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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2018)
NOVEMBER 21, 2018 25 CENTS Portland and Seattle Volume XLI No. 8 News ...............................3,9,10 A & E .....................................6-7 Opinion ...................................2 Amazing Grace ................7 Calendars ........................... 4-5 Bids/Classifieds ....................11 CHALLENGING PEOPLE TO SHAPE A BETTER FUTURE NOW SERAW REMEMBERED PHOTO BY Ruby Haughton- Pitts, Director, AARP Oregon By Christen McCurdy Of The Skanner News n October AARP Oregon announced Ruby Haughton-Pitts was its new state director, taking over from Jer- ry Cohen, who opened the office in 1996. Most recently, Haughton-Pitts worked as director of outreach and advocacy for AARP Illinois in Chicago, but the new position marks a return to Oregon. Previously she worked as di- rector of legislative and public affairs at CareOregon, vice president of ex- ternal affairs for OCHIN (a nonprofit healthcare innovation center) and vice president of government relations for U.S. Bancorp in Portland. In her new I STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN/THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE VIA AP, FILE See AARP on page 3 In this Nov. 29, 2014, file photo shoppers form a long line at checkout during Small Business Saturday at the Arcadian Shop in Lenox, Mass Small Business Saturday page 8 Kam Previews New Movies Opening This Weekend page 6 Many gathered to honor Mulugeta Seraw at a conference organized by the Urban League of Portland on Nov. 13, 2018, the 30th anniversary of his death. Seraw was a 28-year-old Ethiopian college student living in Portland when he was murdered by racist skinheads outside of his apartment on November 13, 1988. Held at the University Place Conference Center, the event commemorated Seraw, spotlighted the history of anti-Black violence in Oregon, and sought to identify ways to combat hate in Portland’s communities. The following day, commemorative street sign toppers in English and Amharic were unveiled to honor Seraw at the intersection of Southeast 31st and Pine, where he was killed. US Judge Stalls Enforcement of Trump Asylum Restrictions Court says government cannot enforce a ban on asylum seekers By Nomaan Merchant Associated Press HOUSTON — A judge has ordered the U.S. govern- ment not to enforce a ban on asylum for people who cross the southern border illegally, another court setback for the Trump ad- ministration’s efforts to impose new immigration restrictions without con- gressional approval. U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar agreed Monday with legal groups that immedi- ately sued after President Donald Trump issued a Nov. 9 proclamation saying anyone who crossed the southern border between official ports of entry would be ineligible for asy- lum. The administration argued that caravans of migrants approaching the southern border made the new restrictions immedi- ately necessary. “Whatever the scope of the President’s authority, he may not rewrite the im- migration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden,” said Tigar, a nominee of former President Barack Obama. Trump stopped family separations at the border earlier this year after a global outcry, but it was a federal judge who ruled the administration had to reunify the families. An- other judge rejected the administration’s request to try to detain migrant fami- lies in long-term facilities. Monday’s ruling remains in effect for one month, barring an appeal. In lim- iting asylum, Trump used the same powers he used to impose a travel ban — the third try was ultimate- ly upheld by the Supreme Court. A joint statement by Homeland Security and the Justice Department said the Supreme Court had al- ready shown the president had the legal right to re- strict asylum. “Our asylum system is broken, and it is being abused by tens of thou- sands of meritless claims every year,” the depart- ments said. “We look forward to continuing to defend the Executive Branch’s legitimate and well-reasoned exercise of its authority to address the crisis at our southern bor- der.” See ASYLUM on page 3 Fire Victims’ Families Urged to Give DNA for Search System can analyze DNA from bone fragments or other remains, then match to relatives’ samples By Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Authori- ties are using a powerful tool in their effort to identify the scores of peo- ple killed by the wildfire that ripped through Northern California: rapid DNA testing that produces results in just two hours. The system can analyze DNA from bone fragments or other remains, then match it to genetic material pro- vided by relatives of the missing. But the technology depends on people coming forward to give a DNA sam- ple via a cheek swab, and so far, there are not nearly as many volunteers as authorities had hoped for. As of Tuesday, nearly two weeks after the inferno devastated the town of Paradise and surrounding areas, the number of confirmed dead stood See DNA on page 3 PHOTO BY SUDHIN THANAWALA New director started job in October PHOTO BY ANTONIO HARRIS Haughton- Pitts Heads Up AARP Oregon In this November 16, 2018 photo, Stephen Meer, chief information officer, ANDE, demonstrates in Chico, Calif., his company’s Rapid DNA analysis system, which is being used to try to ID victims of the Northern California wildfire.
