

Jeweler Nancy Worden, left, heats metal over a flame while Madrona K-8 students look on.Middle…

LOS ANGELES—The ensemble drama Crash pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Academy Awards history, winning best picture over the cowboy romance Brokeback Mountain, which had been the front-runner.

SANTA ANA, Calif.—The inmates had to heat the letter to draw out the message, written in invisible ink. When they did, their orders were clear.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--A Tennessee lawmaker is trying to persuade the state to build a drug treatment clinic specifically for people addicted to methamphetamine.

State Rep. Judd Matheny, a Republican from Tullahoma, said the projected $10.1 million cost would save taxpayers in the long run by keeping some offenders out of prison.

GARY, Ind.--Entertainer Harry Belafonte renewed his criticism of President George W. Bush and Black Muslim leader Louis Farrakhan urged education reform during the recently concluded 2006 National Black Peoples Unity Convention.

Seattle—An overflow crowd of more than 275 people filled the County Council chambers and lobbies Monday as the Metropolitan King county council approved an ordinance to change the county's official logo.

While the city gets ready to bore a 5.5-mile tunnel 120 feet under Portland's east side, minority contractors should be sharpening their pencils to compete for at least $26 million in construction contracts.

The Portland City Council last week approved a $426 million construction project for the eastside Big Pipe, which will divert untreated sewage and stormwater from the Willamette River.

The company hired to do the project, Kiewit/Bilfinger Berger, has identified $53 million in "opportunities" for local subcontractors, and of that, at least $26 million could go to minority- or women-owned businesses, said Bill Mariucci, the company's project director.