12-02-2023  3:19 am   •   PDX and SEA Weather
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NORTHWEST NEWS

Oldest Black Church in Oregon Will Tear Down, Rebuild To Better Serve Community

As physical attendance dwindles, First African Methodist Episcopal Zion is joining the growing trend of churches that are re-imagining how best to use their facilities.

Cities Crack Down on Homeless Encampments. Advocates Say That’s Not the Answer

Homeless people and their advocates say encampment sweeps are cruel and costly, and there aren't enough shelter beds or treatment for everyone. But government officials say it's unacceptable to let encampments fester and people need to accept offers of shelter or treatment, if they have a severe mental illness or addiction.

Schools in Portland, Oregon, Reach Tentative Deal With Teachers Union After Nearly Month-Long Strike

The agreement must still be voted on by teachers who have been on the picket line since Nov. 1 over issues of pay, class sizes and planning time. It must also be approved by the school board.

Voter-Approved Oregon Gun Control Law Violates the State Constitution, Judge Rules

The law is one of the toughest in the nation. It requires people to undergo a criminal background check and complete a gun safety training course in order to obtain a permit to buy a firearm. It also bans high-capacity magazines.

NEWS BRIEFS

Talk A Mile Event Connects Young Black Leaders with Portland Police Bureau Trainees

Talk A Mile operates on the idea that conversation bridges gaps and builds empathy, which can promote understanding between Black...

Turkey Rules the Table. But an AP-NORC Poll Finds Disagreement Over Other Thanksgiving Classics

Thanksgiving may be a time for Americans to come together, but opinion is divided over what's on the crowded dinner table. We mostly...

Veteran Journalist and Emmy Award-Winning Producer to Lead Award-Winning Digital Magazine Focused on Racial Inequality

Jamil Smith will drive The Emancipator’s editorial vision and serve as a key partner to Payne in growing the rising media...

Regional Arts & Culture Council and Port of Portland Announce Selection of PDX Phase 1 Terminal Redevelopment Artists

Sanford Biggers and Yoonhee Choi’s projects will be on display with the opening of the new terminal in May 2024 ...

Portland Theatres Unite in ‘Go See A Play’ Revival Campaign

The effort aims to invigorate the city's performing arts scene. ...

Female athletes sue the University of Oregon alleging Title IX violations by the school

Thirty-two female athletes filed a lawsuit against the University of Oregon on Friday that alleges the school is violating Title IX. The plaintiffs, who are all either on the varsity beach volleyball team or the club rowing team, are accusing the school of “depriving women of equal...

Young humpback whale leaps out of Seattle bay, dazzling onlookers

SEATTLE (AP) — A humpback whale visiting the waters off Seattle dazzled onlookers Thursday morning with several breaches in the bay just beyond the city's downtown area. The whale has been spotted for the last three days swimming around Elliott Bay. But on Thursday, the whale...

Wichita State visits Missouri following East's 21-point outing

Wichita State Shockers (7-1) at Missouri Tigers (6-2) Columbia, Missouri; Sunday, 3 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Missouri takes on the Wichita State Shockers after Sean East scored 21 points in Missouri's 71-64 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers. The Tigers have...

Sean East II scores 21 points to lead Missouri over Pitt 71-64 in the ACC/SEC Challenge

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Sean East II scored 21 points to lead four in double-figure scoring as Missouri beat Pittsburgh 71-64 on Tuesday night in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Noah Carter added 13 points and eight rebounds for Missouri (6-2). Tamar Bates scored 12 points and Caleb Grill chipped...

OPINION

Why Are Bullies So Mean? A Youth Psychology Expert Explains What’s Behind Their Harmful Behavior

Bullied children and teens are at risk for anxiety, depression, dropping out of school, peer rejection, social isolation and self-harm. ...

Federal Agencies Issue $23 Million Fine Against TransUnion and Subsidiary

FTC and CFPB say actions harmed renters and violated fair credit laws ...

First One to Commit to Nonviolence Wins

Every time gains towards nonviolence looked promising, someone from the most aggrieved and trauma-warped groups made sure to be spoilers by committing some atrocity and resetting the hate and violence. ...

Boxes

What is patently obvious to all Americans right now is the adolescent dysfunction of Congress. ...

AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE NEWS

Inmate who stabbed Derek Chauvin 22 times is charged with attempted murder, prosecutors say

Derek Chauvin was stabbed in prison 22 times by a former gang leader and one-time FBI informant who told investigators he targeted the ex-Minneapolis police officer because of his notoriety for killing George Floyd, federal prosecutors said Friday. John Turscak was charged with...

Former Memphis officer charged in Tyre Nichols' death had some violations in prior prison guard job

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Before a former Memphis Police officer joined in a deadly beating on Tyre Nichols, prompting murder charges against him and four colleagues, Demetrius Haley incurred some policy violations in a prior prison guard job and faced accusations of excessive force that his...

