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Good morning, Portland! It’s Tuesday, March 21, and as of yesterday it’s officially spring!  That means we can expect cherry blossoms soon, but first... allergies. 🤧

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• Speaking of sneezing, researchers say allergy season could be worse this year, but don’t worry, Portland doesn’t even rank in the top 20 worst cities for pollen allergies, according to a new report from the Asthma & Allergy Foundation.

• Apparently Oregonians are still luddites when it comes to fueling up. That’s why some are decrying a move by state legislators to allow you to pump your own gas. Only Oregon and New Jersey have laws restricting self-service gas, but recently, Oregon eased up on its rules in some rural areas. Now, a bill would allow up to half of a gas station’s pumps to be self-service. Prepare to get yer mitts dirty!

• If you enjoyed the book, Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, you’re in luck. Zauner, who fronts indie-rock band Japanese Breakfast, is launching a book tour for the 2021 memoir that’s being turned into a screenplay. Ahead of her Portland stop on March 31, the Mercury spoke with the musician and author about going on her first book tour for the paperback release of Crying in H Mart, writing a screenplay based on her memoir, and being shaped by the places where we live and go.

• Speaking of food, Portland chefs are known for taking risks with dishes that challenge a traditional palate and lean on fusion for fun. Ramen connoisseurs Hapa PDX are doing just that with a new restaurant in Beaverton, Hapa Pizza. Yes, you read that right. The eatery offers a phở -braised brisket pizza. Get the rundown on Filipino fusion cart Makulít, a forthcoming vegan patisserie, and more, with the latest Portland Food News rundown. 

IN NATIONAL NEWS:

• Wyoming has officially banned abortion pills. It’s one of several moves states have initiated in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade last year.

• As the Washington Post recently noted, antisemitic tweets have spiked since Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter. When journalists asked about it, they got... a poop emoji? This week, the social media platform’s owner announced that press inquiries to the site’s media handle generate a poop emoji auto-reply.