10-23-2024  7:07 am   •   PDX and SEA Weather

  • Yusef Salaam, center, a member of The Exonerated Five, speaks to reporters in the spin room after a presidential debate with Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

    Exonerated Five Sue Donald Trump for Defamation Over False Debate Remarks

    Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Korey Wise, and Yusef Salaam—who spent years in prison before their 2002 exoneration—accuse Trump of defaming them, painting them in a false light, and intentionally inflicting emotional distress by continuing to spread falsehoods about their case. Read More
  • Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris listens as Stevie Wonder performs

    Helped by Stevie Wonder VP Harris Urges Churchgoers in Georgia to Vote

    Kamala Harris has visited two Atlanta-area churches where she urged Black members of the congregations to turn out at the polls. She got a big assist Sunday from music legend Stevie Wonder, who rallied worshippers in Jonesboro, Georgia, with a rendition of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song.” Harris' stops at the churches was part of a nationwide push known as “souls to the polls.” It’s a mobilization effort to encourage early Read More
  • Method Man, from left, Dr. Dre, and Mary J. Blige appear during the 39th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

    Stars Shine Bright at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

    Hollywood stars Julia Roberts and Zendaya bookended Saturday’s inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, adding extra stardust to a sparkling lineup that included pop icon Cher, hip-hop soul queen Mary J. Blige, soul icon Dionne Warwick, Kool & the Gang, Jimmy Buffet and hip-hop trailblazers A Tribe Called Quest.. It was a five-hour-plus show that also honored Ozzy Osbourne, Foreigner and the Dave Matthews Band. Read More
  • Peggy Whitfield, left, of Baltimore, attends a service at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Turner Station, Md. Turner Station is located near the former site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed in March. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

    A Historically Black Community Grapples With Lasting Impacts After Baltimore Bridge Collapse

    Some residents of Turner Station have seen their commute times increase drastically, making them question whether they can hold out until a new bridge is built. Others hope the massive construction project will help usher in a new chapter of revitalization for their struggling neighborhood, which was originally built to house Black steelworkers during segregation. Read More
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NORTHWEST NEWS

Washington State AG and Ex-Sheriff Face off in Governor's Race

Former U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert is trying to become Washington’s first GOP governor in 40 years. But he faces a difficult hurdle in the Democratic stronghold against longtime Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a darling of liberals for his many lawsuits against the Trump administration. 

19 Mayoral Candidates Compete to Lead Portland, Oregon, in a Race With Homelessness at Its Heart

Whoever wins will oversee a completely new system of government.

The Skanner News Endorsements: Oregon Statewide Races

It’s a daunting task replacing progressive stalwart Earl Blumenauer, who served in the office for nearly three decades. If elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-Clackamas) would be the first Black representative Oregon has ever sent to the U.S. Congress. This election offers many reasons to vote.

Washington State Voters will Reconsider Landmark Climate Law

Supporters of repealing the Climate Commitment Act say it has raised energy costs and gas prices. Those in favor of keeping it say billions of dollars and many programs will vanish if it disappears. The law is designed to cut pollution while raising money for investments that address climate change. 

NEWS BRIEFS

Outside the Frame Presents Reel Ambitions: Films by Youth Who Have Experienced Homelessness; at Hollywood Theatre November 7

“I look back at my time being homeless and I’m done with looking at it as traumatic. Now it’s art.” – Violet Clyne,...

Seattle Shakespeare Company Announces Twelfth Night at ACT Contemporary Theatre

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Meeting the Demand: The Essential Role of Current and Future Health Professionals

Multiple ,200 United Health Foundation Diversity in Health Care scholarships available. Applications due October 31, 2024. ...

Senator Manning and Elected Officials to Tour a New Free Pre-Apprenticeship Program

The boot camp is a FREE four-week training program introducing basic carpentry skills to individuals with little or no...

Prepare Your Trees for Winter Weather

Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry staff share tips and resources. ...

15-year-old boy is held pending charges in 5 deaths in Washington state

SEATTLE (AP) — A 15-year-old boy will be held pending charges in connection with the deaths of two adults and three young teenagers at a home east of Seattle, authorities said Tuesday. The teen waived his right to appear in court on Tuesday, according to the King County Prosecuting...

Teen in custody after 5 found dead in shooting at home in Washington state, police say

FALL CITY, WASH. (AP) — Law enforcement officials found five people killed in a shooting inside a home southeast of Seattle on Monday morning and took a teenager into custody, police said. Several people called 911 around 5 a.m. to report a shooting in Fall City, Washington, King...

