Sara Leaming

In Florida’s Miami-Dade County, 52 percent of residents are born in another country and about 60 percent are of Hispanic origin. Poverty is constant, and a hurricane could wipe the whole county out at any moment. Yet it’s a community where people have rallied around children by supporting a dedicated source of funding for early childhood intervention and prevention programs.

In Florida’s Miami-Dade County, 52 percent of residents are born in another country and about 60 percent are of Hispanic origin. Poverty is in constant contrast with the state’s wealthier residents, and a hurricane could wipe it all out at any moment. Yet, it’s a community where people have rallied around children by supporting a dedicated source of funding for early childhood intervention and prevention programs. It’s a model that could be replicated here.

The late Terri Kim told her colleagues at Rogers High School she chose to look at life through rose colored glasses.

The registration deadline for Spokane’s annual Bloomsday road race is approaching.

Suspended Spokane Police Officer Jay Olsen, acquitted by a jury last month for shooting a man in the head during a drunken off-duty chase through Peaceful Valley, resigned Monday. The resignation followed the department's notice that it intended to fire him.

The registration deadline for Spokane’s annual Bloomsday road race is approaching.

Thousands of Washington high school students who failed the math portion of WASL won’t have to try again. Legislation signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire this week eliminates the controversial retesting requirement.

A measure to build a new police evidence room and an expanded animal shelter was still failing to get enough votes Wednesday after a second ballot count. While voters were accepting the measure by a slight majority, 23,548 to 22,994, the bond needs a 60 percent supermajority to pass.

The state Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld a lower court’s decision denying a request by a consortium of Washington school districts to declare the system of funding special education unconstitutional.

Even amid economic uncertainty, the majority of voters Tuesday appeared willing to accept possible property tax increases in support of Spokane-area school districts. Results from a special election show nearly every school measure placed before voters throughout Spokane and Stevens counties appeared to be passing, including a massive Spokane Public Schools construction bond.

Even in times of economic uncertainty, voters today seem willing to increase property taxes in support of Spokane-area schools.

A group urging a “yes” vote for two Spokane Public Schools measures is pulling ads that contain false information about how much taxpayers would be expected to contribute for the proposals. Television, radio and newspaper advertisements paid for by Citizens for Spokane Schools – which operates independent of the school district – claim that voters will pay a lower tax rate than they’re paying now upon approval of a $288 million construction bond and the renewal of a three-year maintenance and operation levy. Both are on the March 10 ballot.

A group urging a “yes” vote for two Spokane Public Schools measures is under fire for providing false information about how much taxpayers will be expected to contribute for the proposals.

Coeur d’Alene students may see fewer teachers and principals in the halls next year, have to pay more to participate in after-school activities and go on fewer field trips. Those are among a list of 18 recommendations made to the school board Monday night by a finance panel charged with shaving millions from the district’s operating budget for 2009-10.