The percentage of Washington residents who go to bed hungry went up last year, placing the state's hunger rate significantly above the national rate.
The annual survey of Household Food Insecurity in America, conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Census Bureau, was released this month, at the same time the U.S. House of Representatives is debates a proposed $864 million cut to the food stamp program. The cuts are part of the Congress's current Budget Reconciliation Plan.
"We know that food stamps keep hunger at bay for thousands of families in our state," said Linda Stone, Eastern Washington Director of the Children's Alliance. "If the House votes to cut food stamps this week, our representatives in D.C. will be stealing food off the tables of thousands of Washington children."
The Children's Alliance, a nonprofit child advocacy group, this week released "Hungry in Washington," an overview . . .

PARIS—President Jacques Chirac said Monday that unrest in France's poor suburbs has revealed a "profound malaise" that the entire nation must heal with . . .

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Former President Clinton told Arab students Wednesday the United States made a "big mistake" when it invaded Iraq. . .

First A.M.E. Church held its Holiday Gift bazaar on Saturday, November 12.

For the 6.4 million Americans who suffer from angina — chest pain caused by a lack of blood flow to the heart muscle — new hope may be on the horizon. Doctors at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle are currently enrolling patients with severe untreatable angina

Last week's question:Should Congress cut Head Start's budget, or leave it the way it is? c Yes,…

Among the major issues that Portland should contemplate is the growing racial and class divide it is experiencing, particularly among the city's large Black and Brown communities.
Why is race important to rethinking Portland? Because Portland's non-White population is growing quickly. Like other American cities, Portland's long-term future will depend upon the level of success these new citizens achieve. To date, the conditions don't bode well for our city.
Portland has a major class and racial gulf in economic resources available to Whites and the advantages it provides in buying homes and investing in neighborhoods. Recently the Chicago Sun-Times ran a major series on class and race in Chicago that illustrates my perspective.

Last week's question: Should the United States set a timeline for the withdrawal of its troops from Iraq? c Yes, immediatly   c Yes, on a definite

Tuskegee Airman Bill Ellis, right, at podium, is joined by fellow airman U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. (Ret.) Edward P. Drummond Jr. and four more of their compatriots at Jefferson High School on Nov. 8, where they gathered to share their stories with students. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first-ever Black pilots enlisted by the U.S. Armed Forces; they saw their first duty protecting bombers overt Europe in World War II.

Any day now, the House of Representatives could vote on the budget reconciliation bill, a controversial package that will cut federal spending by $54 billion. The savings would come from cuts to programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, veterans benefits, Head Start, child support enforcement and aid to foster children.
Republican leaders say the bill is necessary to reduce the federal deficit, but so far they have not managed to secure the 218 votes necessary to pass the bill in the House. Opponents — including some Republicans — say the bill makes cuts in exactly the wrong places, and will set back efforts to reduce poverty and hunger in the Northwest. U.S Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., said he opposes the bill because he is concerned about its impact on low-income Americans.