February 14, 2018 The Skanner Page 5
News
Events & Announcements
Community
Calendar 2018
cont’d from pg 4
Hardesty and executive leadership will provide updates and
current and future initiatives. This is an opportunity to connect
with Portland NAACP’s work in advancing racial justice in the
community. Noon – 2 p.m., Lloyd Center, North of Ice Skating,
former Deb’s retail store space.
BLACK HISTORY UNITY GALA AND COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE:
World Stage Theater hosts the annual unity gala featuring key-
note speaker Jemele Hill, co-host of ESPN SC6. Visit the best ven-
dors and organizations in the community marketplace. 7 p.m.,
SEI, 3920 N. Kerby Ave.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25
PHOTO BY SUSAN FRIED
UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND READING FAIR AND FAMILY STEM
DAY: Kappa Delta Pi and the University of Portland Education
and Outreach Center will be hosting this free event. Each child
will receive one free book upon attendance as well as a day full
of discovery in different kinds of fields. Free, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.,
University of Portland, Chiles Center, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd.
Black Lives Matter High Five
Dozens of teachers, parents, and community members lined up to greet students arriving at Leschi Elementary School on Feb. 9 with
high fives and positive affirmations. Friday was the last day of Black Lives Matter Week of Action and the event was a way to end the
week on a high note.
Briefs cont’d from pg 4
Misdemeanor Marijuana Cases  
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has
awarded the University of Washington a $2,996,426
grant to help fund the “Multi-Ethnic Study of Athero-
sclerosis and Air Pollution – Next Stage (MESA Air
Next)” project, building on more than a decade of re-
search that looks at the connection between inhaled
small particle pollution and increased risks of stroke,
heart attacks and other cardiovascular disease.
Over the past 14 years, EPA has invested $33 million
and leveraged over another $70 million from the Na-
tional Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
The MESA Air Next research is reducing import-
TheSkanner.com
EPA Awards University of
Washington Nearly $3 Million
to Further Study Air Pollution &
Cardiovascular Disease Link
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Former U.S. Attorney and Seattle Mayor Jenny A.
Durkan and City Attorney Pete Holmes announced
that the City of Seattle will move to vacate misde-
meanor marijuana possession convictions prose-
cuted by the City before marijuana was legalized in
Washington. Passed in 2012, I-502 legalized the pos-
session and recreational use of marijuana for adults
ages 21 years or older. The Seattle City Attorney’s Of-
fice will be asking Seattle’s municipal court to vacate
convictions and dismiss charges for misdemeanor
marijuana possession prosecuted by the City of Seat-
tle.  
Marijuana possession arrests in Washington rose
sharply in the 25 year period from 4,000 in 1986 to
11,000 in 2010, totaling 240,000 arrests according to
the Drug Policy Alliance. In King County, there were
65,483 arrests for possession of small amounts of
marijuana. In Washington State, African Americans
were arrested at 2.9 times the rate of whites. Latinos
and Native Americans were arrested at 1.6 times the
rate of whites. 
Minor marijuana possession has been the lowest
enforcement priority for the Seattle Police Depart-
ment since Seattle voters passed Initiative 75 in 2003;
however, the City continued to charge for possession
until City Attorney Holmes took office in 2010.  
Beginning December 6, 2012, it was not a violation
of state law for adults over 21 years old to possess up
to an ounce of marijuana, sixteen ounces of marijua-
na-infused product in solid form, seventy-two ounces
of marijuana-infused product in liquid form, or sev-
en grams of marijuana concentrate. Consistent with
I-502, the new policy will affect individuals who had
been convicted of offenses for conduct that is now
legal under state law. A motion will be made for all
those found to eligible, which will not require any ac-
tion by individuals.   
ant areas of uncertainty that remain regarding the
effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and other
criteria pollutants on cardiovascular health, over
time. A better understanding of effects allows deci-
sion makers and practicing clinicians to make more
informed health-related recommendations to both
the general public and groups of people that may be
at higher risk (e.g. elderly, diabetics). With a clearer
understanding of the uncertainty of these estimates,
public health authorities can make more informed
resource allocation decisions based on robust science
and accurate measurements.
Dr. Kaufman’s UW co-investigators on the new
MESA Air Next grant are Dr. Elizabeth (Lianne) Shep-
pard, assistant chair and professor in the Department
of Environmental and Occupational Health Scienc-
es and professor of biostatistics; Dr. Paul Sampson,
research professor emeritus of statistics; Dr. Adam
Szpiro, associate professor of biostatistics; and Dr.
Richard Kronmal, professor of biostatistics and sta-
tistics.
This award builds on previous multi-agency in-
vestments and resources, therefore avoiding many
of the start-up costs usually associated with this type
of research, such as establishing a new study cohort
and infrastructure to make initial and follow-up mea-
surements, and the development of a data manage-
ment system. By incorporating these unique resourc-
es in MESA Air Next, this research can make great
strides in understanding one of the most serious, yet
preventable, health risks we face in modern society.
For more about the MESA Air Next study and Uni-
versity of Washington’s Department of Environmen-
tal and Occupational Health Sciences: http://deohs.
washington.
edu/mesaa-
ir/home
Seattle Metro
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15
LEARN ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND: The Neigh-
borhood Matching Fund, a program of Seattle Department of
Neighborhoods, is hosting a workshop for those interested in
applying to the fund. This is for neighborhoods and community
groups that are interested. 6 p.m. -7:30 p.m., Mont Lake Commu-
nity Center, 1618 Calhoun St.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16
SOUND OFF 2018 –SEMIFINALS ROUND 2: MoPop’s premier 21 and
under battle of the bands supports the local music scene by giv-
ing artists of all backgrounds the opportunity to showcase orig-
inal music. The winning band from each semifinal will progress
to the Finals on Saturday March 3. Admission is $9 members, $10
students with ID, $14 general admission. 8 p.m., Museum of Pop
Culture, 325 5th Ave. N.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17
FREE DAY AT THE RENTON HISTORY MUSEUM: There’s always
something happening at the Renton History Museum. The muse-
um offers changing exhibits, programs, publications and events
to share Renton’s stories, past and present. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.,
Renton History Museum, 235 Mill Ave. S., Renton.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23
FAMILY – FRIENDLY LEARNING EXHIBIT: Visitors will receive a
firsthand look at the Reggio Emilia approach to education which
provides visibility to the values of its experience. 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.,
One Convention Place, 701 Pike St. Floor 9.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24
MORNING TREATS AND TWEETS: Join naturalist Ed Dominquez for
a casual birding experience aimed at beginning and intermedi-
ate birders. We start off by filling our cups with hot tea or coffee
and a donut. Cost is $7 ages 8 and older. 10 a.m. – noon, Seward
Park Audubon Center, 5902 Lake Washington Blvd. S.