Brad Avakian, commissioner of the Oregon State Bureau of Labor and Industries, traveled to The Skanner's offices last week to make one thing clear – the economic downturn will not slow down the state's efforts to pursue civil rights complaints. He said that legislature budget cuts are hitting hard at agencies across the board, but that BOLI's commitment to civil rights will remain front and center for his department. . . .

A specially appointed city panel has recommended that 39th Avenue be renamed after farm worker civil rights activist Cesar Chavez. After last year's failed attempt to rename Interstate Avenue after the founder of United Farm Workers of America, supporters were undaunted. Last year's debate created a bitter atmosphere between activists and many residents and businesses along Interstate. . . .

Annie Robinson's life's journey began Aug. 22, 1927 in Jonesboro, La.  ... She had to quit school at an early age to take care of her ill mother. Annie continued her education at Franklin Parish Training School where she received her C.N.A. degree.  In 1941, she met Elmos Lee Jenkins. They married July 9, 1948  ... Annie spent quality time with her family, gardening, reading her bible and ministering to individuals.  She was a retired certified nursing assistant. . . .

According to a recent survey conducted in collaboration with RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, Seattle residents are highly aware of various family building options due to an infertility diagnosis, such as medical treatment, adoption and surrogacy; however the survey brought to light that less than half knew about an emerging family building option – embryo donation.
The online survey gauged awareness of embryo donation in advance of a free embryo donation workshop hosted by RESOLVE on Saturday, April 25, in Seattle.
At the workshop, couples and individuals will be introduced to the medical, legal and mental health issues surrounding embryo donation, a relatively new process in which individuals who have undergone in-vitro fertilization treatment and have extra frozen embryos decide to release the embryos for transfer to the uterus of another woman.
The online survey conducted among 800 Seattle residents showed . . .

Oregon's third largest builder, JLS Custom Homes announced today that their entire inventory of homes built in 2008 will be liquidated beginning April 27, along with inventory from two other area builders. The entire sale will include 152 homes from 20 communities that span from Salem, Ore. up to Woodland, Wa. ... The homes range in size from 1,438 square feet to 3,793 square feet and will be priced from $159,950. All homes in the liquidation sale must be sold by June 30. . . .

The Portland office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Attorney's Office today announced expanded efforts to identify and prosecute mortgage fraud. As part of a multi-agency approach, special internet and phone tip lines have been established to handle reports of mortgage fraud. Investigations will be handled by the Oregon Mortgage Fraud Working Group, which has been operating since 2007, and continues to tackle mortgage fraud on multiple fronts. . . .

Somali pirates released a hijacked ship and its 19-man crew when they learned it was picking up food aid for their hungry countrymen, a Somali clan elder said Monday. But NATO said pirates also attacked a Maltese-flagged ship before dawn with rocket-propelled grenades before the ship escaped unharmed. The recent surge in Somali piracy has alarmed countries and businesses behind the 20,000 ships per year that cross the Gulf of Aden, the key water link between Europe and Asia. Pirates have attacked more than 80 boats this year alone, according to the Kuala Lumpur-based International Maritime Bureau. . . .

If you think the competition is fierce to gain entrance to the country's elite colleges, then you oughta get a load of the cutthroat tactics employed by parents of toddlers to get their little monsters into the country's exclusive pre-schools. That's right, pre-schools. "Nursery University," directed by Marc Simon, follows . . .

Coming on the heels of positive poll numbers and an endorsement by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, a proposal to raise the Oregon beer tax for the first time in 32 years is attracting more support, according to the Oregon Partnership. Such groups as Local 503 of the Service Employees International Union, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, the Oregon Prevention Education Recovery Association, and the Governor's Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse have thrown their support behind House Bill 2461. . . .

Laid-off Oregon workers who recently entered or returned to the labor force will be more likely to qualify for unemployment benefits as a result of a new law signed today by Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, according to the Oregon Center for Public Policy.
"It's great news for Oregon's economy and workers," said Joy Margheim, policy analyst with the Oregon Center for Public Policy, who advocated on behalf of the legislative change. "Let's hope the Governor gets to sign other bills that will fully bring our unemployment system into the 21st century and better meet the needs of unemployed workers." ... Senate Bill 462 allows workers who don't qualify under the traditional formula to count more of their most recent work experience. . . .