When Mexican drug traffickers need someone killed or kidnapped, or drugs distributed in the United States, they increasingly call on American subcontractors: U.S.-based prison gangs that run criminal enterprises from behind bars, sometimes even from solitary confinement. Prison gangs long have controlled armies of street toughs on the outside. But in interviews with The Associated Press, authorities say the gangs' activity has expanded beyond street-level drug sales to establish a business alliance with Mexican cartels.
"They'll do the dirty work that, say, the cartels, they don't want to do" in the United States. "They don't want to get involved," said a former member of Barrio Azteca, a U.S. prison gang tied to Mexico's Juarez cartel.

The March discovery in the Oregon woods of the wreckage of a World War II-era warplane has raised questions about whether this was the first time someone has seen the wreckage.

The plea from Haiti reached Eugene surgeon Snell Fontus on Jan. 17, five days after the earthquake devastated the Caribbean nation. "Snell, I need help," Dr. Louis Phillip wrote in a text message. "Can you send a team?" There were good reasons for Phillip to contact Fontus, his friend and a general surgeon at Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield.

Fontus was born in Haiti, speaks French and had regularly visited the country before the quake.

There was once a time when Evelyne Ello Hart spent her days helping others. As the executive director of the African Women's Coalition, she helped the region's African immigrants cope the culture shock of a new country and city. She connected the women with each other, and to jobs.
Now, it's Ello Hart who is in need of help ...

Jerome Cox-Tanner may down, but he certainly isn't out.
The longtime funeral director has moved to a new office at 328 NE Failing St. Suite 102 and his holding a community musical celebration this Saturday to help raise funds for the director's legal expenses and the ongoing operation of Cox-Tanner's business.
The celebration will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at Immaculate Heart Church, 2926 N. Williams Ave. on May 8.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The best indication of how strong the tea is brewing in Oregon this year may come May 18 in a Republican contest to run against Democratic U.S. Rep. David Wu in the northwest corner of the state.

That's what the Blacks in Science Ron McNair Camp-In at Pacific Science Center is all about, says vice president Ellen Letvin – to get young people excited about science.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Thousands of demonstrators marched through downtown Portland on Saturday to protest Arizona's new illegal immigration law, which requires authorities to question people about their immigration status.

It would be an understatement to say bicycles get a lot of attention in this town. But the attention is mainly White attention, especially when it comes to hardcore bike commuters.
And the Community Cycling Center has set out to find out why.

Sunrise March 15, 1951 -- Sunset April 24, 2010. Memorial Services: Monday, May 10, 2010 11:00 am, Bethel AME. Church, 5828 NE 8th, Portland OR. Jerome Cox Tanner, Funeral Director, 503 281 4891