Billie Dean Dixon (Woods), known for her love of Christmas and having the largest tree possible fit into her living room, lost her battle with cancer on Monday, July 19.  Viewing is Wednesday, July 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ross Hollywood Funeral Chapel. Funeral services are Thursday, July 28, at 11 a.m. at the Life Change Christian Center, 3536 N Williams Ave.

Two thousand turned out for the East Portland Exposition July 23-24, held at Southeast Powell. Billed as the largest multicultural event in Portland.

Portlander Teressa Raiford and friends' group Facebook page, "40 Days of Common Unity," is a fountain of information about Portland-area community organizing and local political issues.

Federal officials this morning announced they're carving out the first three weeks of August for public testimony on their civil rights investigation of the Portland Police.

Math is not only good for you, but it's fun – and a free summer tutoring program for kids aged first through fourth grade aims to unlock the doors of knowledge for as many people as are willing to step through.

Boosting a new effort in equity in construction contracting in the Portland metro area, the National Association of Minority Contractors' Oregon chapter this week announced attorney Melvin Oden-Orr is its first-ever executive director.

We at The Skanner News are interested in compiling as much input as we can from the African and African American communities on bicycling culture in general and the Williams Street bike corridor development plans in particular.

The remains found on Rocky Butte last week are definitely those of missing teen Yashawnee Vaughn, and the Oregon State Medical Examiner says she died from a gunshot to the head.

The Seattle Public Library system will close for a week at the end of August and reopen after Labor Day, responding to a $67 million city budget gap. That's the bad news. The good news is, a new service is available to help readers plan ahead.

Renee Mitchell invites you to "Our Hair Yes! A Celebration of Natural Black Hair." It's part of a series of events that will explore the issues, bring awareness, and celebrate the beauty of natural African American hair. Come along to Talking Drum bookstore July 16 3 pm to take photos and join the conversation.