President Barack Obama on Thursday promised a more efficient record system to ease delays in health care for wounded veterans, as the government copes with more than 33,000 military personnel injured in two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. An electronic record would follow a service member in the military and then later in the Veterans Affairs Department's medical system.

The Seattle Office for Civil Rights created the new online Intake Questionnaire to make it easier for people to take action when they feel they have been victims of illegal discrimination. . . .

• 17 Again
• Crank: High Voltage

  • State of Play
  • American Violet
  • Every Little Step 
  • Is Anybody There?
  • Lemon Tree
  • Oblivion
  • Perestroika
  • Sleep Dealer

The political career of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. could be jeopardized by a congressional ethics inquiry into his finagling for the Senate seat vacated by President Obama, a well-known black political analyst said. "The stakes for him are dire," said Ronald Walters, a University of Maryland professor well-known for his analysis of black politics and politicians. . . .

President Barack Obama and his family are looking for a new church, but his decision represents more than merely settling on a pew. The Obamas planned to attend Easter services Sunday, marking the president's first visit to a Washington church since taking office in January. Aides have been secretive about which church the first family will attend, citing security and the desire not to disrupt services for other worshippers. They also caution that the church Obama visits might not signal that the president has decided on a permanent place of worship. Obama's choice of a permanent pastor is sure to draw scrutiny, given his history with a pastor in Chicago whose bombastic sermons almost destroyed Obama's presidential bid. . . .

If the uninsured were a political lobbying group, they'd have more members than AARP. The National Mall couldn't hold them if they decided to march on Washington. But going without health insurance is still seen as a personal issue, a misfortune for many and a choice for some. People who lose coverage often struggle alone instead of turning their frustration into political action. Illegal immigrants rallied in Washington during past immigration debates, but the uninsured linger in the background as Congress struggles with a health care overhaul that seems to have the best odds in years of passing. That isolation could have profound repercussions.
Lawmakers already face tough choices to come up with the hundreds of billions it would cost to guarantee coverage for all. The lack of a vocal constituency won't help. Congress might decide to cover the uninsured slowly, in stages.
The uninsured "do not provide political benefit for the aid you give them,'' . . .

For one day only, all remaining seats in the 2008/2009 Portland Center Stage season will be on sale for $25. From midnight to midnight on April 15, Portlanders can put their stimulus package tax refunds directly to work on three shovel ready productions: "Frost/Nixon," "Grey Gardens," and Storm Large's "Crazy Enough." Tickets can be purchased by . . .

A recent study indicates that of the major ethnic groups impacted by unemployment during the current U.S. recession, Black men have experienced the greatest job losses since the crisis officially began in November 2007.
"What's missing from national media coverage of this recession is plainly a great deal of [honesty] about who's losing their jobs. This is overwhelmingly a blue collar, retail sales, low level recession . . .

Brad Avakian, commissioner of the Oregon State Bureau of Labor and Industries, traveled to The Skanner's offices last week to make one thing clear – the economic downturn will not slow down the state's efforts to pursue civil rights complaints. He said that legislature budget cuts are hitting hard at agencies across the board, but that BOLI's commitment to civil rights will remain front and center for his department. Click here to see on YouTube Avakian's explanation on how to file a successful civil rights complaint with BOLI.

Portland Mayor Sam Adams is teaming up with Sen. Rod Monroe (D-Portland) to support a bill that would extend Portland's design review authority to rapidly developing areas of the city. "As Portland aspires to build sustainable, livable neighborhoods, we need tools to ensure that new multi-family housing in our town centers and main streets are of the highest quality," said Mayor Adams. "Good design is not just aesthetic; it's a matter of long-term value, neighborhood livability, and stopping low-quality infill housing." . . .