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KairosPDX is a K-5 charter school focusing on closing the achievement gap for its majority Black students. KairosPDX, the public charter school that focuses on closing the achievement gap for its majority-black students, has signed a new, longer lease from Portland Public Schools that leaders of the school say will give them more stability. On Dec. 18, the school board voted to offer Kairos a three year lease with an option to renew for an additional two years, Portland Public School Board Chair Rita Moore confirmed to the Portland Observer via email. That extension gives the school the five year lease they originally requested back in August for their stay at the former Humboldt Elementary School located on North Gatenbein Avenue. “This gives us the time we need to find a permanent home for Kairos and the growing community we serve,” Kairos said in press release on New Year’s Eve. The organization was recently honored by Portland’s Human Rights Commission for its work using evidence-based teaching methods to bolster the learning outcomes for underserved and minority students since 2012.

The stinky cheese in the White House By Dr. Tom H. Hastings Dr. Tom H. Hastings Maria Butina, rat. She is Russian, she was caught as a foreign agent who never registered. She pled guilty to spying for Russia and conspiracy to hijack the National Rife Association, and presumably is spilling the beans in order to reduce the consequences of her nefarious activities helping funnel the NRA millions of dollars plus a loud endorsement to Trump. Michael Cohen was a rat whose cooperation might have at least reduced his penalties, which included a million dollars or so in fines plus three years in prison. He was Donald J. Trump's lawyer and fixer for years, and confessed to many criminal activities, all done in the service of, and at the direction of, Trump. Even the National Enquirer -- paid by Trump to kill a story about his "alleged" extramarital affair with Playboy playmate Karen McDougal -- has turned state's evidence, via its parent corporation, in order to gain immunity from prosecution for violations of federal election laws. Mike Flynn, Big Rat. He lied to the FBI, to the public, to Vice President Pence and to Congress. He subsequently met and presumably divulged a great deal to the Mueller special counsel team in 19 sessions, more than 60 hours of spilling the sacks of beans he had been hoarding. The Mueller team now has 33 rats that have flipped, plus three corporations involved in violations of election, bribery, and illegal hush money activities. Infestation Alert! Let's be clear about these rats. None were struck with an attack of conscience that caused them to come forward. Each one, every one, was caught. All of them decided to cooperate only after the government prosecutors had the goods on them. These are not praiseworthy people. I mean, Flynn was the one initiating and leading chants of "Lock Her Up” at Trump campaign rallies. And while one story seems to be about sex and another seems to be about working with Russians to steal the 2016 election for Trump, they are in the end the same. It all comes down to election theft and crushing democracy. The National Enquirer and Cohen were busy trying to cover up Trump's cheating on his wife with porn stars so that presumably white evangelicals would still vote for him -- covering up the huge hush payments that were made right before the 2016 election. Flynn met with Sergey I. Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the United States at the time of the transition, assuring him that Trump would end those pesky sanctions on Russia that Obama placed when Putin invaded and stole Crimea. That was the Russian bet: elect Trump and sanctions go away, as well as NATO weakens. Flynn, as Trump's ally in the campaign and then as head of the National Security Agency, did all that, acting as an agent of a hostile foreign dictator, even as another of their Russian agents, Butina, was being directly handled by Vladimir Putin's buddy, oligarch banker Alexander Torshin. Ah, the rat system. It is how the po-po and the prosecutors get damning information on defendants, those threatened with prosecution, and all their criminal associates. Flipping rats. George Papadopoulos was one of those small-time rats who performed so poorly that the FBI simply recommended that he get no break at all. Lousy rat. He was the drunk who first bragged at some bar in Australia that the Trump campaign was getting massive tech help from the Russians, who illegally hacked and stole Hillary's emails, shunted them to Julian Assange and his Wikileaks, who then acted on his obsessive hatred of Hillary and released them to the world. Thanks, Julian! You gave us Trump, you ratty twerp. Showing great faith in his version of American kleptocracy, Papadopoulos announced he will be running for Congress in 2020. Go, Republican Rats! Trump is just surrounded by rats, isn't he? The Big Stinky Cheese in the White House, with the rats all gnawing at his fetid manner of power-wielding. I wonder if we'll get to the "Sorry and so long, Dad" point? I mean, Donald Jr. and Ivanka have no presidential immunity and they are check-signers in the Trump organization, which is tantamount now to a RICO violation, as we see the money trail to campaign finance laws exposed for all to see. Organized crime is becoming less organized as key criminals bail, one-by-one, leaving the Trump mob more tattered by the day. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is becoming known as felony flats, a home to future cell blockers whose best chance at staying out from behind bars is to open up about the Capo. Don Trumpleone...Lock. Him. Up. What a rat. Dr. Tom H. Hastings is PeaceVoice director and on occasion an expert witness for the defense in court.

