Across the Pacific Northwest, urban eaters are turning to farmers markets and exploring healthier diets this summer. In Portland, vegan chef and cookbook author Bryant Terry captured attention last weekend with cooking demonstrations and classes for kids built around his new book, "Vegan Soul Cooking," at the King Farmers Market and the downtown market at Portland State University.

In 1952, Howard Minor and his family were among the first Black families to live north of Dekum Street.
But it wasn't easy. Minor had to find a lender and a seller willing to violate the era's racist redline rules. He moved in to a nice mid-century ranch-style home on Northeast Holland Street. Nearly 60 years later, Minor -- now in his mid-'80s and unable to perform as much home maintenance as he once did – has help from volunteers from Health Net of Oregon.

PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) _ An Oregon teenager working on a research project in Mount Rainier National Park spotted a rare butterfly that hadn't been seen before in the area...

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) _ Some Oregon doctors are heading for the nation's capital with a message -- give Americans universal health care now...

Determined to reduce its carbon footprint, Portland Community College plans to reward students, faculty or staff for coming up with green projects to support its environmental efforts. The innovative move will fund internships and other financial incentives for the best green ideas...

More than 800 University of Portland freshmen from the class of 2013 braved drenching rain, Saturday Sept. 5 to complete work projects by clearing invasive plants such as English Ivy from native vegetation; plant weeding: mulch landscaping: picking up litter; painting Ockley Green school and landscaping its grounds; harvesting vegetables; planting crops; and installing tables and benches ...

HILLSBORO, Ore. (AP) _ From his farm northwest of Hillsboro, Dave Vanasche can see only about a half dozen houses scattered in the distance. But he can see the seeds of urban sprawl...

Group Health Cooperative was created in Washington state more than six decades ago, started up by members of local granges, unions and cooperatives who were inspired by a physician who had established America's first cooperative hospital in Elk City, Oklahoma.
Now, the Seattle-based co-op that serves nearly 600,000 people in Washington state and Idaho is being mentioned as a potential model in the national health care reform debate.

Several years before the word "maverick'' was attached to a certain Alaska governor, Democrat John Kitzhaber was a proud and successful bearer of the same moniker. He served two terms as Oregon governor before leaving politics in 2003.
And now he's launched a comeback, announcing that he's a candidate in the 2010 gubernatorial race. He probably has a better chance of winning than any Democrat or Republican in the race so far.

Seattle's entire library system, from its branches to book drops to its Web site, is shut down all this week to save money. The public library is trying to cut 2 percent, or about $1 million, and the weeklong closure of its downtown central library and 26 branches aims to save $655,000. About 700 library employees are forgoing a week of pay, with the system to reopen the day after Labor Day.