BALTIMORE (NNPA) – Then First Lady-to-be Michelle Obama, standing behind a little boy inside the Baltimore War Memorial, placed her hands on the child's shoulders and guided him toward her husband.
"I want you to meet my new friend," she gleefully told then President-elect Barack Obama. Looking down at the approximately 7-year-old, Obama broke into his trademark broad smile. His hands replaced hers on the boy's shoulders.
"Yes, I know," he said, looking down into his face. "And, he's got ears just like mine."
The child beamed with pride. Returning the broad smile, he boldly asked for an autograph.
"Children are really drawn to him," whispered Jen Psaki, an Obama aid ...

Speaking to a crowd that extended beyond the eye could see, the first African American President of the United States told America today that he would usher in a new era. An era of responsibility, respect and common understanding. "In reaffirming the greatness of our nation," said President Barack Obama. "We understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned ...

The Skanner's own Bobbie Dore Foster was in Washington, D.C. Tuesday to witness the inauguration of President Barack Obama. While it wasn't exactly what she expected to happen, she says it was an experience that she's glad she didn't miss ...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Stepping into history as America's first Black president, Barack Hussein Obama said in his inaugural address Tuesday that the nation must choose "hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord'' to overcome the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression ...

More than 1.5 Million gathered to celebrate the inaugural swearing in of President Barack Obama. Photo Credit: The Houston Defender

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Barack Hussein Obama - a Black man - was inaugurated the 44th President of the United States ... The first African-American to hold the office, considered the most powerful in the world, his inaugural address and overall ceremony included strong and specific references to the historic and modern-day struggles of Black people; including the "lash of the whip." ...

NNPA Foundation Chair Dorothy Leavell congratulates Motown celebrities Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy on the 50th anniversary of the R & B giant – celebrated Jan. 19 at the French Embassy in Washington D.C. She is joined by New Orleans Data News Weekly Publisher Terry Jones (left) and Los Angeles Sentinel Publisher Danny Bakewell (center). Photo Credit: Roy Lewis

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – When credits are ultimately given for the historic rise of Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States, the Black Press will be among those on the list. That was the sentiment expressed by Corey Ealons ... during a glitzy, star-studded Inaugural Gala, themed "Salute to Change" at the elegant La Madison Embassy of France on Jan. 19. ...

These lovely girls all ran outside to play in the snow in their pajamas early Sunday morning as the flakes first came down in North Portland. Sisters Paris Hart, 16, and Unique Robinson, 12, had fun introducing their 5-month old niece Ny'Ashia Bryce to snow for the first time and teaching their 2-year-old cousin Nevaeh Avery how to make (and throw) snowballs.

Oregon employment officials this week highlighted an array of online job services even as they reported that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 8.1 percent in November from 7.2 percent in October.
Meanwhile, the nonprofit Oregon Center for Public Policy issued its own report showing that families statewide have been crushed by the recession – in part because they failed to make economic gains during the boom times earlier this decade.
"The recession has intensified the pressure that was already squeezing working families ....

One Portland businessman has just landed the account of a lifetime.
Chad Brown, founder and owner of Chado Advertising and Design, will be developing an advertising and branding program for international clothing manufacturer Epic Group. In October, Brown was invited to make a pitch at the apparel giant's headquarters in Hong Kong. "It was pretty intense ...

Minority contractors are up in arms over the Port of Seattle's $1.39 million investigation into allegedly fraudulent contracting practices by Port employees and managers.
Ten separate instances of civil fraud were cited by an investigator hired by the Port, including that of a staff member who changed contracting rules to ensure that all minority contracts would go to only one company – a company identified by the U.S. Department of Justice in 1996 as a "sham minority business."
Port officials refused last week to fire the staff responsible for the fraud, or to file any criminal charges against them.
An FBI investigation is reportedly still pending ...