WASHINGTON (AP) _ A small group of powerful House Democrats has asked the Justice Department to investigate whether American Indian tribes are engaging in modern-day racial segregation against black "freedmen'' who are descendants of former tribal slaves.
The lawmakers, including House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers of Michigan and former civil rights leader John Lewis of Georgia, say five major tribes have been systematically removing freedmen from their membership or relegating them to second-class status without voting rights and other benefits.
In a letter sent last week, they asked Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate whether the tribes are violating treaties and breaking the law....

Jerry Thompson says he was just trying to help out when a distant, elderly relative started having trouble caring for herself in her home last year. Clio Simpson, 90 at the time, had no immediate relatives nearby after her husband passed away. Jerry and his mother Loretta say they became alarmed at finding strangers in Simpson's house during a chance visit...

In February 2007, businessman Bruce Feathers was considered as an "instrumental" symbol of small businesses' rising prosperity, ... Now that passion for making sure minority businesses are able to land the big contracts has unexpectedly boomeranged back to hurt his business in a conflict with city officials now headed for the courtroom...

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...