PORT TOWNSEND, Wash. (AP) _ An operation to clear Puget Sound and the North Olympic Peninsula's waters of derelict commercial fish nets has cleared more than 10,000 pounds of nets that trapped and killed thousands of salmon, bottom fish, crab, sea mammals and diving birds...

Providence ElderPlace – nationally recognized for providing comprehensive services to older adults with health concerns – has agreed to assume operations of Covenant Retirement Communities' Irvington Village, a 104-unit affordable assisted-living facility in Northeast Portland.

The Rev. Mark Knutson, senior pastor at Augustana Lutheran Church, will be named "Ecumenist of the Year" on Oct. 13, at the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) Annual Community Awards & Celebration Dinner. The award is presented in recognition of leadership and commitment to fostering the love of Christ through ecumenical dialogue, witness and ministry.

During last year's presidential campaign, President Obama promised to reform America's health care system and make sure everybody -- no matter what their income -- could get health benefits at a price they could afford.  Fast forward 12 months and the president is fighting to carry out his campaign promise.

Washington schools superintendent, Randy Dorn, and top officials from the state Department of Health co-hosted a statewide video conference to brief schools Mon Aug 31, on how to prepare for the H1N1 influenza (also known as swine flu) this fall.

When Scott was referred to an innovative drug treatment program run by Volunteers of America, he'd just come off a five-month heroin binge. The year-old program was designed for people on parole and probation: for people like Scott, the 'frequent flyers" of the criminal justice system. Scott said he was one of the petty criminals on the Portland Police Bureau's "Dirty 30" list, and also a client of Project 57 – two programs that targeted Old Town's most prolific quality of life criminals.

While giving praise to Portland Police Chief Rosie Sizer's latest plan to end racial profiling, critics still say there are issues that remain unaddressed by the police bureau. Led by members and supporters of Oregon Action, community leaders told the city council that individual police officers need to be held personally accountable, the city council needs to take a more direct responsibility for the actions of the police bureau, training must be improved and business cards should be handed out during every interaction an officer has with the public.

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.

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.