Tom Brady during a football game
Tom Brady is officially retiring from the NFL after 22 years. Credit: Michael Reaves / Getty Images

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Tom Brady during a football game
Tom Brady is officially retiring from the NFL after 22 years. Michael Reaves / Getty Images

Happy February, Portland! Here are the latest headlines to start your day.

In local news:

• COVID-19 cases dropped 22 percent in Oregon in the past week, a sign that the omicron wave may be receding. Last week, Oregon health officials noted that they still expect COVID hospitalizations to peak and strain the healthcare system in the first couple weeks of February. However, state epidemiologist Dean Sidelinger also shared that he is optimistic Oregon could be in for a 2019-esque spring and summer (I promised myself I wouldn’t get my hopes up after last summer, but here I am getting my hopes up).

• Despite pledging to boost Black and Latino student achievement by 2022, Black and Latino students in Portland Public Schools are consistently one year—and sometimes up to four years—behind grade-level expectations. An investigation by the Oregonian found that majority of district teachers have not been trained in the new or standardized curriculum PPS purchased in an effort to address the inequities.

• Collectors and nosey Nellies rejoice! The Oregon State Treasury is holding an online auction of items from abandoned safety deposit boxes. Items range from rare coins and jewelry to Ninja Turtle figurines and a DS Lite. Bidding is currently open and the live auction starts this Thursday.

• A driver hit and killed a pedestrian on Interstate 5 near the Interstate Bridge Monday night. The pedestrian was lying in the freeway lanes when police arrived at the scene. This is the tenth fatal crash and the sixth pedestrian death of 2022.

In national news:

• Pfizer is expected to ask the US Food and Drug Administration to approve its COVID vaccine for kids as young as 6 months old as soon as Tuesday. The two-dose series is one-tenth the strength of an adult dose and, pending approval, could be available as soon as late February.

• Remember Center for Covid Control, the national COVID testing site company (with three locations in Portland) that had some sketchy practices? Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is suing the Illinois-based company, accusing the company of billing the federal government $124 million for invalid COVID tests. This lawsuit comes just a couple days after the FBI raided the company’s headquarters. The Oregon Department of Justice is currently investigating the Center for Covid Control, as well.

• In other scam news, at-home rapid COVID tests from “Empowered Diagnostics CovClear” could give false results, according to the FDA. The tests have been recalled.

• Climate change-related floods will disproportionately affect Black communities in the US, according to a new study by environmental scientists. The study updates historical flood maps to account for climate change impacts. While climate change is expected to increase flooding risks in the US broadly by 25 percent, areas where at least one fifth of the population is Black—like the Gulf Coast and parts of the Southeast—are expected to see a 40 percent increase.

• Lauded quarterback Tom Brady officially announced his retirement from the NFL Tuesday. Brady won seven Super Bowls during his unprecedented 22-year career.

• And finally, happy Lunar New Year!

Isabella Garcia is the former News Editor for the Portland Mercury. She covered City Hall, transportation, the environment, breaking news, and more.