The Skanner News Group

03/03/2025

“We will never have another Hazel Dukes. But thank God we had this one.”

“She was a warrior in the truest sense of the word and activist extraordinaire.”

03/03/2025

This year, Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, who previously served in the House, will give the Democrats’ response, which is also televised. Democratic leaders have said that in her message, Slotkin will likely focus on economic issues.

The party has also tapped Rep. Adriano Espaillat of New York, chair of the Hispanic Caucus, to give a Spanish-language response. On Saturday, Trump signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States, a measure that allows government agencies and organizations that receive federal funding to choose whether to continue to offer documents and services in languages other than English.

President Donald Trump will deliver the first joint congressional address of his second term on Tuesday at 9 p.m. Eastern....

03/03/2025

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer rallied his European counterparts Sunday to shore up their borders and throw their full weight behind Ukraine as he announced outlines of a plan to end Russia’s war.

“Every nation must contribute to that in the best way that it can, bringing different capabilities and support to the table, but all taking responsibility to act, all stepping up their own share of the burden,” he said.

Starmer’s exhortation to 18 fellow leaders that they need to do the heavy lifting for their own security comes two days after U.S. backing of Ukraine appeared in jeopardy when Trump lashed outat Zelenskyy.

President Donald Trump’s senior aides and allies lashed out at Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy from Washington as he attended a...

02/28/2025

“Overall, when we think about the shelter components, it’s going to be really important to me when we’re examining which type and mix off shelters to fund and provide in light of some of the budget scenario that we’re looking at, that we keep our eye on the need to get folks out of shelter.

“It is important that we don’t just warehouse people. If we don’t have pathways out of shelter, we have not ended homelessness. People are still homeless when they’re in shelter. I really hope we can find that right balance.”

https://www.theskanner.com/news/northwest/36737-county-asks-for-open-referral-system-across-homeless-shelters

Saundra Sorenson

Commissioners respond to frustration among those seeking shelter services in their community.

02/26/2025

Flack’s success soared with her 1973 recording of “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” which became her signature hit. The song spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her two Grammys: Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. With the win, Flack became the first artist to earn consecutive Record of the Year awards.

Flack revealed in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease,...

02/26/2025

"The federal refugee program has been in place for decades and helps people who have escaped war, natural disaster or persecution. Despite long-standing support from both parties for accepting thoroughly vetted refugees, the program has become politicized in recent years."

The federal refugee program has been in place for decades and helps people who have escaped war, natural disaster or...

02/25/2025

“I am laser-focused on building healthy, thriving communities. That means we need an economy that works for everyone, not just the ultra-wealthy. That means we need to treat healthcare like the fundamental right it is. That means we need to take meaningful action to combat the climate crisis and recognize the link between public health and climate change. That also means we need to strengthen our democracy. These Oregon values are my priorities in Congress."

Dexter was joined by community leaders, family and distinguished guests, including Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici and former Congressman Earl Blumenauer.

02/25/2025

“The disarray caused by the wholesale termination of a wide swath of device center staff was counterproductive and appears to have caused a variety of unintended and negative results,” said Steve Silverman, a former FDA device official who now runs a consulting firm. “It’s encouraging to see a shift in the opposite direction that recognizes the critical expertise of these staffers.”

Last week the Food and Drug Administration fired hundreds of staffers. This week it is asking some workers to come...

02/20/2025

🗞️ This Week's Top Stories - 'Momnibus' Bills, Labor Leaders Support Strikes, Attack on Civil Service, and more https://mailchi.mp/theskanner/this-weeks-top-stories-dxsl8acuso

02/18/2025

Hilary Nichols, a community organizer at a community health clinic in Southeast Portland, testified that creating the task force would go far to mitigate health inequality.

“This core issue is unequal access to power,” Nichols said. “Those with lived expertise of an issue often lack decision-making authority in policies, funding, and public narratives that directly affect them. The problem is not just exclusion but the absence of impacted individuals in leadership roles where key decisions are made. Addressing this requires creating programs that cultivate leadership and intentionally place community members in decision-making spaces, ensuring that those most affected have a real seat at the table.”

Portland-based legislators push to require insurance to cover doulas, lactation support, post-birth services.

