In a city once known for its rock, Seattle is now looking to become a center for hip hop.
Starting May 18, Sportn' Life Records and Kublakai will be sponsoring a Northwest hip hop tour, showcasing Seattle's hottest hip hop acts....

Nimal wants to become a nurse, Sochetna a computer programmer, and Joana a detective. They and their classmates are now much more likely to achieve their dreams with the help of an innovative scholarship program offered by South Seattle Community College.
This new initiative, the 13th Year Promise Scholarship, is the first of its kind in Washington state, and gives every graduating senior in Cleveland High School's class of 2008 the opportunity to attend South tuition-free for one year, regardless of grade point, test scores or other factors....

What's happening for me in my City this week? Read here a day-by-day diary of free community events to fill your week. For a full calendar please click on "Read the complete article" below.

May 21 2008, 5:30 to 9:00 p.m.
at Olea Restaurant, 1338 NW Hoyt, Portland OR 97209
Innovative Job Seeking for the Region's Professionals
Job seeking has never been so much fun.
Visit www.colorsnwcareers.com to sign up.
For further details contact [email protected]

The Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center recognized renowned Portland musician Thara Memory (pictured) and artist Isaka Shamsud-Din with lifetime achievement awards at the IFCC Do North Awards Gala on Sunday. Memory, a master musician, teacher and composer, was given the award for Cultural Contribution.

Clarence Harper (right), a volunteer with the Neighborhood Emergency Team since 1995, was awarded a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from Americorps. He is pictured with Carmen Murlow, the director of the Portland Office of Emergency Management and John Klum, Portland's new fire chief.
Harper said he began volunteering with the NET team out of selfish reasons – he wanted to know how to make sure his family and friends were safe in the event of a disaster. But after getting involved with emergency preparedness, he said he realized the altruism of his actions....

The newly renovated Madrona-Sally Goldmark Branch of the Seattle Public Library will reopen to the public will a festive community celebration Saturday, May 10.
The dedication ceremony begins at noon with City Librarian Deborah L. Jacobs, Mayor Greg Nickels, Library Board Vice President Michael Parham, City Councilman Nick Licata, the library book fairy "Lulu" and the Cajun band La Band Pastiche.... For more information, call 206-386-4636 or visit www.spl.org.

For several weeks now, homeless persons in Portland have gathered on the lawn of City Hall for a protest against city policies against them – namely the sit-lie ordinance, which some homeless advocates say has been used disproportionately against many homeless by the Portland Business Alliance's private security forces; the prohibition against camping in the city, which makes sleeping out of doors -- being homeless – illegal; and demanding more access to shelters and affordable housing. Despite spending most days and nights camped out in front of the city's governmental center, protestors clarify, "This is not a camp, this is a protest."

NEW YORK (AP) _ A White police officer was disciplined for acting "in a discourteous manner" when he confronted a Black motorist who turned out to be one of the highest-ranking commanders in the New York City Police Department, an agency spokesman said Saturday.
Chief Douglas Zeigler, the head of the NYPD's Community Affairs Bureau and the highest uniformed Black officer on the force, was off duty and sitting in his department-issued sport utility vehicle on a street in the borough of Queens on May 2 when two White police officers approached.
The encounter turned testy, and one of the officers tried to wrest open Zeigler's door, even after the three-star chief had identified himself, police spokesman Paul Browne said....

BEND, Oregon (AP) _ Barack Obama began sketching the outlines of his expected presidential contest against Republican John McCain, saying the fall election will be more about specific plans and priorities than about questions of political ideology or patriotism ...