Several Black workers who say they were improperly treated and fired from the Tazo Tea factory in Southeast Portland have filed complaints with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries. The state agency has launched an investigation into the allegations.

Beefed up transportation, more affordable housing, quality food, job opportunities, stronger youth programs, better neighborhoods and law enforcement policies.

A celebration of the life of local musician Barry Hampton will be held at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at Backspace, 115 NW 5^th Ave. Hampton, a musician and singer for multiple local bands, died on Feb. 4, 2011. He was 42. Details will be published as they are made available.

The Oregon Historical Society's traveling exhibit, "Marking Time: Voyage to Vietnam" displays some of the original artifacts from the USS General Nelson M. Walker, a troop transport ship that took men back and forth from the mainland United States to Vietnam and South Korea.
Now retired from 17 years in the U.S. Navy, Thomas Reid spoke with The Skanner News about his time spent aboard the USS Walker.

Minnie Louise Mays was born on July 3, 1942  in Decatur, Alabama. For over forty years, Louise Thompson was a practicing nurse for Legacy Health Care Systems – Emanuel Hospital. Her passion for patient care and health touched the lives of thousands of patients across many surgical specialties. Louise retired from Legacy Emanuel in 2008

The family of Parkrose High School Senior Kyeron Fair heard yesterday that the teen – hospitalized in a cardiac intensive care unit while in Multnomah County law enforcement custody last year, then sent to a psychiatric facility after suffering a severe mental breakdown – may be offered bail early next week.
 

Several years in the making, the Journey to Freedom Project is launching its new online game this month. The Journey to Freedom game was developed by local teacher Karanja Crews as a different way to engage students in literacy and Black history.

Oregon Department of Transportation's 2009-2011 budget includes $2.5 billion for state highways. Ideally the funding shouldn't just build roads and bridges; it should also build contracting opportunities and jobs in our local communities. So will it? That depends who you ask.

Two upcoming projects are highlighting local experiences by heading out into communities to find personal stories of change and struggle.

Just days after Christmas, local hip hop artist and educator Mic Crenshaw was given an official exclusion from the city's SmartPark garages.