02/18/2025

Then-President Lyndon Johnson addressed the problem of employment discrimination through law and executive order. That opened the door wider to the U.S. Postal Service, the military and many other federal jobs where Black professionals got their first chance to pursue executive-level jobs, said Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League.

“The progress in federal civilian employment was far faster and far greater than it was in the private sector,” which was “far slower to create the opportunity to run nondiscriminatory hiring practices,” he said.

The result was a rise in the Black middle class, especially in places like Washington, D.C., where workers entered the system in lower-level jobs but rose through the ranks based on performance, he said.

“At one point, DC had the highest median income for African Americans in any city in the country,” Morial said.

Black retirees speaking from California, Florida and Georgia recall their own work in the federal civil service, getting hired or...

02/18/2025

Ukraine has vast reserves of critical minerals that are used in the aerospace, defense and nuclear industries. The Trump administration has indicated it is interested in accessing them to reduce dependence on China but Zelenskyy said any exploitation would need to be tied to security guarantees for Ukraine that would deter future Russian aggression.

“For me is very important the connection between some kind of security guarantees and some kind of investment,” the Ukrainian president told AP.

Ukraine has vast reserves of critical rare earth minerals that are used in the aerospace, defense and nuclear industries and...

02/14/2025

Inge, now a teacher at Compton Early College High School, recalls introducing a young Lamar to poetry, a spark that would later fuel his career as one of the most celebrated artists of his generation. When Inge first heard of Lamar’s rise to fame, his initial reaction was disbelief.

“Kendrick Duckworth is a rapper? Quiet Kendrick?” he recalled. But upon reflection, the signs were always there.

Lamar, who once struggled with shyness and even a stutter, found his voice through writing. Inge saw his potential early on and encouraged him to refine his skills. He placed a thesaurus in Lamar’s hands, circling words that could expand his vocabulary and enhance his storytelling.

“The passion… which he was writing with, it was there [already],” Inge said. I was circling words that I felt that he could improve on because of the range of the words, the grade level of the words,” he added.

Black teachers matter!

02/14/2025

“Elon Musk’s attempt to demolish key government systems has thrown everything into chaos,” said Rayfield. “This power grab puts people’s privacy and security at risk. No one should be able to mess with the systems that keep our country running.”

The lawsuit argues that President Trump has exceeded his authority and violated the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution,...

02/14/2025

An ice storm forecast for the Portland area early Thursday and Friday could challenge deliveries of flowers and other gifts for Valentine’s Day. Temperatures plummeted earlier this week in Portland, which is more known for its rainfall.

Julia Duncan, a co-owner of Flowers in Flight, shrugged off the weather, saying the area endured ice storms in past winters and customers are willing to go the extra mile for the people they love.

“It’s Valentine’s Day!” Duncan said. “We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

Officials in Oregon’s Multnomah County, which includes Portland, extended a state of emergency through at least Thursday and said six...

02/14/2025

Since Black consumers began boycotting Target, the company’s stock has dropped by $11, Bryant noted. Stockholders are now suing Target due to the adverse effects of the boycott on its stock value. Bryant said the question is no longer whether corporate America will keep its promises—it’s clear that it won’t. He said the same companies that plastered Black squares on social media and made grand statements about inclusion are now proving where their true priorities lie. “America has shown us time and time again: if it doesn’t make dollars, it doesn’t make sense,” Bryant stated.

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Black entrepreneurs continue to build, innovate, and thrive. According to NBC Select, over three million Black-owned brands...

02/13/2025

“Striking is a very dramatic change in a life,” Marks told The Skanner. “Your healthcare ends, your income ends. Most people live week by week. We’re not eligible for unemployment, because unemployment says we volunteered to go on strike. We’re part of a union, and if the majority of people are voting to strike, we have to stick with the union. Why are we getting punished for standing up for our rights?”

Lawmakers, picket line veterans argue in favor of SB 916, which would allow individuals involved in qualifying labor disputes to...

02/13/2025

The funeral service for Richard Smith will be live streamed Saturday, February 15 at 12 p.m. EST and 9:00 a.m. PST on the page of Avery’s Memorial Chapel Asheville North Carolina.

The funeral service for Richard Smith will be live streamed Saturday, February 15 at 12 p.m. EST and 9:00 a.m....