It might have taken them 16 years to do it, but the Multnomah County Juvenile Services Division says it has finally reduced the overrepresentation of African American youth in detention before trial....

Months after launching a major new initiative on high school improvement, Portland school officials sat down recently to talk with The Skanner about their plans, their goals, and their long-term priorities.
This week, we report on what the officials had to say. Next week, we'll look at the potential downsides and obstacles to massive high school reform.
Portland Public Schools Superintendent Carole Smith says three priorities will guide every decision she makes:
Boosting academic achievement for all students;
Increasing fairness and equity throughout Portland's schools;
Building a sustainable school system that can cope with a projected loss...

Two years ago, you couldn't drive more than a mile in some parts of Portland without seeing half a dozen store fronts advertising easy, quick cash. All you had to do was pay 521 percent annual interest (APR) and the cash was yours. You had two weeks to pay it back, lest you be charged even more. Most couldn't.
In April 2006, Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed into law new regulations that limited loans to no more than a 150 percent APR and increased the amount of time you had to pay back the loan from two weeks to 31 days. ...

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Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple, The Musical About Love. "Pure Heart! A Broadway Hit!" USA Today "Soaring and Joyful" Time. December 30 - January 4 • One Week Only!  For Tickets ...

Clarence Johnson was born on March 27, 1971 to Debra Payton and Lamont Johnson in Portland. He died Oct. 30, and services were held Nov. 8.
Johnson was raised by his mother and aunt Phyllis. In younger years he enjoyed playing basketball, pop dancing, breakdancing, drawing and hanging out with his friends.
Friends said he was an adventurous young man ...

Hailing from the small West African nation of Senegal, one emerging R&B artist is looking for the same American Dream so many other immigrants have. He wants to be an internationally famous musical sensation. And with tour stops in Senegal, India and cities across the U.S., he might just be on his way. ISSA ...

With the impending threats of the mortgage industry progressively getting worse instead of better, Rep. Chip Shields (D-N/NE Portland) leads "There's No Place Like Home," a summit to address mortgages, foreclosures, and deceptive lending practices impacting North and Northeast Portland.
The summit takes place this Saturday, Nov. 22nd from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Portland Community College Cascade Campus, Moriarity Auditorium ...

Oregon had 12.4 percent of its population, about 458,000 people, living in households that struggled with hunger or were "food insecure" during the 2005-2007 period, the term given to describe households that struggle with affording enough food. Nationally, more than 36.2 million people lived in households that were food insecure in 2007 – up from 35.5 million in 2006 and 33.2 million in 2000 ...

President-elect Barack Obama's aides have privately asked senators whether a former Clinton administration official would be confirmed as the next attorney general, according to a person involved in the talks. Obama is reportedly looking at Washington attorney Eric Holder, who served as the No. 2 official in the Justice Department under President Bill Clinton, to serve as the nation's top law enforcement officer  ...