Admission to the National African American Museum is free Sept. 4 for all volunteers. The show is the second half of its inaugural exhibit, "Making a Life, Creating a World: Jacob Lawrence and James W. Washington, Jr." Also at NAAM's NW Gallery, Sept. 18 is the NAAM Reading Series, presenting Jim Kershner's "Carl Maxey: A Fighting Life."...

New statistics released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau indicate Oregonians are poorer and have less access to health insurance than other states. As the last economic expansion hit its peak, the typical Oregon household's income rose slightly in 2007 over the previous year. Yet Oregon was unable to reduce poverty or the percentage of Oregonians lacking health insurance...

Head Start parents are taking advantage of a new federal law that allows voter registration to take place at Head Start sites, allowing more individuals the opportunity to register...

The Housing Authority of Portland has appointed Shelli Romero and Jim Smith to its board of directors....

"Occurrence" invites innovative performers to play short sets — a kind of alternative talent show, as performers improvise pieces while sharing the stage with Watts' and Smith's self-produced comedy "DumbFilms"...

Portland Community Land Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating permanently affordable homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income households, welcomed its 100th homeowner at an event on Aug. 20...

A memorial service is scheduled for Opal Ruth (Taylor) Roberts-Jordan on Aug. 28, 1p.m. at the Highland Christian Center, 7600 NE Glisan St. Roberts, 82, passed away Aug. 21, in her home surrounded by family... 

Johnnie Mae Hastings has died. She was born to Van and Luvenia (Elliott) Alexander on Nov. 11, 1932 in Louann, Ark. She was the 16th child born to this union, which yielded four sets of twins, all of whom preceded her in death...

Services for Christor Lewis are this Friday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Highland Christian Center, 7600 NE Glisan St. Lewis was born Feb. 20, 1957, and passed away June 5. Prior to his move to Texas, Lewis served the Portland church community faithfully as choir director...

What if they gave a protest and almost nobody came? What if they gave a peaceful protest and the police were the only ones to engage in violence? Some are asking that question in Denver, where months of anticipation of mass protests during the Democratic National Convention have led -- so far -- to scattered scrimmages with police, more than 100 arrests and...