BLOGTOWN

Absolutely cursed image. Eugene Gologursky / Getty images

Good morning, Portland! The weather's great—here are some patios where you can enjoy the sunshine this weekend.

Here are the headlines.

• The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup—which includes both Oregon and Washington—officially approved the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 12-15 year-olds yesterday, shortly after the CDC recommended the shots for that age group. That means that if you're a parent of a 12-15 year-old, you can get your kid vaccinated against COVID now.

• Meanwhile, Oregon hit another big vaccine milestone yesterday: Over two million state residents 16 and older have received at least one COVID vaccine dose. Daily case counts have been declining after the fourth wave surge hit its peak last month.

• In Israel and Palestine, reprehensible violence continues:

Wednesday’s most shocking incident was captured by video in Bat Yam, where a mob of Jewish nationalists pulled a man, who they believed to be Arab, from a car and beat him on the street in what Israeli media described as “attempted lynching in prime time” https://t.co/A46Put1Kcs

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 13, 2021

Cavan Images / Getty images

Here's your daily roundup of all the latest local and national news. (Like our coverage? Please consider making a recurring contribution to the Mercury to keep it comin'!)

In local news:

• The Oregon Legislature has advanced a bill that would lessen the expected impact of the looming June 30 termination of the statewide COVID-19 eviction moratorium. Once this bill is signed into law, renters who missed payments because of the pandemic will have until February 28, 2022 to pay that rent back to their landlords before risking eviction. But renter advocates say the bill is "just scratching the surface" of the help tenants will need coming out of the pandemic.

• In case you missed it yesterday: Once 70 percent of Oregonians 16 and older have received at least one COVID vaccine dose, Gov. Kate Brown plans to ease most the statewide pandemic restrictions. And Multnomah County is on track to move into "low risk" mode by as early as May 21. There are now plenty of walk-in vaccine clinics open in the Portland area, so if this news doesn't motivate you to get your shot, I don't know what will!

• More than a hundred businesses on SE Hawthorne are asking the Portland Bureau of Transportation to include protected bike lanes in revamp plans for the street, per BikePortland.

RETROROCKET / GETTY IMAGES

Currently, Oregonians who've been unable to pay rent due to the pandemic's financial toll are required to pay back any missed rent payments on July 1, the day after the moratorium lifts. Senate Bill 282, introduced by Portland Senator Kayse Jama, expands the grace period to repay skipped rent until February 28, 2022.

Eugene Representative Julie Fahey introduced the bill on the House floor Tuesday, where she described the legislation as a "compromise bill," acknowledging that it had the support of both landlord and tenant groups. While she underscored the fact that the bill does not extend the current eviction moratorium, Fahey said that this delay would allow more time for expected federal aid to reach Oregon renters.

"By passing this bill, we can ensure that Oregon tenants and landlords can get the full benefit of rental assistance coming to our state and help prevent the fallout from the pandemic following the most vulnerable Oregonians for years to come," Fahey said.

Oregon is in line to receive $222.5 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act for emergency rental assistance, but it's not yet clear when the state and other jurisdictions will see the funds.

The bill includes a few other protections for Oregon tenants impacted by the pandemic. Specifically, SB 282 bars landlords from rejecting rental applications due to a prospective tenant not paying rent or being evicted during the COVID pandemic. It also prevents a tenant's credit score from being impacted by non-payment of rent during the pandemic and prevents landlords from evicting tenants for allowing guests to stay in their home due to COVID or wildfire-related hardships.

We need your help. The economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis is threatening our ability to keep producing the quality reporting you've come to love. If you’re able, please consider making a monthly contribution to the Mercury.

House Republicans cancel Liz Cheney for refusing to lie about Trump. Chip Somodevilla / Staff / Getty

GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! Senses telling me you're looking, I can feel it on my skin. Boy, I wonder what would happen if I trip and let you in. LET'S GO TO PRESS.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• Yesterday Gov. Kate Brown announced some heartening news: As soon as 70 percent of Oregonians 16 and over receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the statewide safety restrictions will be lifted. What's more, starting May 21 counties will be moved into the "Lower Risk" tier—meaning that most food and entertainment establishments can operate at 50 percent capacity—after 65 percent of the county's residents have received at least one dose. Our Isabella Garcia has the details.

Most COVID-19 safety restrictions will be lifted statewide when 70 percent of Oregonians 16 and older receive their first dose of the vaccine, most likely by the end of June.https://t.co/D19k9qHrgq

— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) May 11, 2021

• Many people of color cannot afford to either rent or buy homes in just about any neighborhood in Portland, according to a new housing report, since the price of having a place to live has outpaced actual income growth.

