So far, 2008 has seen a record high number of shots-fired reports investigated by the Portland Police Gang Enforcement Team.
A total of 41 call-outs had been posted as of Aug. 6 – already one incident more than all of last year.
In 2003, 46 were investigated; 45 in 2004.
"And we still have a few months to go," said officer Jason Hubert.
The statistics were delivered at a meeting of the Youth Violence Prevention Committee last Friday morning at the Portland Police Northeast Precinct.
"It's been crazy out there," Hubert told the gathering. "There was a lull for about five years and now these kids are coming out, and some are very violent people."
Hubert reported that one shooting occurred after the low-rider show at the Portland Expo two weeks ago, one block from Northeast Precinct – about 40 yards away from two police officers.
"We're going back to the early '90s where the kids don't care," he said.
"I'm out there and I'm not seeing anyone stop anyone and talk to these young people," said Ronisha Harris, founder of the Respect Project. "I just think we need to get out there and be with these kids."
"You will never be able to reach all the kids because some of them are in the life," said CREW Director Pernell Brown. "You have to wait it out, also target the ones on the edge, who aren't totally in it yet — so don't get discouraged because you talk to these kids and they just go out anyway."
Harris said Measure 11 mandatory minimums are at the heart of the problem....

Carollyn Smith's fight continues, but she may be running out of time. Smith has been battling state Child Services since 2005 for custody of two grandchildren, Kofi and C'Lynn, ages 7 and 4, who have lived much of their short lives in the foster care system...

The construction company site in the Pearl District where a noose was hung early Aug. 4 was broken into by vandals, company officials said. R&H Construction CEO John Ward, in an email message to The Skanner, indicated ... "unauthorized entry," over the preceding weekend....

Carletta Wilson talks about her multi-media collages at a reception Aug. 10 for the 4th annual NW African American Group Art Exhibition at Art/Not Terminal Gallery.  The show features over 40 works of art and runs through Sept. 4.
Photo by Susan Fried

"Left Behind! Black America: A Neglected Priority in the Global AIDS Epidemic," praises the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.... However the report issues a stinging criticism ...

State officials have settled two false advertising cases involving mortgage firms, requiring the companies to pay more than $200,000 in fines and costs.... Both firms were previously charged with false advertising....

King County officials are urging voters to double-check their polling place before voting day, Tuesday, Aug. 19. Since 2004, 141 poll sites have been consolidated or closed either because the location was not accessible to people with disabilities or the site was underutilized....

What's happening for you in Portland this week? Read here a day-by-day diary of free community events to fill your spare time. For a full calendar please click on "Read the complete article" below.

What's happening for you in Seattle this week? Read here a day-by-day diary of free community events to fill your spare time. For a full calendar please click on "Read the complete article" below.

Washington State has long been a leader among states to grant the right to vote to those who could not. However, in its 119 years as state, it has been historically under-represented by minorities and has yet to elect a Black candidate to a national congressional seat.
In the upcoming primary on Aug. 19 there are 592 candidates on the ballot for national and state seats. Out of these, six are African-American, only two of whom are incumbents.
"I would hope that our representatives would reflect our demographics," said James Bible, president of the Seattle NAACP.
The situation is ironic; even as the nation's attention is riveted by the presidential campaign of Barack Obama, few candidates are riding his coattails on the state or local level.
The question of why this is the case is complex and deep-reaching....