WASHINGTON (AP) -- A staggering 2.6 million jobs disappeared in 2008, the most since World War II, and the pain is only getting worse with 11 million Americans out of work and searching. Unemployment hit a 16-year high of 7.2 percent in December and could be headed for 10 percent or even higher by year's end ...

BOISE, Idaho – Coeur d'Alene Paving, Inc. will pay $60,000 and furnish other corrective measures to settle a racial harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency announced last week.
The EEOC's suit argued that Shawn Fletcher, Richard Fletcher and Marcus Smith were subjected to ongoing racial slurs and jokes by a foreman, including references to the "N-word," "coons," and "coon food."  Both Shawn and Richard Fletcher complained to the owners of the company about the harassment, the EEOC said, but the racial jokes and abusive language continued ...

Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu tackles that question in his presentation The Education Gap: A Critical Response to Poverty in America (The Ruby Payne Theory) as part of The Bush School's third annual Diversity Speaker Series. Free and open to the public, the talk takes place on Thursday, January 15 from 7-9 p.m. at Mount Zion Baptist Church at 19^th Ave. and Madison St., Seattle.  
In his presentation, Dr. Kunjufu dissects and refutes Ruby Payne's "poverty theory ...

As the 2009 Legislative Session starts on Monday, WashingtonVotes.org rolls out its enhanced 2.0 website that increases user accessibility and function ... Free, with concise, plain-English, objective descriptions of every bill, amendment and votes ... Citizens interested in particular bills and issues can also register to receive daily e-mail alerts ...

This is an opportunity to collect work from your favorite local artist. Artwork in the auction can be viewed in the gallery between Jan. 21 and Jan. 31 and on their website, www.ColumbiaCityGallery.com. The Auction Kick-Off is on Saturday, Jan. 24 from 5 to 8 p.m ...

The Rainier Beach Library Book Group holds its monthly meeting Sunday Jan. 4. The club discussed 'The Red Tent,' by Anita Diamant.  The book group meets monthly, and 'The Devil in the White City,' by Erik Larson is February's selection ...

Seattle Pacific University Junior Point Guard Brandon Larrieu looks for a teammate to pass to in their Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball opener Jan. 8 against Saint Martin's College.  Playing at home at Brougham Pavilion, SPU went on to beat the 13th ranked team from Lacey Washington 92 to 84. Larrieu had 13 points and 6 assists.

An exhaustive new study of America's advertising industry released today has found dramatic levels of racial discrimination throughout the industry.  Bias against African-American professionals was found in pay, hiring, promotions, assignments, and other areas. The study was initiated by a coalition of legal, civil rights, and industry leaders who created the Madison Avenue Project.  The Project was created in 2008 to address advertising's deep-rooted racial bias and today, Cyrus Mehri, Project leader and prominent civil rights lawyer, called the findings "absolutely astonishing in this day and age."  Angela Ciccolo, Interim General Counsel of the NAACP, another project partner, commented that "the time has come to stand up to change this industry ...

A coalition of 42 states today announced a settlement with Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company after the company violated the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement by distributing decorative tin signs to consumers that featured its "Natural American Spirit" cigarettes brand name.  "We will continue to hold accountable any tobacco company that skirts the rules," McKenna said. "The agreement the states reached with the tobacco companies ten years ago is clear: pro-cigarette promotional products aren't allowed ...

The Washington Employment Security Department took in a record number of new unemployment claims in December.
Some 90,331 people applied for regular unemployment benefits in December, an increase of about 75 percent over December 2007. The previous record was set in December 2001, when 72,942 people filed initial claims.
The week of Dec. 21-27, 2008, which included the Christmas holiday, also set a one-week record, taking in 25,687 new unemployment claims, nearly twice as many as the same week in 2007 ...