51 years ago today, a bunch of #portlandprotest hippies were in the Park Blocks, doing 1st Amendment things. And the #Portland police beat the shit out of them. pic.twitter.com/Rmgc4FdIg3

— Oregon History (@oregon_history) May 12, 2021

NRA's attempt to declare bankruptcy shot down by judge. (Get it?) Scott Olson / Getty News

Here's your daily roundup of all the latest local and national news. (Like our coverage? Please consider making a recurring contribution to the Mercury to keep it comin'!)

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• Statewide COVID-19 safety restrictions will be lifted once 70 percent of Oregonians have received their first dose of the vaccine, which will probably be in mid- to late-June. Plus, Multnomah County is projected to move to "Lower Risk" level as soon as May 21.

Today I’m setting a specific statewide target to more fully reopen Oregon’s economy.

Seventy percent.

That’s the number of Oregonians age 16 and older that we need to reach with a first dose. I’m confident we can get there in June.

— Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) May 11, 2021

• Employers offering minimum wage jobs in Oregon are struggling to find workers willing to fill them. Maybe it has something to do with minimum wage not being a livable wage... but what do I know?

• OMG, have you heard the news? Everywhere you look, the City of Roses has become "the city of trash and filth," according to KOIN News’ most recent story on Portland’s reputation. Well, maybe this means trying to buy a house in Portland will become less like The Hunger Games.

Statewide COVID-19 safety restrictions will relax when 70 percent of Oregonians receive at least one dose of the vaccine, Governor Kate Brown announced Tuesday. Multnomah County

Current vaccination rates indicate 70 percent of Oregonians will receive at least their first dose by the end of June. Because vaccine supply and distribution capacity are no longer an issue, Brown is shifting the state’s efforts towards reducing the racial and ethnic disparities in vaccine distribution. Starting May 21, counties will be eligible to move to “Lower Risk” status when 65 percent of the county’s residents 16 and older receive their first vaccine dose and the county has submitted a plan to close vaccine equity gaps to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). “Lower Risk” status means that most food and entertainment establishments, including indoor dining and gyms, can operate at 50 percent capacity.

Multnomah County is currently under "High Risk" restrictions. Based on current projections, Multnomah County should be ready to move to the “Lower Risk” tier by May 21 unless the county opts out, or fails to submit an equity plan to OHA by May 14. As of Tuesday, about 60 percent of adult Multnomah County residents and 49 percent of adults statewide have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Relatives of Palestinian Ahmed Al-Shenbari, who was killed during an Israeli raid in Beit Hanoun city on the northern Gaza Strip, mourn during his funeral on May 11, 2021 in Gaza City, Gaza. Fatima Shbair /getty images

Good morning, Portland! Head's up: You have one week left to vote in the May 18 election.

Here are the headlines.

• Last year, voters in the Portland Metro region voted to fund a new homeless services measure, and now it's time for local elected officials to decide how to spend the millions of dollars it's generated so far. But not everyone in Multnomah County is in agreement on how it ought to be spent: While some want to fund as many alternative shelter beds as possible, others argue that the funds should be focused on sustainable long-term housing solutions.

• You've probably heard about the violence happening this week in Palestine and Israel by now. But are you still unclear on what prompted the recent killings? This piece is a helpful explainer of the what the latest flashpoint is, and why it isn't simply a real estate dispute—it's an attempted ethnic cleansing.

• It's sometimes easy to forget just how surreal the last 15 months have been. These extraordinary photos help document the very singular time we're living through:

Strip malls, sports arenas and museums have taken on a surreal new life during the pandemic. They are some of the public spaces across the U.S. that have been turned into vaccination sites.

Swipe through to see their transformations.https://t.co/jTeC73pNec

— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 11, 2021

Reset your clock, it's 2004 all over again. Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Here's your daily roundup of all the latest local and national news. (Like our coverage? Please consider making a recurring contribution to the Mercury to keep it comin'!)

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• Just when transportation safety advocates were about to apply a lot of public pressure on Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to do something about pedestrian deaths on 82nd Ave, ODOT dropped the speed limit on the busy thoroughfare from 35 mph to 30 and plan on installing 10 digital speed reader signs. Our Isabella Garcia has more!

After a year of analysis and two pedestrian deaths, ODOT plans to lower the speed limit on 82nd and implement improved crosswalk signage. Transportation safety leaders are pleased, but demand greater investments.https://t.co/hwgAfZVR7p

— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) May 10, 2021

• Houseless advocates have raised concerns that a sheltering proposal put forth by Multnomah County Commissioner Sharon Meieran was too quickly thrown together and lacks input from the houseless people it wants to help. Our Alex Zielinski has the details.

This Thursday beginning at 2pm, Portland City Council will have another opportunity to hear from Portlanders about their priorities for our $5.7 billion dollar budget before Council proposes & votes on amendments, then votes on approval of the full budget during the same session.

— Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty (@JoAnnPDX) May 10, 2021