Elmer E. "Nic" Wickliff, a Portland-based photojournalist and former freelancer for The Skanner News Group, passed away Oct. 3 at the age of 76.

SEATTLE (AP) -- Amanda Knox hasn't slept much since arriving back in Seattle after four years in an Italian prison, her father said on Thursday.

Two upcoming events will shine the spotlight on race in Portland. One will feature young Portlanders asking whether the ideal of being 'post-racial' is now possible or if that's simply fiction. The other will look at Portland through the lens of the 2010 Communities of Color report, which showed wide disparities in income that fall along troubling color lines.  

Linda Hornbuckle and Zeke 'Yung Mil' Jones are just two of the high-profile Portlanders taking part in 'Are You Ready?' a community-wide event to build a stronger support network for East Portland. 'Are you Ready?' will run from 10 am to 4 pm Saturday, Oct. 15 at Highland Christian Center, 7600 NE Glisan St.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Portland Chapter, hosts a blood drive commemorating the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, Saturday, Oct. 1, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Portland Rizwan Mosque, 9925 SW 35^th Dr.

The Centers for Disease Control know a lot about how to prevent youth violence. But a US Senate Committee has axed all funding for prevention, leaving prison as our fallback solution. Advocates rate this: Fail!

The Constructing Hope Pre-Apprenticeship Program provides training, equipment and job mentoring to clients referred through the criminal justice system – and with the help of local unions and construction companies, they are not placing their graduates right into family-wage jobs.

Celebrating 10 years of services to youth, Reaching and Empowering All People (REAP) holds a fundraising gala Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Oregon Convention Center.

Services for Hannah Elizabeth Joshua, affectionately known to her family as Mama Lizzie and Mother Joshua to the church, are Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 11 a.m. at Maranatha Church.