The Skanner News

Remembering Alexis Herman, the First Black US Secretary of Labor

Herman worked on political campaigns for prominent Black politicians throughout the 1980s, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s two presidential bids, and became the first Black woman to hold the position of CEO of the Democratic National Convention in 1992. Read More
When Kids Are Evicted, They Often Lose Both Home and School

Schoolchildren threatened with eviction are more likely to end up in another district or transfer to another school. They’re more likely to miss school, and those who end up transferring are suspended more often. Read More
Former Memphis Officers Were Frustrated When They Fatally Beat Tyre Nichols, Prosecutor Says

Opening arguments have begun in the case of three former Tennessee police officers charged with second-degree murder charges in the beating death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis. The three have pleaded not guilty but already face the prospect of years behind bars after they were convicted of federal charges last year. Nichols’ death led to national protests, raised the volume on calls for police reforms and directed intense scrutiny toward… Read More
Democrats Hakeem Jeffries and Cory Booker Lead Daylong Capitol Sit-In at U.S. Capitol

The demonstration began at sunrise, with Jeffries and Booker livestreaming a conversation across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube, urging Americans to speak out against what they called a “cruel” and “reckless” budget. Read More

NORTHWEST NEWS

Albina Vision Trust, No More Freeways Clash During City Council Hearing

No More Freeways claims ODOT is planning larger expansion than expected.

Renters Call on Washington Lawmakers to Approve Rent-control Bill

Washington state is inches away from joining Oregon and California in passing a bill to limit rent increases in a bid to keep more families in stable housing. HB1217 passed the Senate but with two controversial amendments - one would cut rent caps for single-family homes. If the House rejects the amendments the bill will go to a committee for more work, but can a bill be passed before the end of the session in less than two weeks

Albina Vision Trust and Lewis & Clark College Partner to Enshrine Community, Education in Lower Albina

Permanent education facilities, legal clinics and college opportunities to be offered.

Bernice King Reflects on the Fair Housing Act, Made Law After Her Father's Killing

Bernice King warns decades of work to reduce inequities in housing is at risk, as the Trump administration cuts funding for projects and tries to reduce funding for nonprofits that handle housing discrimination complaints.

NEWS BRIEFS

Alerting People About Rights Is Protected Under Oregon Senate Bill

Senate Bill 1191 says telling someone about their rights isn’t a crime in Oregon. ...

1803 Fund Makes Investment in Black Youth Education

The1803 Fund has announced a decade-long investment into Self Enhancement Inc. and Albina Head Start. The investment will take shape...

Senate Democrats Keep School Book Decisions Local and Fair

The Freedom to Read bill says books depicting race, sex, religion and other groups have to be judged by the same standards as all...

University of Portland 2025 Commencement Ceremony Set for Sunday, May 4 at Chiles Center

Keynote speaker Michael Eric Dyson, PhD is a distinguished professor, gifted writer and media personality. His books on...

Education Alliance Announces 30th Anniversary Event Chairs

Set for Saturday, April 26, the evening will bring together civic leaders, advocates and community members in a shared commitment to...

Fresh lawsuit hits Oregon city at the heart of Supreme Court ruling on homeless encampments

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The small Oregon city at the heart of a major U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year that allowed cities across the country to enforce homeless camping bans is facing a fresh lawsuit over its camping rules, as advocates find new ways to challenge them in a legal landscape...

Western Oregon women's basketball players allege physical and emotional abuse

MONMOUTH, Ore. (AP) — Former players for the Western Oregon women's basketball team have filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging emotional and physical abuse. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday in Marion County, seeks million damages. It names the university, its athletic...

Slaughter leads Missouri against No. 5 Texas

Missouri Tigers (12-10, 1-6 SEC) at Texas Longhorns (20-2, 6-1 SEC) Austin, Texas; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Missouri visits No. 5 Texas after Grace Slaughter scored 31 points in Missouri's 78-77 victory against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The...

OPINION

Cuts to Minority Business Development Agency Leaves 3 Staff

6B CDFI affordable capital for local investment also at risk ...

The Courage of Rep. Al Green: A Mandate for the People, Not the Powerful

If his colleagues truly believed in the cause, they would have risen in protest beside him, marched out of that chamber arm in arm with him, and defended him from censure rather than allowing Republicans to frame the narrative. ...

Bending the Arc: Advancing Equity in a New Federal Landscape

January 20th, 2025 represented the clearest distillation of the crossroads our country faces. ...

Trump’s America Last Agenda is a Knife in the Back of Working People

Donald Trump’s playbook has always been to campaign like a populist and govern like an oligarch. But it is still shocking just how brutally he went after our country’s working people in the first few days – even the first few hours – after he was...

AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE NEWS

Trump consoles crash victims then dives into politics with attack on diversity initiatives

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday responded to the deadliest American aviation disaster in more than two decades by blaming diversity initiatives for undermining safety and questioning the actions of a U.S. Army helicopter pilot involved in the midair collision with a...

US Supreme Court rejects likely final appeal of South Carolina inmate a day before his execution

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Thursday what is likely the final appeal of a South Carolina inmate the day before his scheduled execution for a 2001 killing of a friend found dead in her burning car. Marion Bowman Jr.'s request to stop his execution until a...

Trump's orders take aim at critical race theory and antisemitism on college campuses

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is ordering U.S. schools to stop teaching what he views as “critical race theory” and other material dealing with race and sexuality or risk losing their federal money. A separate plan announced Wednesday calls for aggressive action to...