A Myanmar protester stands before a line of military officers. Credit: Hkun Lat / Getty Images

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A Myanmar protester stands before a line of military officers.
A Myanmar protester stands before a line of military officers. Hkun Lat / Getty Images

Good morning, Portland! Hopefully yesterday’s boost of Vitamin D has made the first day of March feel less like an ominous reminder that it’s been one whole year since COVID-19 hit Oregon and more a suggestion of sunny days ahead. If you can, try to get outside today and look at the tiny flowers popping out of the ground. Now, for the news:

– A $15 minimum wage mandate is no longer part of President Joe Biden’s stimulus package before Congress. While the proposal passed the House of Representatives Saturday, Senate Democrats axed the plan Sunday, concerned that the Republicans’ distaste for giving Americans an (almost) living wage in the middle of an economic meltdown would undermine the entire budget package.

– Myanmar military police killed at least 18 people Sunday by shooting into crowds of people peacefully protesting the country’s month-long coup. The actions have been decried by the UN Office of Human Rights Office, while Myanmar officials threaten more deaths if people continue to oppose the military takeover in the streets.

– President Biden will not penalize Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, for approving the killing of American journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was drugged and dismembered in October 2018. Biden is apparently too concerned with hurting the US’ strong relationship with Saudi Arabia. This is a huge disappointment to people who support not killing journalists.

– Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been found guilty of corruption for attempting to obtain information from a judge about another case in which Sarkozy was involved in. He’s been sentenced to one year house arrest. First Mary-Kate Olsen divorces his half-brother and now this?

– Donald Trump (remember him?) appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference Sunday, delivering a diatribe against Joe Biden, repeating false election fraud claims, and suggesting he may run again in 2024. Nothing to see here.

– It’s been a year since Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was was shot and killed by a trio of white men while running through a residential neighborhood Georgia. Let’s check in on where that community stands a year later, and how Arbery’s family and friends are bracing for his looming, complex murder trial.

– A second woman who worked for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has made public allegations of sexual harassment against him. Cuomo has honorably brushed off the claims (including a forced kiss) as misunderstood “teasing.” The dual accusations have prompted the state’s attorney general to get involved, proposing an investigation into the staffers’ claims. (This is the same AG who is investigating Cuomo’s alleged cover-up of COVID death toll data at New York nursing homes.)

– The Golden Globes happened last night, lol! I’m personally happy to see Daniel Kaluuya, Gillian Anderson, Nomadland, and Minari take home awards, but generally nonplussed by the whole “Sorry we’re racist, but what did you expect,” vibe of the evening. One highlight:

– About 100 or so people marched through Portland’s Pearl District Saturday night, decrying Biden’s immigration policies and smashing a few windows along the way.

– Gov. Kate Brown unveiled the state’s complete rollout plan for COVID vaccines Friday, which ensures all Oregonians 16 and older will be eligible for vaccinations no later than July. Hey, that’s not too bad!

– After a week of mixed messaging from City Hall, Hazelnut Grove residents have received some good news: The city will not be cutting its current services to the North Portland tiny home village in the “foreseeable future.”

– To combat a rise in vandalism, Portland City Council will consider easing rules around permit requirement for commercial areas (like downtown Portland) wishing to install security gates and extra lighting.

– It’s been a year since Oregon saw it’s first COVID case. Here’s how the Oregonian is memorializing it:

Alex Zielinski is a former News Editor for the Portland Mercury. She's here to tell stories about economic inequities, cops, civil rights, and weird city politics that you should probably be paying attention...