10-04-2024  10:39 am   •   PDX and SEA Weather

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NORTHWEST NEWS

Taxpayers in 24 States Will Be Able to File Their Returns Directly With the IRS in 2025

The pilot program in 2024 allowed people in certain states with very simple W-2s to calculate and submit their returns directly to the IRS. Those using the program claimed more than million in refunds, the IRS said.

Companies Back Away From Oregon Floating Offshore Wind Project as Opposition Grows

The federal government finalized two areas for floating offshore wind farms along the Oregon coast in February. But opposition from tribes, fishermen and coastal residents highlights some of the challenges the plan faces.

Preschool for All Growth Outpaces Enrollment Projections

Mid-year enrollment to allow greater flexibility for providers, families.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden Demands Answers From Emergency Rooms That Denied Care to Pregnant Patients

Wyden is part of a Democratic effort to focus the nation’s attention on the stories of women who have faced horrible realities since some states tightened a patchwork of abortion laws.

NEWS BRIEFS

Oregon’s 2024-25 Teacher of the Year is Bryan Butcher Jr. of Beaumont Middle School

“From helping each of his students learn math in the way that works for them, to creating the Black Student Union at his school,...

Burn Ban Lifted in the City of Portland

Although the burn ban is being lifted, Portland Fire & Rescue would like to remind folks to only burn dried cordwood in a...

Midland Library to Reopen in October

To celebrate the opening of the updated, expanded Midland, the library is hosting two days of activities for the community...

U.S. Congressman Al Green Commends Biden Administration on Launching Investigation into 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre; Mulls Congressional Action

The thriving African American community of Greenwood, popularly known as Black Wall Street, was criminally leveled by a white mob...

Governor Kotek, Oregon Housing and Community Services Announce Current and Projected Homelessness Initiative Outcomes

The announcement is accompanied by a data dashboard that shows the progress for the goals set within the...

Senators ask Justice Department to take tougher action against Boeing executives over safety issues

Two U.S. senators have asked the Department of Justice to take tougher action against Boeing executives by holding them criminally accountable for safety issues that have impacted its airplanes. In a letter dated Wednesday and sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Democratic...

Taxpayers in 24 states will be able to file their returns directly with the IRS in 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS is expanding its program that allows people to file their taxes directly with the agency for free. The federal tax collector’s Direct File program, which allows taxpayers to calculate and submit their returns to the government directly without using...

No 9 Missouri faces stiff road test in visit to No. 25 Texas A&M

No. 9 Missouri hits the road for the first time this season, facing arguably its toughest challenge so far. The Tigers (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) know the trip to No. 25 Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0) on Saturday will be tough for several reasons if they want to extend their...

No. 9 Missouri looks to improve to 5-0 in visit to No. 25 Texas A&M

No. 9 Missouri (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) at No. 25 Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0), Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (ABC). BetMGM College Football Odds: Texas A&M by 2 1/2. Series record: Texas A&M leads 9-7. WHAT’S AT STAKE? The winner will...

OPINION

The Skanner News: 2024 City Government Endorsements

In the lead-up to a massive transformation of city government, the mayor’s office and 12 city council seats are open. These are our endorsements for candidates we find to be most aligned with the values of equity and progress in Portland, and who we feel...

No Cheek Left to Turn: Standing Up for Albina Head Start and the Low-Income Families it Serves is the Only Option

This month, Albina Head Start filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to defend itself against a misapplied rule that could force the program – and all the children it serves – to lose federal funding. ...

DOJ and State Attorneys General File Joint Consumer Lawsuit

In August, the Department of Justice and eight state Attorneys Generals filed a lawsuit charging RealPage Inc., a commercial revenue management software firm with providing apartment managers with illegal price fixing software data that violates...

America Needs Kamala Harris to Win

Because a 'House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand' ...

AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE NEWS

Harris and Trump battle for labor support as dockworkers suspend strike

DETROIT (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is visiting the union stronghold of Flint in the critical swing state of Michigan on Friday as she battles with Donald Trump for working-class voters who could tip the scales in this year's election. Her appearance comes the day after U.S....

For Pittsburgh Jews, attack anniversary adds to an already grim October

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jewish communities everywhere reacted with horror at last year's Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, but the approaching one-year commemoration of the assault hits home particularly hard in Pittsburgh's Jewish community, which already marks a grim anniversary each October. ...

Civilization 7 makers work with Shawnee to bring sincere representation of the tribe to the game

MIAMI, Okla. (AP) — Shawnee Tribe Chief Ben Barnes grew up playing video games, including “probably hundreds of hours” colonizing a distant planet in the 1999 title Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. So when that same game studio, Firaxis, approached the tribal nation a quarter-century...

ENTERTAINMENT

Book Review: 'The Last Dream,' short stories scattered with the seeds of Pedro Almodovar films

The seeds of Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar's later cinematic work are scattered throughout the pages of “The Last Dream,” his newly published collection of short writings. The stories and essays were gathered together by Almodóvar's longtime assistant, including many pieces...

Book Review: Louise Erdrich writes about love and loss in North Dakota in ’The Mighty Red’

Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Louise Erdrich (“The Night Watchman,” 2021) returns with a story close to her heart, “The Mighty Red.” Set in the author’s native North Dakota, the title refers to the river that serves as a metaphor for life in the Red River Valley. It also carries a...

Book Review: 'Revenge of the Tipping Point' is fan service for readers of Gladwell's 2000 book

It's been nearly 25 years since Malcolm Gladwell published “The Tipping Point," and it's still easy to catch it being read on airplanes, displayed prominently on executives' bookshelves or hear its jargon slipped into conversations. It's no surprise that a sequel was the next logical step. ...

