Portlander Sharie Lynn Smith died Aug. 4 in a rafting accident on the Deschutes River, and local residents there are questioning whether there should be more warning signs on the stretch before the Lava Island Falls rapids.

Tamping down an outcry over gentrification, the Sons of Haiti Masonic Lodge is looking for donations of all sorts of supplies -- from brushes to scaffolding -- to bring the North Mississippi Avenue community together with a painting party.

Run by Volunteers of America, with funding from Multnomah County's corrections service, the CPR program works with 18-25 year old men leaving prison. In Part Two, we share the stories of DeAndre Frison, who is a mentor in the program and DeAngelo Augustus, a recent graduate.

News of racist graffiti on North Mississippi Avenue sparked plans for a peaceful demonstration in solidarity with black-owned businesses held last Saturday night.

The Northwest NAACP is calling on political, business and faith leaders to support Measure 80, the Cannabis Tax Act.

While dress codes have prevented some people from attending hip-hop events, the cost of security has discouraged some artists from putting them on in the first place.

J.P. Morgan Chase Bank has made a $50,000 donation to the Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative which aims to create jobs and support small business in six Portland neighborhoods.

CPR stands for Community Partnerships Reinvestment, but it's tempting to think of it more in the medical sense, as CPR for young offenders. Because, while it doesn't actually kickstart hearts that have stopped beating, it does seem to stop young men from throwing their lives away.

National Night Out 2012 runs from Aug. 2-12. Find the Party closest to you with our handy Google Map

The hip-hop scene in Portland has been in a state of flux due to changing dress codes, security expenses and an ongoing rocky relationship with the City.