Federal homeland security grants that help states prepare to manage large-scale disasters are facing further cuts. The size of the cuts won't be known until Congress passes the $69 billion 2009 Homeland Security budget...

Businessman, organizer, political candidate – now Harold Williams Two is getting recognition as an artist.

His second book, "What Happens When It Doesn't Hurt Anymore," is part two in his Diary of a Man series. He describes it as a sort of spoken-word conversation about his own emotions – as a male -- and how to deal with them...

Imagine the chaos if a tremendous earthquake …

The Time-Based Art Festival continues this week with a showdown. Ohmega Watts will face off against a band of all-star musicians assembled to take on the local DJ. Live Band vs. Ohmega Watts is from 10:30 to 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11 at Leftbank, 240 N. Broadway. Live Band is being led by Ben Darwish of Commotion, and will also feature Reinhardt Melz on drums, John Nastos on saxophone, Justin Partney on trumpet and A.G. Donnaloia on guitar...

On Sept. 24 at Berbati's pan, the who's who of Portland's underground hip-hop welcomes back a rising star, Lucky One -- a dazzling performer who articulates politically relevant topics with a visceral flow while painting them with metaphor that can be understood at all levels...

After serving 525 hungry people in downtown Portland Sunday, Derek Rasheed and other Muslim volunteers could finally go home and eat. Despite the smells of grilled chicken and vegetables, all of those serving food Sunday were abstaining from eating in observance of the holy month of Ramadan.

Every year, during the month of Ramadan, Muslims across the nation come together and feed the homeless and hungry...

Local youth outreach workers and law enforcement officials are worrying over a sharp escalation of gang-related shootings across Portland's east side.
Meanwhile, organizers of a statewide convention on preventing gun violence hope it will lead to a new effort to reform Oregon gun laws and slow the flow of illegal firearms onto the streets – and into the hands of youths...

Nearly four years after police killed an unarmed African American motorist during a traffic stop, the city approved a settlement for $350,000 in regards to his death.

James Jahar Perez, 28, was shot three times in the chest, and shot with a Taser -- still seat-belted into the drivers seat after being pulled over for failing to use a turn signal 100 feet before a turn on March 28, 2004...

Singers Andrew Vait and Fysah Thomas of Hit Explosion sing classic disco tunes Saturday, Sept. 6 at the 4th Annual Northgate Festival.  In addition to live music the festival featured a health fair, an exhibit from Art Not Terminal Gallery, many local vendors and a classic car show. Hit Explosion was named "Best Live Performance Cover Band" at the Northwest Music Awards in March...

According to a report by Amnesty International in 2004, an estimated 368,000 people in Washington State had been victims of racial profiling by law enforcement authorities. This report helped to highlight a growing public perception of unequal treatment of minorities by police officers.

The city of Bellevue and its police department are holding a forum next week to create a better dialogue between officers and those they're bound to serve.

"The police and community need to be in the same room together and start a conversation," said Kevin Henry, cultural diversity coordinator for the city of Bellevue. "With the growing diversity of Bellevue, the community needs to connect with the police who are there to serve their needs."

The meeting, titled "The Police and the Community - Building Bridges of Understanding and Collaboration," will be held Wednesday, Sept. 17 at the North Bellevue Community Center.

Bellevue Police Chief Linda Pillo and King County Superior Court Judge Steve Gonzalez will be speaking. The program is designed to have participants voice their opinions and have the city's leaders listen...