U.S. & WORLD NEWS

A year later, Israeli survivors reflect on the lingering toll of Oct. 7

Lilach Almog walks past the remains of a police station seized by Hamas militants and buildings pockmarked by...

Supreme Court steps into a fight over plans to store nuclear waste in rural Texas and New Mexico

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court agreed on Friday to step into a fight over plans to store nuclear waste at...

Cousins throws for 509 yards, hits Hodge in OT to give Falcons 36-30 win over Bucs

ATLANTA (AP) — Kirk Cousins sure earned all that money Thursday night. The 0 million...

US arranges flights to bring Americans out of Lebanon as others seek escape

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S.-arranged flights have brought about 350 Americans and their immediate relatives out of...

Clashes in Kenya as people discuss the deputy president's impeachment motion

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Supporters and opponents of Kenya's deputy president clashed Friday at public forums over...

Rainstorms and heavy floods hit large parts of Bosnia, killing at least 16 people

KISELJAK, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — A severe rainstorm struck Bosnia overnight Friday, killing at least 16...

Nekesa Mumbi Moody AP Music Writer

MIAMI BEACH, Florida (AP) -- Miami's South Beach was swamped with celebrities during Super Bowl week. Whether they were hanging out on South Beach, mingling together at intimate parties or participating in some of the more high-profile celebrity events, they often times outshined the football players during the sport's biggest showcase.
Here's a look at some of the more notable things seen, heard and observed leading up to Sunday's Super Bowl.
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(MORE THAN) FASHIONABLY LATE: The Black Eyed Peas were more than tardy for the party.
The Grammy-winning band was the main attraction for Playboy's Super Bowl bash, which started around 9 p.m. But many guests had already headed out the door by the time the Peas rolled into the event around 2 a.m.
They may have had a better excuse than most for being late: The quartet had performed earlier Saturday night at American Airlines arena for the second date of their "The E.N.D." tour.
Nearby, another men's magazine -- Maxim -- was also holding court with stars like LL Cool J.
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WEEK OF CELEBRATION: Rihanna had more to celebrate during Super Bowl week than most. The singer was still excited over her two Grammy wins a week ago.
"You never come down from that," said Rihanna, who won with Jay-Z and Kanye West for "Run This Town."
"When you remember it, you're like, 'Wow, I won a Grammy.'"
Rihanna will switch from the music world to the literary world soon. She's finishing a coffee table book that will be out this year.
"It's like a look into my life, behind the scenes, what you don't really get to see, but also fashion shots," she said.
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BRODY BEING BRODY: Brody Jenner had some fun at a scantily clad woman's expense on a windy afternoon in Miami Beach.
The TV personality was hanging with his buddies outside the swank Eden Roc hotel when they observed a very tan, short brunette wearing a low-cut mini-dress waiting for a cab. She was desperately trying to keep her dress down in the wind and not show what little was left uncovered.
As she did, Jenner and his crew yelled out, ``SNOOKI! SNOOKI! SNOOKI!'' -- because of the woman's resemblance to the reality starlet from the MTV show ``Jersey Shore.'' When her cab finally arrived, she stopped holding on to her dress, revealing her underwear -- and Jenner and friends cheered.
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HEIDI'S LONG RECOVERY: Holly Montag says it's been tough for her sister Heidi to deal with all the critics of her massive plastic surgery.
Heidi -- famous for her role on "The Hills" -- admitted to having 10 procedures in one day to create her ideal look, including breast implants, a lip job, liposuction and more.
"She's being very strong and holding to her own morals and I'm very proud of her," said Holly, also on "The Hills," at Playboy's party on Saturday. "She's the strongest woman I know. She's done a brilliant job."
Holly Montag also said her sister is still not adjusted to her new body.
"She was still just getting used to it and it's a long recovery time. It's several months," she said. "She's being a trooper about the whole thing."
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CELEBRATIONS AND HEADACHES: Kelly Rowland wasn't one of the celebrities who popped into town for the Super Bowl. She lives in Miami, and like a lot of residents, was trying to grapple with the headaches that come with having the Super Bowl on your doorstep.
"I happened to come home during Super Bowl. I was like, 'Why is there so much traffic?' and everyone is like, 'Super Bowl!'" the singer said. "Nobody wants to drive. So I have to spend a lot of money for a car service."
Rowland -- who shot to fame with Destiny's Child -- said she's working on a new album with Akon, Ne-Yo and more.
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PROUD MOTHER: Solange Knowles was a bit nervous when Rihanna and Jay-Z brought her young son Juelz on stage with them when they accepted their Grammy Award last Sunday.
"I was very surprised and very nervous when Rihanna put his mouth to the mic, because anything could have come out," she said Friday. "But I was very proud as a mom that he used his manners."
Knowles also downplayed her tweets on Grammy night where she seemed frustrated that despite sister Beyonce's record-breaking six Grammy wins in one night for a female, much of the attention was going to Taylor Swift, who won album of the year.
"I wasn't frustrated at all, I was just a proud sister. So, of course I wanted that to be celebrated. It was national history, it had never been done before and not only is it history, it's black history, it's music history. Anytime you break a record, I feel like it should be celebrated," she said.
Knowles, who was a DJ at tennis star Venus Williams' Tide party, said she was just in town for the parties, not the game: "I'm just in a different zone right now, not in party football mode."