Portland and Seattle
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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.
Four Ballot Measures for Portland Voters to Consider
Proposals from the city, PPS, Metro and Urban Flood Safety & Water Quality District.
Washington Gun Store Sold Hundreds of High-Capacity Ammunition Magazines in 90 Minutes Without Ban
KGW-TV reports Wally Wentz, owner of Gator’s Custom Guns in Kelso, described Monday as “magazine day” at his store. Wentz is behind the court challenge to Washington’s high-capacity magazine ban, with the help of the Silent Majority Foundation in eastern Washington.
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 ...
The nation’s largest Black-owned bank will choose ten winners and award each a $1,000 savings account ...
Literary Arts Transforms Historic Central Eastside Building Into New Headquarters
The new 14,000-square-foot literary center will serve as a community and cultural hub with a bookstore, café, classroom, and event...
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Announces New Partnership with the University of Oxford
Tony Bishop initiated the CBCF Alumni Scholarship to empower young Black scholars and dismantle financial barriers ...
The drug war devastated Black and other minority communities. Is marijuana legalization helping?
ARLINGTON, Wash. (AP) — When Washington state opened some of the nation's first legal marijuana stores in 2014, Sam Ward Jr. was on electronic home detention in Spokane, where he had been indicted on federal drug charges. He would soon be off to prison to serve the lion's share of a four-year...
Firefighters douse a blaze at a historic Oregon hotel famously featured in 'The Shining'
GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore. (AP) — Firefighters doused a late-night fire at Oregon's historic Timberline Lodge — featured in Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film “The Shining” — before it caused significant damage. The fire Thursday night was confined to the roof and attic of the lodge,...
Two-time world champ J’den Cox retires at US Olympic wrestling trials; 44-year-old reaches finals
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — J’den Cox walked off the mat after dropping a 2-2 decision to Kollin Moore at the U.S. Olympic wrestling trials on Friday night, leaving his shoes behind to a standing ovation. The bronze medal winner at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 was beaten by...
University of Missouri plans 0 million renovation of Memorial Stadium
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The University of Missouri is planning a 0 million renovation of Memorial Stadium. The Memorial Stadium Improvements Project, expected to be completed by the 2026 season, will further enclose the north end of the stadium and add a variety of new premium...
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. ...
The drug war devastated Black and other minority communities. Is marijuana legalization helping?
ARLINGTON, Wash. (AP) — When Washington state opened some of the nation's first legal marijuana stores in 2014, Sam Ward Jr. was on electronic home detention in Spokane, where he had been indicted on federal drug charges. He would soon be off to prison to serve the lion's share of a four-year...
Lawsuits under New York's new voting rights law reveal racial disenfranchisement even in blue states
FREEPORT, N.Y. (AP) — Weihua Yan had seen dramatic demographic changes since moving to Long Island's Nassau County. Its Asian American population alone had grown by 60% since the 2010 census. Why then, he wondered, did he not see anyone who looked like him on the county's local...
USC cancels graduation keynote by filmmaker amid controversy over decision to drop student's speech
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The University of Southern California further shook up its commencement plans Friday, announcing the cancelation of a keynote speech by filmmaker Jon M. Chu just days after making the controversial choice to disallow the student valedictorian from speaking. The...
Celebrity birthdays for the week of April 21-27
Celebrity birthdays for the week of April 21-27: April 21: Actor Elaine May is 92. Singer Iggy Pop is 77. Actor Patti LuPone is 75. Actor Tony Danza is 73. Actor James Morrison (“24”) is 70. Actor Andie MacDowell is 66. Singer Robert Smith of The Cure is 65. Guitarist Michael...
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...
Biden administration restricts oil and gas leasing in 13 million acres of Alaska's petroleum reserve
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Biden administration said Friday it will restrict new oil and gas leasing on 13...
Lawsuits under New York's new voting rights law reveal racial disenfranchisement even in blue states
FREEPORT, N.Y. (AP) — Weihua Yan had seen dramatic demographic changes since moving to Long Island's Nassau...
The NBA playoffs are finally here. And as LeBron James says, 'it's a sprint now'
There’s a 64-win team in Boston that ran away with the league’s best record. The defending champions in...
Seeking 'the right side of history,' Speaker Mike Johnson risks his job to deliver aid to Ukraine
WASHINGTON (AP) — Staring down a decision so consequential it could alter the course of history -- but also end...