Missouri aims to rebound from 0-for-everything SEC record last season with revamped roster

Missouri (8-24, 0-18 SEC) After leading the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament in his debut season, everything fell apart for Dennis Gates in Year 2 when a transfer-heavy team failed to come together. They failed to win a conference game for the first time since their 1907-08 season and...

Brady Cook, hobbled by an injury, rallies No. 19 Mizzou to a 21-17 win over Auburn

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri quarterback Brady Cook returned from a midgame trip to the hospital to have an MRI exam on his ailing ankle and led his team to two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including the go-ahead run by Jamal Roberts with 46 seconds remaining that gave the Tigers a 21-17 victory...

OPINION

The Skanner Endorsements: Oregon State and Local Ballot Measures

Ballots are now being mailed out for this very important election. Election Day is November 5. Ballots must be received or mailed with a valid postmark by 8 p.m. Election Day. View The Skanner's ballot measure endorsements. ...

Measure 117 is a Simple Improvement to Our Elections

Political forces around the country have launched an all-out assault on voting rights that targets Black communities. State legislatures are restricting voting access in districts with large Black populations and are imposing other barriers and pernicious...

How Head Start Shaped My Life

My Head Start classroom was a warm environment that affirmed me as a learner. That affirmation has influenced my journey from Head Start to public media president. ...

The Skanner News: 2024 City Government Endorsements

In the lead-up to a massive transformation of city government, the mayor’s office and 12 city council seats are open. These are our endorsements for candidates we find to be most aligned with the values of equity and progress in Portland, and who we feel...

AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE NEWS

Trump hurls a string of insults at Harris including 'lazy,' a racist trope against Black people

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump unleashed a series of personal attacks at Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her “lazy” — a word long used to demean Black people in racist terms — and repeatedly questioning her intelligence and stamina. ...

Indigenous Australian who confronted King Charles III says she won't be 'shut down'

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An Indigenous senator has intensified her criticism of King Charles III, again accusing the British monarch of complicity in the “genocide” against Australia’s First Nations peoples and declaring on Wednesday she will not be “shut down.” Sen....

A Supreme Court reshaped by Trump has a low profile in this presidential campaign

WASHINGTON (AP) — Conservatives already have a supermajority on the Supreme Court as a result of Donald Trump's presidency. If Trump wins a second term, the right side of the court could retain control for several more decades. Justices Clarence Thomas, 76, and Samuel Alito, 74, are...

ENTERTAINMENT

Book Review: Cop cold case unit pursues a rapist, foils a terrorist plot and tackles a 1947 murder

It’s early morning in Southern California, and Renee Ballard, director of the LAPD Open-Unsolved Unit, is where she most loves to be. She’s surfing, and she’s darned good at it. After a final run, she returns to the parking lot and discovers that someone has broken into her car and stolen her...

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Oct. 27-Nov. 2

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Oct. 27-Nov. 2 Oct. 27: Actor-comedian John Cleese is 85. Country singer Lee Greenwood is 82. Country singer-guitarist Jack Daniels (Highway 101) is 75. Bassist Garry Tallent of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band is 75. Author Fran Lebowitz is...

Dodgers win over Padres in NLDS decider averages 12.9 million viewers in Japan

NEW YORK (AP) — Last Friday's decisive fifth game of the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres was the most-watched Major League Baseball postseason game on record in Japan, averaging an estimated 12.9 million viewers, according to MLB. ...

U.S. & WORLD NEWS

Fernando Valenzuela, Mexican-born pitcher whose feats for Dodgers fueled 'Fernandomania,' dies at 63

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Floods in Philippines kill at least 9 and trap others on roofs as storm approaches

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Torrential rain set off by an approaching tropical storm swamped the eastern...

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EL JOBO, Panama (AP) — A long, wooden boat puttered down the Indio River’s chocolate waters carrying Ana...

Middle East latest: Sirens sound across Tel Aviv as projectiles are intercepted near Blinken's hotel

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Britain and Germany sign defense pact to counter Russia's growing threat

LONDON (AP) — German submarine-hunting planes will patrol the North Atlantic from a base in Scotland under a new...

Charles gets a warm welcome on his first visit as king to Samoa. But uneasy questions await

SIUMU, Samoa (AP) — In the dark, dozens of people lined a narrow road near the Samoan fishing village of Siumu,...

Ben Hubbard and Ryan Lucas the Associated Press

BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) -- Libya's rebels will agree to a cease-fire if Moammar Gadhafi pulls his military forces out of cities and allows peaceful protests against his regime, an opposition leader said Friday as rebels showed signs that their front-line organization is improving.

