In Salem, lawmakers are discussing a bill that would allow juries to know the punishment a defendant is likely to receive if convicted of a Measure 11 offense.
The proposed law, Senate Bill 296, would instruct judges to tell juries the mandatory minimum sentences that could result from a guilty verdict...

Community News Briefs:
• Community Meeting Addresses Gaps in Social Safety Net
• U of P Sale Benefits Study Abroad Program
• Apply Now for Public Montessori School
• Gardening Tips, Lead Reduction Workshop

Microsoft corporation and Year Up have come together in an effort to close the digital divide.
Year Up is a one-year, intensive training program that provides urban young adults, ages 18-24, with a unique combination of technical and professional skills, college credits, an educational stipend and corporate apprenticeship. . . . 

In the case of Brown vs. the Board of Education on May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court decided that the Constitution of the United States must guarantee equal education for all American citizens. 
In this landmark case, schools were desegregated across the South and the breath and width of the United States. Fifty-five years later, however, we find American education is still sporadically separate and unquestionably unequal.

I am missing something here. President Barack Obama just went to Europe and Iraq and made speeches saying that he would be deferential to Communist China, that he would meet without conditions with the leadership of Iran and that he wanted to open up a new relationship with the Islamic world. ...

Last week, the Bennett College for women community came together to provide information on sexual assault awareness. We were aligned with the many who recognize the month of April as sexual assault awareness month.  Indeed, president Barack Obama issued a proclamation on April 8 marking the month and making important comments on issues that are raised when we look at sexual assault....

Hats off to Paul Allen! The Trail Blazers owner stuck around to achieve a winning lineup of managers, coaches and players. The Skanner admires his staying power and the work of Trail Blazers president, Larry Miller and general manager, Kevin Pritchard...

My father was larger than life to me. A man of modest beginnings, Wendell Wallace had the faith to move mountains, and move mountains he did. In the late 1960's I witnessed him break down the walls of racial prejudice. The congregation of Metropolitan Church of God marched to our new church location on 12th & Skidmore...

Services were held at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church on March 27, for Dock Thompson, who passed away March 19, at age 99...

The versatile actor/ comedian/ singer/ musician/ writer/ producer/ director got his start in showbiz in 1989 when he went on stage on a dare on open mic night and tried his hand at standup. After spending time on the comedy circuit, he joined the landmark Fox sketch comedy series "In Living Color," creating some of the show's funniest and most memorable moments. . . .