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
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 ...
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...
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. ...
Bishop stabbed during Sydney church service backs X's legal case to share video of the attack
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A Sydney bishop who was stabbed repeatedly in an alleged extremist attack blamed on a teenager has backed X Corp. owner Elon Musk’s legal bid to overturn an Australian ban on sharing graphic video of the attack on social media. A live stream of the...
Biden just signed a bill that could ban TikTok. His campaign plans to stay on the app anyway
WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Joe Biden showed off his putting during a campaign stop at a public golf course in Michigan last month, the moment was captured on TikTok. Forced inside by a rainstorm, he competed with 13-year-old Hurley “HJ” Coleman IV to make putts on a...
2021 death of young Black man at rural Missouri home was self-inflicted, FBI tells AP
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A federal investigation has concluded that a young Black man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a rural Missouri home, not at the hands of the white homeowner who had a history of racist social media postings, an FBI official told The Associated Press Wednesday. ...
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...
The Latest | Israeli strikes in Rafah kill at least 5 as ship comes under attack in the Gulf of Aden
Palestinian hospital officials said Israeli airstrikes on the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip killed at...
Columbia's president, no stranger to complex challenges, walks tightrope on student protests
Columbia University president Minouche Shafik is no stranger to navigating complex international issues, having...
US growth likely slowed last quarter but still pointed to a solid economy
WASHINGTON (AP) — Coming off a robust end to 2023, the U.S. economy is thought to have extended its surprisingly...
French president will outline his vision for Europe as an assertive global power amid war in Ukraine
PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to outline his vision for Europe to become a more...
Ship comes under attack off coast of Yemen as Houthi rebel campaign appears to gain new speed
JERUSALEM (AP) — A ship traveling in the Gulf of Aden came under attack Thursday, officials said, the latest...
With war in Ukraine on its border, Poland wants to be among the countries setting Europe's agenda
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski told parliament on Thursday that the government...
Urban League of Seattle receives $25,000 Grant for Career Bridge Program
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) this week announced it philanthropically invested $25,000 in Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle to help African Americans with criminal histories chart a new course in life through its Career Bridge program.
Additional Wells Fargo Economic Opportunity grant recipients in Washington for 2016 include:
In order to strengthen communities challenged by the highest levels of unemployment, Wells Fargo awarded $2.3 million to 59 nonprofits across California, Alaska, Washington and Oregon. Thirty-five of the funded nonprofits are from urban communities and 24 are from rural markets. The organizations offer people advancement opportunities by providing services focused on small and micro business development, workforce development or job creation.
In total, the 59 grants are expected to make the following impact in local communities (as reported by grant recipients):
Upthegrove Proposes $87 Million Investment in Affordable Housing
A plan to invest $87 million in affordable housing projects near transit stations over the next five years was approved today by the Metropolitan King County Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee.
Upthegrove’s proposal will generate approximately $87 million by selling bonds supported by lodging tax revenue that must be spent on affordable housing under state law.
Approximately $32.3 million will be distributed throughout the County through a competitive procurement process. Projects must be located within one-half mile of transit stations. Preference will be given to proposals serving low-income households or other vulnerable populations such as survivors of domestic violence, veterans, and people with developmental disabilities.
The remainder of the funds will be focused on specific high-capacity transit areas that include the Northgate Transit Center, Des Moines Link Light Rail Station, S. 272nd Light Rail Station in Federal Way, Bel-Red Corridor transit stations, I-90 corridor from Issaquah to North Bend, and South Seattle stations.
This plan represents an expansion of the previous plan issued by County Executive Dow Constantine and invests an additional $39 million towards housing projects.
The legislation will be reviewed by the full Council later this summer.
Mayor: New Community Engagement Plan Will Bring More Diverse Neighborhood Voices Before the City
Mayor Ed Murray today signed an executive order to bring greater equity to the City’s outdated system for promoting public engagement among residents of Seattle’s neighborhoods.
The District Council system, established in 1987, includes thirteen area-based councils whose membership includes local residents representing their neighborhood’s community council, business associations, and nonprofit organizations. In 2009, the City Auditor issued a strongly-worded report advocating for a reset of the District Council system, due in part to the low-level of diverse representation on the district councils.
In 2013, a demographic snapshot of District Council attendees showed that they tend to be 40 years of age or older, Caucasian, with the vast majority owning their homes. At least six District Councils had no reported people of color attending, and only three District Councils reported any African American attendees.
Murray’s executive order directs City departments to begin developing robust community engagement plans, and takes steps toward dissolving the City’s ties to each of the thirteen district councils. The district councils may still exist, but Department of Neighborhoods’ resources that previously supported the district councils will be redirect to support all City departments in these efforts. Throughout the month of August, the Department of Neighborhoods will conduct civic engagement focus groups. By September 26, the department will also draft legislation for a new citywide community engagement framework and strategic plan, including a new Seattle Community Involvement Commission to be established by January 2017. The Department of Neighborhoods and Seattle IT are also directed to submit a digital engagement plan by March 1, 2017 to broaden public accessibility.
An FAQ on today’s announcement can be found here.
Department of Financial Institutions Warns Against Legal Mediation Services Scam
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) warns consumers that before doing business with a financial institution, company, or individual, they should make sure that the entity is properly licensed. Consumers are urged to verify license status prior to giving the financial institution, company, or individual any nonpublic personal information, such as social security number or bank account number or access.
DFI received a complaint indicating that “investigators” claiming to represent “Legal Mediation Services” contacted a consumer via telephone about the collection of a debt. The debt was purported to be from Direct Lending. The individuals alleged that an arrest warrant was put out for the consumer. The consumer reported that she has never conducted business with either entity.
Information included in the complaint:
Representative: Tracey, “Investigator”; Mr. Wilson, “Investigator”
Phone number: 859*208*0826
“Direct Lending” is not to be confused with the following licensed and registered companies in Washington state:
Those perpetrating this scam are not related to the properly-licensed companies listed above, and are not licensed by DFI nor registered to conduct business in Washington State by the Department of Licensing, the Department of Revenue, or the Secretary of State.
If you feel you have been the victim of a scam please contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP(382-4357) or online at www.ftc.gov; or contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (855) 411-CFPB (2372) or online at www.consumerfinance.gov. If the scammers already have your bank account information, social security number, or other nonpublic information, you may be a victim of identity theft and you should take appropriate precautions. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has information for victims of identity theft available online at www.ftc.gov.
If you feel you have been the victim of a scam involving the internet please contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center online at www.ic3.gov.
If you feel you have been the victim of a financial scam and are concerned about your personal financial information, contact your banking institution and the three major credit bureaus. Procedures for contacting the credit bureaus are available on the FTC’s website at www.ftc.gov.
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