04-23-2024  11:21 pm   •   PDX and SEA Weather
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NORTHWEST NEWS

The Drug War Devastated Black and Other Minority Communities. Is Marijuana Legalization Helping?

A major argument for legalizing the adult use of cannabis after 75 years of prohibition was to stop the harm caused by disproportionate enforcement of drug laws in Black, Latino and other minority communities. But efforts to help those most affected participate in the newly legal sector have been halting. 

Lessons for Cities from Seattle’s Racial and Social Justice Law 

 Seattle is marking the first anniversary of its landmark Race and Social Justice Initiative ordinance. Signed into law in April 2023, the ordinance highlights race and racism because of the pervasive inequities experienced by people of color

Don’t Shoot Portland, University of Oregon Team Up for Black Narratives, Memory

The yearly Memory Work for Black Lives Plenary shows the power of preservation.

Grants Pass Anti-Camping Laws Head to Supreme Court

Grants Pass in southern Oregon has become the unlikely face of the nation’s homelessness crisis as its case over anti-camping laws goes to the U.S. Supreme Court scheduled for April 22. The case has broad implications for cities, including whether they can fine or jail people for camping in public. Since 2020, court orders have barred Grants Pass from enforcing its anti-camping laws. Now, the city is asking the justices to review lower court rulings it says has prevented it from addressing the city's homelessness crisis. Rights groups say people shouldn’t be punished for lacking housing.

NEWS BRIEFS

Mt. Tabor Park Selected for National Initiative

Mt. Tabor Park is the only Oregon park and one of just 24 nationally to receive honor. ...

OHCS, BuildUp Oregon Launch Program to Expand Early Childhood Education Access Statewide

Funds include million for developing early care and education facilities co-located with affordable housing. ...

Governor Kotek Announces Chief of Staff, New Office Leadership

Governor expands executive team and names new Housing and Homelessness Initiative Director ...

Governor Kotek Announces Investment in New CHIPS Child Care Fund

5 Million dollars from Oregon CHIPS Act to be allocated to new Child Care Fund ...

A conservative quest to limit diversity programs gains momentum in states

A conservative quest to limit diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives is gaining momentum in state capitals and college governing boards, with officials in about one-third of the states now taking some sort of action against it. Tennessee became the latest when the Republican...

Ex-police officer wanted in 2 killings and kidnapping shoots, kills self in Oregon, police say

SEATTLE (AP) — A former Washington state police officer wanted after killing two people, including his ex-wife, was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a chase in Oregon, authorities said Tuesday. His 1-year-old baby, who was with him, was taken safely into custody by Oregon...

Missouri hires Memphis athletic director Laird Veatch for the same role with the Tigers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri hired longtime college administrator Laird Veatch to be its athletic director on Tuesday, bringing him back to campus 14 years after he departed for a series of other positions that culminated with five years spent as the AD at Memphis. Veatch...

KC Current owners announce plans for stadium district along the Kansas City riverfront

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The ownership group of the Kansas City Current announced plans Monday for the development of the Missouri River waterfront, where the club recently opened a purpose-built stadium for the National Women's Soccer League team. CPKC Stadium will serve as the hub...

OPINION

Op-Ed: Why MAGA Policies Are Detrimental to Black Communities

NNPA NEWSWIRE – MAGA proponents peddle baseless claims of widespread voter fraud to justify voter suppression tactics that disproportionately target Black voters. From restrictive voter ID laws to purging voter rolls to limiting early voting hours, these...

Loving and Embracing the Differences in Our Youngest Learners

Yet our responsibility to all parents and society at large means we must do more to share insights, especially with underserved and under-resourced communities. ...

Gallup Finds Black Generational Divide on Affirmative Action

Each spring, many aspiring students and their families begin receiving college acceptance letters and offers of financial aid packages. This year’s college decisions will add yet another consideration: the effects of a 2023 Supreme Court, 6-3 ruling that...

OP-ED: Embracing Black Men’s Voices: Rebuilding Trust and Unity in the Democratic Party

The decision of many Black men to disengage from the Democratic Party is rooted in a complex interplay of historical disenchantment, unmet promises, and a sense of disillusionment with the political establishment. ...

AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE NEWS

Pro-Palestinian student protests target colleges' financial ties with Israel

Students at a growing number of U.S. colleges are gathering in protest encampments with a unified demand of their schools: Stop doing business with Israel — or any companies that empower its ongoing war in Gaza. The demand has its roots in a decades-old campaign against Israel's...

Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi is 'tickled pink' to inspire a Barbie doll

Like many little girls, a young Kristi Yamaguchi loved playing with Barbie. With a schedule packed with ice skating practices, her Barbie dolls became her “best friends.” So, it's surreal for the decorated Olympian figure skater to now be a Barbie girl herself. ...

A conservative quest to limit diversity programs gains momentum in states

A conservative quest to limit diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives is gaining momentum in state capitals and college governing boards, with officials in about one-third of the states now taking some sort of action against it. Tennessee became the latest when the Republican...

ENTERTAINMENT

What to stream this weekend: Conan O’Brien travels, 'Migration' soars and Taylor Swift reigns

Zack Snyder’s “Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver” landing on Netflix and Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” album are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as...

