[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 11, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E128-E129]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE SKANNER AND ITS LEGACY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MAXINE DEXTER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 2026

  Ms. DEXTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of an 
Oregon institution, Portland's Black-owned newspaper, The Skanner, 
which ceased production on January 30, 2026, after 50 years of 
journalistic excellence.
  Since 1975, The Skanner has been providing important news and 
information, covering city, state, and national issues, interviews with 
political candidates, and never shrinking from holding public officials 
accountable. An irreplaceable cornerstone of Oregon's news environment, 
The Skanner became the largest Black newspaper in the Pacific 
Northwest.
  Founded by Bernie Foster and Bobbie Dore Foster, The Skanner was 
created to reach and uplift Black Portlanders through community-
centered journalism. The paper was built on the conviction that 
authentic storytelling comes from within the community itself. As 
Bobbie Foster has often shared, the legacy of The Skanner lies in 
fostering pride in Black business ownership, strengthening engagement 
with local journalism, and providing news that reflects the voices, 
values, and perspectives of the community.
  Over its time in print, The Skanner was instrumental in the renaming 
of Union Avenue in the 1980s and 1990s to be called Martin Luther King, 
Jr., Boulevard. Additionally, articles published by the paper in 2015 
led to Henry Lincoln Johnson, a World War I hero, posthumously 
receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor.
  As a former student journalist, I know how powerful local reporting 
is. It informs. It connects. It brings to light stories that would 
otherwise be left in darkness. The Skanner faithfully served the 
Pacific Northwest for 50 years, and its absence will be deeply felt.
  I thank the journalists, editors, photographers, and staff--past and 
present--for their service to our state and commitment to the pursuit 
of justice.

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