Tommie J. Scott III died at his home on Feb. 26 after battling cancer. He was 57. A service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 5 at Albina Christian church.
Born on Aug. 15, 1951 in Robbins Hills, Ga., Tommie served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was a member of the First AME Zion Church and worked for 37 years at Pacific Corp.
During his work at Pacific Corp., Tommie received numerous awards for safety and achievement as an infrastructure specialist. He also conducted safety training for many of his coworkers . . .

The last surviving members of the only all female African American Army unit to deploy in World War II were honored by the U.S. Army last week . . . at a ceremony at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. . . .

A three-judge appellate panel will hear arguments on whether the state must retry a former Black Panther for the 1972 killing of a prison guard.
The Tuesday morning hearing at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal is for Albert Woodfox, whose conviction was overturned by U.S. District Judge James Brady. The judge found that the trial was tainted by mistakes made by one of Woodfox's lawyers. State Attorney General Buddy Caldwell's office appealed. . . .

 The Skanner Annual Black History Edition is out now. The theme is using online resources to discover your history.
 Click here to read it.

ATLANTA (AP) - A building that has twice avoided the auction block could be sold to settle a $13.1 million loan owed by an embattled historically black college facing a financial crisis that threatens to close it doors.
Morris Brown College officials were scrambling to thwart the sale of Jordan Hall for a third time. The building houses classrooms and an art gallery and investors stopped auctions . . .

President Obama announced a $75 billion plan to restructure nearly 9 million mortgages on the brink of foreclosure. The plan would create incentives for banks and reform bankruptcy rules to help homeowners stay in their homes. There are currently 13.8 million homeowners in the United States that owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth. The plan would: Remove restrictions on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac . . . Create incentives for lenders to modify subprime loans . . . Keep mortgage rates low for millions seeking new mortgages . . . Pursue reforms to help families avoid foreclosure . . .

The Bias-based Policing Workgroup released a report Wednesday that revealed how prejudice and racial profiling affects, or is perceived to affect, policing in Portland.
The report analyzed 36 bias complaints of the 104 received by the Independent Police Review between July 2005 and June 2007. Complaints of disparate treatment mostly involve race and ethnicity, although about a quarter involve age, gender and sexual orientation.
On the same day, Portland Police Chief released the bureau's "Plan to Address Racial Profiling. . . .

What's happening for you in your city 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 your city 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 . . . .

The United Way, Oregon Food Bank, and Community Action Programs in all four metro-area counties this week announced the formation of the Community Relief Fund to shore up the strained community safety net.
This appeal for emergency funds will help support families who have been hardest hit in the economic crisis with basic needs like food, rent, and utilities. . . .