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.
Hundreds Gather at White House to Demand President Biden Let Youth Climate Case be Heard
‘We will not be silenced’ by the DOJ,' youth say ...
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 ...
Ex-Washington officer wanted in 2 killings found in Oregon with gunshot wound, police say
SEATTLE (AP) — A former Washington state police officer wanted after killing two people, including his ex-wife, was found 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 State...
WEST RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) — Ex-Washington officer wanted in 2 killings found in Oregon with self-inflicted gunshot wound; child is safe, police say....
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...
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. ...
Transgender Tennessee woman sues over state's refusal to change the sex designation on her license
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A transgender Tennessee woman sued the state's Department of Safety and Homeland Security on Tuesday after officials refused to change the sex on her driver's license to match her gender identity. The lawsuit was filed in Davidson County Chancery Court in...
Biden's Morehouse graduation invitation is sparking backlash, complicating election-year appearance
ATLANTA (AP) — President Joe Biden will be the commencement speaker at Morehouse College in Georgia, giving the Democrat a key spotlight on one of the nation’s preeminent historically Black campuses but potentially exposing him to uncomfortable protests as he seeks reelection against former...
New Fort Wayne, Indiana, mayor is sworn in a month after her predecessor's death
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) — Democrat Sharon Tucker was sworn in Tuesday as the new mayor of Indiana’s second-most populous city, nearly a month after her predecessor's death. Tucker, who had been a Fort Wayne City Council member, took the oath of office Tuesday morning at the Clyde...
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....
The Latest | Tent compound rises in southern Gaza as Israel prepares for Rafah offensive
Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press appear to show a new compound of tents being built near Khan...
Pentagon set to send jumi billion in new military aid to Ukraine once bill clears Senate and Biden
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is poised to send jumi billion in new military aid to Ukraine, U.S. officials said...
United Methodists open first top-level conference since breakup over LGBTQ inclusion
Thousands of United Methodists are gathering in Charlotte, North Carolina, for their big denominational meeting,...
Abortion returns to the spotlight in Italy, 46 years after it was legalized
ROME (AP) — Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s far-right-led government scored a victory Tuesday with the Senate...
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
LIMA, Peru (AP) — A Peruvian psychologist who had an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and left her...
Haiti health system nears collapse as medicine dwindles, gangs attack hospitals and ports stay shut
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — On a recent morning at a hospital in the heart of gang territory in Haiti’s...
BIG BUDGET FILMS
The 33 (PG-13 for profanity and a disaster sequence) Fact-based docudrama recounting the 2010 collapse of a Chilean mine which left 33 men trapped underground for 69 days. Ensemble cast includes Antonio Banderas, Lou Diamond Phillips, James Brolin, Juliette Binoche and Gabriel Byrne. (In English and Spanish with subtitles)
By the Sea (R for nudity, profanity and graphic sexuality) Romance drama, set in the South of France in the Seventies, revolving around a writer (Brad Pitt) and a retired dancer (Angelina Jolie) who try to revitalize their flagging marriage while vacationing in a quaint village located along the coast. With Melanie Laurent, Niels Arestrup and Sarah Naudi. (In English and French with subtitles)
Love the Coopers (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality and mature themes) Holiday comedy, set in Pittsburgh, about the hijinks which unfold when several generations of a dysfunctional family convene for their annual Christmas gathering. Co-starring Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried, Anthony Mackie, Diane Keaton, John Goodman, Ed Helms and Marisa Tomei. View the trailer below:
My All American (PG for mature themes, mild epithets and brief partial nudity) Bittersweet biopic about Freddie Steinmark (Finn Wittrock), the college football great diagnosed with cancer a couple days after leading the University of Texas to the 1969 NCAA National Championship. With Aaron Eckhart, Sarah Bolger and Robin Tunney.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
All Rise (Unrated) Legal argument documentary following the fortunes of seven law students from seven different countries (Palestine, Israel, Uganda, Jamaica, Russia, India and Singapore) as they compete in the world's largest moot court competition staged in Washington, DC .
Casa Grande (Unrated) Coming-of-age drama, set in Rio de Janeiro, about a spoiled-rotten teen (Thales Cavalcanti) who's decadent lifestyle comes to an abrupt end when his father's (Marcello Novaes) hedge fund goes belly up. Cast includes Suzana Pires, Alice Melo and Bruna Amaya. (In Portuguese with subtitles)
Entertainment (R for profanity, sexuality, crude humor, brief drug use and a disturbing image) Road drama about a washed-up comedian (Greg Turkington) who does some stand-up shows in dives while driving cross-country en route to a rendezvous with his long-estranged daughter. With John C. Reilly, Tye Sheridan, Michael Cera, Amy Seimetz and Dean Stockwell.
Funny Buddy (Unrated) Romantic dramedy about a childhood obesity counselor (Kentucker Audley) and an emotionally-stunted trust fund baby (Olly Alexander) competing for the affections of a reclusive animal activist (Joslyn Jensen). Featuring Louis Cancelmi, Anna Margaret Hollyman and Marisa Brown.
Ingrid Bergman in Her Own Words (Unrated) Reverential documentary offering a behind-the-scenes look at the life of one of the most celebrated actresses of her time. Featuring archival footage as well as commentary by Sigourney Weaver, Liv Ullmann, and Ingrid's offspring: Pia Lindstrom, Isabella Rossellini, Isotta Rossellini and Roberto Rossellini. (In English and Spanish with subtitles)
James White (R for sexuality, nudity, profanity and drug use) Christopher Abbott handles the title role in this character study, set in New York City, about a self-destructive slacker, still living at home, forced to mature when his mom (Cynthia Nixon) becomes seriously ill. With Ron Livingston, Scott Mescudi, Makenzie Leigh and David Call.
Man Up (R for profanity and sexual references) Romantic comedy about a woman (Lake Bell) unlucky at love who finally finds Mr. Right (Simon Pegg) after being mistaken for his blind date. With Olivia Williams, Rory Kinnear and Ophelia Lovibond.
Shelter (Unrated) Character-driven drama, marking the directorial debut of Paul Bettany, revolving around the love which blossoms between a homeless street performer from Nigeria (Anthony Mackie) and a heroin-addicted widow (Jennifer Connelly) also living on the streets of New York.
Song of Lahore (PG for mature themes, smoking and violent images) Cross-cultural documentary chronicling the musical collaborations of a Pakistani classical orchestra and Wynton Marsalis' big band. (In Urdu with subtitles)
Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans (Unrated) The making of documentary revisiting the shooting of the legendary actor's auto racing classic in 1971.
Sweet Micky for President (Unrated) Haitian documentary chronicling Michel Martelly's presidential campaign in the wake of the earthquake which devastated his homeland in 2010. Featuring appearances by Pras Michel, Sean Penn, Wyclef Jean and Ben Stiller. View the trailer below: