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Good morning, Portland! Why wait? Let's get right into it.

In local news:

• Eugene City Council banned natural gas and fossil fuel infrastructure in new homes, townhouses, and residential structures three stories and under Monday. The ban, which councilors said will be a tool to tackle carbon emissions and climate change, will apply to building permit applications submitted on or after June 30, 2023.

• FYI: The Central Library will close for at least eight months on March 11 as the building undergoes modernization renovations. During the closure, Multnomah County will open a technology pop-up nearby to maintain availability to public computers.

• Eggs are becoming egg-stremely expensive amid an avian flu and rising production costs, causing restauranteurs to adjust accordingly. Portland Monthly talked to chefs who have decided to up-charge for eggs, lower their egg usage, dedicate hours to driving from store-to-store looking for deals, and swap eggs for mung beans.

• Eight Oregon coast cities are working to make beach access more accessible with grants from Travel Oregon. The grants alone won’t be enough to make full scale improvements, but communities in Florence, Astoria, Lincoln City, Coos Bay, Depot Bay, Newport, Waldport, and Yachats plan to use the money to properly advertise existing accessible infrastructure so navigating around town is easier.

In national news:

• President Biden will address the nation in his State of the Union speech tonight. Biden is expected to urge Democrats and Republicans to work together, assert the power of the US, and promote investments in the working and middle classes during the hourlong speech. 

• Speaking of Biden, a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs indicates that Democrats aren’t stoked on selecting the current Prez for another term. Poll results show that 37 percent of Democrats surveyed want Biden to seek re-election, down from 52 percent last year. Many respondents cited concerns with Biden’s age and mental fitness.

• Thousands of residents in Austin, Texas, have been without power for nearly a week after a deadly ice storm knocked out power to nearly one-third of utility customers in the city. By Monday, 21,000 homes and businesses—about 4 percent of all customers—remained without power, but the city’s utility provider said that electricity may not be restored until February 12.

• Texas Senator Ted Cruz is proposing a constitutional amendment that would limit Senators to two terms even though *checks notes* he is currently running for a third term. Cruz says “Congress would work much better” if Senators were limited to two terms and if—and ONLY IF—the amendment passes, he would no longer run for a third term. Okay bud.

• Get this dog some tap shoes STAT: