05-18-2025  6:55 am   •   PDX and SEA Weather

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NORTHWEST NEWS

PHOTOS: The Skanner Celebrates Its 50th with Longtime Sponsors, Supporters, Community

More than 200 people raised their glasses to toast The Skanner’s 50th anniversary at the Oregon Convention Center on April 24. 

Senator-designate Courtney Neron to Serve Remainder of Term Held by Late Senator Aaron Woods

County commissioners in Washington, Clackamas and Yamhill counties have chosen State Rep. Courtney Neron yesterday to serve in Senate Dist.13. The district covers Wilsonville, Sherwood, King City, Tigard and parts of Beaverton and Yamhill County. It was most recently represented by the late Sen. Aaron Woods

Bill to Help Churches, Nonprofits Turn Extra Property into Affordable Housing Advances to Senate

Faith leaders estimate there are thousands of acres of prime real estate being offered by shrinking congregations. 

Food For All Oregonians Bill Moves Forward For Young Children

SB 611 would extend food benefits to all eligible young children, regardless of immigration status.

NEWS BRIEFS

Sellwood-Moreland Library Will Close June 6 For Vital Updates as Part of Refresh Projects

Library will receive new furniture, technology from this work ...

East Portland TIF District Community Leadership Committees – Applications Now Open

Each district-specific committee’s purpose is to advise PHB and Prosper Portland staff, the Portland City Council, and the Prosper...

Merkley, Wyden Blast Trump Administration’s Attacks on Head Start

42 lawmakers write to RFK Jr. demanding answers on Trump admin’s actions undermining Head Start as Trump reportedly plans to...

Alerting People About Rights Is Protected Under Oregon Senate Bill

Senate Bill 1191 says telling someone about their rights isn’t a crime in Oregon. ...

1803 Fund Makes Investment in Black Youth Education

The1803 Fund has announced a decade-long investment into Self Enhancement Inc. and Albina Head Start. The investment will take shape...

OPINION

Policymakers Should Support Patients With Chronic Conditions

As it exists today, 340B too often serves institutional financial gain rather than directly benefiting patients, leaving patients to ask “What about me?” ...

The Skanner News: Half a Century of Reporting on How Black Lives Matter

Publishing in one of the whitest cities in America – long before George Floyd ...

Cuts to Minority Business Development Agency Leaves 3 Staff

6B CDFI affordable capital for local investment also at risk ...

The Courage of Rep. Al Green: A Mandate for the People, Not the Powerful

If his colleagues truly believed in the cause, they would have risen in protest beside him, marched out of that chamber arm in arm with him, and defended him from censure rather than allowing Republicans to frame the narrative. ...

AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE NEWS

ENTERTAINMENT

U.S. & WORLD NEWS

Brian Stimson of The Skanner News

Well known among many hip hop artists in Portland, Bendrea Andrews decided to start a strictly promotional side to his music production business by printing shirts for his friends and family.

Andrews, 22 years old, says he'd make 15 or 20 at a time to push his music.

"It got that I was spending a lot of money for my family members to wear them as a promotional aspect," Andrews said. "It really pushed into a clothing line when I wanted to put my face on it."

Now, Andrews presides over DreCut Clothing, featuring more than a dozen original designs, many with his likeness and personalized sayings such as "I Go Hard in the Paint," "I Run My City," "Rep Yo City."

But perhaps the most telling of Andrews' designs is "Everything I Do I Do It Big."

"I was always taught, you turn 18, you get married, you get a job or join the Army," he said. "It was never college or anything like that. If you graduated high school, that was a success. I see my brothers and that's what they've done."

Now, in addition to operating his clothing line and doing work for such organizations as Nike, Alpha Broadcasting and Fox, Andrews is on the verge of finishing his bachelor's degree in music business from Full Sail University. Although he's been taking online courses, He says the school is urging him to spend his senior year at the campus in Winter Park, Fla.

But with everything in Portland, the young entrepreneur says he's not sure if it'd be worth it.

His ultimate goal is to have his siblings – and there are nine of them – to work for his company.

Lately, Andrews has been working with BET's Big Mike '106 and Park' to be featured on the show's local Blaze the Stage events. He said he's in talks to have the group 'N3w Era' to wear his stuff.

He said the artist Mighty will also be wearing his stuff when appears on "106 & Park."

Long involved in music, Andrews said he taught in the music department at Helensview School and was also a part of the Metropolitan Youth Choir as a child.

"I really wanted to take over the bad things about hip hop music and bring in things that are uplifting and empowering," he said. "The clothing line, that's how it got started, with my own music and the opportunities so far."

For Andrews, the opportunities of life are boundless. He has plans to create a hip hop magazine and also expand his already established business of helping artists with websites, press kits, music videos and distribution.

"I want this to be uplifting, to the youth, to do your dreams. No matter what anyone says, things that you come about in life, to actually go out there and try it," he said.

Visit DreCut Clothing online at www.drecutclothing.com

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