First 15-0 champion in over 100 years Clemson's Trayvon Mullen celebrates after the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Alabama, Monday in Santa Clara, Calif. Clemson beat Alabama 44-16. (AP photo) (AP) — Coach Dabo Swinney kissed the championship trophy and proclaimed this Clemson team the greatest of all time. He’s got a case. With stunning ease — and a freshman quarterback — Clemson toppled college football’s greatest dynasty again to become the first perfect playoff champion. Trevor Lawrence passed for 347 yards and three touchdowns and the second-ranked Tigers beat No. 1 Alabama 44-16 on Monday night in the College Football Playoff national championship game in Santa Clara, Calif. In the fourth consecutive playoff meeting between the Tigers and Tide, Clemson evened the series and beat ’Bama for the national championship for the second time in three years. Clemson is the first college football team to finish 15-0 since the 1800s, and the first team since the playoff started five seasons ago to get through a season unscathed. “I mean, our guys had the eye of the tiger, but I’m so proud, and then for our seniors to be able to go out 15-0 and truly be the best ever — there was a lot of talk about best ever all year long,” Swinney said, talking about Alabama. “We were never in that conversation. But tonight, there’s no doubt. First 15-0 team, to beat Notre Dame and to beat Alabama to do it, this team won 13 games by 20 points or more and led by an unbelievable group of seniors, amazing group. I’m just thankful to be a part of it.” Alabama coach Nick Saban and the Tide (14-1) were looking for a sixth national championship in 10 years, trying to add to an already unprecedented run in the sport. Instead, Clemson crushed Alabama, becoming the first opponent to beat the Tide by more than 14 points since Saban became coach in 2007. Swinney’s Tigers sealed their status as a superpower, no longer just 1A to Alabama’s 1. “We’re 15-0, we beat the best team ever, nobody’s taking that away from us,” Clemson All-American defensive tackle Christian Wilkins said.

Mary Julia Booker Mary Julia Booker Long term Portland resident Mary J. Booker passed peacefully in her home among family on Dec. 26, 2018. Mrs. Booker lived in the Portland area for over 60 years. She and her husband were once residents of Vanport and assisted families in the evacuation of residents from the 1948 flood that destroyed the city. She and her husband Floyd Booker also owned and operated Courtesy Janitorial Services, one of Portland’s long-term African American owned businesses. Celebration of Life Services for Mrs. Mary J. Booker will be held Thursday, Jan. 10 at 11 a.m. at Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church, 3138 N. Vancouver Ave.

Reva Mae Lawrence Reva Mae Lawrence Reva Mae Lawrence (born Grier) passed away Dec. 15, 2018 at the age of 71 at her home in north Portland. She was born May 15, 1947 to Annie Isabelle Grier (now Jennings) and Meade Lee Grier Sr. in Twinnsburg, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her father; a brother Meade Lee Grier Jr.; a sister Judith Anne Brooks; her husband Charles Edward Lawrence and son Brian Earl Ballard. She is survived by her mother; brothers Mardas, James and Richard Jennings; sister Cheryl Jennings; children Earle Grier, Cleo Grier, Laverne Ballard and Vanessia Crawford; and a number of stepchildren, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, family and friends. She attended Eliot Elementary and Washington Monroe High School in Portland. She worked for many years as a Certified Nurse’s Aid all over the Portland-metro area. She enjoyed card games and other social events and shared a special love for her cat Skippy. She was laid to rest during a service on Dec. 27, 2018 next to her late husband at Willamette National Cemetery.

Clamp down could net $376 million By Daniel Hauser and Juan Carlos Ordóñez Large multinational corporations would have a harder time shielding their profits from Oregon taxes if the state reinstated a law it discarded in the 1980s. According to a new report by the Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP), by once again requiring the complete reporting of corporate profits, Oregon could net an additional $376 million in revenue. Large corporations have minimized their Oregon tax bill for years by hiding profits overseas. This has pulled hundreds of millions of dollars from Oregon schools. Complete reporting would make corporations come clean about all of their profits taxable in Oregon. Due in part to offshore tax avoidance, the corporate income tax today makes up a much smaller fraction of all income taxes collected by the state than it did four decades ago. Offshore tax avoidance involves shifting profits from the place they were earned to a place that levies little or no taxes on corporate income, said Hauser. Because this strategy requires having subsidiaries in different jurisdictions, it is large, multinational corporations that employ it. Under current law, Oregon only gets to tax a corporation’s share of U.S. profits attributed to Oregon, even if those profits have been reduced by the corporation’s artificial shifting of profits abroad. But with complete reporting — which Oregon followed until 1984 — Oregon would tax the share of a multinational corporation’s global profits equal to the share of that corporation’s sales in the state. For example, if Oregon accounted for 5 percent of a multinational corporation’s global sales, Oregon would tax 5 percent of the company’s global profits. The Oregon Center for Public Policy estimated complete reporting would result in Oregon collecting about $376 million per budget period. This is a conservative estimate. Ultimately, the tax would be paid by the shareholders of these large multinational corporations. The report estimated 89 percent of the tax would be paid by foreign and out-of-state investors. Of the tax paid in Oregon, the richest 1 percent would pay a few hundred dollars more each year, while the bottom 80 percent would pay next to nothing. Reinstating complete reporting ought to be a priority for an Oregon Legislature that is looking to find a way to better fund our schools and essential services. Making large multinational corporations pay their fair share is common sense. Daniel Hauser is policy analyst and Juan Carlos Ordóñez is communications director for the Oregon Center for Public Policy.

