Republicans are divided over how aggressively to go after Sonia Sotomayor, a family feud about the tone of the debate over confirming the first Hispanic on the Supreme Court.
There are concerns raised by an increasing number of GOP lawmakers and conservative leaders about the strident rhetoric that certain prominent Republicans have used to describe Sotomayor. Some are denouncing right-wing groups for their negative advertisements against the federal appeals judge. . . .

NEW YORK (AP) -- It's a police officer's nightmare scenario: Confronting someone who appears to be an armed suspect and opening fire, only to discover that person was actually an officer not in uniform.
It's the kind of mistake that haunts a department, opens it to scrutiny, and dominates headlines. While the phenomenon has happened around America, New York is home to several cases in the past few years.
FBI statistics don't specify the race of officers killed, and many community members and leaders say race is clearly the reason for the accidents. In the latest slaying, the officer who fired Dunton and two officers with him were white; the victim was black. . . .

Do you have a history with the legal system? Having trouble finding or maintaining housing because of it? Join the Better People organization for a panel discussion on the subject. While the talk will be crafted more for organizations helping ex-offenders, the public is welcome to attend. The forum will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on June 9 at the Central Library,

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch. A reservation for the free forum should be made by June 5. Please call Tanisha Wells at Better People at 503-281-2663.

Seattle-based filmmaker Sandy Cioffi's documentary Sweet Crude about the Niger Delta of Nigeria will screen at the 2009 Seattle International Film Festival. Show times are June 3, 7:00 pm at the Egyptian Theater, Seattle; June 7, 1:30 pm at the Kirkland Performance Center; and June 13, 1:30 pm at the Egyptian.  The show will be followed by a Q&A with Cioffi, who has made four trips to the region and is considered one of the most knowledgeable sources outside Nigeria on the crisis there. . . .

Stacy Spikes is the founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Urbanworld Film Festival, the premiere showcase for urban and ethnic films. The festival, which premiered in August of 1997, was born out of an inspired idea that Mr. Spikes jotted down on a napkin while dining in a restaurant. . . .

"There is a state of emergency in the urban community," determined Andre Mitchell, founder and CEO of Man Up Inc. "The government's $800 billion stimulus package has yet to land in the inner cities. It has not trickled down. That $800 billion means nothing if the right organizations cannot benefit from that money." . . .

Recent layoffs mean more Washington residents are without health insurance. The good news is they may qualify for assistance to help cover the costs of necessary prescription medications.
"In today's tough economy, every penny – and pricey pill – counts," Attorney General Rob McKenna said. "If you haven't checked into prescription drug assistance programs, you could be paying too much for your medicine." . . .

To appear on the King County ballot, all candidates must file a declaration of candidacy online, in-person or by mail no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 5.  Mail-in filings must include a notarized declaration of candidacy and the appropriate filing fee.  All applications must be in the hands of King County Election officials by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 5. . . .

DreamWorks' plan to film a Martin Luther King Jr. biopic may be stalled if the civil rights icon's children can't work out their differences, according to Eurweb.com. Bernice King and Martin Luther King III are threatening legal action against their brother Dexter, the overseer of their father's estate, for signing off on the DreamWorks deal without their involvement in the negotiations. . . .

The Oregon House on Monday passed legislation protecting renters who are living in foreclosed properties, ensuring that they cannot be evicted from the property until it is sold and ensuring that their security deposit and other up-front funds are protected.  The measure passed 59-0 and will now head back to the Senate for concurrence in House amendments. . . .