Appeals court takes DeSantis' side in challenge to a map that helped unseat a Black congressman

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Legislature didn't violate the state constitution when it approved congressional maps pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that helped the GOP replace a Black Democratic representative with a white conservative, an appeals court ruled Friday. ...

ENTERTAINMENT

Book Review: 'Outrageous: A History of Showbiz and the Culture Wars' argues history repeats itself

“There is nothing new under the sun.” So goes the adage which conveys the tendency for history to repeat itself. It’s this unstated premise that drives Kliph Nesteroff’s latest book, “Outrageous: A History of Showbiz and the Culture Wars.” In it, Nesteroff artfully seeks...

Book Review: 'Welcome to The O.C.' serves as a definitive look-back at the 20-year-old Fox drama

“California, here we come.” The refrain from the Phantom Planet tune “California” that served as the theme song for “The O.C.” welcomed viewers to Fox’s short-lived but much-loved prime-time soap that focused on a group of teenagers and parents navigating the emotional...

How grief, creating characters and wigs helped comic Heather McMahan to build a loyal following

When Heather McMahan recently debuted her first Netflix comedy special, “Son I Never Had," the fan reaction was as though their best girlfriend had achieved a major win. “The coolest thing about this job is a lot of people have been on this journey with me from the beginning,"...

U.S. & WORLD NEWS

Trump attorney says trial during campaign would be 'election interference' if he is GOP nominee

ATLANTA (AP) — An attorney for former President Donald Trump said Friday it would amount to “election...

Nikola Jokic has 21 points, 16 assists, Nuggets hold off Suns 119-111

PHOENIX (AP) — Nikola Jokic looked content to spend most of his Friday night facilitating, setting up baskets...

Blinken sees goals largely unfulfilled in Mideast trip, even as Israel pledges to protect civilians

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned to the Mideast this week...

Nearly 2 months into the war, many Israelis have no idea if their relatives are dead or alive

JERUSALEM (AP) — There was no trace of Hanan Yablonka — not on the 42-year-old Israeli's social media accounts...

Myanmar's military is losing ground against coordinated nationwide attacks, buoying opposition hopes

BANGKOK (AP) — About two weeks into a major offensive against Myanmar's military-run government by an alliance...

Pentagon forges new high-tech agreement with Australia, United Kingdom, aimed at countering China

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California (AP) — From underwater drones to electronic warfare, the U.S. is expanding its...

By Jennifer Liberto
 

The National Rifle Association isn't the only party in the gun debate seeing an outpouring of support.

Three gun control advocacy groups are reporting record numbers of contributions and volunteers in the wake of the Dec. 14 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

While the NRA claimed Wednesday that its membership is up by half a million members, to 4.5 million, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence said that it has raised $5 million in recent weeks, said spokeswoman Debra DeShong Reed.

"We've had support after past tragedies, like Aurora (Colo.) and other mass shootings, but the support and resources that have been coming in lately far surpasses anything we've ever seen," said DeShong Reed.

The amount the Brady Campaign has raised in the past several weeks tops the $2.9 million the group raised in all of 2010, which is the most recent federal record available detailing the charity's contributions. And DeShong said the $5 million is equivalent to their entire budget for 2012.

That said, gun control groups are still far behind gun-rights advocates. The NRA didn't respond to requests about whether it has seen a spike in contributions. But the group had enough in its coffers to spend more than $24 million on federal elections last year.

The only gun control group that came close to the NRA's purse was the Super-PAC Independence USA, funded entirely by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. That group spent $8 million on federal elections last year. By contrast, the Brady Campaign, spent $4,000 on the 2012 campaign.

In 2006, Bloomberg founded the group Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group that says it has also benefited from unprecedented spikes in contributions, especially small dollar contributions via their website. The group wouldn't give exact figures, but director Mark Glaze said the total is "very large," thanks to $5 contributions from Tennessee and $100,000 checks from Chicago.

"This is not just a few people with means bankrolling a movement, this is a groundswell driven by people who want to feel that their kids are safe," Glaze said. "What we're seeing is exponentially more money and more new members in such a short period of time -- far more than we've ever seen before."

Glaze said the average contribution to the group is $72. And the group now touts 1.2 million supporters, about half of which have signed up since the Newtown, Conn., shootings, Glaze said.

A third gun control group, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, also reports being inundated with contributions and volunteers, although its executive director Josh Horowitz declined to give totals. He said that, in the days after the shooting, the group had to call in two extra volunteers just to respond and organize the dozens of calls from volunteers wanting to help.

The uptick in contributions is allowing Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, which had 5 full-time employees and 2 part-timers, to hire two more full-time employees, Horowitz said.

"I've been doing this for 23 years and I've never seen anything like it," he said. "Our organization may be small compared to the NRA, but our movement is no longer small compared to the NRA."