The Skanner News

Trump asks Supreme Court to Allow Immediate Ban on Transgender Members of the Military

President Donald Trump’s administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow enforcement of a ban on transgender people in the military even as legal challenges proceed. The high court filing ollows a brief order from a federal judge in Tacoma, Washington that kept in place a court order blocking the policy nationwide. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a policy that presumptively disqualifies transgender people from military service, after the Republican… Read More
Reducing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to a Catchphrase Undermines Its True Purpose

In higher education, institutions may promote DEI initiatives while failing to address inequities in access and opportunity among students and faculty. Despite decades of stated commitments to DEI, predominantly white higher education institutions have made little progress toward racially diversifying their faculty, leadership or student body. Read More
The First Latin American Pontiff Pope Francis Dies at 88

Pope Francis has died at age 88. The first Latin American pontiff charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor and marginalised. Criticised by conservatives for speaking out on capitalism and climate change, the Argentine-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio embraced refugees and the downtrodden and upset conservatives gwith his outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics. Bells tolled in church towers across Rome on Monday, and in the evening the… Read More
Renters Call on Washington Lawmakers to Approve Rent-control Bill

Washington state is inches away from joining Oregon and California in passing a bill to limit rent increases in a bid to keep more families in stable housing. HB1217 passed the Senate but with two controversial amendments - one would cut rent caps for single-family homes. If the House rejects the amendments the bill will go to a committee for more work, but can a bill be passed before the end… Read More

NORTHWEST NEWS

Albina Vision Trust, No More Freeways Clash During City Council Hearing

No More Freeways claims ODOT is planning larger expansion than expected.

Renters Call on Washington Lawmakers to Approve Rent-control Bill

Washington state is inches away from joining Oregon and California in passing a bill to limit rent increases in a bid to keep more families in stable housing. HB1217 passed the Senate but with two controversial amendments - one would cut rent caps for single-family homes. If the House rejects the amendments the bill will go to a committee for more work, but can a bill be passed before the end of the session in less than two weeks

Albina Vision Trust and Lewis & Clark College Partner to Enshrine Community, Education in Lower Albina

Permanent education facilities, legal clinics and college opportunities to be offered.

Bernice King Reflects on the Fair Housing Act, Made Law After Her Father's Killing

Bernice King warns decades of work to reduce inequities in housing is at risk, as the Trump administration cuts funding for projects and tries to reduce funding for nonprofits that handle housing discrimination complaints.

NEWS BRIEFS

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...

Senate Democrats Keep School Book Decisions Local and Fair

The Freedom to Read bill says books depicting race, sex, religion and other groups have to be judged by the same standards as all...

University of Portland 2025 Commencement Ceremony Set for Sunday, May 4 at Chiles Center

Keynote speaker Michael Eric Dyson, PhD is a distinguished professor, gifted writer and media personality. His books on...

Education Alliance Announces 30th Anniversary Event Chairs

Set for Saturday, April 26, the evening will bring together civic leaders, advocates and community members in a shared commitment to...

Fresh lawsuit hits Oregon city at the heart of Supreme Court ruling on homeless encampments

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The small Oregon city at the heart of a major U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year that allowed cities across the country to enforce homeless camping bans is facing a fresh lawsuit over its camping rules, as advocates find new ways to challenge them in a legal landscape...

Western Oregon women's basketball players allege physical and emotional abuse

MONMOUTH, Ore. (AP) — Former players for the Western Oregon women's basketball team have filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging emotional and physical abuse. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday in Marion County, seeks million damages. It names the university, its athletic...

Slaughter leads Missouri against No. 5 Texas

Missouri Tigers (12-10, 1-6 SEC) at Texas Longhorns (20-2, 6-1 SEC) Austin, Texas; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Missouri visits No. 5 Texas after Grace Slaughter scored 31 points in Missouri's 78-77 victory against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The...

Slaughter leads Missouri against No. 5 Texas after 31-point game

OPINION

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. ...

Bending the Arc: Advancing Equity in a New Federal Landscape

January 20th, 2025 represented the clearest distillation of the crossroads our country faces. ...

Trump’s America Last Agenda is a Knife in the Back of Working People

Donald Trump’s playbook has always been to campaign like a populist and govern like an oligarch. But it is still shocking just how brutally he went after our country’s working people in the first few days – even the first few hours – after he was...

As Dr. King Once Asked, Where Do We Go From Here?

“Let us be dissatisfied until America will no longer have high blood pressure of creeds and an anemia of deeds. Let us be dissatisfied until the tragic walls that separate the outer city of wealth and comfort from the inner city of poverty and despair shall...

AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE NEWS

Trump consoles crash victims then dives into politics with attack on diversity initiatives

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday responded to the deadliest American aviation disaster in more than two decades by blaming diversity initiatives for undermining safety and questioning the actions of a U.S. Army helicopter pilot involved in the midair collision with a...

US Supreme Court rejects likely final appeal of South Carolina inmate a day before his execution

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Thursday what is likely the final appeal of a South Carolina inmate the day before his scheduled execution for a 2001 killing of a friend found dead in her burning car. Marion Bowman Jr.'s request to stop his execution until a...

Trump's orders take aim at critical race theory and antisemitism on college campuses

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is ordering U.S. schools to stop teaching what he views as “critical race theory” and other material dealing with race and sexuality or risk losing their federal money. A separate plan announced Wednesday calls for aggressive action to...