King County Executive Ron Sims urges over 1,000 Patches Pals to cheer their favorite clown on JP Patches Day -- Aug. 17 -- in the Fremont neighborhood....

Intiman Theater hosts an afternoon of free training in gospel performance led by Pastor Patrinell Wright, founder of the Total Experience Gospel Choir, on Saturday, Aug. 23 from noon to 5 p.m. in the Intiman Studio. The Black Nativity Gospel Workshop, now in its sixth season, is offered annually in connection with Intiman's holiday production of Black Nativity....

Focusing on portraiture, Bandele's images depict family members and inspiring artists, including Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. His art incorporates jewel-toned mixed media on stretched canvas and canvas board....

Law enforcement officials from around the region released a report this week calling for better education opportunities as a way of reducing crime....

Paddlings, swats, licks. A quarter of a million schoolchildren got them last year — and Blacks, American Indians and kids with disabilities got a disproportionate share of the punishment, according to a study by a human rights group....

Grace Kuto, author of Harambee - Stories and Recipes from the African Family Circle, signs her book during a celebration and dinner at Portland State University's Smith Memorial Center. Ambassador Peter N.R.O. Ogego, from the Republic of Kenya, and Grace's husband Paul are in the background....

When the U.S. men's swimming team won gold by setting a new world record in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay at the Olympics Aug. 11, most of America celebrated the fact that swimming sensation Michael Phelps had just earned his third gold medal....

The Ford Opportunity Scholarship winner for 2008 is Yvette Davis of Portland. She is pictured here with Carmen Ford Phillips of the Ford Family Foundation....

The judge overseeing the criminal cases for the remaining Jena 6 defendants has been removed against his will for making questionable remarks about the teenagers....

Sitting in a leaky, flyblown hut, a few dozen Ethiopian villagers are anxiously waiting to be transported to another world.... with what is probably the last wave of Ethiopian immigrants to Israel....