In seven Oregon state prisons, one job assignment has become especially sought-after; at one, you have to be all but a lifer to get on the team.
The prison garden, according to a number of program administrators around the state, has become a way for inmates to learn new skills, cooperate on a project and help feed themselves and their communities.

The Skanner News brought home four national awards from the National Newspapers Publisher Association Foundation's Annual Merit Awards

Taking off from the Civil Rights Movement tradition, the American Friends Service Committee holds the Jacqueline Lynch Holmes Summer Freedom School through Saturday, June 25, at the Northeast Coalition Of Neighborhoods, 4815 NE 7th Ave.

Seeing a significant amount of unhappiness with the recent water rate increase, Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman said he wants to make sure any future rate decisions are put through a more impartial process.
Last week, Saltzman proposed the creation of an independent utility commission that would take the work of rate changes, finances, budgets out of the hands of the mayor's office and into the hands of a group of citizens.
Saltzman said the current process can let politics get involved and the proposal – which he stressed is not set in stone – would add a level of professionalism, accountability and impartiality to water and sewer utilities.

With a successful legislative redistricting under their belt, you'd think legislators would be back for round two – congressional redistricting.
But with little time left in the current session, it appears increasingly unlikely they'll get an agreement in place. In fact, when the state district agreement was signed by the governor, not only did staff take down links to the old proposed legislative district maps, they also took down the links to the proposed congressional maps. Which begs the question: Accident or an implication that lawmakers would never get the job done?
We may never know the answer.

Metro, Portland's regional government, is creating an online panel of people willing to share their opinions about what's right and what's wrong in the Portland Metro region. They'll be looking at everything from health and transportation to schools, community centers, the economy and jobs. These big issues will affect all of us and Metro wants a large, diverse panel so every community can have a voice. Anyone with an email address, who lives in the Portland-Vancouver metro region, can sign up for the panel.

A near-million dollar report on racial disparities in Portland's construction contracting practices has been pulled apart and pieced together again – pushing documentation of discrimination and unfair practices to the forefront – in preparation for a City Commission policy vote Wednesday afternoon.

The Black Parent Initiative held its second annual 'Breaking the Cycle, Releasing the Dream' conference, focused on education, parenting and supporting student success. Held at Concordia College in North Portland the conference featured workshops by local and national experts.

 This summer DeNorval Unthank Park will run a youth food program and activities program daily from 4pm to 7 p.m. meals for youth will be offered at 5 p.m.  A movie night, weekly gospel singing and other events also are in the works.

Longtime Portland resident Mary Lois Johnson died on June 11 at the Washington Medical Center in Seattle. She was 75.
Lois was born March 1, 1936 in Montgomery, Ala. to Ollie Mae Moncrief and Alton Carter. She was one of three children, one of whom has preceded her in death.