Music Review: Jazz pianist Fred Hersch creates subdued, lovely colors on 'Silent, Listening'

Jazz pianist Fred Hersch fully embraces the freedom that comes with improvisation on his solo album “Silent, Listening,” spontaneously composing and performing tunes that are often without melody, meter or form. Listening to them can be challenging and rewarding. The many-time...

Book Review: 'Nothing But the Bones' is a compelling noir novel at a breakneck pace

Nelson “Nails” McKenna isn’t very bright, stumbles over his words and often says what he’s thinking without realizing it. We first meet him as a boy reading a superhero comic on the banks of a river in his backcountry hometown in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia....

U.S. & WORLD NEWS

Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the...

Pro-Palestinian student protests target colleges' financial ties with Israel

Students at a growing number of U.S. colleges are gathering in protest encampments with a unified demand of their...

Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi is 'tickled pink' to inspire a Barbie doll

Like many little girls, a young Kristi Yamaguchi loved playing with Barbie. With a schedule packed with ice...

Modi is accused of using hate speech for calling Muslims 'infiltrators' at an Indian election rally

NEW DELHI (AP) — India's main opposition party accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using hate speech after...

5 migrants die while crossing the English Channel hours after the UK approved a deportation bill

PARIS (AP) — Five people, including a child, died while trying to cross the English Channel from France to the...

World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says

LONDON (AP) — The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and...

By The Skanner News | The Skanner News

Multnomah Bar Association Offers LSAT Prep Course Scholarship

The Multnomah Bar Association’s Equality and Diversity Committee is awarding scholarships for law school applicants who will enhance diversity in the legal community. The scholarships will be applied toward a private LSAT preparation course.

The application is open to any law school applicant (a) attending college in the state of Oregon or Vancouver, Washington; or (b) with substantial ties to the state of Oregon. Applicants should apply for this scholarship only if they can commit to taking a rigorous LSAT preparation course.

Classes preparing students for the June test date begin in early April and last 6-8 weeks. Each session runs 3-4 hours, and there are 2-4 sessions per week. (Some coursework may be done online.)

Although the subcommittee will consider applications on an ongoing basis, applicants should submit the application by Friday, March 4, 2016, to ensure consideration.

To obtain a copy of the application or for other questions, contact the scholarship subcommittee at mbalsat@mbabar.org.

 

Know Your City and Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods Co-Present Black History Walking Tour

February 13th, 27th, March 4th:

For Black History Month, the Hidden History of Albina serves a primer to teach African American history as a response to the controversial debate about whether gentrification and displacement are good or bad for the community. The tour highlights the vast cultural transformation of the region, beginning at Little Big Burger, and hearing from speakers at the Sons of Haiti Lodge, the North Northeast Business Association, the Urban League of Portland, and the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods.

The program received a diversity access grant to provide free tickets to a number of organizations that serve the African American community.

 

Registration Opens for HSSW’s Walk for the Animals Event

Registration for the Humane Society for Southwest Washington’s annual Walk/Run for the Animals event is now available at southwesthumane.org, with $30 early bird registration fee available until March 15.

The will take places May 7 at Esther Short Park in Vancouver. Beginning in the heart of downtown Vancouver at Esther Short Park, runners and walkers will depart in waves to accommodate what is expected to be larger numbers of participants.

The Annual Walk/Run for the Animals is the second largest fundraising event for the Humane Society for Southwest Washington, and is funded in part by the Thomas A. Plein Foundation, Riverview Community Bank, Waste Connections, Allied Fastening Supply, Inc., Mollet Printing and Ghost Runners Brewery.

 

North by Northeast Rolls out Epic Electronic Health Record

North by Northeast Community Health Center today announced the successful roll out of its Epic electronic health record (EHR). Because a patient’s electronic health record is visible to all members of the care team regardless of their location, the switch will lead to improved coordination of patient care.

Electronic health records make hospital, clinic and laboratory visit information available in the same database and accessible whenever and wherever the patient needs care, avoiding duplication and making it easier for clinicians to have access to the right information at the right time.
North by Northeast will use Epic to better monitor its patients’ care. In the past, North by Northeast often would not receive notification, by old-fashioned fax, of a patient’s hospitalization until the patient had been discharged from the hospital.

With most North by Northeast patients using Legacy Health for lab services, specialty care and hospitalization, Legacy Health included North by Northeast in its Legacy Epic for Affiliated Providers (LEAP) program.

Epic is the industry leader in integrated electronic health records and is used by the majority of health care providers in the Portland area. The LEAP staff provides support and training before, during and after implementation.

 

Legacy Seeks Community Stories for 140th Anniversary

As part of Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center's 140th anniversary of serving the Portland-metropolitan region and beyond the hospital is seeking stories from current and former Legacy Good Samaritan patients, physicians, staff and volunteers.

The contest concludes Feb. 29. The public will select three winners in two different categories: Patient or Staff/Volunteer. First place will receive an iPad mini and an opportunity to be featured in Legacy Good Samaritan's new historical exhibit, which will open fall of 2016; second place will receive $100 Visa gift card; and third place will receive $50 Visa gift card.

Those who are interested in sharing their story are encouraged to submit a brief recount of their experiences by visiting legacyhealth.org. There is a 300-word limit per story. The contest concludes on Monday, February 29. Public voting will begin on Tuesday, March 1 and conclude on Monday, March 11. The winners will be announced on Friday, March 18. If you have questions, please contact Jonathan Stephens at jstephe@lhs.org.

The Skanner Foundation's 38th Annual MLK Breakfast