Local efforts to improve community-based substance abuse intervention services for at-risk youth received national attention this week. King County received one of the first-ever Science to Service awards for best practices and innovation in substance abuse treatment. Separate ceremonies celebrated the achievement in Washington, D.C. and Seattle.
King County was honored for the successful implementation of an assessment tool called the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs. The GAIN is a progressive and integrated series of measures and computer applications designed to support substance abuse treatment practices, including initial screening; brief interventions, and referrals to ancillary services. The tool provides a standardized clinical assessment that providers use in the diagnosis, placement and treatment planning process for people receiving services within the King County provider network.
"This national recognition reaffirms King County's ongoing commitment to providing innovative and creative programs that will help young people with drug and alcohol problems receive the treatment they need to achieve healthier and more productive lives and futures," said King County Executive Ron Sims ....

Part of the Urban League's mission is to partnership with community and businesses striving to help people, particularly to help African Americans become self-sufficient.
Thanks to a new partnership between the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle and the Rainier Beach High School football team, student athletes are provided with nutritious meals, as well as tutorial academic help — for those needing it....

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Gov. Chris Gregoire says she's worried that the national problems with sub-prime home mortgages will plague many Washington homeowners. She is creating a state task force to educate consumers and recommend remedies.
State government already is running radio and print ads and is helping prosecute companies that violate the state's mortgage fraud law.
The governor told reporters Monday that Washington has less than half the national average for so-called sub-prime mortgages, and fewer defaults and foreclosures. She said the state doesn't directly regulate the financial ...

20 "A TALE OF TWO VACCINES: HPV/Cervical Cancer and HIV/AIDS," public forum. 7-8:30 p.m. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N. Call 206-667-4211 to register. 21"DROPPING VIOLENCE LIKE its Hot" empowerment conference with Dr. Brenda Caldwell. 4-8:30 p.m. and Sept. 22nd from 9:30 a.m. -2 p.m. Rainier Community Center, 4600 38th Ave. S. Call 206-380-1710 for more information. 22 YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION Conference. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. South Seattle Community College Brockey Center, 6000 16th Ave. S.W. Call 206-323-9666 to sign up.

SEATTLE — Nearly 7,000 volunteers representing more than 115 companies will tackle 360 community service projects throughout King County on Sept. 21, all part of United Way of King County's annual Day of Caring.
The largest single-day volunteer event in Washington state, the Day of Caring encourages people to volunteer year-round and also kicks off United Way's annual fundraising campaign. The 2006-2007 United Way campaign raised a record $121 million.
This year's Day of Caring, which starts at 7:30 a.m. for all volunteers and the public at the Seattle Center Mural Amphitheater, features a continental breakfast, live music and comments from Jon Fine, United Way President ...

Dr. Brenda Caldwell, a highly sought after youth motivational speaker, will speak to our youth in Seattle to help unlock their passion, purpose and power to succeed in life. She tries to instantly connect with youth as a dream builder who says she sees and believes in their potential. This is all part of the "Dropping Violence Like It's Hot" empowerment conference on Sept. 21 and 22 at the Rainier Community Center, 4600 38th Ave. S. in Seattle.
Caldwell received a bachelor's of arts degree from Memphis State University with plans of becoming a television news anchor, but after only two years, decided it was not her passion. She returned to school a few years later, and earned a master's and Ph.D. in Christian Psychology to work in ...

WASHINGTON -- President Bush again called Democrats "irresponsible" on Saturday for pushing an expansion he opposes to a children's health insurance program.
"Democrats in Congress have decided to pass a bill they know will be vetoed," Bush said of the measure that draws significant bipartisan support, repeating in his weekly radio address an accusation he made earlier in the week. "Members of Congress are risking health coverage for poor children purely to make a political point."
In the Democrat's response, also broadcast Saturday, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell turned the tables on the president, saying that if Bush doesn't sign the bill, 15 states will have no funding left for the program by the end of the month.
At issue is the Children's Health Insurance Program, a state-federal program that subsidizes health coverage for low-income people, mostly children, in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford ...

Standing in a casino hotel room, a fallen football hero played out the final scene of a sting operation to seize prized possessions from his glory days.
But his plan, plotted against the backdrop of a quickie Las Vegas wedding, was suddenly going bad.
There was a gunman impersonating a police officer. Men were screaming at each other. And the prized possessions were being stuffed into pillow cases and cardboard boxes.
In a city where casino heists and celebrity spawn images of Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack and George Clooney flicks, the caper allegedly orchestrated by O.J. Simpson has the glint of Sin City's seedy underside -- with shadowy figures and  ...

Mayor Tom Potter announced Monday that he will not be running for a second term in office. His decision kicked off speculation about who will run for mayor in the 2008 election.
Erik Sten, the longest serving city commissioner said he will not run, but Sam Adams, Bob Ball, and Roy Jay ...

What could Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney and Chris Rock have in common? In two words: Barack Obama. All three are backing the senator for Illinois, in the race for the next president of the United States.
About 4,000 less-famous people were able to make up their own minds ...