NEW ORLEANS—The proposal was controversial from the beginning: Focus resources on rebuilding New Orleans' less-damaged neighborhoods first and carefully study whether it makes sense to repopulate areas that were flooded the worst.

LOS ANGELES—Entering middle age, Chico Brown lives in the world of children. He greets them at school, settles their fights, listens to their problems, watches them finish their homework, coaches their basketball teams, offers them rides home, reads their letters.
He has four of his own children too, most of them nearly grown. But "they didn't know me," he said — or most of their lives, he was in prison.

Christa Bell, the Seattle and National Grand Slam Poetry Champion, recites her work Dec. 2 at the Poet Populist Reading at North Seattle Community College. Bell was joined by Seattle Poet Populist Pesha Joyce Gertler and Poet Populist finalist Nancy Dahlberg.

Seventy-fifth birthdays only happen once, and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle has decided to celebrate in style.
Television and radio host Tavis Smiley will be the featured speaker at the league's upcoming 2005 benefit breakfast, which will mark its 75th anniversary in the city.
The breakfast is set for 7:30 to 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 9, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, 800 Convention Place in downtown Seattle. Tickets cost $70, $80 or $100 depending on location; call 206-461-3792 ext. 3009 or e-mail [email protected] to reserve a spot.
Time magazine selected Smiley as one of America's 50 most promising young leaders. Newsweek profiled him as one of the "20 people changing how Americans get their news" and dubbed him one of the nation's "captains of the airwaves."

EVERETT—Boys score lower than girls in key areas of the state achievement test that will ultimately determine who graduates from high school.

OLYMPIA—Washington's child welfare agency has asked Gov. Christine Gregoire for nearly $20 million to improve foster care, adoption support and other services.

The recent "Evening of Enchantment," held Dec. 3 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, celebrated 50 years

The Central Area Senior Center has provided ready access to services and activities to African American seniors

SAN FRANCISCO—The California Supreme Court late Sunday refused to grant a stay of execution for convicted killer Stanley "Tookie" Williams, meaning the former gang leader who became an outspoken critic of gang violence will be executed early Tuesday unless the governor grants clemency or a last-ditch federal appeal succeeds.
Williams' supporters also made another pitch directly to the governor Sunday to spare his life, telling Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a letter that they had a new witness who could help prove Williams' innocence.
"All we need now is time to investigate to make sure this story is real," said NAACP California President Alice Huffman. "We're hoping and praying for clemency, but we're not going to leave any stone unturned."

LOS ANGELES—It is one of those indelible images from the late 1960s that remains locked in the minds of those who were there. It's a comedy album photograph of a nearly naked Richard Pryor, dressed in a loincloth, with bones through his nose and beads around his neck like a stereotypical African bushman