Two years ago, you couldn't drive more than a mile in some parts without seeing half a dozen store fronts advertising easy, quick cash. All you had to do was pay 521 percent annual interest (APR) and the cash was yours. You had two weeks to pay it back, lest you be charged even more. Most couldn't ...

Looking for a warm, friendly place to spend Thanksgiving? Check out these places to go for a free or discounted Thanksgiving meal. Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, Nov. 26: • Genesis Community Fellowship ... • Portland Rescue Mission, Burnside shelter ... • Sisters of the Road ... 
Thursday, Nov. 27: • Loaves and Fishes Centers ....

Afua N'Diaye, the producer of the annual Odunde Festival, gets a dance lesson from Okaidja Afroso of Ghana during a dance workshop Saturday at the Rainier Valley Cultural Center. The four-day festival included an African Marketplace, fashion show, dance and drumming workshops and four performances of HOMELAND, a dance musical by Kibibi Monie'.
Photo by Susan Fried

Family businesses represent 62 percent of the workforce, so it's undeniable that family business issues affect more than just the family, they affect a major sector of the US economic engine. But advice on managing the unusual set of dynamics affecting family businesses —especially during tough economic conditions—can be hard to find .…

The Council of Great City Schools has awarded Donald Kennedy, chief financial and operations officer for Seattle Public Schools, is this year's recipient of the Bill Wise Award. The prize honors outstanding school business officials who have distinguished themselves through services to urban education ....

Parents, family and friends can make their youngsters' holiday a memorable one by printing out free Santa letters online. Designed with images of a Black Santa Claus, his elf helpers, and holiday favorites such as Rudolf, visitors instantly create the letters online and print them immediately to their own printers ...

http://www.addictinggames.com/hotelescape.html Escape the Hotel …

Commissioners Dan Saltzman and Nick Fish debated with teens at De La Salle North High School Monday evening. Among the teens on the panel was Deanna Hartley, pictured here with Commissioner Fish. Also participating were college-bound seniors, Skyler Debnam, Onna Lisa Kyom, and Donald Foster. ...

Every Saturday Rev. Frances Lee of Frances Lee Ministries hosts a television show on Portland Community Media, and once a month she hosts a larger forum, "Women in Ministry" and invites several local female ministers to be part of a round table discussion ...
Photo by Julie Keefe

Earlene Staples was born on June 26, 1946 to Grant and Earline Brown in Lexington, Miss. She died Nov. 4 ... In the end, her heartfelt wish was to see Barrack Obama elected president of the United States. Her dream came true and she passed away quietly soon after his brilliant acceptance speech ....