Portland housing advocates are crossing their fingers in hopes City Commissioner Nick Fish, whose portfolio includes the Portland Housing Bureau, can fill a $700,000 city budget gap that would eliminate funding for homeownership, foreclosure prevention and other services to low-income and communities of color.

Oregon's law enforcement agencies seized and forfeited more than $1.8 million in cash and goods during 2011. The costs of seizing assets jumped by 600 percent.

The Skanner News building is getting a new, energy efficient makeover that already has reduced our energy use, and sends power back into the electricity grid.

As a response, JTF is hosting its Malcolm X Birthday Weekend Celebration at the Umoja Center on Northeast Alberta Street. The weekend's events will include the 2nd Annual Black Men Breakfast, service projects, a viewing of Spike Lee's biopic "Malcolm X," a vegan and raw food potluck and Revolutionary Poetry Night.

One of the most competitive primary ballots in years has ended in an election night of historic low turnout in Multnomah County and across the state of Oregon.

The Skanner News went to as many parties as possible (not many) with the Raiford campaign

Portland Opportunities Industrial Center is partnering with Gresham-Barlow and Centennial school districts, and with the PAL youth center to open a new alternative high school with wraparound services.

With crime at a 30-year low, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber has opened the door for new sentencing policies, and a stronger focus on parole and probation. That could mean less prison time for nonviolent and lower risk offenders.

When National Public Radio host Michele Norris came to Portland last Wednesday to address the YWCA Inspire Luncheon, she focused on the pressing issues of racism and domestic violence.

The alternative basketball league that honors teen who drowned tragically, finishes successful second season