DENVER — U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield understands why many older black leaders were initially reluctant to back Barack Obama. They had seen too much history: the struggle for the right to vote and the difficulty that black candidates had in winning white acceptance.

Butterfield, 61, has seen much of the history of black advancement in American public life. Butterfield's father, a dentist, was among the first blacks in North Carolina to win election in the 20th Century when he was voted in 1953 to the Wilson City Council. » read more

OLYMPIA — Everyone would like to have more time and money; Dee Williams of Olympia achieves that by living in a home the size of a child’s treehouse.

:I love my little home," said Williams, 44. » read more

They're packed with vitamins, taste yummy and are a staple at family picnics every summer.

Dan Avila, a watermelon grower from Turlock who owns fields around the county, said his family has been growing the tasty fruit since 1916. He believes watermelons are more in demand now than at any time in the past. » read more

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Long before Barack Obama became the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, before he became a pop cultural superstar, before he ever whispered his bid for the White House, there was Marsha Shearer on the phone with her son predicting history. » read more

Patrick Ip won't be able to vote in November's presidential election.

But that hasn't stopped him from from throwing his full support toward Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. » read more