Benson senior recognized again for achievements Youth leaders from Boys & Girls Clubs in the Portland metro area are recognized for their community and family achievements, academic success and strong moral character. Teya Shearer from Benson High School (second from right) was named the Boys & Girls Club’s Metro Youth of the Year for the second time. PHOTO BY SEAN BASCOM Regence Boys & Girls Club member and Benson Polytechnic High School senior Teya Shearer is the 2019 Boys and Girls Club Metro Youth of the Year, marking her second year of holding the prestigious title. Judges heard speeches and conducted one-on-one interviews with each of the six candidates before ultimately deciding on Shearer for the coveted award during a luncheon ceremony last month. The decision came after each candidate gave moving speeches to the packed crowd. Alex Molden, former NFL star, gave an inspiring speech about his time as a Club member to kick off the event. Shearer volunteers with Health Occupations Students of America, Rosa Parks Elementary School, the Charles Jordan Community Center and at her Regence Boys and Girls Club. She is also a member of the Women’s Empowerment Club at Benson and plans to pursue a career in the healthcare field, starting with the pursuit of a degree from Occidental College on her way to becoming a doctor or nurse. During the Youth of the Year celebration, Shearer edged out five other outstanding local members for the title, including Bryan Alvarado (Inukai Family Club), LeShawn Willingham (Wattles Club), Johnathan Slade (Rockwood Club), Emily Valencia (Inukai Club), and Alexa Ramirez (Wattles Club). Each of these exceptional youth demonstrate the Clubs’ core values and will each receive $500 scholarships to help towards their own academic success post-graduation. Shearer will receive a $1,000 scholarship and she will move on to the statewide Youth of the Year selection process this March in Salem.

A long-held dream to help immigrant and refugee students facing unique barriers by providing them with resources that focus on empowerment, support and staying enrolled in school, has come to fruition with the opening of the Dream Center at Portland Community College’s Rock Creek campus in northwest Portland. Aimed at helping undocumented and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students and their families, the first-of-its-kind center at any Oregon community college or university officially opened Jan. 22, made possible through a $50,000 grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust. Liliana Luna, Rock Creek Multicultural Center coordinator and a DACA recipient, said PCC has long recognized that undocumented and DACA students face unique barriers that require additional mental, emotional and financial support. The idea for the new resource came from the students. They wanted to ease pressures on DACA recipients by taking down barriers to financial assistance and the navigation of college resources. Under the supervision of the campus' Multicultural Center, the students came up with a plan, did exhaustive research, and presented their final concept to college leadership. "They met with me in my office two years ago and told me, 'This will happen,'" recalled Rock Creek President Sandra Fowler-Hill of the students' determination. "I'm so proud of their work.” The opening of the center fits into PCC's mission. Last year, the college's Board of Directors declared the institution a "sanctuary college" to aid and protect undocumented students. President Mark Mitsui emphasized concerns about the impact of potential changes in federal immigration policy on PCC's undocumented students as the reason for the decision. The students and their new resource center coordinator -- Jhoana Monroy -- appreciated the symbolism of the center’s opening. "It's something big and unique we are going through," said Monroy. "This is an honor for me to be serving these students, who strive for success, education, advocacy and, above all else, to further their dreams."

TriMet will launch a new low-income fare program on July 1. The transit agency’s board last week approved the new fare which makes those who meet a low-income designation qualify for an Honored Citizen Fare. TriMet’s Honored Citizen fare is currently $1.25, which is half the cost of an Adult Fare. TriMet was provided a dedicated funding source for a low-income fare program in the Legislature last year and that paved the way for the new policy, TriMet officials said. Prior to that, TriMet spent several years researching a sustainable approach for such a program and, in coordination with Metro, convened a task force to begin development of a low-income fare program. Individuals who earn up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level will qualify for the new program. Under current guidelines, individuals earning an annual income up to $23,760 would qualify, as would a family of four with earnings up to $48,600. Over the next few months, TriMet’s low-income fare project team will work to build out the new program’s database, registration process, outreach and marketing plan and community and rider training materials.