As Russia edges toward a possible offensive on Kharkiv, some residents flee. Others refuse to leave
KHARKIV, Ukraine (AP) — A 79-year-old woman makes the sign of the cross and, gripping her cane, leaves her home...
Panama Papers trial's public portion comes to an unexpectedly speedy end
PANAMA CITY (AP) — The public portion of a trial of more than two-dozen associates accused of helping some of...
The Skanner is a website and newspaper published in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. Established in 1975, The Skanner News Group has advanced the cause of the Black Press in the North Western United States. Through the newspapers and the Web site The Skanner has provided regional and national corporate advertisers a variety of methods to effectively market their products and services to our readers.
The Skanner has served the public with timely information in the Portland edition since October 1975 and the Seattle edition since 1990. The publisher is a past two-term president of the West Coast Black Publishers Association as well as a member of the National Newspapers Publishers Association.
It took The Skanner Publisher Bernie Foster eight years of work to commission, engineer and build equipment to meet the stringent specifications for federal broadcasting, but after getting an FCC license he entered the radio market and launched KEUG 105.5 in Eugene, Oregon, in 1998. A year later he followed up with the launch of KAVJ in Roseberg, Oregon.
The radio stations did well and The Skanner ran them for 5 -7 years before selling them to new investors.
Each day The Skanner strives to work in harmony with its mission statement: "Challenging People to Shape a Better Future Now" and at the same time abide by the declared values that are reflected in the mission statement.
Declared Values:
With a readership of 75,000, The Skanner reports news, entertainment, business and sports. Being a part of the print media is an advantage in providing a service to communities today. The Skanner views its printed editions as a tool for the community to learn about what is happening around us as well as giving our readers an opportunity to voice their opinion. We consider our on-line version of the newspaper to do the same, reaching an even broader audience.
The Skanner News Group has received honors and awards from many organizations:
2021 - DJC Building Diversity Lifetime Achievement Award - Bernie and Bobbie Foster (view video)
2019 - National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Merit Award - Digital Excellence (website) 3rd place
2017 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Layout and Design 1st place
2016 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Editorial 2nd place
2015 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Use of Photos 1st place
2014 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Feature Story 1st place
2014 - NNPA Merit Award - Digital Excellence (website) 2nd place
2014 - NNPA Merit Award - Community Service Award 3rd place
2013 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Editorial 1st place
2012 - NNPA Merit Award - Community Service Award 1st place
2012 - A. Philip Randolph Messenger Awards: for Breaking News 2nd place and for Sustainability 2nd place.
2011 - NNPA Merit Award - Community Service Award 1st place; Best Original Advertising Award 2nd place
2010 - The Ida B. Wells prize for Best News Story
2010 - A. Philip Randolph Messenger Awards for Cultural Diversity 1st; for Heritage 1st. Also finalist: Aid/Emergency Relief, Environment; Responsibility and General Excellence. The Skanner News was the only newspaper to win a prize in all its five categories.
2010 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Use of Photos Award 1st place
2009 - NNPA Merit Award - Overall layout and design Award 1st place; Best Entertainment pages Award 1st place.
