Portland holds events to support for Trayvon Martin and his family, plus latest Trayvon News from around the web

An Oregon resident -- who has requested anonymity because she hasn't yet told her family that a $400 loan turned into a $1,000 nightmare -- has helped touch off a national effort by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) to regulate the billion-dollar offshore payday lending industry.

Longtime Washington State political figure Charles Rolland died yesterday at age 61.

Oregon Public Broadcasting today confirmed that the GOP presidential debate planned at their studios March 19 has been cancelled.

A suburban law enforcement SWAT team serving a search warrant at New Columbia shot a young father Tuesday night who thought intruders were in his yard.

Homeowners are not the only ones facing foreclosure. The crash has claimed 270 churches, including The International Fellowship Family, one of Portland's foremost multicultural churches.

The Skanner News has selected Chabre Vickers as its Newsmaker of the Year 2012, in recognition of her exceptional work with Portland's 11:45 Movement to link at-risk youth with adult mentors.

Blacks are overrepresented in Portland's homeless shelter population, according to a new report by the Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness (ICPH).

The White House has chosen André Ashley, sports management supervisor for Portland Parks & Recreation as a "Let's Move! Champion of Change." Ashley, a 10-year parks employee, will be recognized at a "Champion of Change," event March 22 at the White House.