04-24-2024  5:12 pm   •   PDX and SEA Weather
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NORTHWEST NEWS

A Conservative Quest to Limit Diversity Programs Gains Momentum in States

In support of DEI, Oregon and Washington have forged ahead with legislation to expand their emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion in government and education.

Epiphanny Prince Hired by Liberty in Front Office Job Day After Retiring

A day after announcing her retirement, Epiphanny Prince has a new job working with the New York Liberty as director of player and community engagement. Prince will serve on the basketball operations and business staffs, bringing her 14 years of WNBA experience to the franchise. 

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

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 ...

Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge US to prosecute the company

Boeing said Wednesday that it lost 5 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers. ...

Authorities confirm 2nd victim of ex-Washington officer was 17-year-old with whom he had a baby

WEST RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) — Authorities on Wednesday confirmed that a body found at the home of a former Washington state police officer who killed his ex-wife before fleeing to Oregon, where he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, was that of a 17-year-old girl with whom he had a baby. ...

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

2 Mississippi catfish farms settle suit alleging immigrants were paid more than local Black workers

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Two Mississippi catfish farms have settled a lawsuit alleging that they brought workers from Mexico to the U.S. and paid them significantly more than they previously paid local Black farmworkers for the same type of labor, plaintiffs' attorneys said Tuesday. ...

From NC State's Kevin Keatts to Florida St's Leonard Hamilton, ACC is home to 9 Black head coaches

Kevin Keatts' path through the NCAA Tournament with North Carolina State included beating three teams with white head coaches, with another up next in the Final Four against Purdue's Matt Painter. Marquette's Shaka Smart was the only fellow Black head coach he saw down the sideline...

What happened to the 4 Black assistant coaches arrested in college corruption probe

A look at what happened to the four Black assistant coaches arrested in 2017 as part of the FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball: TONY BLAND — Southern Cal assistant received two years of probation after pleading guilty to a bribery charge. Coached at St. Bernard...

ENTERTAINMENT

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....

Cardi B, Queen Latifah and The Roots to headline the BET Experience concerts in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cardi B, Queen Latifah and The Roots will headline concerts to celebrate the return of the BET Experience in Los Angeles just days before the 2024 BET Awards. BET announced Monday the star-studded lineup of the concert series, which makes a return after a...

U.S. & WORLD NEWS

Nikola Jokic leads NBA champ Denver Nuggets past LeBron James and Lakers 114-103 in playoff opener

DENVER (AP) — Unlike their crowd that drowned out the Los Angeles Lakers' pregame introductions, the defending...

Will there be a 'superbloom' this year in California? Here's what to know

Carpets of yellow, orange and gold flowers are beginning to cover Southern California's vast deserts, the Bay...

Biden sees a price cap for insulin as a pivotal campaign issue. It’s not that clear-cut

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rarely a day goes without President Joe Biden mentioning insulin prices. He...

UK lawmaker won't run again after allegations of late night call for funds to pay off 'bad people'

LONDON (AP) — A British lawmaker who allegedly used campaign funds to pay off people who were holding him...

Residents of four Serb-majority municipalities boycott vote on removing ethnic Albanian mayors

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Residents of four Serb-majority municipalities on Sunday overwhelmingly boycotted a vote...

Ecuadorians head to polls to toughen fight against gangs behind wave of violence

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuadorians headed to the polls Sunday in a referendum touted by the country's fledgling...

Kam Williams, Special to The Skanner News

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Bad Teacher (R for nudity, profanity, sexuality and drug use) Camera Diaz stars in the title role of this romantic comedy about a trashy gold digger who schemes to land a wealthy substitute teacher (Justin Timberlake) while being chased by another colleague (Jason Segel). With Lucy Punch, Molly Shannon and Thomas Lennon.

