After Obama’s Appearance, Portland Starts Dialogue on Race Portland is encouraging black and white residents to talk about race and the effects gentrification is having on their communities. New York Times. Hire Ex-Con in Philly, Get $10K Annual Tax Credit "Mayor Michael Nutter announced a program, being headed by an ex-offender, that gives $10,000 a year in municipal tax credits to companies that hire former prisoners and provide them tuition support or vocational training." Associated Press. Black Writers Honor Octavia Butler in Leimert Park On Saturday, the second annual Leimert Park Book Fair will honor Butler, a Pasadena native, with a posthumous tribute. In addition to the tribute to Butler led by her friends and fellow authors Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes, Nikki Giovanni and other writers will attend the event at the historic Los Angeles arts center. Los Angeles Times. Reports of California Mosques Being Monitored "A report that mosques in Los Angeles and San Diego are under federal surveillance has resurrected fears in the Muslim community about government monitoring and led two civil rights groups Wednesday to call for congressional hearings." Los Angeles Times.