Prosecutors have dismissed murder charges against four alleged ex-members of the Black Liberation Army accused of killing a San Francisco police officer in 1971. The charges were dismissed Monday against Henry Jones, Ray Boudreaux, Richard Brown and Harold Taylor in the killing of Sgt. John V. Young during an attack on San Francisco's Ingleside police station. Attorney General Jerry Brown's office, who took over the four decade old case, did not say why charges were dropped. . . .

A celebration of the life of Samuel E. Kelly, the founder and first Vice President of the Office of Minority Affairs at the University of Washington, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, July 27, in 130 Kane Hall. Dr. Kelly passed away the morning of July 6 due to congestive heart failure. When Dr. Kelly was hired as a university vice president by President Charles Odegaard in 1970, he became the first African American senior administrator at the UW. He held the position of vice president for nearly a decade. . . .

Starting Wednesday, July 8, King County residents who adopt a cat can bring home their new furry friend with a microchip, all vaccinations, licensed and spayed or neutered, for only the cost of the pet license: $30, if they live in the King County service area.
King County Animal Care and Control (KCACC) will waive the adoption fee on all cats one year or older adopted from the any of its locations: the Kent or Bellevue (Crossroads) shelters, foster homes, or four off-site adoption locations. KCACC will also include a free microchip with all cats adopted that are one year or older . . .

Historically the Black press has been covering Black artists, entertainers and other well-known personalities when no else would, primarily out of a sense of duty, responsibility and pride in order to showcase their talent to the world. That included Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, when they were at the beginning of their rise to stardom.  So it was not surprising that the Black press came out in full force to cover Jackson's memorial at the event that was described as a virtual sea of Blackness.  Yet, photographers representing the oldest and largest Black newspapers were not credentialed to take photos inside the Staples Center during the memorial of Michael Jackson. . . .

As the debate over health care reform heats up in Washington, D.C., a report released Wednesday could make a major blow to private insurance companies' credibility...

Tyrese Darnell Gibson was born in Los Angeles on December 30, 1978. He and his three siblings were raised in the Watts section of the city by his single-mom after his father abandoned the family in 1983...

With this 2009 Careers Edition hitting the streets during record unemployment levels in Washington and Oregon, we at The Skanner sought out the most inspirational person we could find to offer advice on preparing for the future...

The color guard of the Buffalo Soldiers of Seattle leads the annual Juneteenth Parade from Garfield High School to Pratt Park on Saturday, June 20. The 3-day event featured the parade and a variety of musical entertainment...

WASHINGTON (NNPA) - National health reports conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that the average American woman is 5'4" in height, weighs approximately 164 pounds, and wears a size 14. In fact, 68 percent of American women are now considered "plus-sized," making the announcement by Crain's New York Business, that the nation's recession had caused national retailers, including some major chains, to discontinue women's plus sizes to save money, shocking to many...

Portland's Juneteenth Parade Saturday attracted happy children and adults in lawn chairs who took up posts along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard for the procession. Leadsing the parade was the Color Guard, above. Grand Marshall was Mayor Sam Adams...