Sonia Sotomayor, President Barack Obama's choice to become the first Hispanic on the U.S. Supreme Court, vigorously defended herself Tuesday against charges that her speeches and rulings show racial bias. Sotomayor, almost certain to be confirmed to sit on the highest U.S. court, was responding to sharp Republican criticism of a 2001 speech in which she suggested a "wise Latina'' would usually reach better conclusions than a white man without similar experiences.  "I want to state upfront, unequivocally and without doubt: I do not believe that any racial, ethnic or gender group has an advantage in sound judging. I do believe that every person has an equal opportunity to be a good and wise judge, regardless of their background or life experiences,'' Sotomayor declared. . . .

A new government study shows black students in many Southern states are improving test scores in math and reading, but not enough to narrow an achievement gap with their white classmates. The study was released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences. It shows improvement in nearly every Southern state in performance by black fourth- and eighth-grade students from the early 1990s until 2007. . . .

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) announced the release of its 2008 Annual Report. In the report, the fund highlights that they have raised more than $100 million for college scholarships in their 22 year history. TMCF is the only national organization that provides resources, leadership development opportunities, scholarships and advocacy for students and alumni of the 47 public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and six law schools in 22 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Virgin Islands. . . .

This week the Oregon Attorney General John Kroger declared victory in the campaign. "I'm excited to report that our effort to restore the civil rights enforcement unit at the DOJ was a success . . .

Nancy Metcalf of Consumer Reports says insurance industry is broken. As the debate over health care reform heats up in Washington, D.C., a report released Wednesday could make a major blow to private insurance companies' credibility . . .

Last fall, Nickels proposed the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative with the goal of reducing incidents of youth violence by 50 percent. In his State of the City speech last February, Nickels promised to hold a summit to explore best practices and call our entire community to action. "This gathering will bring together parents, young people and community members to motivate and support each other in our efforts," Nickels says. "It will take everyone working together to engage our young people and offer them a better path." . . .

Last weekend when the National Newspaper Publishers Association ("the Black Press of America") held its annual convention in Minneapolis, The Skanner walked away with an armful of coveted national awards. We dominated," said publisher Bernie Foster, gleeful . . . .

The Seattle City Council today launched a new website to help people cope with the current economic crisis. Recession Resources for Seattle Residents offers links to a variety of informational sites and resources for those seeking job training, debt assistance, help with housing issues, and health care. This new service is designed to help people hold their ground in what looks to be a continued stretch of difficult financial times.  "Our goal is to make it easier for Seattle residents to find the help they need, and find it quickly," Council President Richard Conlin said. . . .

Eric Stanford (far right) directs volunteers at a benefit car wash for the First AME's Annual Richard Allen Brotherhood Summer Camp. The camp provides an opportunity for the men of the church to mentor the boys while enjoying the outdoors. 

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