2009 - A. Philip Randolph Messenger Awards: two 1st places and two 3rd places
2008 - OPB Business Partners, 10 years
2008 - North Northeast Business Boosters - Outstanding Business & community service
2008 - A. Philip Randolph Messenger Award of Excellence in the Categories of Education and Employment. Also three honors
2006 - Vancouver Branch NAACP - Diversity Leadership Award
2006 - A. Philip Randolph Messenger Award for Publishing Excellence
2005 - Jefferson High School Football Program
2002 - Cascade AIDS Project - Angel Award
2002 - Black United Fund Oregon - Legacy Award
2002 - A. Philip Randolph Messenger Award for News Writing, 1st place runner-up
2001 - UHURU Grassroots Community Service Award
2001 - Spirit of Portland Award
2001 - Oregon Assembly for Black Affairs - Economic Development Award
2001 - African American Alliance for Homeownership - Certificate of Appreciation
2000 - NNPA - Best Use of Photographs 1st place
2000 - NNPA - Best Layout and Design 1st place
1999 - NNPA - Best Use of Photographs 1st place
1999 - NNPA - Best News Pictures 2nd place
1999 - NNPA - Best Layout and Design 2nd place
1999 - NNPA - Best Feature Story 3rd place
1999 - African American Chamber of Commerce in Oregon - I Believe I Can Fly
1998 - Nigerian Community in Oregon and Southwest Washington
1998 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Use of Photos 1st place
1998 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Special Edition 2nd place
1998 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Layout and Design 2nd place
1997 - The Northeast Economic Development Council - Friend of Nigeria Award
1997 - Terry Porter Basketball Camp
1997 - Outstanding Contribution to the Smoke Detector Campaign of 1987
1996 - Austin Family Business Program at Oregon State University - Small Family Business of the Year
1995 - West Coast Publishers Association - Best Special Edition 1st place
1995 - West Coast Publishers Association - Best News Story 1st place
1995 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Typography and Graphics 2nd place
1995 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best News Story 1st place
1995 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Editorial 2nd place
1995 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Black History Edition 2nd place
1995 - Portland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce - "Dedicated Service on the Board of Directors"
1995 - Cascade Pacific Council - Guardian Member
1994 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - General Excellence 1st place
1994 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Typography and Graphics 1st place
1994 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best News Story 2nd place
1994 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Editorial 1st place
1994 - United Way of the Columbia-Willamette - Spotlight Award, Outstanding Media Coverage
1994 - African American Employment Subcommittee - Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian award
1993 - West Coast Publishers Association - Publisher of the Year
1993 - T&T - In Appreciation for Your Participation in Unity Day
1993 - Portland Community College - For outstanding contributions and service to the college and the community at large
1993 - Northeast Business Boosters
1992 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - General Excellence 3rd place
1992 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Sports Page 2nd place
1992 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Editorial, 2nd place
1992 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Black History Edition 2nd place
1991 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Use of Photos 1st place
1991 - West Coast black Publishers Association - Best Black History Edition 1st place
1991 - The Black United Fund of Oregon, Inc - "You Make the Difference" Award
1989 - West Coaster Black Publishers Association - Best Black History Edition 1st place
1989 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Publisher of the Year
1989 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Editorial, 2nd place
1989 - Oregon Minority Enterprise - Achievement Award
1989 - Northeast Shrine Hospital - Outstanding Performance
1988 - Zeta Sigma Omega Chapter Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc - Emerald Award
1988 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - General Excellence 1st place
1988 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Religion 1st place
1988 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Editorial 1st place
1988 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Black History Edition 1st place
1988 - United Way of the Columbia-Willamette - Award of Excellence
1987 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Entertainment Page
1987 - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - Certificate of Life Membership
1986 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Woman Page 1st place
1986 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Publisher of the Year
1986 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Entertainment Section 1st place
1986 - Summit Award - African American Entrepreneur of the Year
1986 - Oregon Human Development Corporation - Community Organization Award
1986 - Black Publishers Association - Best Use of Photographs 2nd place
1985 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Typography and Makeup
1985 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Sports Page 2nd place
1985 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Sports Page 2nd place
1985 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Entertainment Section
1985 - Trade-Mark Corporation Roy Jay Enterprises - Special Recognition
1985 - The Jazz Community - For the recognition that he and his staff have shown to the jazz musicians in our city
1985 - Opening of the Light Rail Spike
1984 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - General Reporting
1984 - Read Council - Media Award
1984 - Oregon Association of Colored Women’s Clubs - In Appreciation for Outstanding Service and Support
1983 - The Pacific Northwest Minority Business Economics Assn.
1983 - Minority Business Opportunity Committee - Special Recognition Award
1982 - George H. Baldwin Memorial Foundation, Inc
1981 - The National Alliance of Business job Fair - in appreciation for service
1981 - Oregon Assembly for Black Affairs - Economic Development Award
1980 - Contractors Management Association, Inc - First Quality Award for Outstanding Performance in Minority Business Enterprise
1979 - Contractors Management Association, Inc - First Quality Award
1976 - Black Law Enforcement Executives National Organization
The Skanner also produces several special supplements each year. In January, The Skanner pays tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For the month of February, The Skanner celebrates Black History with our Black History Edition. Next, in May, is the Career Guide, which covers trends in business and how it affects new careers and those in transition. The Minority Business Enterprise and National Fire Prevention Week are special editions that are produced in October. These special editions are also on-line.
An integral part of The Skanner News Group is The Skanner Foundation, the non-profit arm of The Skanner involved in promoting education through scholarships and technological training.
As an expanding Black news group reporting news to inform and help others, The Skanner deems it a privilege to have served people for more than 40 years.
