Sen. Ron Wyden

WASHINGTON—Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden defended his state's first-in-the-nation assisted suicide law last week at a Senate hearing — the first since the Supreme Court upheld Oregon's law in January.

Sen. Sam Brownback, a Kansas Republican who is considering a run for president, called the hearing to explore what he called the "unintended consequences and slippery slope of doctor-assisted suicide."

Oregon has experienced a significant drop in its hunger rate since the state's No. 1 national ranking earlier this decade — at the same time that national rates for hunger and food insecurity have risen, according to an Oregon State University study.

However, the state's hunger rates are still higher than the national rate.

Oregon shows a major drop in hunger rates in non-metropolitan areas, among employed and unemployed households, two-parent families and both renters and homeowners.

Concerns about diversity awareness at the Portland State University campus and a desire to celebrate multicultural roots are bringing together student organizations for the university'sfirst-ever ROOTS Festival.

The festival is a daylong celebration of diversity at PSU that will commemorate people's origins, cultures and commonalities, as well as respective differences. PSU students and members of the greater community are encouraged to attend.

Lois Jackson, left, and Mrs. Isaac Wasson show off the 2006 Jefferson High School Senior Community Quilt after a school assembly on May 25.

"THE LEGENDARY PRESTIGE QUINTET SESSIONS"MILES DAVIS* * * * *In the latter part of…

  2006 Breakfast InformationFor tickets e-mail [email protected] or come to The…

Woodlawn Elementary School students Honni Brown, left, Lyric Branch, D.J. Gonzales — all members of the school's Kukatonon African Dancers.

Woodlawn Elementary School's Kúkátónón Dance Troupe will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, June 2, in the Self Enhancement Inc. auditorium.

The Seattle City Council this week passed a resolution supporting the naming of a park for rock-n-roll legend Jimi Hendrix.
The resolution supports the naming of the Colman School Lot, located in Seattle's Central Area, to recognize Hendrix's cultural contributions. The park is adjacent to the Northwest African American Museum at the Urban League Village, which is scheduled to open next year.

Margaret Carter

Oregon State Sen. Margaret Carter is joining The Skanner as vice president of corporate affairs and will lend her clout, intellect, connections and energy to The Skanner's mission of Challenging People to Shape A Better Future Now.

JoAnn Bowman

A new report on racial profiling by Portland Police Bureau officers confirms what Portlanders of color have known for a long time: Police routinely stop — and search — people of color more often than they do White people.