Cars 2 (G) Pixar/Disney animated sequel about a couple of cool automobiles (Larry the Cable Guy" and Owen Wilson) who become embroiled in international espionage when they venture to Europe to compete in the World Grand Prix of Racing. With voice work by Emily Mortimer, Michael Caine, John Turturro, Brent Musburger, Joe Mantegna, Cheech Marin, Vanessa Redgrave, Jenifer Lewis and Tony Shalhoub.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

The Best and the Brightest (Unrated) Social climber comedy about a desperate couple (Neil Patrick Harris and Bonnie Somerville), new to Manhattan, who enlist the assistance of an education consultant (Amy Sedaris) in order to get their 5 year-old daughter (Amelia Talbot) admitted to an exclusive private school. With John Hodgman, Christopher McDonald and Kate Mulgrew.   

A Better Life (PG-13 for profanity, violence and drug use) American Dream drama, set in East L.A., about an undocumented immigrant's (Demian Bichir) attempt to protect his teenage son (Jose Julian) from both street gangs and deportation back to Mexico. With Joaquin Cosio, Nancy Lenehan and Bobby Soto.    

Conan O'Brien Can't Stop (Unrated) Concert flick featuring the late night talk show host over the course of a 44-city, standup comedy tour during a period in 2010 when he found himself between networks. With appearances by Jim Carrey, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Conan's longtime sidekick Andy Richter.

General Orders No. 9 (Unrated) Cinematic portrait of the State of Georgia shot by first-time director Robert Persons who laments the escalating encroachment of urbanization on the South's natural habitats.

If a Tree Falls (Unrated) Eco-documentary chronicling the exploits of the Earth Liberation Front, the revolutionary environmental group named by the FBI as America's #1 domestic terrorist threat.

Leap Year (Unrated) Sadomasochistic drama, set in Mexico City, revolving around a suicidal freelance journalist (Monica del Carmen) who enlists the help of a stranger (Gustavo Sanchez Parra) with whom she shares a one-night stand. (In Spanish with subtitles)

A Little Help (R for sexuality, profanity and drug use) Bittersweet dramedy about a dental hygienist (Jenna Fischer) who suddenly finds herself resorting to lies to provide for herself and her 12 year-old son (Daniel Yelsky) in the wake of her philandering husband's (Chris O'Donnell) untimely death. With Kim Coates, Ron Leibman, Lesley Ann Warren and Rob Benedict.

A Love Affair of Sorts (Unrated) Serendipitous love tale, unfolding in Los Angeles during the holiday season, between a surreptitious painter (David Guy Levy) and the Hungarian nanny (Lili Bordan) he catches shoplifting at a bookstore on his cell phone camera. Support cast includes Ivan Kamaras and Jonathan Beckerman.

The Names of Love (Unrated) French farce about a free-spirited, young political activist (Sara Forestier) who succeeds in converting right-wing conservatives to her liberal cause by sleeping with them until she meets her match in a stubborn, middle-aged Fascist (Jacques Gamblin). With Carole Franck, Jacques Boudet and former Prime Minister of France Lionel Jospin. (In French, Greek, Arabic and English with subtitles)

Passione (Unrated) John Turturro directed and narrates this labor of love exploring the musical and cultural contributions of the City of Naples. (In Italian, Neapolitan, Arabic and English with subtitles)

Raw Faith (Unrated) Slice-of-life bio-pic capturing Minister Marilyn Sewell's personal struggle with the question of whether or not to leave the pulpit after she falls in love for the first time.

Turtle: The Incredible Journey (G) Nature documentary traces the path a little loggerhead turtle takes from Florida to the frozen North Atlantic to Africa and back to the beach where she was born.

Vincent Wants to Sea (Unrated) Road flick about a man with Tourette's Syndrome (Florian David Fitz) who runs away to Italy from a Bavarian rehabilitation center accompanied by his obsessive-compulsive roommate (Johannes Allmayer) and an anorexic patient (Karoline Herfurth) in order to fulfill his late mother's last request. (In German with subtitles)

The Skanner Foundation's 38th Annual MLK Breakfast