Diplomats Did Not Discuss Arming Libya, The Skanner News Video here

Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, head of the opposition's interim governing council based in Benghazi, spoke during a joint press conference with U.N. envoy Abdelilah Al-Khatib. After meeting government officials in Thursday, Al-Khatib was visiting the rebels' de facto stronghold of Benghazi in hopes of reaching a political solution to the crisis embroiling the North African nation.

Abdul-Jalil said the rebels' condition for a cease-fire is "that the Gadhafi brigades and forces withdraw from inside and outside Libyan cities to give freedom to the Libyan people to choose and the world will see that they will choose freedom."

The U.N. resolution that authorized international airstrikes against Libya called for Gadhafi and the rebels to end hostilities. Gadhafi announced a cease-fire immediately but has shown no sign of heeding it. His forces continue to attack rebels in the east, where the opposition in strongest, and have besieged the only major rebel-held city in the west, Misrata.

The city has been shelled by tanks and artillery for days, said a doctor in a Misrata hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisals. Many people have been killed, including eight since Thursday, he said. He said Gadhafi brigades control the port and a main street, but rebels control the heart of the city.

Abdul-Jalil said the regime must withdraw its forces and lift all sieges.

He stressed the ultimate goal was Gadhafi's ouster.

"Our aim is to liberate and have sovereignty over all of Libya with its capital in Tripoli," he said.

The U.N. said Al-Khatib arrived Thursday in Tripoli.

Forces loyal to Libya's leader of nearly 42 years spent much of this week pushing the rebels back about 100 miles (160 kilometers) along the coast. On Friday, the opposition showed signs of gaining discipline on what has often been a disorganized battlefield.

Fighters said fresh forces were coming in, mostly ex-military, but also volunteers with not quite a month of training. The rebels also appeared to have more communication equipment such as radios and satellite phones, and were working in more organized units, in which military defectors were each leading six or seven volunteers.

The untrained masses who have rushed in and out of the fight for weeks with no apparent organization were barred from the front line. They stayed to the rear, to hold the line temporarily in case Gadhafi's forces attempt to flank the rebels.

"The problem with the young untrained guys is they'll weaken us at the front, so we're trying to use them as a backup force," said Mohammed Majah, 33, a former sergeant. "They have great enthusiasm, but that's not enough now."

Majah said the only people at the front now are former soldiers, "experienced guys who have been in reserves, and about 20 percent are young revolutionaries who have been in training and are in organized units."

The rebels also had mortars Friday, weapons they previously appeared to have lacked, and on Thursday night they drove in a convoy with at least eight rocket launchers - more artillery than usual.

The rebels' losses this week, and others before airstrikes began March 19, underlined that their equipment, training and organization were far inferior to those of Gadhafi's forces. The recent changes appear to be an attempt to correct, or at least ease, the imbalance.

It was not immediately clear where the front line was on Friday. On Thursday, the opposition had moved into Brega, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Ajdabiya, before Gadhafi's forces pushed them out.

Gadhafi's greatest losses this week were not military but political. Two members of his inner circle, including his foreign minister, abandoned him Wednesday and Thursday, setting off speculation about other officials who may be next. The defections could sway people who have stuck with Gadhafi despite the uprising that began Feb. 15 and the international airstrikes aimed at keeping the autocrat from attacking his own people.

Libyan state TV aired a phone interview with intelligence chief Bouzeid Dorda to knock down rumors that he also left Gadhafi.

"I am in Libya and will remain here steadfast in the same camp of the revolution despite everything," Dorda said. "I never thought to cross the borders or violate commitment to the people, the revolution and the leader."

Gadhafi struck a defiant stance in a statement Thursday, saying he's not the one who should go - it's the Western leaders who attacking his military with airstrikes who should resign immediately. Gadhafi's message was undercut by its delivery - a scroll across the bottom of state TV as he remained out of sight.

The White House said the strongman's inner circle was clearly crumbling with the loss of Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa, who flew from Tunisia to England on Wednesday. Koussa is privy to all the inner workings of the regime, so his departure could open the door for some hard intelligence, though Britain refused to offer him immunity from prosecution.

Ali Abdessalam Treki, a former foreign minister and U.N. General Assembly president, announced his departure on several opposition websites the next day, saying "It is our nation's right to live in freedom and democracy and enjoy a good life."

Gadhafi accused the leaders of the countries attacking his forces of being "affected by power madness."

"The solution for this problem is that they resign immediately and their peoples find alternatives to them," the Libya state news agency quoted him as saying.

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Lucas reported from Ajdabiya, Libya. Hadeel Al-Shalchi in Tripoli and Maggie Michael in Cairo contributed to this report