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Homeownership fell in '08; Asians hit worst Asians, many of them living in foreclosure-ravaged California, suffered the sharpest drop in homeownership last year, eclipsing declines felt by whites, blacks and Hispanics, according to new Census data.

Census: Recession had sweeping impact on US life The recession is profoundly disrupting American life: More people are delaying marriage and home-buying, turning to carpools yet getting stuck in ever-worse traffic, staying put rather than moving to new cities

Commute on foot or bike? DOT wants to count you Volunteers across the state will be out on street corners next week counting the number of people who walk or bike to their destinations to help track progress toward the state's goal of reducing the number of cars on the road

Muslims mark end of Ramadan Thousands of Muslims gather at Qwest Field Exhibition Center in Seattle on Sunday to celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan with communal prayers.  

Video profiles of Joe Mallahan and Mike McGinn     Seattle Mayoral candidates Joe Mallahan and Mike McGinn spent some time with The Seattle Times. Here are their thoughts on the campaign and their candidacy, in their own words.

Bug Blast at the Burke Museum Marius Richardson, 3, tries on goggles that duplicate a bug's eyesight at the Burke Museum's annual Bug Blast Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Seattle.

Maine man charged in death of camp counselor from Seattle A 35-year-old central Maine man faces manslaughter and other charges for allegedly being drunk when he struck and killed a camp counselor as she walked along a country road in July.

Sean Goff, chef-owner of West Seattle's Café Revò, dies at 43 When Sean and Sofia Goff opened Café Revò in West Seattle, they happily spent day and night charming customers with the tiniest of touches, like finishing each meal with a handwritten card featuring a proverb written in Italian and English.

Marilynne Brooks, Mukilteo long-term care volunteer, dies at 65 Marilynne Brooks, a Mukilteo volunteer with the Washington Long-Term Care Ombudsman office, died Sept 11.

NEW YORK – President Barack Obama says he expects unemployment will be a "big problem" for at least another year. Speaking during taping of "The Late Show" with David Letterman, Obama called the $787 billion economic stimulus program that Congress enacted earlier this year a "tourniquet" that stopped the economic bleeding. Without that spending, he said another 1.5 million jobs, or ...

LOS ANGELES – It's been almost three months since Michael Jackson's shocking death, and while Los Angeles police are close to wrapping up their investigation, the decision on whether to bring criminal charges is at least weeks and perhaps months away, legal experts say.

WASHINGTON – Coughed on by somebody with the flu? Duke University researchers are developing a test to determine — with a mere drop of blood — who will get sick before the sniffling and fever set in. And they're turning to hundreds of dorm-dwelling freshmen this fall to see if it works.

Gates Foundation tests charitable investments and loans   Posted by Kristi Heim   The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is doing more with its money than giving it away. It has been moving into investments, loans and loan guarantees aimed at furthering its programs. The $30 billion foundation has made several investments so far and others are in the works, as ...

28 teams compete in barbecue championship at Alki At the Evergreen State BBQ Championship at Seattle's Alki Beach Sunday, 28 teams from Washington, Oregon and Idaho basted and rubbed and tended a selection of meats, all vying for prize money and a chance to go to one of the big national barbecue competitions in the next few months. The big winner ...

Readers respond that signs at Sea-Tac Airport still a problem Here's a question: How many people does it take to be confused by airport signs before those signs are considered confusing?

Gun display leads to arrest A Pioneer Square nightclub-goer was arrested on felony gun charges early Saturday after he allegedly flashed a pistol during a fight.

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran's president said Monday he is proud to stoke international outrage with his latest remarks denying the Holocaust as he heads for the United Nations this week — showing he is as defiant as ever while his country comes under greater pressure to curtail its nuclear program.

Talk with your kids about race America's been dragging race around like a pot of spoiled leftovers far too long. Jerry Large Seattle Times staff columnist   Related More Jerry Large America's been dragging race around like a pot of spoiled leftovers far too long. It stinks up every aspect of public life and is a personal burden to millions of ...

Hutchison to miss SE Seattle forum?   Posted by Bob Young   Susan Hutchison sounds like a no-show at a Tuesday candidate forum on public safety in southeast Seattle. Sponsored by ACLU of Washington and a slew of minority community groups -- including the Seattle chapter of the NAACP and African Youth United to name two -- the event is at ...

Northwest farmers band together to market their own flour Northwest farmers have banded together to market their own flour. Their buy-local message is appealing to many, from pizza bakers to cupcake makers